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The market was not impressed by Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) earnings last week. Beyond Meat stock fell 27% after the release. Honestly, it could have, and should have, been worse.
Admittedly, I’ve long had a bearish take on BYND stock. And, admittedly, it has done better than I expected, rallying 83% so far this year.
But all of those gains came in the first four and a half months of the year. Since mid-May, the stock has traded flat despite a continued rally elsewhere in the market.
There are reasons for that, I believe. And last week’s earnings highlight those reasons. The biggest one is simple: There’s still a very real risk that Beyond Meat’s plant-based options are a fad, or something close.
That risk remains until the company proves it doesn’t. The Q3 earnings didn’t do so. Instead, it strengthened the bear case.
Problems With the Growth Story
The bull case for Beyond Meat stock requires that the company expand its reach well beyond vegans and vegetarians. The market of consumers who don’t eat meat at all simply isn’t large enough. That’s particularly true given how much competition there is in plant-based meat, ranging from traditional (and massive) food companies to other newer entrants like Impossible Foods.
That, in turn, requires that meat-eaters both try Beyond Meat products, and then remain as customers. Beyond Meat got help on the first part thanks to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Stuck-at-home consumers upped their grocery shopping, and the company posted impressive growth in its retail channel.
In Q1, Beyond Meat sales rose 141%. U.S. retail revenue climbed 157%, with domestic foodservice growth only one percentage point lower. In Q2, an even larger pandemic-driven tailwind led overall retail revenue to nearly triple.
But in Q3, the growth rate slowed dramatically. Total revenue increased just 3%. That alone is a red flag.
This is a company supposedly still early in its growth. Beyond Meat stock still trades at over 20x revenue — a multiple more usually applied to a high-margin software company. A 3% increase in revenue isn’t cutting it.
Now, as Beyond Meat management argued, the Covid-19 tailwind did slow in the quarter, which led retail growth to drop to just 39% year-over-year. But if that’s truly the case, we’d expect foodservice sales to rise nicely as consumers started getting back to normal.
That’s not what happened. In the U.S., foodservice revenue declined 11%. That’s with fast-food companies (some of whom are Beyond Meat customers) generally showing flattish growth in the quarter.
Overseas, the news was even worse. Foodservice sales plunged a stunning 65%.
This is a quarter that simply isn’t good enough.
Where Are the Repeat Customers?
Again, the Beyond Meat story requires that consumers try the product and then become regular customers. It’s hard to look at Q3 numbers and believe that’s the case.
It may be that the product doesn’t taste good enough. (Personally, I haven’t been impressed.) What’s more concerning is that consumers may be catching on to the heavily processed, chemical-laden nature of plant-based meat.
Whatever the cause, it does not look like Beyond Meat is building a huge base of repeat customers. It seems like the opposite. In the retail channel, bored shoppers took a flyer on Beyond Meat in Q1 and Q2. Most didn’t stick around in the third quarter.
What makes matter worse is that Beyond Meat was pushing its products hard. In the 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Beyond Meat highlighted two moves that should have boosted revenue.
First, some product destined for the foodservice channel was re-packaged and re-routed to retail. Second, Beyond Meat was aggressive on the promotional front.
Indeed, gross margin plunged in Q3, to 27% from 35.6% the year before. Gross profit dollars actually declined 22% year-over-year.
Those figures, too, are not those of a growth stock. Yet Beyond Meat stock, at over 20x revenue, certainly is priced as such.
Beyond Meat Stock Didn’t Fall Far Enough
Some investors might see this analysis and argue, “Well, Beyond Meat stock fell 27%, didn’t it?”
It did. But BYND also rallied sharply through the beginning of last month. Again, the stock is basically flat over the past six months.
And so I don’t see the post-earnings decline as nearly big enough. It simply gets Beyond Meat stock back to where it was at the beginning of September.
That doesn’t make sense, because the news from earnings alone makes this story look worse than it did two months ago. This is a supposed growth story that just posted a quarter with minimal revenue growth and plunging gross profit.
Yes, the pandemic was a factor — but it’s not the only factor. Rather, the pandemic gifted Beyond Meat a huge opportunity to acquire new customers this spring, and there’s basically zero evidence that the company capitalized on the opportunity.
That’s a big problem. In fact, given where BYND still trades, it’s a huge problem. And it’s more than enough to warn investors to stay away from Beyond Meat stock.
On the date of publication, neither Matt McCall nor the InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article held (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in the article.
Matthew McCall left Wall Street to actually help investors — by getting them into the world’s biggest, most revolutionary trends BEFORE anyone else. Click here to see what Matt has up his sleeve now.


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A local networking software company wants to give people the ability to use multiple Internet connections to make the Internet faster — but first, it needs some help from the public.
Connectify, the Center City-based company that developed software that could turn a Windows 7 PC into a wireless hotspot and saw international success, recently launched a Kickstarter for its product, Connectify Dispatch.
Connectify CEO Alex Gizis said through a spokeswoman that the product is “roughly integrated” into its hotspot software, but the Kickstarter funds would allow the company to create a standalone product.
Visit the Kickstarter here.
Below, a video by Connectify that demonstrates the software.
For a company that has taken funding from private investment firms in the past, why crowdfund?
With 17 days left to go, Connectify has raised nearly half its goal with pledges surpassing $21,000 out of its $50,000 goal.
Gizis, 39, grew up in Manhasset, N.Y. and attended the University of Pennsylvania. He now lives in Society Hill.-30-
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On October 5th, 2020 Nium, a global financial technology (fintech) platform, announced its expansion into the Middle East, with the appointment of Ayoub Jemail as its new General Manager, Business Development for the region.
AMEinfo was intrigued by Nium’s offerings and went ahead with an exclusive interview with Prajit Nanu, co-founder and CEO of Nium.
Follow the interview below for insights into banking as a service (BaaS) and the reasons behind the company’s continued forays into the region.
“Fintech across the Middle East is set to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 30% and expected to raise over $2 billion in venture capital funding by 2020.
With Fintech steadily growing across the region, we have extended our uniquely diversified payment infrastructure offering for large enterprises, as well as banks and financial institutions in the Middle East. Our expansion will help fintechs, banks and financial institutions digitize their solutions much faster, and, in turn, provide better digital financial service offerings to their customers.”
2. With the proliferation of fintech around the world, how does the Middle East’s landscape differ, if at all, from the rest of the world?
“The Middle East is emerging as one of the world’s most innovative markets, with many players disrupting the financial services industry through the provision of consumer-centric payments, e-commerce, banking, insurance, and wealth management. With the MENA fintech market estimated to reach a value of $2.5 bn, coupled with the launch of 5G later this year to help boost Internet speed and usage, there is tremendous room for growth regionally.”
3. What are some of the main benefits for institutions utilizing and implementing BaaS?
“BaaS makes it much easier for anyone (including start-ups, fintech unicorns, multinational technology corporations, and banks to access and create simple, fast, secure, and transparent banking experiences. BaaS promise new revenue streams, expanded customer bases, and improved experiences across a wide range of banking and financial services including; account and transaction services, e-wallets, loan processing and even shoring up compliance and trust. The new world of banking is a plug-and-play model for banking services.
“However, while many look to become a FinTech or offer FinTech solutions, they may not have the existing technologies and capabilities to build and go live quickly enough before someone else does so. Working with third-party BaaS providers can allow clients to bypass much of these developmental complications. With an existing tech stack that you can just plug-and-play, Nium allows banks, other financial service providers, and even enterprises to anticipate demand and scale up or down as needed, customize product offering, and enter new markets.
“A second challenge for businesses intent on providing financial services products is dealing with complicated regulation and compliance. Partnering with financial technology solution providers that have a large portfolio of licenses under their belt reduces the burden of this cumbersome process. Nium’s network is powered by a portfolio of licenses, hard-earned by building trust with financial regulators in nearly 40 countries.”
4. With remittances on the decline, what can the fintech industry do to assist businesses and customers alike?
“For incumbent players in the market, this new reality requires a new way of thinking to offer customers’ greater choice and improved services. For instance, we recently partnered with Mashreq Bank to offer instant and same-day credit facility to more than 30 countries across the world including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Philippines, Australia, Canada, Sri Lanka, and most European countries. The partnership aims at leveraging the immediate payment capability of recipient countries to deliver payments instantly.”
5. The rise of Fintech replacing traditional financial services has heightened the need for better technology to manage risk. What does Nium bring to the table in this regard?
“The COVID-19 lockdowns have propelled e-payments further among consumers and business entities. Nium’s operations are bolstered with stringent security measures. Our onboarding procedure is streamlined to sift out dubious profiles and validate genuine applicants without compromising on their convenience. Even after the initial Know Your Customer (KYC) process, we continue to screen our database of users periodically to verify the authenticity of individuals on an ongoing basis, screening for anti-money laundering, financing of terrorism, and other crimes.
“We adopt a comprehensive, risk-based approach to prevent malpractices by:
a) Conducting essential checks with regulators’ lists to identify politically exposed persons (PEP), as well as cybercriminals and those barred for fraudulent activities such as money laundering.
b) Employing a wide range of tracking tools that monitor suspicious behavior, such as irregular spikes in activity, usage of new email accounts or phone numbers for signups, unusual cross-border transactions, changing purchase patterns, etc. Our end-to-end data encryption system safely transfers digital information between two parties, protecting your data from intermediates such as internet service providers and merchants whose systems it passes through.
“Nium’s infrastructure also stores, manages, and processes data using a cloud-based system leading to secure storage, interoperability, and 24/7 uptime.”


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BURLINGTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Raymond James 35th Annual Institutional Investors Conference
- Scott Dussault, Demandware Chief Financial Officer, will present on Wednesday, March 5 at 8:40 a.m. ET at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, 4040 Central Florida Pkwy in Orlando, FL
Deutsche Bank 22nd Annual Media, Internet & Telecom Conference
- Tom Ebling, Demandware Chief Executive Officer, will present on Tuesday, March 11 at 9:25 a.m. ET at The Breakers Hotel, One South Country Road in Palm Beach, FL
Demandware, a leader in digital commerce, enables the world’s premier retailers to move faster and grow faster in the changing face of retail. Demandware’s enterprise cloud platform minimizes the costs and complexities of running global, omni-channel commerce operations, and empowers retailers to respond with speed and agility to new market opportunities and continually evolving consumer expectations. For more information, visit www.demandware.com, call +1-888-553-9216 or email email@example.com.
Demandware is a registered trademark of Demandware, Inc.
Erica Smith, 781-425-1222
Vice President, Investor Relations


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Get Alerts »
New Hampshire teen, missing for 9 months, found safe
Bicyclists say a new repaving project in Portland has made riding more dangerous for them. News 8's Thema Ponton spoke with the Forecaster's Andrew Cullen.
If you've picked up fruit at Costco, Trader Joe's or Walmart stores recently, keep reading.


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In a consultation paper published today (December 7), the FCA said it would move forward with the proposals, despite concerns from some firms around their proportionality and design, as well as any potential consequences.
Alongside today's consultation, the FCA has published draft guidance to help firms prepare before the introduction of the new duty.
The FCA first set out plans for a new consumer duty in May, stating it was designed to create a higher level of consumer protection in retail financial services.
Currently firms are bound by FCA rules and principles to treat customers fairly, which include offering products and services at fair prices.
But in May, the regulator said it had seen evidence of practices which caused consumer harm, including firms providing information which was misleadingly presented or difficult for consumers to understand.
The consumer duty, confirmed today, will require firms to ask themselves what outcomes consumers should be able to expect from their products and services, act to enable rather than hinder these outcomes and assess the effectiveness of their actions.
It will include three key elements:
The FCA received 235 responses to the consultation from firms, professional and trade bodies, service providers, academics, consumer organisations and individuals.
It said all respondents saw the consumer duty, and the shift towards outcome-based regulation, as “a significant undertaking”.
While most agreed the consumer duty would succeed or fail based on the FCA supervision and enforcement of it, some firms raised significant concerns about the potential unintended consequences.
Some suggested that the FCA could achieve similar outcomes, with lower cost and less risk of unintended consequences, by making new rules under its existing principles or through more rigorous management of existing rules.
But the FCA said it did not agree that its objective could be met without new rules.


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A Christian Book Company is Fed Up With Requests for CBD
A Christian book company says it has been forced to change its name because people won’t stop calling to enquire about its non-existent cannabis products.
What do cannabis and Christian reading materials have in common? Not much. But in this case, it’s the company’s acronym that has sewn confusion. The company used to be known as Christian Book Distributors or CBD.
As in cannabidiol.
“A person may call up and say, ‘Hey, I’m looking for my order,’” the company’s president and CEO, Ray Hendrickson, told The New York Times. “It’s like, ‘What did you order? Oh, I ordered gummies. You don’t have the right company.’”
The company is now going by the name Christianbook. It hopes the new branding will cut down on the emails and phone calls.


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The American diet is slightly healthier than it was 20 years ago, but low-quality carbohydrates such as sugary foods, refined grains, and starchy vegetables continue to make up more than 40% of U.S. adults' daily calorie intake, according to a study published last week in JAMA.
Help your employees promote healthy habits—regardless of the newest diet fads
For the study, a team of researchers analyzed data from nine National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 1999 to 2016, which asked nearly 44,000 U.S. adults to report everything they ate in the previous 24 hours. About 70% of respondents participated in at least two different surveys.
US adults are eating a little healthier
Overall, the researchers found the average score on the 100-point Healthy Eating Index rose slightly from 55.7 to 57.7.
The researchers said the change was largely driven by a decrease in U.S. adults' total carbohydrate intake, which fell from 52.5% of daily calorie intake to 50.5%. According to the study, U.S. adults' estimated energy intake from low-quality carbs—such as sweets, white bread, and French fries—fell by 3.3% from 1999 to 41.8% in 2016. Meanwhile, energy intake from high-quality carbs, such as whole grains, whole fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and legumes, rose by 1.2% to 8.7% in 2016.
However, the researchers noted that daily carbohydrate intake in 2016 was still high, and largely consisted of low-quality carbs.
As U.S. adults consumed fewer carbs, they increased their daily intake of protein and fats, the researchers found. According to the study, the percentage of U.S adults' daily energy intake from protein increased from 15.5% in 1999 to 16.4% in 2016, while fat intake rose from 32% to 33.2%.
The researchers noted that increases in plant protein consumption, such as nuts, helped drive the increases in protein and fats. For instance, the percentage of U.S adults' daily energy intake from plant-based protein rose from less than 1% in 1999 to nearly 6% in 2016.
The researchers noted one key limitation to their findings is their reliance on 24-hour recall questionnaires, which do not always accurately portray the types of foods people really eat.
What's driving the trend toward healthier diets?
While the researchers acknowledged that the United States still has a long way to go to improve daily dietary intake, the shift toward healthier foods is positive.
While the study did not assess whether specific factors, such as underlying health conditions, affected the shifts in U.S. adults' eating habits, they suggested the shift in U.S. adults' diet could have been driven in part by changes to U.S. dietary guidelines.
"These opposing trends could be due to dietary guidelines prior to 2000 that recommended low-fat diets, which was associated with decreased intake of total fat and increased intake of refined grains and added sugar," the authors wrote. "After 2000, shifts in scientific evidence and dietary guidelines promoted health benefits of healthy fats and plant sources of protein and the harms of low-quality carbohydrates."
They also speculated that the popularity of new diets, like Atkins and paleo, and a recent wave in vegan and vegetarian diets may have prompted some of the recent dietary changes.
In an accompanying editorial, Linda Van Horn and Marilyn Cornelis, both of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, wrote that despite the statistically significant increase in the Healthy Eating Index, there is more work to be done to improve Americans' diets.
"If all Americans would include more fruits, vegetables and whole grains they would greatly improve their overall diet quality while hopefully reducing intake of sugar, salt and saturated fats that are detrimental to health," Van Horn said.
The study authors agreed. Shilpa Bhupathiraju, senior author of the study and a nutrition researcher at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, said that despite the positive trends, "[o]ur findings show that we still have a long way to go to meet dietary recommendations" (Monaco, MedPage Today, 9/24; Rapaport, Reuters, 9/24).


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A discussion on consumer confusion around the recycling of certain products as well as the dangerous distraction plastic brings.
As Marketing Week put it, many consumers are unknowingly adding to the landfill problem – even though they’re actively trying to help.
How many times have you gone to recycle something, believing you’re doing your bit for the planet? There’s a good chance that the very products which suggest they’re recyclable or biodegradable have an asterisk next to that claim – and you may be surprised to learn that regardless of your best efforts, the products are ending up on landfill.
Taking on 'The Asterisk'
There are many products which contain materials that are only part-recyclable, even though the company from which these products are manufactured by has claimed that these products are recyclable* - and it’s the asterisk at the end of that word that’s catching people out. An example of this is with yoghurt pots. The pots are recyclable but the lids attached to these aren’t – although many will fail to remove the lid from the pot as they look at the recyclable logo and assume it’s all safe for recycling.
Plastic as a dangerous distraction
As Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organics, argues, the anti-plastic fervour could be doing more harm than good. Guy’s argument is that plastic in itself isn’t an ‘evil material’. Its excessive use is what’s hurting the planet, and therefore it should be used sparingly. Riverford Organic’s founder also argues that climate change is the biggest worry, and this is made up from a plethora of pollutants – whilst a larger focus should be placed on cutting carbon.
Guy further believes that it would be a step in the wrong direction if the government focuses too much on cutting plastic use whilst failing to address energy efficiency or reducing ones’ carbon footprint in other ways. On the topic of carbon, why not spare 2 minutes and work out your carbon footprint, here.
Of these, there are 5:
1. There’re currently 39 different recycling policies in England, so there’s a massive need for simpler nation-wide government policy (synergies between counties to ensure recycling practise is the same for a recycling plant in Newcastle as it would be for Brighton). Until there are clear, coherent and consistent guidelines for consumers up and down the country, the problem will never go away
2. Education. Consumers need to be shown that the asterisk can be a constraint to correct and proper recycling and until they are taught this (along with other recycling best practises), their waste will continue to end up being burnt or decomposing on landfill sites
3. Simpler recycling capabilities need to be implemented. By reducing confusion around what can/can’t be recycled, the recycling journey is made easier for consumers
4. Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture and keep other pollutants in mind. As with everything, moderation is key. Reduce, reuse and recycle where possible. Do business with companies who’re on the frontline against the fight on pollutants and championing sustainability, such as Versapak
5. Whilst Versapak customers can now Recycle their Seals through this scheme you should ultimately be mindful about your carbon footprint and use only what you need, doing what you can, when you can
Liked our discussion? Or perhaps you had a query about getting involved with our Recycle Your Seals scheme. You can check us out on Twitter or alternatively, feel free to get in touch with us, here.


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SuperGreen Solutions is a franchise retail chain with its headquarters in Palm Beach, Florida, and stores in 15 states. Late last year, SuperGreen Solutions announced that they’ve signed master franchise agreements in Canada and Panama.
Master franchisee Francis Gough has signed 10-unit development deal for three provinces in Canada, including British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Victor Ortiz is the new master franchisee Panama, with plans to open two units.
A recent South Florida Business Journal article about the company wrote:
SuperGreen Solutions combines retail stores with in-home consultations on products and installation, along with advice on obtaining financing or rebates. The stores sell an array of technology including solar panels and efficient water heaters.
The company founder is Sean Cochrane, 48, of North Palm Beach, who started a similar chain of stores in Australia called All Safe Energy Products.
Cochrane said his store offers the added advantage of expert advice and being focused only on green products.
“Anyone can sell you a hot water system or skylight,” Cochrane said, “but we give you expert advice on how to size it correctly, choose the best brand for your needs and get every available green option rebate and incentive. We also provide assistance with financing as well as delivery, installation and after-sales support.”
SuperGreen Solutions has three South Florida stores in Ft. Lauderdale, Hallandale and Palm Beach. Be sure to visit their website for more information about SuperGreen Solutions, their product line and store locations.


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Disposable razor range Super-Max is being expanded with two new formats - antibacterial and skin refreshing.
Antibacterial Super-Max Ultimate3 Pro-Tect marked a category first as it featured a strip with an anti-bacterial agent to prevent the accumulation of germs, claimed the company. Super-Max Ultimate3 Re-Fresh also represented the first time a cooling strip with menthol and eucalyptus had been included to refresh the skin and reduce irritation, it said.
Research had shown hygiene and a feeling of freshness were high priorities for consumers, the company said. Available now in male and female versions, the razors come in packs of three and six (rsp: £2.99 and £4.29).


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Carvana, a “five-story, all-glass vending machine for cars,” has come to Raleigh.
The “Raleigh Car Vending Machine” is the sixth to be built, joining others in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Nashville.
It is located off I-440 at 1631 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, and can be seen from the Beltline.
“The Raleigh Car Vending Machine will serve as a pick-up experience for customers who purchase a car online through Carvana.com,” the company announced Wednesday.
Carvana sells vehicles online and makes deliveries as soon as the next day.
Customers can now elect to pick up their purchased car from the Raleigh Car Vending Machine, which holds up to 18 vehicles.
“If you’ve driven through Raleigh lately, you’ve likely seen the vending machine taking shape and wondered what it was. The wait is over, and we look forward to welcoming customers at North Carolina’s very first Car Vending Machine,” said Ernie Garcia, founder and CEO of Carvana. “We’re making car buying fun again by giving customers an easy, quick alternative to the traditional dealership.”


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Proposals for Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Acts issued
The European Commission issued on 15th of December the long awaited proposals for the Digital Services Act (“DSA”) and the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”) that are supposed to lay down the foundation for the digital space reform.
The new regulations are one important step on the path to implement the European data strategy as well as the European Commission’s Intellectual Property Action Plan to fight against infringement of intellectual property rights.
The megatrends of digital transformation and exploding use of online social networks further accelerated by the pandemic, have triggered new risks and challenges. Therefore, the provision of intermediary services across the internal market compels harmonization. The new rules will govern social media, online market places and other online platforms operating in Europe and have an ambitious objective: they are supposed to provide better protection for consumers as well as enhance transparency in the digital markets. The legislative whole is also expected to promote innovation, security and competitiveness.
DSA aims to increase transparency and manage illegal and other harmful content online
The Digital Services Act is expected to implement new tools for faster removal of illegal goods, services and content and safeguard better protection for users, setting forth clear responsibilities for intermediary service providers such as online platforms. By way of example, the DSA includes a notice-and-action mechanism addressing illegal content online in alignment, although in somewhat clarified form, with the current e-commerce directive. Illegal content may include, for example, copyright infringements, terrorist content, child abuse or hate speech as well as illegal products. Further, certain online platforms will be obliged to provide information on traders using their services. The DSA will also implement a possibility to object to the online platform’s content moderation choices. Large online platforms will be responsible, in general, for higher transparency as to how the platform, its advertising and algorithms operate. All these changes are supposed to enhance users’ security and result in a safe(r) online environment. Very large online platforms will also be subject to enhanced supervision.
DMA aims to rein in technology giants operating as digital gatekeepers
The Digital Markets Act, in turn, is expected to harmonize rules defining and prohibiting unfair practices by very large online platforms such as search engines, social networks or online intermediators, which provide core services while acting as “digital gatekeepers” because of their market power enabling them to control large platform ecosystems, including their business users and competitors, even by managing access to consumers or exploiting user data in an unfair manner. The unfair trade practices are especially harmful in platform lock-down situations where the users do not have a meaningful option to switch to another platform. The purpose of the DMA is to define these unfair practices, introduce clear prohibitions to such activities and provide an effective enforcement mechanism to address unfair practices based on market investigations, including fines of up to 10% of the gatekeeper’s worldwide turnover. The changes are expected to help small and medium size enterprises and start-ups in competition against technology giants.
As the new regulations will implement one set of rules for the entire EU, digital services providers will need to adjust to the upcoming changes and implement standardised procedures concerning, for example take down of illegal content and transparency of content moderation. Further, large online platforms will need to ensure that they operate responsibly in compliance with the new rules. However, it will still take substantial amount of time until the new rules come into force. The European Commission submitted the Acts as legislative proposals to the European Parliament, which, in turn, will discuss the proposal in the ordinary legislative procedure together with the Council. The Parliament and the Council may accept the text as proposed or choose to amend it, or, even reject the proposals altogether. While it may take several months or even years until the proposals are processed and the acts – hopefully – come into force, once adopted, the DSA and DMA will be directly applicable across the European Union. The new regulations will, however, not limit any obligations arising under the general data protection regulation (“GDPR”) or other Union rules on the protection of personal data and privacy of communications. Further, also the e-commerce directive will continue in force in amended form.
Developments on the DSA and DMA level are closely followed in various forums also in Finland: the European legislative framework and changes in online regulatory environment is monitored in connection with the IPR steering group appointed by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland, which is in the process of creating the new IPR strategy for Finland. “Any actions to promote innovation within the fields of data, artificial intelligence and platform business should be planned in light of the developing European regulatory framework” says Anna Haapanen, a member of the IPR steering group.


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When consumers ask where their food came from, the answer isn’t “the supermarket”. These days, they’re looking for provenance, traceability, accountability.
Peace of mind that – in today’s border-spanning, agent-intensive, globally networked sourcing environment – is getting more and more challenging for supply chain and quality professionals in the food and drink industry.
But quality experts today have a secret weapon – the big data in the supply chain. With the right tools, you can turn that data into accurate insights that help you control risks before they happen. For instance, how would a bad harvest in India endanger allergy sufferers?
Big Data knows.


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Xbox Games Taunt Opposition In Australia
After only six months some cross-platform titles are selling better on Xbox
Aussie Xbox gamers are snapping up cross-platform title software at a rate far greater than the ratio of installed games
consoles according to Microsoft New Zealand.
The installed base of Playstation 2 consoles in Australia since launching in November 2001, is roughly five times that
of Xbox, the company says, but on average PS2 shared titles are only outselling identical Xbox titles by 1.3 to 1, since
Xbox launched in Australia.
And at least seven of the top 15 cross-platform titles sell better on Xbox. Cross-platform software titles are those
that are available on at least two different console systems.
With only days to go before Xbox launches here, New Zealand marketing manager Wilf Robinson has returned from a Sydney
Xbox conference with six month sales figures from Australia.
Xbox launched across the Tasman on March 14 and Robinson says the new generation video game system has been punching
well above its weight.
"There was a lot of good news for Xbox in Australia but to me the telling thing is that gamers are voting for Xbox with
their wallets when it comes to choosing software."
Mr Robinson says the figures clearly reflect that Xbox versions of software look and play better than any other console
"It's a very exciting time in our industry. There has never been a time when there was such an abundance of cross
platform titles AND where one of the platforms enables the games to look, sound and play so much better. Gamers who want
the best version of a game, are buying the Xbox version.
"Of all the titles that have shipped on Xbox and other consoles since we launched, on average the Xbox version is
selling 76 per cent of the of it's nearest competitor, even though the installed base of Xbox is only 20 per cent that
of the same competitor.
"That's pretty exciting for us and a great omen for our launch. When you add these facts to the incredible array of
Xbox-only titles, the gamer is definitely the winner," Mr Robinson says.
The Australian cross-platform titles that are selling better on Xbox are Turok Evolution, F1 2002, David Beckham's
Soccer, Gauntlet Dark Legacy, All Star Baseball and Circus Maximus: Chariot Wars.
Xbox launches in New Zealand this coming Thursday (October 3) at $499. A number of retailers are offering special launch
bundles that include a variety of accessories for the launch price.
About Xbox Xbox is Microsoft's future-generation video game system which delivers the most powerful game play experience
ever. Xbox gives gamers and developers the technology to fulfil their creative visions as never before with games that
blur the lines between fantasy and reality. The Xbox features the most powerful graphics processor of any game console,
a built-in hard disk, built-in broadband capability, real-time Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound support throughout the
entire game and DVD capability. For the latest New Zealand news and updates go to www.xbox.co.nz


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"We will upgrade the competitiveness of the materials, parts and equipment industries," South Korean Economy and Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki, said, as quoted by the news outlet.
According to the publication, South Korea's deficit in trade with Japan amounted to $24.1 billion in 2018, including $22.4 billion spent on the purchase of industrial materials, parts and equipment.
On Friday, Tokyo decided to remove South Korea from the list of trade partners that have preferences in importing Japanese technologies and high-tech products. Last month, Japan also introduced restrictions on South Korean exports of fluorinated polyamides, photoresists and hydrogen fluoride, three key materials for producing memory chips and smartphones. The move is believed to be a response to a South Korean court ruling, making Japanese companies pay compensation to South Korean forced labor victims during the 1910-1945 Japanese rule of Korea.
The ties between South Korea and Japan have long been aggravated by the memory of Japan's colonial rule over Korea from 1910-1945. It is believed that Japanese companies forced prisoners of war as well as local residents into hard labor in the Japanese military industry during the occupation and throughout World War II. Japan considers South Korea’s damage claims for colonialism to be unfounded, since Tokyo paid $500 million to Seoul in 1965 to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries and to finally close the issue of compensation.


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Kevin O’Loughlin, head of Nostra: ‘I’m a people person and being stuck at a PC wasn’t enough for me’
The IT firm is forecasting revenues of €50 million this year, but its co-founder is very clear that money comes second to his love of the business
If there is one thing to say about Kevin O’Loughlin, it is that he doesn’t lack ambition.
“I’ve long stated that we want to be the biggest company in Ireland. We’ve taken our time about it but we now have the roadmap to get us there,” the co-founder and chief executive of Nostra Technologies says.
The company O’Loughlin founded with his brother Barry, Gary Byrne and Senan Finucane in 2006, is forecasting revenues of €50 million this year. Impressive, but a sign that there is a considerable way to travel before the firm achieves its target.


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Turkish marble sees high demand from Chinese importers
Turkey’s marble exports have stood out in recent years in the Chinese market. With its history of more than 3,000 years in marble manufacturing, Afyonkarahisar’s İscehisar district accounts for a significant portion of Turkey’s exports in this area. The world famous “Afyon marble” produced in the district, which hosts some 500 marble manufacturing enterprises, is exported to 120 countries including China, India, the U.S., Iraq, France, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. Businessmen and trade delegations from China place orders in one-on-one meetings with marble manufacturers in İscehisar. The marble exports from İscehisar to China in the first five months of the year amounted to $17.89 million, up from $15.83 million in the same period last year, marking a 13 percent rise.
İscehisar Marble Manufacturers Association Chairman Muharrem Çakmak told Anadolu Agency (AA), “When we say marble in Turkey, the first place that comes to mind is İscehisar. Today, when we speak of İscehisar, everyone thinks of resolute, enthusiastic and hardworking people who earn their living from the marble industry.”, emphasizing that the marble sector is the most important means of earning a living in the district,as there are some big and small 500 marble enterprises and workshops in the district that provide great added value to the national economy.
Afyon marble becoming popular in China
Wang Bin, a Chinese businessman, said they come to Turkey every month to buy marble, noting that they have been importing marble from the country for nearly a decade. “I buy marble from Turkey all the time. Afyon marble has become popular in China in recent years. Since gray stones in particular are popular in our country, we prefer Afyon marble. Not only me, but also many Chinese businessmen come here and negotiate to buy marble,” he said.
Remarking that the Afyon marble is mostly used in construction, Wang said as China is a crowded and constantly developing country in terms of population, they use marble extensively. He further stated that they value marble very well, adding that it is no longer a luxury but an item of daily life for them. “We use Turkish marble everywhere in China. It is used for exterior cladding on buildings and indoors, as well as in bathrooms, kitchens, shopping malls, many luxury houses and artists’ houses. China will continue to buy marble from Turkey,” he said.
Yalçın Özsarı, a marble manufacturing company manager, noted that they cut marble and extract it in blocks in the İscehisar marble quarry and sell it to domestic and overseas markets. Expressing that they have been engaged in this business for around six years, Özsarı said: “When we started, our exports to China were very low. We were shipping two containers of marble a month. However, our exports to this country have increased for the last four years. We have six customers from China. We regularly produce for these companies.”
The post Turkish marble sees high demand from Chinese importers appeared first on StoneNews.eu.
1:32 pm June 29, 2019
Atieh Pasargad Amethyst International Trade Company
Address: Old Qom kashan Road – Omid Stone City – Qom – Iran
Ali Shafiei – CMO » Ali@pasargadstone.com
Hossein Shafiei – CEO » Hossein@pasargadstone.com
(+98) 912 553 5362
Ali Shafiei – CMO
Chief Marketing Officer
(+98) 912 251 8055
Hossein Shafiei – CEO
Chief Executive Officer


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The VIP of Silicon Valley’s party
The Future. Generative A.I. is helping artists produce their next masterpiece. According to the New York Times, no image-generating project has developed as much buzz (or as much controversy) as Stable Diffusion. Will this innovative tech create a wave of new job opportunities or eradicate a whole labor force?
Stable Diffusion is helping artists get unblocked.
- What separates Stable Diffusion from other text-to-image generators is that anyone can view its code or download it and run a modified version on a personal computer.
- It also comes with an easily disabled safety filter that doesn’t prevent users from creating offensive images, leading to a number of NSFW generations.
Emad Mostaque, the founder and chief executive of Stability AI (the startup behind Stable Diffusion), is opposed to the idea of having a tech giant like Google or Facebook control “the most powerful technology in the world.” Rather, he trusts the online community to engage with his image generator as they see fit.
Additionally, conventional A.I. organizations deem Mostaque’s approach as naive or reckless, pointing out that he has no educational or professional background in artificial intelligence as a former hedge fund manager.
Dream or nightmare?
In an age when little feels novel and Big Tech controls much of the internet, Mostaque believes that A.I. generated imagery, even from an unregulated source, will deliver the muse to “a creatively constipated” economy.


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Cinder Block Brewery lays the groundwork for kegs and bottles in 2015
Cinder Block Brewery has moved at its own pace since it opened in September 2013. Though craft-beer drinkers have clamored for Cinder Block to send kegs of its beer outside its North Kansas City taproom, owner Bryce Schaffter has chosen to wait until the time is right.
“We always said that it’s going to grow organically,” Schaffter says. “When things are ready, it’s going to happen.”
In 2015, it’s finally happening for Cinder Block.
“We will be distributing in kegs by the first of the year,” Schaffter tells The Pitch. “It just felt like the right time.”
Schaffter is still finalizing details with the distributor, so he’s not quite ready to name names. The plan is to start with kegs of Cinder Block’s flagship beers and also do bottles of the brewery’s higher-alcohol releases. Then, those flagship beers will be released in cans at a later date.
“We bought a canner,” Schaffter says. “A small, small, small, small canner. Small enough that it can be on wheels but big enough for us.”
Cinder Block’s brewing schedule is now once a week, maybe once every two weeks, with each batch kicking out 26–30 half-barrel kegs.
“We could easily cut that in half and still serve easily the taproom and serve our year-round six beers to 20-some bars, and still be OK and not have to change up brewing once a week,” Schaffter says. “If things start gaining momentum, yeah, we might have to brew a couple of times a week. Everything is set up to do that.”
Until Cinder Block’s 2015 rollout, the taproom is the place to be for the brewery’s beers. And those taps are pouring with several new beers.
Earlier this week, Cinder Block released Cinder Noel, a seasonal beer that Schaffter describes as a “Belgian-style winter beer,” with an ABV of 11 percent. He says it was spiced with coriander and 40 pounds of orange zest.
“It has somewhat of a fruit note that comes with it, but it’s a darker Belgian at the same time,” he adds.
Among the past few months’ releases are Copious Brown, made with 32 pounds of Vermont maple syrup, aged on whiskey oak staves and served on nitro (8.5 percent ABV, 25 IBUs); the easily drunk Rough Cut Lager, the first beer that Cinder Block has ever lagered or filtered (6.5 percent ABV, 21 IBUs); and a cherry cider, made with Michigan tart cherries (6 percent ABV).
“We kind of went on a run and started kicking out new stuff,” Schaffter says.
Aside from distribution in 2015, Cinder Block has plans for the next addition to the Hop Maven series (a black IPA); releases of a 1-year-old bourbon-barrel-aged Black Squirrel Russian Imperial Stout and a 2014 Black Squirrel; a couple of new ciders (one dry and one hoppy); and Collapsed Barleywine, which is being aged in 10-year-old brandy barrels and pops with candy flavors such as dark sugars and raisins (13 percent ABV).
Collapsed isn’t to be missed, and Kansas City drinkers will be able to pick up a limited number of bottles or get it on draft.
“We’ve got some label approval done,” Schaffter says, “and we’re just finishing up some agreements.”
There’s no time like the present.


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Table of Contents
Model N, Inc MODN recently reported preliminary fourth-quarter fiscal 2020 results, wherein the management stated that the company’s revenue and profitability metrics exceeded the previously announced guidance. The stock was up 1.7% to $36.22 following the announcement on Oct 8.
Model N’s transformation to a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) based model is driving top-line growth along with strength in logo business and new client additions.
The upbeat preliminary results augur well for the upcoming earnings release, as it hints toward upward estimate revisions and plausible revenue beat. Markedly, Model N is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2020 results on Nov 10, 2020.
Model N, Inc. Price and Consensus
Model N, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Model N, Inc. Quote
Model N also announced that David Barter was stepping down as the chief financial officer to pursue new opportunities. The company noted that search was on for his replacement and in the interim, Barter will assist the company in advisory capacity for easy transition.
A Look at Previous Q4 Guidance
Management had earlier guided fiscal fourth-quarter 2020 total revenues between $40.1 million and $40.5 million compared with $36.6 million reported in fourth-quarter 2019.
Currently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the fourth quarter revenues is pegged at $40.4 million, indicating year over year growth of 10.4%.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2020, the company reported revenue of $41.3 million, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.4% and increased 19% year over year.
Further, Model N projected subscription revenues in the range of $29-$29.4 million and non-GAAP net income in the range of 7-9 cents per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS stands at 9 cents for the fiscal fourth quarter. Notably, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings has remained unchanged for the past 60 days.
Adjusted EBITDA was forecast between $4.6 million and $5 million for the said quarter.
Momentum in Revenue Software Solutions to Drive Growth
Model N has significant growth opportunity in the revenue management market, especially in the high-tech and life sciences verticals, as enterprises continue to replace legacy processes that were error prone and expensive.
Model N’s revenue cloud offerings provide higher Return on Investment as well as close gaps in the end-to-end revenue management process where legacy systems fail.
Coronavirus crisis has expedited the digital transformation among businesses especially for companies engaged in life sciences vertical.
Markedly, the company has bagged client deals from pharma companies like Medtech Enterprise, Integra, Ipsen, and Seqirus along with SaaS transition deals from Gilead Sciences, Mylan, Biogen, Alcon, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, and Novo Nordisk.
Also, in the recent past, the company announced that AVX Electronics was fully powered by its revenue management cloud offerings after the latter completed the deployment of the Model N software across its international operations.
Increasing number of customer wins bodes well for the company’s top line growth in the long haul and instils investor confidence in the stock.
Further, Model N is focusing on generating most revenues from the cloud instead of on-premise that will increase recurring revenues. The company is making steady progress in its transformation to a SaaS based model, which is driving top-line growth.
Per a Gartner Report, by 2022, public cloud services market is projected to hit $364.1 billion, up 50% from $242.7 billion in 2019. The SaaS market is expected to rally 38% to $140.6 billion by 2022 from 2019.
Further, worldwide revenue management system market is expected to witness a CAGR of 10.7% between 2021 and 2026 to reach $29.9 billion per Industry Research Report. Increasing demand for competitive pricing, and strict adherence to regulatory compliances are likely to drive demand for this market.
Both these opportunities bode well for Model N, which at present manages client revenues worth billions across 120 countries. It has also bagged deals from some of the biggest names in tech and pharma verticals like Microchip Technology MCHP, ON Semiconductor ON as well as Johnson & Johnson and Novartis NVS.
Currently, Model N carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Wirral’s Planning Committee has given consent for the demolition of the current Aldi building on Woodchurch Road and the building of a new store.
One consequence is that two businesses – Home Bargains and Vets 4 Pets – which currently lease space in the current building will be forced to re-locate.
This has caused considerable anger among users of these businesses, but the Council is powerless to stop what is a commercial decision by Aldi. The leases for both companies are due to run out next year and Aldi has not intention of renewing them.
The new £5 million store will be set further back from Woodchurch Road and the delivery bay will be further away from residents in Cumberland Avenue.
The plan of the new site shows the new site layout. Oxton’s Lib Dem councillors are concerned about the changed access to the site. One (bottom left on the plan above) will be designed as a left-in, left-out access onto Woodchurch Road. As Councillor Stuart Kelly established at the committee meeting, there would be nothing to stop vehicles turning right onto the busy Woodchurch Road.
The second access (top right) is a changed entrance off Duckpond Lane, with traffic moving in and out and a wider crossing. This is also a pedestrian route to the children’s playground.
Despite assurances from the highways department that these arrangements are satisfactory, Stuart was unconvinced and voted against the application, but the majority of the Planning Committee supported it.
Work on the demolition is expected to begin in the New Year and a representative of Aldi told councillors that it would take 11 months for the new store with its wider shopping aisles to be completed.


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Wall Street Journal reporter Amir Efrati has let it slip that none other than Chrome/Android head Sundar Pichai has divulged the existence of a next-generation Samsung-made Nexus 10 tablet. If Pichai related more details to Efrati, he's keeping them under his hat. Still, Samsung is more or less confirmed as the OEM for Google's next 10-inch slate.
— Amir Efrati (@amir) July 24, 2013
The Nexus 10 was announced along side the Nexus 4 late last year. It came with an unprecedented 2560x1600 LCD panel, which has since spurred other OEMs to step it up in the display department. Makes you wonder what the next one is going to improve on.
With the non-stop torrent of leaks surrounding the Nexus 7, it's not too surprising that Google isn't worried about keeping this one a secret. We can probably expect more details to emerge long before the device is officially announced.


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LACASA Center’s charity resale boutique, LACASA Collection, will host a pop-up awareness event and anniversary celebration at the Tanger Outlets mall in Howell on Friday, March 9, 2018.
Tanger launched a new program, the Tanger Cares Suite, in January. The goal is to give area nonprofits a public space to meet with mall shoppers and increase awareness about the services and programs these organizations provide in the community.
“We are excited to participate in this event,” said Danial Jones, LACASA Collection’s retail director. “Our store is working hard to create an enjoyable shopping experience for our customers and we want to get the word out about what we offer. LACASA supporters continue to donate lovely high-end items, and we will be showcasing some of those donations at the Tanger Cares Suite.”
Suite visitors are invited to bring donations of new or nearly-new clothing or home décor items, which later will be offered for sale at the LACASA Collection. The first 50 contributors will receive a free Tanger tote bag. Visitors also can enter a drawing to win one of four $50 gift certificates for the LACASA Collection store.
“Our store will be commemorating its six-month anniversary that week,” said Jones. “We’re inviting everyone to stop in and help us celebrate with cake and other sweet surprises.”
LACASA Center opened its unique boutique, LACASA Collection, on Sept. 8, 2017. The store features furnishings, home décor and kitchenware; jewelry, shoes and accessories; children’s books, games and toys; as well as clothing for the whole family.
Proceeds from the store return directly to LACASA Center to fund programs and services for local victims of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault. All store merchandise is donated and LACASA clients receive vouchers to “shop with dignity” at the store for the things they need at no charge.
The LACASA Collection suite at Tanger Outlets will be open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 9, in the G201 store, next to the mall’s Shopper Services office. Tanger is located off I-96 at 1475 Burkhart Rd., Howell.
Tanger Cares Suite events are held on the second Friday of each month. Various area nonprofits are slated to participate throughout the year, including Gleaners Community Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, and Work Skills Corporation.
The LACASA Collection store is located at 120 W. Highland Rd., Kroger/Crossroads Town Center, in Howell. To learn more about the LACASA Collection or LACASA Center, visit lacasacollection.org or lacasacenter.org.


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It’s not often that politicians are applauded these days, but there was widespread approval for a decision by the government, announced in March, to introduce a sugar levy on soft drinks. Many in the traditional soft drinks industry, though, are unhappy about the tax, which will be introduced in two years’ time in order to allow them to reformulate some of their recipes.
According to the Treasury, drinks that fall within the higher rate of the sugar tax include full-strength Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Lucozade Energy and Irn-Bru. The lower rate would catch Dr Pepper, Fanta, Sprite, Schweppes Indian Tonic Water and alcohol-free shandy, among others.
Hey Like Wow, available at leading UK retailers from November, is a new range of drinks that contains fruit flavours without any added sugar, preservatives or ‘nasties’
A 330ml can of Coca-Cola contains 35g or seven teaspoons of sugar, more than the recommended maximum intake of sugar for those aged 11 and above. Experts point out that fizzy drinks aren’t necessarily regarded as a treat, unlike chocolate and cakes, and so people consume them more frequently. For teenagers, they’re the primary source of sugar intake.
“Five-year-old children are consuming their body weight in sugar every year,” George Osborne, the chancellor, told Parliament as he unveiled plans for the tax. As experts predict that more than half of all boys and nearly three quarters of girls could be overweight or obese within a generation, it was revealed diabetes and other illnesses related to obesity cost the economy £27 billion a year and put a huge strain on the NHS.
Against this background, it’s hardly surprising then that a new drink, which provides effective hydration with delicious fruit flavours, but without sugar or preservatives, is creating such a buzz in the food and beverage sector – and among parents too.
Hey Like Wow, which was launched in January and will be available at the leading UK retailer from November, is a new range of drinks that contains fruit flavours without any added sugar, preservatives or “nasties”.
Set to shake up the UK’s £15.7-billion soft drinks industry, it’s not just Hey Like Wow’s ingredients that are so innovative. The drink’s blast-cap technology allows you to deliver those ingredients to pure, natural mineral water as soon as you’re ready to drink it. This ensures that the vitamins are delivered in the most efficient, effective way and there’s no need for preservatives.
Hey Like Wow products have been carefully formulated to provide key nutrients such as vitamins B6, C and D plus calcium. The high-impact, differentiated brand packaging and structural bottle design convey the unique nature of the concept, and are created to appeal to both kids and adults.
“The war on sugar is one of the key issues being faced by food and drink manufacturers and retailers,” say the Hey Like Wow team. “As consumers and parents we were frustrated by the choice of soft drinks that were promoted as being healthy, yet in reality were anything but. It was clear to us that radical innovation was needed – and so that’s what we’ve done.”
The founders come from a wide variety of business backgrounds, but they’re united in their vision of producing a healthy, refreshing and delicious drink which is free from sugar and preservatives. They’re all equally passionate about Hey Like Wow and the health benefits that it offers to young people.
“We’ve brought together some of the most exciting and innovative players in the drinks manufacturing and cap technology industries to develop a range of products that look and taste great, but which have genuine health properties,” the team say. The water used in the drinks comes from the Alps and the natural fruit flavours have been sourced from Italy.
Releasing the active ingredients with the blast-cap top really makes people stop and say “Wow!” But it’s not just the technology and concept that are very much on trend, it’s the taste too. The Hey Like Wow team have deliberately chosen flavours that are slightly unusual and have a contemporary feel, having been used by chefs and other innovative food producers in recent years. These include hibiscus, grape and pear, lemon, green tea and elderflower as well as dragon fruit and apple.
“We know from our market research, but also from talking to other parents that there is a real demand for this kind of exciting new drink,” the team say. They’ve commissioned a survey, carried out by Censuswide, which has revealed that a third of people believe there should be a tax on sugar. Nearly half of teenagers and young adults, aged 16 to 24, agree with the new controversial sugar tax, even though they’re the target group for most soft drinks.
Hey Like Wow has brought in a talented team of industry experts, each of whom has made the decision to live without consuming unnatural sweeteners and preservatives. They include Dr Sarah Schenker, one of the UK’s leading dieticians, a registered public health nutritionist and a best-selling author.
The plan is to grow the Hey Like Wow brand globally with an extensive marketing campaign including celebrity endorsement.
As governments, retailers and parents search for ways to cut down the amount of sugary drinks consumed by children and the population generally, Hey Like Wow looks set to revolutionise the soft drinks industry and, ultimately, help millions of people to lead healthier lives.
For more information please visit www.heylikewow.com


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Whole Foods Market Earnings Preview
Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFM), one of the leading natural and organic foods supermarkets, is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2011 financial results after the bell on Wednesday, November 2, 2011. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is 41 cents a share. The Zacks Consensus estimates revenue at $2,360 million for the quarter under discussion.
Third-Quarter 2011, a Synopsis
Whole Foods Market posted better-than-expected third-quarter 2011 results on the heels of strong sales as shoppers flocked to the grocery chain, thereby encouraging it to lift its outlook. The company has been gaining market share compared with other supermarket chains. Austin, Texas based Whole Foods said that quarterly earnings of 50 cents a share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 48 cents, and jumped 31.6% from 38 cents earned in the prior-year quarter. The company sustained its top-line growth momentum with revenue climbing 10.9% to $2,399.8 million in theComplete Story »


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The Freight Transport Association (FTA) says Clean Air Zones (CAZs) will fail businesses and deliver limited air quality improvements. Natalie Chapman, the FTA’s head of urban policy, writes about what could take their place.
While CAZs differ in detail across the country, the premise remains the same: vehicles which do not meet the prescribed emissions standards – Euro VI or 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol vehicles – will be charged upon entering an applicable town or city.
In some cities, such as Birmingham, all types of vehicles – buses, coaches, taxis, minicabs, HGVs, vans and cars – will be included. In others, such as Leeds, cars will be exempt. Any air quality benefit derived from CAZs will be short-lived, as the Euro VI/6 vehicles required to enter a Zone will come into vehicle fleets of their own accord, as part of the natural fleet replacement cycle.
Euro VI has been mandatory in all new trucks since the beginning of 2014. By the start of 2021, FTA estimates (based on historic fleet turnover patterns) that more than half of the UK truck fleet will already be Euro VI.
CAZs are expensive and time-consuming for local authorities to implement. They also punish the small businesses and individuals who work tirelessly to power the local economy by forcing them to purchase new vehicles ahead of their budgeted renewal cycles.
Instead of investing valuable resources in a short-lived project that will only
dampen regional economic growth and punish those who can least afford to pay, local authorities should look towards longer-term, more sustainable solutions.
In the view of FTA, councils would be better placed to invest their resources in initiatives such as congestion management, retiming deliveries to quieter periods and encouraging businesses to adopt alternative fuels.
According to the FTA, the government and local authorities should incentivise the uptake of alternatively fuelled and electric commercial vehicles. From significantly higher purchase costs and uncertainty over residual values, to inadequate charging infrastructure and microconsolidation, there are many issues that need to be addressed before electric vehicles (EVs) can become commonplace on our streets.
Local authorities can help to make electric cars and vans a more viable choice for businesses by: supporting planning applications for EV micro-consolidation centres; ensuring all on-street charging points are accessible and working with electricity suppliers to ensure there is sufficient grid
capacity to support charging infrastructure development, among several other measures. Unlike vans and other light commercial vehicles, fully electric HGVs are not a mass-market solution in the short-to-medium-term, but FTA is working with the government on developing a definition of an Ultra-Low Emission Truck (ULET) which will give businesses, and local authorities alike, assurances on which technology will replace diesel HGVs.
As there is limited space in our towns and cities to build new roads, we need to ensure existing infrastructure is used in the most effective way possible. After all, congestion has a direct impact on fuel consumption and emissions, according to a leading truck manufacturer, stopping three times per mile, and getting back up to 30mph each time, triples emissions compared to just cruising at 30mph.
Reviewing road layouts and traffic signals can significantly help reduce congestion; improving road traffic also means the logistics industry can operate more efficiently, potentially reducing the number of vehicles it needs to deploy.
Retiming freight activity out of the morning peak hours to less congested times in the day, or even overnight, would bring huge benefits to the logistics industry, in the view of FTA. This approach would reduce journey times and fuel consumption, leading to improvements in air quality.
And with fewer lorries on the road during the school rush and other peak times, it would help to protect the most vulnerable road users. This article covers just three suggested alternatives, other measures include consolidation and working in partnership with customers.
According to FTA, these alternative approaches – in place of CAZs – would deliver long-term, ongoing benefits to urban areas. FTA is urging local authorities to contemplate these measures before rushing to adopt a CAZ.
Efficient logistics is vital to keep Britain trading, directly having an impact on more than seven million people employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With Brexit, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc.
This article featured in the first Air Quality News magazine, which you can read here.


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For several years now, the best Chromebooks have slowly gained a pretty dedicated following as former skeptics became converts - and even prosthelytizers - of the lightweight Chrome OS and the highly affordable laptops it powers. Still, it hasn't come close to challenging Microsoft or Apple - or even Linux - as the operating system of choice for the vast majority of consumers.
There are a whole host of reasons for this, not the least of which is Microsoft's far-sighted strategy of licensing its operating systems to OEMs, which helped it capture over 95% of the PC market in the early to mid 1990s, a market position that has only slightly eroded due to the popularity of Apple's competing OSX-powered laptops and desktops.
As it stands, Windows installs account for just over 76% of desktop operating systems according to GlobalStats, a category that includes laptop computers. Apple's OSX accounts for another 17% of desktop OS installs, comprising just over 93% of desktop installations.
Chrome OS, meanwhile, accounts for just 1.83% of OS installs - hardly an enviable market position - but that number doesn't tell the whole story.
With the novel coronavirus pandemic disrupting educational routines across the world, Chromebooks have become a vital lifeline for schools having to transition almost overnight to remote learning.
The low cost laptops have made it possible for students everywhere, regardless of means, to continue their education with some semblance of a normal routine and the infrastructure for remote learning that was hastily built in the early days of the pandemic will continue on in many ways once the pandemic subsides.
Any teacher will tell you that there is no replacing in-person instruction, so students will one day leave the Zoom classes behind and return to the physical classroom - but they will be bringing their Chromebooks with them, and the impact of that on the future of Chrome OS and the Chromebooks they power will be long-lasting.
How remote learning turbocharged Chromebook sales
Desktop PC sales took a huge hit in Q3 2020, according to market analyst Canalys, falling 27% short year over year for desktop workstations and 33% for tower and small desktop PCs. This is hardly surprising given offices around the world closed down to adhere to social distancing protocols.
Instead, laptops saw a huge spike in overall sales as the global workforce made the move to working from home, accelerating an existing trend towards mobile computing systems like laptops and tablets.
With the new academic year starting in Fall 2020, schools and families everywhere turned to Chromebooks as low-cost solutions to the challenge of remote learning, fueling a 122% growth in Chromebook sales in Q3 2020.
In total, 9.4 million Chromebooks were sold that quarter, and while Q4 2020 and Q1 2021 aren't likely to see the same kind of raw units sold as the start of an academic year, the reliance on Chromebooks to meet the educational needs of students isn't going to disappear with the end of the pandemic.
We don't want to overstate the case. The 9.4 million Chromebooks sold in Q3 2020 are a fraction of the 124.5 million computers (including tablets) sold in the quarter (roughly 7.5%), so nobody should expect Chromebooks to suddenly challenge the Windows/OSX duopoly in 2021, if ever.
But just as important as the number of Chromebooks being sold - perhaps even more important – is who ends up using them.
Chrome OS is increasingly the first OS students ever encounter
One of the brilliant insights of Microsoft's market strategy in the 1990s was that by putting their OS on as many computers as possible, they ensured that a family's first PC was almost guaranteed to be a Windows PC. Kids in the 1990s grew up using Windows and quickly became comfortable with the system, making it more likely they would continue to buy Windows PCs in the future.
If anyone doubts this, just look at what happened in the late 2000s and early 2010s when netbook manufacturers tried to keep costs low by installing a Linux OS instead of Windows.
Now, however, children are using computers as an integral part of their education in ways they never have before, and for many of them, Chrome OS is the first operating system that they become familiar with.
As Extremetech points out, this fact isn't lost on Microsoft, and is likely behind many of its recent moves to solidify its presence in the education space with products like Office 365 and requiring Microsoft accounts in order to use several of its non-education products like Minecraft.
And while there's no question that those same kids whose first computer is a Chromebook will eventually need to work within the Microsoft and Apple ecosystems as well, that established familiarity with Chrome OS and Chromebooks make it much more likely that they will be open to buying Chromebooks in the future.
Chromebooks are more robust than ever
It's ironic that for many players, Cyberpunk 2077 was much more stable – and even just playable – on Google Stadia than it was on their PCs or game consoles. But if you know anything about cloud computing, it isn't at all surprising.
By offloading all the resource intensive work to the cloud, Chromebooks with a solid internet connection are increasingly able to hold their own against Windows and OSX devices in terms of functionality. In fact, there a couple of things that Chromebooks have over legacy OS systems that are going to be a major market advantage going forward.
While the relatively low cost of a Chromebook is obvious, perhaps even more significant is its lower system overhead. Chrome OS was designed to be especially lightweight to allow it to run on low-end hardware, but we're seeing more powerful Chromebooks making their way to market.
The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 features some pretty impressive specs at a reasonable price while looking great at the same time. Meanwhile, AMD is introducing a new line of mobile Ryzen processors that emphasize efficiency while still providing far more performance than an ARM-based processor.
With so much of a Chromebook's functionality tied to the cloud, having the kind of specs normally reserved for Windows or OSX laptops with a light-touch OS means you'll be able to get some really great performance with the new upgraded hardware.
This is especially important with the other major feature of the Chromebook: access to the Android app ecosystem. While Windows might have the most desktop installs of any operating system out there, it isn't actually the most popular operating system in the world.
That would be Google's Android OS, which powers 41.58% of "computers" in the world, when you account for phones and tablets. With so many Android users in the world, Chromebooks have the additional advantage of tying in the world's most popular app ecosystem that can unite a consumer's phone, tablet, and laptop under a single unified ecosystem under a single Google account. That is something Windows laptops simply can't do.
All of this points to the continued growth of Chromebooks over the next few years, and 2021 could very well be the year that Chromebooks finally start winning over the masses.
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John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY.
Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.
You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.
Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).


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Get In Touch
March 2020 Archives
This April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, an annual event celebrated around the world to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries. As we get ready to celebrate this momentous anniversary, I have thought more about this planet, how it is evolving every day -- for better and for
With each iteration, Akamai moves nearer to our goal of enabling elite performance by the development teams that depend on Akamai for delivering reliable and highly performant experiences to their customers. The March 2020 release empowers teams to develop at the Akamai edge with even greater velocity, security, and visibility.
Welcome to Day 4 of Akamai's March 2020 Release. Before we dive into today's announcements, just a reminder of the week's schedule: Monday was Day 1 for security, with enhancements to Bot Manager, Fast DNS, Kona Site Defender, Managed Security Service, Prolexic Routed, and Web Application Protector. Tuesday was a second day for security that included updates for Enterprise Threat Protector, DNSi CacheServe, Fast DNS, and Identity Cloud. Wednesday provided
Problem Definition Media streaming typically involves three main components: a player, the origin, and a CDN. Typically, the content provider owns the player and the origin stack and hence is able to diagnose and troubleshoot issues, but the CDN for the most part is a black box.
To protect our industry, we need to protect our content. That's been an ongoing theme in conversations with Akamai's broadcast customers whose streaming offerings have evolved into critical business units.
Origin offload has received more attention in the past few years as more customers have moved their origins to the cloud. As such, the cost to access data has become an important issue. To support this move, Akamai has developed Cloud Wrapper to provide customers with a way to securely connect to private and public cloud storage and compute platforms, while improving origin offload and lowering cloud egress costs. Customers
As of March 2020, all Akamai Ion customers will benefit automatically from the more powerful Brotli/Zopfli compression algorithm for delivering their SVG files. The benefit of fewer SVG bytes is a positive impact on your visual performance KPIs (First Meaningful Paint, Time to Visually Ready, SpeedIndex, or the newest -- Largest Contentful Paint).
Welcome to Day 3 of Akamai's March 2020 Release. Before we dive into today's new and exciting announcements, just a reminder of the week's schedule: Monday was Day 1 for security with enhancements to Bot Manager, Fast DNS, Kona Site Defender, Managed Security Service, Prolexic Routed, and Web Application Protector. Tuesday added another day of security updates, including for Enterprise Threat Protector, DNSi CacheServe, Fast DNS, and Identity Cloud. Wednesday
In today's ever-shifting market, we recognize that you need to be constantly adapting, and Akamai provides a way to enhance your customers' experiences through our unique expertise, helping you unlock the value of Akamai's products and services.
As businesses and consumers around the world adjust their routines amid the various COVID-19 restrictions, the internet is being used at a scale that the world has never experienced. In addition to millions of people who are now working from home, students all over the world are going online to continue their studies, governments are increasingly leveraging the internet to communicate with their citizens, vast amounts of commerce have moved
Welcome to Akamai's March 2020 Release. As we covered yesterday, this release offers a week of product updates, with each day highlighting continued innovations across a different area of Akamai's portfolio: Monday and Tuesday feature two days of security updates. There's a lot going on in Akamai's security portfolio -- more than will fit into a single day. Wednesday introduces updates to Akamai's delivery platform for HTML, API, video, software,
Today, Akamai announced that it has added secure web gateway (SWG) capabilities to its Enterprise Threat Protector (ETP) service to help enterprises further accelerate their transformation to a Zero Trust security architecture. So what are the SWG enhancements and what benefits will these deliver for Akamai customers?
New protocols to encrypt DNS traffic, DNS over HTTPS (DoH) and DNS over TLS (DoT), have been a visible Internet topic for the past two years. Akamai participated in the definition of DoH/DoT standards and recently released support in the high-performance CacheServe resolver. Major features include: Integration of DoH/DoT in CacheServe, alongside legacy UDP and TCP protocols Initial performance tests show scaling up to 500,000 active DoH/DoT sessions at 1.5
Akamai introduces new enhancements today to its Prolexic Routed purpose-built DDoS scrubbing service that reflect the changing nature of the threat landscape and capitalize on cloud functionality to enable maximum customer flexibility using newer deployment models.
Welcome to Akamai's March 2020 Release! This release offers a week of product updates, with each day highlighting continued innovations across a different area of Akamai's product portfolio: Monday and Tuesday feature two days of security updates. There's a lot going on in Akamai's security portfolio -- more than will fit into a single day. Wednesday introduces updates to Akamai's delivery platform for HTML, API, video, software, and small-object content.
Continuing in our commitment to sustainability, Akamai is excited to announce the launch of our accelerator program supporting innovators and building solutions to address India's water challenges. A concerted effort by the Akamai India leadership team, the accelerator program is being launched at a time when we are witnessing a rising demand for water globally, caused by exponential population growth coupled with a changing climate that is making rainfall less
As our colleagues, customers, and friends continue to adapt to the rapidly changing situation with the COVID-19 pandemic, we are facing a global challenge that is unprecedented in the age of technology. The most important thing during this time is the health and safety of our communities.
Akamai fully supports and appreciates NAB's decision to put off the 2020 NAB Show. We recognize the weight of the decision and subsequent, wide-ranging ramifications that had to be considered. While we're disappointed to miss this annual opportunity to personally connect with customers, partners and colleagues from around the world, we're grateful that priority was rightly placed upon the health of everyone involved and taking steps to help prevent further
Today's uncertain global environment has made it an imperative for companies to enable remote access to business-critical applications. In particular, the fluidity and uncertainty of the current global crisis triggered by COVID-19 have accelerated the movement to have employees work remotely. Akamai's Enterprise Application Access solution provides secure and scalable application access for remote users, and right now, Akamai is offering a Business Continuity Assistance Program that includes complimentary 60-day
At Akamai, we live by the motto "Intelligent Security Starts at the Edge," which is why we're excited to announce that we are changing the name of our authoritative DNS service from Fast DNS to Edge DNS. If you are an existing Fast DNS customer, rest assured that for now, this is purely a name change. But this announcement also marks the beginning of the next phase in the evolution


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Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has been making significant strides in its efforts to diversify its economy away from oil. In February, the Saudi Arabia inaugurated 80 factories worth a combined $1.1 billion in a major push to boost its non-oil industries.
The new factories are expected to play a key role in Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation, as the Kingdom seeks to reduce its reliance on oil exports and develop new industries that can provide sustainable jobs and drive economic growth. The factories cover a range of sectors, including food and beverages, plastics, and metal fabrication, among others.
The inauguration of the 80 new factories was part of a wider push by Saudi Arabia to promote investment in its non-oil sectors. In recent years, the Kingdom has launched a number of initiatives aimed at boosting investment in industries such as mining, tourism, and renewable energy.
The new factories are expected to provide a significant boost to Saudi Arabia’s manufacturing sector, which has been identified as a key area for growth and diversification. The Kingdom has set a target of increasing the contribution of manufacturing to its gross domestic product (GDP) from 10% to 20% by 2030, as part of its broader economic transformation plans.
Commenting on the inauguration of the new factories, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, said: “The launch of these new factories reflects our commitment to developing the Kingdom’s non-oil sectors and promoting sustainable economic growth. We are proud to see such a strong response from investors, and we remain committed to providing the necessary support to help these factories succeed.”
He added: “These new factories will not only create jobs for Saudis but also contribute to the development of local industries, boost exports, and reduce our dependence on oil.”
The new factories are expected to create more than 5,000 new jobs for Saudis, providing a significant boost to the Kingdom’s efforts to reduce unemployment and create opportunities for its growing population. The creation of new jobs is a key priority for Saudi Arabia, as it seeks to address the social and economic challenges facing the country.
The inauguration of the new factories was welcomed by the business community, with many expressing optimism about the potential for the Kingdom’s non-oil sectors. The move is seen as a clear indication of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to economic diversification and its determination to create new opportunities for investment and growth.
According to the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), foreign investment in the Kingdom increased by 12% in the first half of 2020, despite the global economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The strong investment figures are seen as a testament to the Kingdom’s efforts to promote a more investor-friendly environment and attract capital to its non-oil sectors.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the business environment and promoting foreign investment. These include the introduction of new regulations governing foreign investment, the establishment of special economic zones, and the launch of a number of major infrastructure projects, including the $500 billion NEOM mega-city project.
The inauguration of the 80 new factories is a clear indication that Saudi Arabia’s efforts to diversify its economy are beginning to bear fruit. As the Kingdom continues to invest in its non-oil sectors and attract new investment, it is likely to emerge as a major player in the global economy in the years to come. With a young and growing population, abundant natural resources, and a strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Saudi Arabia is well-positioned to play a leading role in the global economy in the 21st century.


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Homewares retailer Dunelm's shares have come under pressure as it suffered an eight per cent fall in underlying pre-tax profits.
Hefty discounting and lower margin sales from its recently-acquired Worldstores business offset soaring trade.
It meant bottom-line Dunelm profits were largely flat, up 0.7 per cent higher at £56.3 million, while underlying pre-tax profits were £60 million for the six months to December 30.
However there was a 3.5 per cent rise in like-for-like store sales and a massive 36.8 per cent hike in comparable online sales.
Total sales rose 18.4 per cent, boosted by the Worldpay business.
However shares fell 15 per cent at one stage before rallying to nine per cent lower on fears over its margin squeeze.
Dunelm - which warned last year of challenging times ahead - insisted its profit margins would be "more stable" in the second half as chairman Andy Harrison sought to give assurance over the full-year result.
But he admitted: `"There is still more work to do to convert our good top-line growth into better bottom-line profit growth."
He added: "For the second half, we expect a more stable gross margin performance, similar to that of the first half, which, combined with increasing integration benefits from Worldstores, should help us to deliver good profit growth for the full year."
It presents an immediate challenge for new chief executive Nick Wilkinson, who took up his post at the beginning of February.
Neil Wilson, a senior market analyst at ETX Capital, said: "It's proving to be a very tough market out there - we've seen several retailers in the sector fail in recent months and margins are coming under pressure across the board.
"Consumer spending is softer of course, but the decline in property market activity is key - the less people move home, the less they spend on new furnishings."
In 2016 Dunelm agreed an £8.5 million deal to acquire rival WS Group in a pre-pack deal.


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Shopping malls and markets across the city on Friday (May 24) witnessed a huge rush of shoppers as the largest religious festival of the Muslims, the holy Eid-ul-Fitr, is approaching nearer.
Eid shoppers flocked to shopping hubs, like Rapa Plaza, Bashundhara City Shopping Mall, Jamuna Future Park and New Market of the capital city. They came with friends and families to pick up dresses, putting smile on the traders’ faces.
The rush also caused traffic jams at several points close to the shopping malls, especially in the afternoon and evening hours, causing inconvenience to commuters.
Businessmen expressed satisfaction over the sale of the Eid clothes, shoes, cosmetics and other goods and hoped that the sales would continue till the night before the Eid-ul-Fitr day.
Braving the heat, hawkers also made brisk sale of clothes, footwear, imitation ornaments and cosmetics and other goods as these products are generally purchased by low-income people ahead of Eid.
A seller of the New Market, who sells garments for women and kids, said, “Most people are making huge purchases of all products, including garments, cosmetics, shoes and some of them are spending lavishly.”
Many Eid shoppers, however, also complained of overpricing, especially of women and kids wear.
Female shoppers also thronged the cosmetic and imitation jewelry shops.


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Former Opel CEO Michael Lohscheller has changed companies and moved to Nikola. At the end of February 2022, the US commercial vehicle manufacturer announced that Lohscheller had been appointed president of the company. So after just four months as managing director of Vietnamese automaker VinFast, he resigned from this office. Prior to that, he had spent four years running Opel Automobile GmbH.
Nikola Motors – Founder still wreaking havoc
The expansion of the company is proceeding according to plan. Prototypes will be delivered so that customers can familiarize themselves with the vehicles (battery-electric and hydrogen-powered). The first successes can be reported: ten MCTs (Mobile Charging Trailers) have already been delivered (1.9 million USD in sales), which can fully charge battery-electric trucks in a hundred minutes.
Nikola Motors – The outlook keeps looking better
Nikola Motors needs to be understood/categorized as a start-up in the process of implementing its business plan. The construction of its factory in Coolidge, Arizona is underway, and the first battery–electric trucks (BEV trucks) are already with customers. This year should see 300 to 500 of these, along with sufficient capacity for 2,400, which should reach 20,000 by 2023. In Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, the number of units produced by partner Iveco is to increase from 2,000 to 10,000.
Feeling like a pioneer
A comfortable (yet still exciting) ride
So far, Hyundai has shipped a total of 10,000 Nexo cars. Since launching a fuel cell model in March 2018, the South Korean automaker has delivered more FCEVs than any other vehicle manufacturer in the world. This July alone, an additional 700 Nexo vehicles went to customers in South Korea and 89 were exported to countries around the world. H2-international was given the opportunity to test a Nexo car this summer. The conclusion: If it had a lower price tag and there was a fueling station nearby, the Nexo would be the perfect ride.
A big opportunity for machinery manufacturers
VDMA study analyzes fuel cell vehicle market
Starting in 2030, fuel cells will be making significant inroads in the passenger car, commercial vehicle and heavy equipment markets. Their importance, as well as the required hydrogen infrastructure, will grow steadily in the coming years, mainly thanks to heavy-duty applications. By 2040, the technology will power 12 percent of all vehicles sold in those markets, creating 68,000 new jobs in Europe in the process. These are the key takeaways from “Engine of change – Fuel cells’ impact on the machinery and industrial equipment industry and its suppliers,” a study conducted by FEV Consulting for Germany’s national engineering federation VDMA. Unlike battery-electric motors, fuel cells have quite a lot in common with internal combustion engines when it comes to production and supply chains, a boon to traditional automakers and machinery manufacturers.
Government agencies argue about who is in charge
Who can make the most of hydrogen and fuel cells? This question seems to have sparked a fierce competition between several German government ministries since late 2019 as they are vying with each other for control over the debate. Their tug-of-war began spreading through the political landscape when hydrogen became an issue to campaign on early this year, prior to the Hamburg state elections. Although the Christian Democrats were the ones who actively promoted the technology for a while, public opinion seems to have shifted in favor of what the Social Democrats are planning to do with it.
Life as a Hydronaut in California
I’m a hydronaut. No, that’s not a term for an underwater astronaut, but a term Honda uses to describe me, as one of their Clarity Fuel Cell electric vehicle (FCEV) drivers on California’s road today. Between three automakers (Honda, Toyota, Hyundai) there are now over 7,000 (Aug 1, 2019) FCEV’s on the road.
BEVs and FCEVs in the German Energy Grid
Meeting the German federal government’s ambitious climate target, that is, a 95 percent reduction in GHG emissions until 2050 compared to a 1990 baseline, will require a decarbonized transportation sector. Cars powered by conventional engines must be replaced by low-emission versions. The two most promising substitutes are battery-electric vehicles or BEVs and fuel cell vehicles or FCEVs.
Hyundai’s New Fuel Cell Car Ready in 2018
Not only has the second generation of Hyundai’s fuel cell car been unveiled earlier than expected, the price has already been set as well. The first event featuring the Next Gen Fuel Cell was moved up half a year and took place in mid-August in South Korea’s capital Seoul. The car scheduled to hit the market in early 2018 will cost EUR 54,000 (USD 62,712) outside South Korea
Sobering News for Early Adopters of FCEV
People need to experience electric transportation on their own, something which is true for drivers of both battery and fuel cell cars. At least an adequate number of purely battery-driven vehicles have already made it onto the public roads in Germany. But how can people today gather their own personal experiences of driving fuel cell vehicles?


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November 20, 2018 16:40 KST
- Gemalto Expands Data Center Footprint in Europe to Support Cloud-Based Access Management Services
- Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, has today announced it is expanding its delivery footprint for Access Management as a service solutions across the European U...
November 20, 2018 15:30 KST
November 20, 2018 14:00 KST
November 20, 2018 13:50 KST
November 20, 2018 13:45 KST
- Alvotech and Fuji Pharma Enter into Exclusive Partnership for Development and Commercialization of Biosimilars in Japan
- Alvotech and Fuji Pharma (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 4554) today announce that the two companies are entering into an exclusive partnership for the commercialization by Fuji Pharma of Alvotech’s biosimilar...
November 20, 2018 11:35 KST
- Saif bin Zayed Inaugurates Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities: Child Dignity in the Digital World Forum
- Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Na...
November 20, 2018 10:10 KST
November 19, 2018 18:00 KST
- Polaris Office Launches 2018 Year End Sales Promotion
- WIC AWARDS to Announce 9 Awardees Including Hatoyama, Warren Buffett and Stephen...
- Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon Endeavors to Increase Disability Employment Throu...
- Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon Tackling Global Textile Market with World-leading...
- Hyosung Chairman Cho Hyun-Joon Holds First Overseas Road Show in Hong Kong and S...
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Partial Source: Pwinsider.com
-- That's What I Am will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and via Netflix streaming on Demand on May 17th.
-- Due to the WWE cutting their stock dividend by 67 percent, there has been a massive sell off of the stock this morning. The price is down more than 10 perfect and is trading at $10.25 a share. Investors initially saw the WWE stock as attractive, due to the high dividend, but with that gone, many are selling it off.
-- The Orlando Sentinel featured a profile on Titus O'Neil. O'Neil will be honored at tonight's FCW event in Gainesville, FL due to his Gators background as a way to create interest in the event. You can check out the article by clicking here.
-- THQ has released downloadable characters of Honkytonk Man and Dusty Rhodes for the WWE All Stars videogame.
-- Vickie Guerrero will be at tonight's FCW event.
Got a news tip or correction? Send it to us by clicking here.