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Customer perceptions from ATLANTIC-ACM’s 2012 Global Wholesale Carrier Report Card research recognizes Sprint as having the best-performing network out of more than 80 wholesale providers
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), January 19, 2012 – Sprint (NYSE:S, news, filings) was presented with the 2012 Network Award for Global Wholesale Excellence from industry analyst firm ATLANTIC-ACM, which surveys hundreds of customers to rank Carrier Excellence worldwide. The 2012 ATLANTIC-ACM Global Wholesale Report Card surveys hundreds of customers ranking the global wholesale providers they work with worldwide. The global recognition builds on Sprint’s previous Wholesale Carrier Excellence Network Award from ATLANTIC-ACM’s 2011 U.S. Longhaul Wholesale Report Card, which surveys long haul wholesale buyers purchasing services strictly in the U.S. The latest accolade continues the winning trend of awards Sprint has received year after year for excellence in providing wholesale services.
The award was accepted on Wednesday by Sally O’Brien, director, International Wholesale Sales – Sprint, during a ceremony at the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC) conference in Honolulu.
“We are honored to be recognized for offering a world-class network that enables wholesale services such as reliable international voice and data solutions,” said Yijing Brentano, vice president, International Wholesale – Sprint. “We have the capacity and footprint that we augment with regional, in-country support, dedicated account teams and resource-centers around the globe to further increase the value of our international network for wholesale customers.”
The 2012 ATLANTIC-ACM Global Wholesale Report Card is an impartial, market-wide customer feedback study of leading global wholesale providers. Customers from more than 80 unique global wholesale providers were asked to rank wholesale service providers in categories that include brand, sales representatives, provisioning, network performance, billing, customer service and numerous product quality and price competitiveness categories. The overall wholesale customer experience at Sprint was rated well above the industry average. This indicates that survey respondents have strong perceptions of Sprint’s network performance for quality, service, and their sales and service representatives.
“In 2012, Sprint honored its four-year legacy of clinching Carrier Excellence titles in ATLANTIC-ACM’s Global Wholesale Report Card,” said Fedor Smith, president – ATLANTIC-ACM. “This year Sprint won the award for Network Performance based on global wholesale customers’ high opinion of the quality and reliability offered by Sprint’s global network.”
Sprint’s Wholesale Solutions Group has a full suite of customizable solutions, including Global MPLS, which offers a flexible and scalable network foundation that enables customers to move to next-generation technologies, such as Fixed Mobile Convergence or Unified Communications; and Mobile Broadband on Demand, enabling end-users to purchase prepaid broadband by the day, week or month. Also available to Sprint Wholesale Solutions Group customers is access to reselling 4G, with faster download speeds and more bandwidth. Customers can choose from two very easy ways to deliver an MVNO wireless offering to market – Traditional Wireless Resale and Turnkey Back-office Wireless Resale. Go to sprint.com/wholesale to view the complete product portfolio, customer testimonials and white paper downloads.
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 53 million customers at the end of 3Q 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. The 2011 American Customer Satisfaction Index showed Sprint is the #1 most improved company in customer satisfaction, across all industries, over the last three years. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation’s greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.
John Votava, 949-748-3403


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Dubai: Most pharmacies in Dubai and elsewhere in the UAE have run out of protective face masks especially the high quality N-95 mask.
Gulf News contacted several pharmacies to buy face masks but most of them said that they have run out of supplies. The specialised anti-viral filter mask N-95 has completely been sold out, confirmed the pharmacists.
Exploiting the situation, the online shopping stories have started promoting the sale of masks with exorbitant prices. An N-95 protective mask which costs at a pharmacy between Dh150 to 180 (for a box of 20 pieces) is being sold online ranging from Dh150 to Dh599 (per piece).
“We are out of stock as we have sold out all kind of face masks during the last two days,” said a pharmacist at an Aster Pharmacy in Dubai. He said that most residents coming to our pharmacies are buying face masks and sanitisers. Also, he said hospitals have got huge stocks to be distributed among their staff members.
“We have to get more supplies within two days,” he added.
A salesperson at the Life Pharmacy in Dubai confirmed that they do have some normal surgical face mask but ran out of high quality protective N-95 mask. “Face masks are fast moving items for the last few days in the wake of Coronavirus spread in China,” she added.
Another salesperson at NMC Pharamcy also confirmed that they have sold out all the face masks and their suppliers are also out of stock. “I don’t know when the new supply will come,” she said.
A box containing normal surgical face mask cost between Dh15 to 25 while the price of N-95 mask ranges from Dh150 to Dh180 at the pharmacies.
“We are receiving a lot more customers today to buy masks since the news of the first Coronavirus case broke this morning,” noted another pharmacist.
Coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has so far claimed 132 lives and infected near 6,000 people across the globe
As China continues to report a growing number of cases of Wuhan coronavirus, images of people wearing face masks have become ubiquitous.
Meanwhile, face masks are reportedly selling out in cities across Asia as concerns over the spread of a deadly new coronavirus grow. China’s National Health Commission has deployed masks to health care workers responding to the outbreak, and millions of masks have been sent to residents of Wuhan, according to reports.
There are two main types of face masks that are being used for protection. One is a standard surgical mask — the kind worn by surgeons during operations. These masks are designed to block liquid droplets, and might lower the chance of catching the virus from another person.
But these masks don’t offer full protection against airborne viruses. For a start, they don’t fully seal off the nose and mouth — particles can still get in. And very small particles can simply pass through the material of the mask.
N95 respirators offer more protection as they are designed to prevent 95 per cent of small particles from entering the nose and mouth area. But they only work if they fit properly, and aren’t suitable for children or people with facial hair.

domain: news


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Cadbury Dairy Milk is launching new packaging for all its variants during the first few weeks of 2021. The new packaging aims to showcase the goodness that is Cadbury Dairy Milk by highlighting that the ingredients are all sustainably sourced and also showcase the natural ingredients included.
To spread this message and that by simply purchasing Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate consumers are helping build empowered cocoa communities, Atmosphere designed and curated an informative experience box that was two fold. On the one hand it shared information about Cocoa Life, Cadbury Dairy Milk’s sustainability project, and on the other it asked consumers to share which variant was their favourite to drive conversation around the new packaging.
The media’s response to the box included strong message penetration for our client and resulted in a number of influencers pointing out the creativity and attention to detail that goes into all drops Atmosphere designs on behalf of Cadbury.
Follow #GlassAndAHalf on social media to see the response.


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Printing giant Quad/Graphics is to show off print solutions that utilise NFC at next week’s DMA tradeshow in Boston. “Adding chip technology to print is a fast-growing opportunity as NFC-enabled devices are launched, and as marketers and publishers discover the features and benefits,” says the company, which employs 24,000 workers at 60 production sites around the world.
- India to rank states on digital transactions
- HSBC to launch Hong Kong P2P mobile payments app
- Indian mobile wallet adds healthcare services
- Singapore commuters to get NFC-enabled transport payment wearables
- Call to ‘digitise Indian rupee’ using blockchain


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Investors Missing Out on Benefits of Vietnam’s Free Trade Agreements
By Vietnam Briefing
Posted: 20th August 2015 10:39HCMC – Vietnam has a range of free trade agreements (FTA) in place, and even more currently in the negotiation phase. However, many investors are still unaware of the potential benefits of these trade deals for their businesses. In fact, many investors are unaware that Vietnam even has an applicable FTA that could be of use to them.
Over the past few years, Vietnam has been quite active in signing bilateral trade agreements with countries throughout the world. Additionally, due to its membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam has become a party to a number of FTAs that the regional trade bloc has signed.
Wading one’s way through the legalese that many of these FTAs use to spell out their rules and regulations can often be headache inducing. This frequently is one of the most cited reasons why businesses fail to take advantage of the benefits available to them. Therefore, it is strongly suggested that businesses and investors consult with a legal and tax professionalwith strong experience in the region. This will allow a business to have a reliable, and clear, source of information on this complex topic.
Key free trade agreements that Vietnam has already signed and which are in effect include the following:
Chile-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement:
- Reduces tariffs and a number of tax categories.
- Around 92 percent of commodities are exempt from tariffs in each member state’s market.
- Reduces export duties on many goods to zero from 10 percent and simplifies many procedures.
- Reduces or eliminates tariffs on over 90 percent of all goods.
- Imposed the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme. Over 99 percent of the products in the CEPT
Inclusion List (IL) for Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, have been reduced to the 0-5 percent tariff range.
- Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, are moving slower but are expected to reach the 99 percent level for their respective CEPT ILSwithin the next few years.
- Tariffs eliminated on 99 percent of all goods.
- Reduces tariffs on a range of goods.
- Eliminated tariff rates on tariff lines and trade value for many goods.
- Includes a zero percent tariff on 90 percent of traded goods.
- Reduces tariffs on a range of goods traded between members.
Vietnam has also recently reached an agreement in principle on an FTAwith the European Union (EU). The deal, which is expected to be finalized before the end of this year, will eliminate tariffs on over 99 percent of all items, among other benefits.
Additionally, Vietnam is currently in negotiations on a number of other trade agreements, these include:
- ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement
- Includes the 10 ASEAN nations and Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea. Expected to significantly reduce tariffs.
- Twelve nations, including the U.S. and comprising a region with US$28 trillion in economic output. Will remove tariffs on almost US$2 trillion in goods and services exchanged between the signatory countries.
Since its establishment in 1992, Dezan Shira & Associates has been guiding foreign clients through Asia’s complex regulatory environment and assisting them with all aspects of legal, accounting, tax, internal control, HR, payroll and audit matters. As a full-service consultancy with operational offices across China, Hong Kong, India and emerging ASEAN, we are your reliable partner for business expansion in this region and beyond.
For inquiries, please email us at email@example.com. Further information about our firm can be found at: www.dezshira.com.


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The Digital Markets Act (DMA) launched by the EU is intended to keep the market power of tech companies at a healthy level. Of course, this also includes Apple. For example, it was questionable for a long time whether the in-house messenger service iMessage would have to be opened up to the market in order to meet competition law requirements. It is now clear: iMessage will remain exclusive for Apple users.
Apple iMessage is not a gatekeeper service
Whether Apple had to open the door to iMessage to other companies depended on one key question. Is it a so-called gatekeeper service? This would have been the case if the messenger service deprived competitors of the opportunity to also successfully participate in the market. On Tuesday, the EU Commission officially answered the burning question after a lengthy evaluation of arguments. Apple iMessage is therefore not a gatekeeper service. This makes the messenger a real exotic in the ranks of Apple services. After all, the Commission has already determined in the recent past that not only Apple’s Safari browser can be classified as a gatekeeper.
On top of this, iOS, the entire operating system of the iPhone and iPad, has been designated as such a competition killer. The same applies to the Apple App Store. As iMessage is not a gatekeeper service in the sense of the DMA, there are no negative consequences for Apple. This means that the Californian tech company does not have to open up its in-house messenger to other companies. This is likely to be anything but pleasing for Meta’s well-known competitors. After all, their services in the form of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are considered gatekeepers within the meaning of the DMA. The large corporation must therefore let other companies have their way if they want to make their Messenger compatible.
- Also interesting: iPhone 15 and iPhone 14 comparison: the most important differences
DMA does not apply here
Whether a gatekeeper service exists is not only determined by the number of users. In this case, iMessage with its 45 million users would undoubtedly be relevant. Other framework conditions must also be taken into account by the Commission when it comes to classification. For example, the question of the type of user. If the messenger is also used to a not insignificant extent as a platform for establishing contact between companies and consumers, this is extremely important for the classification. The fact that this is virtually not the case with iMessage has always been the key argument put forward by Apple. The Commission may have proven the tech company right here.
Apple must open up from March
However, Apple can only speak of a small victory. As mentioned at the beginning, the EU Commission has its eye on some of the company’s services. The browser, operating system and Apple App Store will have to change in March of this year. The tech company from California is obliged to open up these services. In practice, this should mean that you will no longer only be able to use the Apple App Store as a source for new apps on your iPhone. Alternative marketplaces are also likely to find their way onto smartphones and tablets.


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SQUARE ENIXFinal Fantasy 7 Remake fans have been given a big boost ahead of the release date
13 January, 2018, 05:59
Will you be trying the Dissidia NT beta?
The Zodiac Age on PC will run at a buttery-smooth 60fps and will be compatible with 21:9 ultra-wide monitors.
New Game Plus and New Game Minus - Post game content modes will be accessible from the beginning of the game.
Maximized License Points and Gil - New functionality added to grant players max License Points and Gil from the configuration screen.
Fans that purchase the game through Steam within the first week of launch will also receive a 20% discount, a three-track digital music compilation and a new Steam Skin illustrated by famed Final Fantasy artist Isamu Kamikokuryo.
Scientists catch supermassive black hole burping - twice The explanation for these gas-feeding events lies in a companion galaxy, which had previously collided with J1354. Researchers believe the black hole is behaving this way because it is consuming a huge amount of nearby matter.
LG Unveils 88-Inch 8K OLED TV, First In The World Measuring in at a world-first 88 inches, the television is more of a technological showcase than a commercial product for now. If you are watching TV in a brighter environment you might find QLED TVs offer more "pop" than an OLED alternative.
The New Game Plus lets players begin the game from level 90, and the New Game Minus excludes leveling up altogether. This can be seen on the Square Enix Youtube channel.
The open beta does not require PlayStation Plus for online multiplayer, though the full game does require the subscription.
Starting today, fans can step into the arena as FINAL FANTASY® legends by downloading the free Open Beta for DISSIDIA® FINAL FANTASY NT, the upcoming team-based brawler, set to launch for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system on January 30.
Originally released in July of previous year for PlayStation 4, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a re-release of the original PlayStation 2-era Final Fantasy game, giving it another shot at love among players with new, gorgeous graphics and add-ons.
Taking a look at insider trading at Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) can give useful insight into how the stock is performing. Putnam FL Investment Management Co. acquired a new stake in Valero Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,910,000.
Clark Estates Inc decreased its stake in Aarons Inc (AAN) by 23% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. After $0.43 actual EPS reported by Aaron's, Inc. for the previous quarter, Wall Street now forecasts 27.91% EPS growth.
Volume in the last session has increased compared with ALGN's average trading volume. 934,512 shares of the company traded hands. Several other institutional investors have also sold shares of the company. 77 funds opened positions while 137 raised stakes.
Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Netflix in the second quarter valued at approximately $139,000. The stock has "Buy" rating by Benchmark on Tuesday, February 16. (NASDAQ:NFLX) on Tuesday, January 2 to "Outperform" rating.
One quarter of smart speaker owners report having a Google Assistant product such as Google Home or Google Home Mini. But at least we know more about the LG WK9 Google Assistant touch screen speaker today than yesterday.
It is flat, as 57 investors sold XOM shares while 806 reduced holdings. only 114 funds opened positions while 621 raised stakes. The stock of Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE: XOM ) earned "Market Perform" rating by BMO Capital Markets on Friday, December 2.
Crowds of marching protesters were shown shouting slogans against mullahs and other religious figures in the country. The White House dismissed suggestions that Trump's interventions could fuel allegations of foreign hands at work.
My family, like a whole of people, came from Ireland and worked the railroads". "It's a handsome story of America", he said. Eventually, he said, they opened a farm in Wisconsin after they raised enough money.
Loyal Dog Walks 40 Miles to Find Previous Owners
An animal shelter is trying to find a new home for a determined dog that set out not once, but twice, to find her previous owners. The shelter pointed out that Cathleen is just one of many dogs that need homes and families to love them.
RB Leipzig Troll Liverpool Fans Over Naby Keita
The Dutchman made an immediate impact, scoring the victor on his Anfield debut in the 2-1 FA Cup victory over Everton. Liverpool need to replace Philippe Coutinho as soon as possible in the January transfer window.
India vs South Africa: It's advantage South Africa !
The difference was Laxman, who crafted a sublime second-innings 96 on a pitch where no one else on either side went past 40. The Indian skipper emphasised that team selection was less about individuals but more about "finding the right balance".


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Apple have released several security updates to iOS 12 devices such as the iPhone 6 and 5S over the course of the year, and they should continue doing this in the future for other iOS versions.
Apple has always been good at promising iOS updates. Last year, it supported iPhones as old as the iPhone 6S and as small as the SE in iOS 13. In 2018, it supported 2013’s iPhone 5S in iOS 12.
There’s no denial Apple has always came top when it comes to updates. Samsung have only been providing two major OS upgrades to even its flagships, an issue that needs to change. Last year Google released Android 10 to the original Pixel and Pixel XL, making them the first Google phones to get three major OS upgrades, and last year OnePlus also released Android 9 to 2016’s OnePlus 3 and 3T, making that the third major OS upgrade.
However, it’s a fact that iPhones have better software support. However, if Apple want to be able to boast about how good its software support is, it should be providing updates for older but still popular iPhones which have lost out on the latest major iOS upgrades.
A history of Apple security updates
Apple are great when it comes to updates. Updates arrive in all regions and for all supported phones at the same time, unlike Samsung, Google, and OnePlus who sometimes have to wait on carriers too to approve updates.
In 2013 Apple discontinued support for the iPhone 3GS and iPod Touch 4th generation with iOS 7. These devices remained on iOS 6.1.3 although the iPod Touch 4th generation later got updated to iOS 6.1.5 to fix a FaceTime bug which was caused by Apple pulling the plug on FaceTime for iOS 6 devices, the reason for which is unknown.
However, in 2014, an SSL security bug that allowed a hacker to modify data in internet sessions protected by SSL and TLS. In other words, allowing hackers to gain access to passwords and other data. Apple released an update to iOS 6 devices to fix this, called iOS 6.1.6, while iOS 7 devices got the fix in the form of iOS 7.0.6.
iOS 7-compatible devices such as the iPhone 4 could not download iOS 6.1.6, which is a shame considering the iPhone 4 is much faster on iOS 6 than 7. Even if an iPhone 4 was still on iOS 6, attempting to install updates would prompt the user to simply install the latest iOS 7 version.
Years later in 2019, a GPS time rollover caused lots of devices to require updating for essential functionality such as GPS and time to continue working. Apple released updates to its older iPhone 4S and iPhone 5 devices to incorporate the new GPS functionality which had not been incorporated in previous updates. The update came in the form of iOS 9.3.6 for iPhone 4S and iOS 10.3.4 for iPhone 5. This saved many devices from losing the ability to access the internet, app store, and iCloud.
iOS 12 updates for devices incompatible with iOS 13
Since the release of iOS 13, Apple have been releasing updates for devices that stayed on iOS 12, including the iPhone 6, 5S, and iPod Touch 6th generation. The first update came in the form of iOS 12.4.2, which fixed an issue allowing applications to read restricted memory. Several other updates followed.
Considering there are still users out there using the iPhone 6, and a lot of them still don’t intend on parting ways with the 2015 iPhone, Apple should still continue updating them. Even if they stop, they should still update them in the case of an emergency security bug, like in the case of iOS 6.1.6. Even Samsung do this with their phones in the case of an emergency security issue. Even after ditching support for the Galaxy S6 in 2018, a few security updates patching up emergency security bugs were released throughout the year.
Security updates for iOS devices that will lose support
iOS 14 is to be announced soon, but over the internet because of course the current circumstances. What devices will stay and what devices will go is unknown. However, I can guess the iPad Mini 4 could lose out on iPadOS 14, considering it is the only supported device in iPadOS and iOS 13 to have an Apple A8 chip, all other devices having lost support.
However, is the iPad Mini 4 still popular? Absolutely. A lot of people are still using this device as its successor, the iPad Mini (2019) was only released last year. Although making the iPad Mini 4 run an OS that may overwhelm it is worse than deciding to end support for it on a stable iPadOS 13, the iPad Mini 4 deserves some sort of security update support considering its wide userbase.
Forcing the iPad Mini 4 to run an OS it just can’t run and forcing its users to upgrade to that OS to have a safe OS is unfair. But so is discontinuing security updates for the device and leaving it on an abandoned iPadOS version.
It’s time for a change
It’s time for Apple to start releasing security updates to devices that get dropped in iOS updates. These devices still have a lot of users, and leaving them at risk is nothing short of unfair. Even just for a year or two, older iOS versions deserve love just like the old ones. I am glad to see how Apple are handling updates on iOS 12 devices, and I hope this doesn’t end with other devices and versions in the future.


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Aprilia appears ready to debut a new model in China. The news comes as the Italian brand continues its recent efforts to corner the global market with smaller-displacement models.
Despite their availability in other countries, Aprilia has yet to enter the smaller bike segments in the Philippines. Locally, the company currently offers a range of powerful motorcycles, including the Aprilia Shiver 900, Dorsoduro 900, and Tuono V4 1100 Factory.
Now, regulatory approval-type documents from China have been unearthed. The papers indicate that the new Tuono 250 is indeed heading to the country under the name GPR250S. From what the given photo offers, Aprilia's new naked bike looks like it borrows its design from the smaller, European-spec Tuono 125.
What's curious is that the new GPR250S seems to feature a design lifted off the previous generation Tuono 125. The updated model was released in Europe last year, so it's not clear why Aprilia would settle for old looks.
Earlier this year, Aprilia also unveiled the GPR250R sportbike. This model similarly borrowed its design from an older RS 125. While the company has not explained its decision, we can speculate that this is due to cost-cutting measures put in place for the Chinese market.
The new Tuono 250 or GPR250S is under the Zongshen-Aprilia partnership established in 2004. The bike's engine reportedly comes in as a 249cc single-cylinder mill that produces about 27.5 hp. Suspension duties are handled by 40mm inverted forks and a rear mono-shock. Stopping power is provided by a single 300mm disc brake with a 4-piston radial caliper, with the rear getting a 220mm disc with a single-piston caliper. Dual-channel ABS comes standard, complete with an anti-rollover system. The tires are listed at 100/80 R17 for the front and 140/70 R17 for the rear.
If you're hoping for a local release, don't hold your breath. We're not expecting Aprilia to release the new GPR250s in our country, as the model looks to be exclusive to China. However, if the demand is there, it wouldn't be impossible for Aprilia to make a splash in the sub-250cc segment in the Philippines.


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Luxury customers don't consider their lives luxurious
August 17, 2007-- Home Textiles Today,
Stevens, Pa. -- A new survey find that most affluent consumers don't consider "high-end luxury living" a big part of their lives.
The second-quarter Luxury Tracking Report by Unity Marketing, based on a survey of some 1,000 luxury consumers (average income $155,500 and who spent an average of $15,283 on luxury in the second quarter 2007), found that only about 10%of affluent consumers live the kind of luxury lifestyle where buying top-of-the-line brands is the norm.
Fully one-third of the affluent consumers surveyed said that while they have been fortunate to enjoy luxuries in their life, "luxury is not a part of my lifestyle."
Another 27% admitted to scaling back on some purchases to afford luxuries in areas that really matter to them, but for those occasional splurgers, high-end luxury living is not a part of their every day life, either.
Unity Marketing president Pam Danziger purveyors of luxury goods to make sure the values represented by their products and services align with what is really important to the customer, emphasizing the superior quality, workmanship, materials, or service that they provide to make customers see why it is worth trading up to their brand of luxury item.
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Littleton campground battles Wal-Mart over the retail titan allowing campers to park overnight
Starting in August 2012, the couple sent several letters to the town regarding their belief that Wal-Mart needed a special exception to allow camper and RV parking.
LATEST NEW HAMPSHIRE ANGLE
Derry poll worker was fired for reportedly talking politics and telling voters these three words
WaPo: Spending bill hypocritically blocks D.C.’s pot initiative while defunding federal anti-medical marijuana interdiction


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One of the more popular bars on Clemson Football game nights, The Esso Club, said its ready for Monday’s game against LSU.
One of the bartender-waitress, Kara Moore, said the walls covered in Clemson gear, in addition to it’s physical location, are why the club is the best place on game days. Learn more
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Bangalore, June 13: Volvo India Limited, leading global transport solutions provider proposes to establish Volvo Business Finance Company shortly, Company Managing Director Eric Lablanc said today.
"No time frame was set for opening the Finance Company, but it would only to finance purchase of Volvo manufactured Trucks, Buses and construction equipment", Mr Eric added. He said that the company, which completed 10 years of its operations in India, has made inroads in all its business and in each segments including Truck, Bus and Construction equipment the company has achieved a considerable achievement in market share.
Replying to a question, Mr Eric clarified that though the company has acquired shares with Eicher, Volvo's truck manufacturing plant at Hoskote will not involve in manufacturing trucks under Joint Venture. "Eicher, the manufacturers of bus and trucks, and Volvo will jointly strive to overcome competition from Tata and Ashok Leyland. At present Eicher has three per cent market share and we want to increase it to 13 per cent to 15 per cent by 2015 increasing the capacity to manufacture 100,000 trucks." Volvo has signed an agreement with Eicher to set-up a new Joint Venture. It provides Volvo a platform to address the large Indian truck market of over 250,000 trucks besides exploiting synergies between the two companies. Volvo has invested 225 Million dollar in this JV which would be effective from July this year.
Mr Eric said that Volvo Construction Equipment has achieved a 14 per cent market share in Excavators, 26 per cent in road compaction machinery, 37 per cent in Motor Graders, 100 per cent in Articulated Haulers. Volvo Penta enjoys 50 per cent market share in High Speed Craft.


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SM PRIME Holdings, Inc. is opening a new mall in Zamboanga City where the coronavirus-related lockdown has been more relaxed since mid-August.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Sy-led property developer said it is opening SM City Mindpro at the end of this week — its first mall in Zamboanga City and seventh mall in Mindanao.
The building will have nearly 38,000 square meters of gross floor area, where more than 90% of the space-lease has already been awarded to tenants.
“The opening of SM City Mindpro in Zamboanga is a testament to the flourishing economic activities in Mindanao boosting the confidence of SM Prime to continue its expansion plans in the region,” SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim said in the statement.
“We are delighted to welcome our fellow Zamboanguenos to this newest SM mall, and assure every one of safety protocols implemented in accordance to government guidelines.”
Unlike the lockdown in Metro Manila — where most of SM Prime’s existing mall footprint is located — Zamboanga City has been under a “modified general community quarantine” since mid-August. This is the most relaxed form of lockdown by the government that allows more economic activity.
“The easing of quarantine protocols in various areas in the country has led to the reopening of businesses that will help our economy bounce back quicker. We hope that through SM City Mindpro, which provides a center of convergence for economic, social and cultural activities, Zamboanguenos will experience utmost convenience as they seek essential services as well as entertainment during these times,” Mr. Lim said.
SM Mindpro will have four levels and a carpark, with stores and facilities ranging from a department store, a supermarket, foreign retail brands, sports brands, health stores, hardware shops and a cinema, to name a few.
Earlier this month, SM Prime also opened a new mall in Agusan del Norte to tap the growing economic activity in the region.
SM Prime booked P18.3 billion from the operations of Philippine malls in January-to-September, down 57% from a year ago, due to temporary mall closures and low foot traffic.
Its attributable net income dropped 48% to P14.37 billion.
Shares in SM Prime at the stock exchange closed at P37.30 each on Wednesday, lower by P1.20 or 3.12% from the last session. — Denise A. Valdez


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August 26, 2015
A majority of financial institutions and merchants in the US have started using chip-and-PIN technology with a belief that it has a high level of security for everyone, including their customers. However, a recent investigation by Damage Control S.A. in Mexico questioned the security of chip-and-PIN technology in card readers.
A new type of data skimmer was found in Diebold Opteva 520 with Dip reader. A dip reader is the slot you see in ATM machines where you have to insert the card and remove it quickly. This new type of skimmer came to be known as shimmer since the device acts as a shim between the card reader of the ATM and the chip on the ATM card. This shimmer alone doesn’t complete the trap. It requires a GSM module that sends the encrypted data back to the hackers and spy cameras that are installed above the keyboards of the ATM machine.
A shimmer that is fitted above the card reader from the outside
To enable this hack, crooks have to enter the ATM location physically and enter this device in the ATM with minimal effort. This fraudulent activity by the crooks in Mexico was recorded via Crimedex, which is a service of video intelligence firm 3VR.
As reported in a blog by Security Affairs, other ways to hack the chip-and-PIN technology include:
- Use of SMS or text messages from ATMs using malicious codes
- Using an electronics soldering tool and a phone SIM card instead of card chips in restaurants
With the adoption of every new technology, there are people in the industry who are ready to hack it. Banks, merchants and financial institutions need to keep an eye on fraud happening around the globe to ensure the safety of their customers.


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Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Trouble With Barbie
I've jumped 100% behind Lincoln County's Democratic Delegate Jeff Eldridge's proposed bill to ban Barbie in West Virginia. Damn right to his statement that "such toys influence girls to place too much importance on physical beauty, at the expense of their intellectual and emotional development". But that's not really what sold me on it. It's this latest Barbie birthday campaign where stores like the Bay in Toronto have devoted entire sections of their women's clothing floor to human sized dresses and t-shirts poxed in houndstooth and Barbie logos. And to make matters worse, these little boutique areas are all wallpapered in stylish houndstooth mutations fashioned from silhouettes of high heels and cameo profiles. And Jeff, good luck fighting the toy lobby groups which basically run America. You and I both know it's as hopeless as me convincing the Color Association to eliminate all forms of duotone forecasts.
The only good thing to come out of the recent Barbie hype is Gareth Pugh's Ken doll which you can read more about on Steve and EJ's Style Salvage blog.


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It is one of several changes the committee is recommending be made to the Natural Health Products Bill.
The bill would regulate low-risk health products like the vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements used by millions of New Zealanders.
In its report last week, the committee says it faced the task of balancing demand for consumer choice, public safety and low compliance costs while responding to the need to reveal the extent to which science underpins products.
It is recommending that products carry a label stating whether they are based on scientific or traditional evidence.
Homeopathic products will not be covered but will need to show good manufacture.
The committee says scientific and manufacturing advice also should be strengthened and the bill renamed.


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The Australian, AAP, September 26, 2017
The Fair Work Commission made errors of law when it decided to slash Sunday penalty rates, a full bench of the Federal Court has been told.
Unions representing hospitality and retail workers are challenging the commission’s decision in June to drop Sunday rates by five percentage points for workers in the fast food, hospitality, retail and pharmacy sectors, starting July 1.
Hospitality union United Voice and the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) have launched the Federal Court action to keep workers’ penalty rates the same for Sundays and public holidays.
Herman Borenstein QC, for United Voice, told the first day of the Federal Court hearing in Melbourne the commission erred in law.
“There was no analysis in this decision … that sought to identify whether there’d been a material change in circumstances,” Mr Borenstein told the panel of judges on Tuesday.
“The determinations were made on the basis of various errors of law.” In failing to determine whether there were adequate grounds for change, the commission failed to produce a fair and relevant set of conditions for the workers, he said.
Employer and business groups including the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Hotels Association, and the NSW Business Chamber will argue the cuts should be respected.
Under the Fair Work Commission’s decision, the first cut to penalty rates will be five percentage points, with more significant cuts in 2018 and 2019 for fast food and hospitality workers.
Retail and pharmacy workers will have cuts to their rates phased in until 2020.
United Voice says the cuts will hit lowest paid workers the most. The hearing is set down for three days.


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J.Crew and Ebbets Field Flannels are joining forces, providing a new look for the modern man and fan. We've seen collaborations embracing America's favorite pastime before, but with J.Crew and Ebbets, it seems far more natural and truly captures the spirit of baseball. Not to mention, the two introduced a Rainiers cap so popular, it's been sold out for what seems like eons.
This summer, the two brands have joined together to release the USA Collection which includes the three images above, as well as a cotton navy ball cap inscribed with "1776" on the front. While the cap is only available at select J.Crew locations across the country, the three piece capsule is available at the Pacific Place location and online - just in time for the fireworks.


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Small businesses reselling after-market products and other items could face legal action unless they make it clear they are not the official manufacturers of the products they are selling, a legal expert has warned.
The warning come after the Federal Court recently ruled a company reselling rooms at an apartment building had infringed the trademark of the building’s official agency, as some customers may have been under the impression the reseller was actually the official management.
Trevor Choy of Choy Lawyers says the case shows how resellers must be “extremely careful”, and warns they are “open to legal action” if they do not show customers they are not the official manufacturer or seller.
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The case before the Federal Court concerned the Circle on Cavill apartment building on the Gold Coast. While officially managed by the Mantra Group, a number of resellers sold rooms for the building – including Tailly Pty Ltd.
While Tailly was legally reselling the rooms, it also registered a number of domain names using the “Circle on Cavill” name, such as circleoncavillapartments.com.au.
Problems arose when customers who had used Tailly’s sites reached the Circle on Cavill building with their booking forms in hand, but the Mantra Group had no record of their booking due to a communications mishap.
Choy says this resulted in an “irate customer and a frustrated receptionist”, with the customer believing they had certain rights as they had booked through an official agency.
As a result, Mantra sued Tailly for trademark infringement saying customers were convinced they were dealing with the official company, and not a reseller.
This point was even backed up by the fact Tailly’s sites were gaining higher Google rankings than Mantra Group’s official rental site.
Tailly was ordered to pay all of its profits gained from the bookings to Mantra.
But Choy says the real ramifications of the case are for any company reselling products made by another manufacturer. He warns the Federal Court has ruled businesses can now go too far with their representation of the relationship to the manufacturer or official seller.
“Obviously rental agencies will be hit because of this, but also any reseller. It’s commonly accepted that if I am reselling a product, then nobody can stop me as long as I am using the name correctly and being legitimate. But the court has now said there is a limit in your representation of your relationship to the supplier, and that can infringe a trademark.”
Choy uses the example of a business selling iPod accessories. “If I set up a website, such as ipodaccessories.com.au and I do not make it absolutely crystal clear I am separate from Apple, the company can use this case to come after me.”
Choy also says a number of sectors will be affected because of this ruling, including the huge market of resellers for after-market automotive parts.
“You have a whole heap of businesses using reselling on eBay, many have their own websites. And these businesses now have to be way more careful than they used to be.”
“There’s a particular brand in American known as the Gerber knife, a very well known brand, but also lots of resellers and the official site is actually buried in some Google results by resellers. If this situation was in Australia, the business could actually use this case to shut down those sites.”


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Artist and activist Kalki Subramaniam has created a capsule line of sarees featuring her artwork and will officially launch the collection at an event in Chennai this June as part of Pride Month celebrations.
V2 Retail aims to tap into its customers’ growing demand for e-commerce by expanding its presence online and is confident that this Eid festive season will yield strong sales following the challenges of Covid-19.
Textiles and paper business Century Textiles saw a return to profitability in the recent March quarter with 45% year-on-year revenue growth after reporting a loss during the same time period a year ago.
Two big names in luxury announced a “strategic partnership” on Tuesday that has both a US-specific and global angle. Farfetch and Neiman Marcus Group are linking up “to revolutionize integrated luxury retail”.


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McCain Foodservice is excited to be returning once again to exhibit at the Casual Dining Show 2018, the event that brings together over 200 suppliers at the cutting edge of foodservice.
Now in its fifth edition, the Casual Dining Show is the largest and most prestigious event in the casual dining calendar, and this year’s event is set to be bigger and better than ever.
Casual Dining sits at the heart of what we’re about here at McCain, so we’re excited to make our return to give attendees a taste of two all new products; our new Staycrisp Medium and Julienne skin on fries, guaranteed to stay hot and crispy for longer, and help operators stand out from the crowd.
McCain have attended the show each year since it's launch back in 2013, and at this year’s event it’s safe to say that we have some surprises in store. As part of the launch of our two new Staycrisp skin-on fries, we’re inviting attendees to “Ignite Their Senses” and take a trip on a unique, multi-sensory journey.
Aided by flavourologists Salts of the Earth, stand G5 at the show is home to a taste sensation that will spirit you away, whether it’s to the spice markets of Marrakech or a ski lodge in the French Alps. Fresh from causing a stir on London’s food and drink scene, Salts of the Earth have created a bold and bespoke new take on our products, only available to try at this year’s event.
Their flavour creations will be served up on the day by the Beefy Boys, award-winning casual dining restaurateurs.
From humble beginnings in back gardens, the Beefy Boys rose to prominence in 2015, coming second at the World Food Championships in Las Vegas, finally launching their first street food outlet in Hereford in 2016 to critical acclaim. It’s not an overstatement to say that the Beefy Boys are certified Casual Dining royalty, and they love our Staycrisp fries for their crispy exterior, fluffy insides and ability to stay hotter for longer.
Catherine Rigg, McCain Foods Senior Product Manager, said: “This year’s show is not to be missed. While the exact details are still top secret at this stage, what I can say is that we’re pulling out all the stops to create a multi-sensory experience for visitors that will be unlike anything they’ve experienced before. More importantly, it’s not only designed to be enjoyable, it’s been created to showcase an exciting new profit opportunity for operators.”
The show is taking place on the 21st and 22nd February at the Business Design Centre in London - we’ll be exhibiting at stand G5, so do come and say hello, and be prepared to Ignite your Senses.
Keep your eyes peeled for more and follow @McCainFoods_B2B on Twitter to see all the action from this year’s show.


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The Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 was released a couple months ago and has proven to be a great companion to those who prefer smaller tablets. Since the device's initial launch and FCC passing last May, it has been all but confirmed that the device will be released on AT&T with 4G LTE connectivity. Today, AT&T themselves has confirmed that a 4G LTE version of the device will indeed be released on the network.
The device is exactly the same as the Wi-Fi version, so you will still get the quad-core Exynos 4412 processor along with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The Exynos is clocked at 1.6GHz and is paired with 2GB of RAM. With a 5MP rear-facing camera and a 1.3MP front-facing camera, the device is actually very well suited for media consumption. The only aspect that differs from the WiFi version is that AT&T's device will only come in the 16GB variety instead of offering users the choice to upgrade to a 32GB model. Why AT&T made this choice is unclear but it is likely that the 32GB model with 4G LTE would be too expensive to appeal to the desired market.
The device offers an HD 720p display complimented by Samsung-specific features like multi-window mode. Thankfully, this particular feature seems to have been upgraded since the Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Galaxy Note 2.
This is not the first version of this device to gain a cellular antenna. There is an international version of this device that support 3G connectivity. The major difference is that the international version supports voice calling. This feature didn't prove to be that useful because AT&T has stated that this variation of the device will not have that functionality. Again, this feature being left out isn't a big deal as it would be incredibly awkward to actually use such a large device for voice calling.
AT&T has merely confirmed that the device exists but hasn't really provided us with any additional information. The device is set to launch on AT&T in the coming weeks but unfortunately, there is no further information concerning a release date or price points.


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Pizza Hut is launching augmented reality pizza boxes that you can play Pac-Man on. The company’s CMO tells Insider why it’s using the gaming icon in its ‘Newstalgia’ campaign.
Pizza has become a pandemic staple over the past year, which has only intensified a long-running rivalry between the biggest chains. As part of its bid to further boost sales and grab a bigger slice of the pie, Pizza Hut has turned to a reliable old friend: Pac-Man. The use of the


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CNN host and politcal commentator Van Jones is the keynote speaker at The One Club’s Global ‘Where Are All The Black People’ Diversity Conference taking place September 22-24.
Poster House, the nation’s only museum dedicated to the global history of posters, has recently reopened.
AIGA campaigns seek to increase voter engagement and commemorate the 100th anniversary of voting rights for women.
The One Club for Creativity Denver’s 16th Annual Paper Fashion Show, which features extravagant fashions and ensembles made by local designers, is set for April 30.
The One Club for Creativity has announced a partnership with Spotify to serve as exclusive sponsor of the club’s 2020 Portfolio Night All-Stars program.
AIGA Connecticut Design for Democracy has launched an initiative asking creatives to submit their designs on why all Americans should receive healthcare.
PRINT® 19, slated for October 3-5 at Chicago’s McCormick Place North. Registration is now open for the industry’s most comprehensive and longest running event, and Nicholas Thompson, editor-in-chief of Wired, will set the tone with a keynote address.
The ONE Club for Creativity Denver’s 15th Annual Paper Fashion Show, which features extravagant fashions and ensembles made by local designers, will be held on Friday, April 12 in Aurora CO. Papers are donated by Neenah, Mohawk, CTI Paper USA and more.
Lisa Strausfield will be at MICA for two days in March as the Wm. O. Steinmetz ’50 Designer-in-Residence, starting with a public lecture on March 11 at 7 pm.
Publisher Gordon Kaye on GDUSA’s 2019 People To Watch. And why, in this dumb and divisive time, he is feeling a bit better about where we are and where we are going.
C&G Partners designed this exhibit, which illuminates the story of the effort to bring thousands of Jewish children from Nazi Germany to Great Britain between 1938 and 1939.
Northwestern University’s Block Museum examines the trailblazing Goldsholl husband and wife design team who had great influence on mid-20th Century advertising and design.
SVA presents Graphic Design in China, a juried biennial that aims to showcase the growth of Chinese graphic design to an international audience.
For creative and marketing professionals, PRINT 18 promises fresh ideas for ‘wow’ print marketing, impactful digital techniques, seminars and hands-on design labes, and a better understanding of the fusion of digital and print technologies. Visionary Seth Godin, above, delivers the keynote.
The emotion of the crowd is the inspiration for C&G Partners’ design of “Comeback Season: Sports After 9/11,” a new special exhibition opening soon at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Tad Carpenter, designer illustrator, author and educator, is returning to the Adobe MAX Conference 2018 for the third time as a speaker this year. Registration for the event is now open.
2018 AIGA medals go to Susan Kare, Arem Duplessis, Victor Moscono, Karin Fong and Aaron Douglas at this year’s gala while Google is Corporate Leader.
Margo Chase: Chasing the Bright Light runs from March 23 through May 2 in Dallas; the exhibit celebrates her drive and passion to create.
Designing Playful Cities opens at the Museum of Design Atlanta and makes a strong case for designing for play into urban environments.
Worldstudio and Make Art with Purpose have launched AMPL!FY, a public art and design initiative that partners designers with social justice organizations to create thought-provoking posters.
Tom Geismar, George Lois and Rudi Wolff will address the impact of Modernism on American Graphic Design and usher in a new book on the subject by Steven Heller and Greg D’Onofrio.
Visual Connections returns to NYC on October 25 to stage another free discovery, networking and education event for graphic designers and other art and photography buyers. GDUSA readers can register for free.
The organizers of How Design Live bring you REACH, a new conference about being a successful creative leader in an era that demands it.
Frank Baseman’s long term interests include letterpress printing and rebuses; these combine to produce a playful upcoming exhibition at Penn State University.
Hopscotch Design was conceived by Matthew Muñoz and Jonathan Opp from New Kind to merge with the annual Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh NC. Here’s a report on the fourth edition.


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Five-hundred and fifty-five individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 20 states so far this year, according to the CDC.
Checking with your doctor to make sure the medications you're taking are safe is always important.
A large study recently done by Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy in Boston finds taking certain supplements may not...
Every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke, according to the CDC.
An Indianapolis-based company has issued a recall for melon products sold in 16 states after being linked to a salmonella outbreak.
Karen Johnson was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her early 30's, and before the age of 40 required a wheelchair.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- Driving around much of the state has become hazardous due to this winter storm.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) -- In case you didn't know, Wednesday is National Biomechanics Day!
On any given day there are around 75,000 people on the active waiting list for organs, according to the CDC.
Chances are many of you are thinking, "Not another snowstorm."


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An Uneven Recovery
When PBB published the findings of the 2018 Distributor Sales Volume Estimate, there was an impossible-to-overlook development: Small companies were on the rise heading into 2019. The industry as a whole had a 6.27% increase over 2018, but as was reported at the time, “The growth was mainly driven by sales from small distributors,” who increased both their sales and overall representation in the industry’s makeup.
Three years and one pandemic later, that trend has stalled. The 2021 Distributor Sales Volume Estimate showed a healthy increase of (12.5%) in sales volume over COVID-riddled 2020, but the makeup of those gains among small and large companies are quite different. Small distributors were barely able to make it to a sales volume slightly under that of 2020. Only 42.7% of the industry’s total sales volume came from small distributors, which is down from 48.3% in 2020.
For small distributors—companies reporting less than $2.5 million in annual sales—average sales peaked at $470,000 in 2018, then dipped in 2019 to $422,000 and rolled slightly to $424,00 amid the initial pandemic year of 2020. In 2021, however, the group’s average sales dropped to $409,000.
The promotional products industry’s increase in overall sales volume is likely attributed to an increased return to normalcy from 2020, which was more greatly affected by pandemic lockdowns. Demand for personal protective equipment decreased in 2021, and the sales of traditional promotional products picked up.
For more than 50 years, PPAI has been collecting, analyzing and reporting distributor sales, and this study is considered the most definitive and comprehensive of its kind in the industry, useful in understanding the current landscape for promotional products companies and as a potential tool in any attempts to try to prepare for the future.
While it’s important to analyze where the increased sales come from, there is no denying that the industry as a whole did bounce back from the tumultuousness of 2020. Promotional products sales by distributors reached $22.1 billion in 2021, up 12.5% from 2020’s $19.6 billion, which had been a sharp decline attributed to the first stage of the pandemic. See Figure 1.
That $22.1 billion in sales is not quite on par with 2018 and 2019 sales totals, which both eclipsed $24 billion. It’s worth noting that while there were some returns to normalcy in 2021 when compared to 2020, the industry still contended with multiple new variants of COVID-19, various economic uncertainties and considerable worldwide supply chain delays.
All told, 63% of distributors reported increased sales in 2021, which could only be said of 20% of distributors in 2020.
There was a sizable difference in growth between the large and small companies in 2021. In terms of sales volume, large distributors experienced a 24% increase. Meanwhile, smaller companies actually failed to reach 2020’s sales levels and saw a 0.46% decrease. See Figure 2.
It is not entirely clear what to fully attribute that discrepancy to beyond the possibility that many smaller distributors continued to struggle with pandemic-related issues, or that they were no longer clients’ preferred partners once restrictions began to ease. Regardless, the report states bluntly that “the growth difference between segments tipped the industry’s balance in favor of large distributors,” which is counter to trends from as recently as 2018. For 2021, 57% of the market share was made up of companies with over $2.5 million in annual profit, which represents the largest percentage in the past decade. See Figure 3.
It can’t be overlooked that the share of online sales of promotional products was 25.8% in 2021 (up from 17.3% in 2020). That larger share resulted in a massive increase in total volume of online sales.
Once again, though, that increase was mostly felt by larger companies, which saw a whopping 91.1% increase in online sales. Large companies did $4.2 billion in online sales in 2021 compared to just $2.2 billion in 2020. While small companies saw a much smaller growth in online sales, they still made more in online sales than they had in the previous five years. The total reported online sales from all companies was $5.7 billion, which suggests it is picking up a trend that peaked in 2018 with $6 billion. See Figure 4.
Small distributors continued to do business with non-industry suppliers at a rate on par with 2020, but large distributors only did 13% of business with suppliers outside the industry, down from 17% from 2020. The Internal Survey Report theorizes that this might have been a result of global supply chain issues that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic and which became an increasing obstacle as 2021 progressed. Many supply chain issues that began in 2021 have carried into 2022, and so it is possible that this trend may remain for our current year.
The total number of sales in products from non-industry suppliers came out to $2.8 billion, which is 5.7% less than 2020.
Retail branded products were only introduced to the survey a few years ago. PPAI defines retail branded products as “consumer-facing, brand name products that add a sense of distinction to incentive and recognition programs as well as individual end-user gifts (Yeti, Maui Jim, Inc., TUMI, Nikon, Inc., etc.).”
This applies to the majority of distributors in the industry. The number of distributors selling retail branded products in 2021 was relatively unchanged compared to 2020. Every large distributor indicated they sold them (compared to 97% in 2020) and 84% of small companies reported they did (compared to 81% in 2020.)
There was a slight increase in the actual size of sales that came from retail branded products. The industry sold $4.5 billion in retail branded products, which is a 2.6% increase from 2020 but still nearly $1 billion short of 2019.
In spite of current economic challenges including prices rising worldwide—see our report on the industry’s reaction to current inflation levels on page 18—the majority (70%) of distributors who participated in the survey expect higher sales and profit for 2022 than 2021 (and 2020). Understandably though, that optimism is stated more strongly among large distributors.
A total of 36% of distributors under $2.5 million in annual sales predicted sales either the same or less than they achieved in 2021. Only 11% of distributors with over $2.5 million in annual sales had as conservative or pessimistic predictions.
Similarly, 77% of large companies predicted greater profits in 2022 compared to only 55% of smaller companies who shared such optimism.
To compile the 2021 Estimate of U.S. Distributors’ Promotional Products Sales for PPAI, the survey was distributed via email to both PPAI members and non-member promotional consultant companies. The sample was drawn from PPAI and UPIC (Universal Promotional Identification Code) lists.
The top 50 distributors were also reached by phone to make sure their information was included in the analysis because the omission of any distributor with a large volume of business could distort the statistics.
Jonny Auping is a news editor at PPAI.


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The secret of Suzu Hirose's "Hitomi no Chikara" revealed for the first time!? New TV commercial / web content October 10...
If you write the contents roughly
Started with individual consulting, and is currently active as a corporate training and seminar lecturer on themes such as business impression power, manners, and communication.
Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. New release of eye drop “Mightia V Plus” that leads to healthy and clear eyes with hyperemia October 2022, 10 Senju Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. → Continue reading
Kyodo News PR Wire
Kyodo PR wire, which distributes press releases and news releases, connects information from "who wants to know" to "people who want to know."
This is a site that consumers should pay attention to, where news releases from major governments and government agencies including local governments and universities are gathered.
Wikipedia related words
If there is no explanation, there is no corresponding item on Wikipedia.
[rdp-wiki-embed url=”https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminar Lecturer”][rdp-wiki-embed url=”https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business Impression” ]


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News and notes on the restaurant scene from dining critic Carol Deptolla
Sweet Mullets brewpub coming to Oconomowoc
An Oconomowoc brewpub is making a splash, and it hasn't even opened yet: Sweet Mullets Brewery & Pub was voted "best of the fest" at the Isthmus Beer and Cheese Fest last month in Madison for its Wild Buckwheat Red, made from Wisconsin buckwheat and hops.
Mark Duchow, the brewmaster and co-owner of Sweet Mullets with Barbara Jones, said the brewpub could open to the public by the first week of March. It's in the industrial park off Old Highway 16, at N58-W39800 Industrial Road.
That Wild Buckwheat Rye should be available when Sweet Mullets opens. It's expected to be a seasonal beer, made just after the hops harvest in fall. It's brewed from wild hops, Duchow said -- from plants that grow beside train tracks, the result of hops being transported when Wisconsin was a top producer after the Civil War.
Duchow said Sweet Mullets currently is contracting the brewing of its beer; it's expected to begin brewing its beers on site in April or May, after federal approval, and customers will be able to see the beers being made.
Duchow said he's been a professional brewer for 20 years, getting his start at Water Street Brewery in 1992. He was brewmaster at the Grumpy Troll brewpub in Mount Horeb from 2006 to 2010.
Sweet Mullets will brew around 40 styles of beer throughout the year. It will have a brief menu of small plates that will pair with the beers being brewed and change frequently as the beer lineup changes.
"Because of my brewing style, I kind of wing it. It's fun for me and fun for everyone else," Duchow said.
Six to eight beers will be available on tap at a time. Duchow said the pub also would sell other craft beers, but from Wisconsin brewers only. Wines and liquors will be from Wisconsin as well.
Duchow described the brewpub as "English pub meets industrial warehouse." Sweet Mullets will have seating for 68 people at tables and the bar, built from pallet wood. Other repurposed materials also were used in the pub's remodeling.
Sweet Mullets will be serving its beer this Saturday at the Oconomowoc Rotary Club's Wine & Brewfest, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Olympia Resort.


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Oprah Winfrey, the popular TV personality once again has hit the headlines because of her lesbian connection with her long term pal Gayle King. This time she has spoken to Barbara Walters in a television interview on channel ABC.
The rapid spread of HIV virus, and controlling it has been a great challenge in the medical field for the last few decades! But with the success of new studies a ray of hope can be seen. Recent advancements in this field by the researchers of the JSPS Government Homeopathic Medical College, Hyderabad, and the […]
There is some interesting news for those who are planning to buy a new Apple iPad. Apple is going to release its most up-to-date version of iPad which will be known as iPad 2 in April. Analyst Brian Marshall of Gleacher has broken the story publicly quoting its usual “industry sources”.


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GDPR will hit manufacturing hard, says Close Brothers23/02/2018
Two thirds of manufacturers are not ready for the General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), according to a recent survey conducted by Close Brothers Asset Finance, only one third of manufacturers were confident they understood what ‘personal data’ means. 11pct answered that they definitely did not understand the term, while the remaining 56pct were unsure of its meaning - in other words, two thirds of manufacturers are unprepared.
“Keeping customer data secure is becoming one of the key issues of our times with the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) coming into force in May 2018,” said Ian Barker, Managing Director, Manufacturing division at Close Brothers Asset Finance.
“It’s vital that businesses of all sizes understand the rights customers have when it comes to collecting and utilising their personal information, because currently 38pct of SMEs in our sector don’t understand customers’ new extended rights and another 39pct don’t have the right levels of permissions to contact their customers under the new requirements of the GDPR.”
More than one in 10 (12pct) of manufacturing firms share their customers' personal data with third parties while 17pct are ‘unsure’ if they do or not. When asked if they have a process in place to ensure they are collecting data in the correct manner, 46pct either did not or were unsure.
“The GDPR’s definition of personal data makes it clear that even online identifiers, for example an IP address, can be personal data,” explained Ian. “The new definitions provide for a wide range of personal identifiers to constitute personal data, reflecting changes in technology and the way organisations collect information about people. This example shows just how detailed the new regulations are going to be and it’s incumbent on business owners to understand what this means to them.”


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The extravagant realm of trading high-priced assets has expanded beyond the exclusive domain of art connoisseurs and into the crypto industry. Amid the boom, many investors have turned their attention to global art, NFTs, and luxury items like Rolex watches.
Still, as economic growth begins to decelerate, the luxury goods market is experiencing a similar downturn.
Global Art Sales Take a Hit
According to the Washington Post, global art sales reached $67.8 billion in 2022, marking a 3% increase from the previous year. In contrast, 2021 witnessed a 30% surge in art sales compared to 2020. The influx of $9 trillion in liquidity has undoubtedly played a significant role in bolstering the art market.
The United States has been a primary driver of the art market, with iconic pieces such as Andy Warhol’s Shot Sage Blue Marilyn selling for $195 million and Leonardo Da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi fetching $450 million in 2017.
However, the market began to lose steam in late 2022. Waning demand for lower-end work, concerns about recession, rampant inflation, and rising interest rates have severely impacted this market.
In addition to these factors, younger luxury consumers are also cutting back on spending.
Brands like Burberry Group Plc and Gucci-owner Kering SA report that “aspirational buyers” – a younger demographic – are becoming more cautious with their expenditures as we head into 2023.
NFT Sales Suffer, But China May Hold the Key
The decline in market enthusiasm is most evident in the NFT space. After skyrocketing from $20 million in sales in 2020 to $2.9 billion in 2021, art-related NFT sales dropped by approximately 50% in 2022.
While young people continue to invest in art, those who do typically possess over $1 million in assets, including real estate and private businesses. This distinguishes them from the “crypto bros” who entered the market during the boom.
The Washington Post suggests that China may hold the key to revitalizing the art and luxury markets. Following the 2008 financial crisis, the Chinese market played a crucial role in the recovery. Art sales bounced back in 2010.
Recent events like Art Basel Hong Kong and positive signals from brands such as Prada and Moncler indicate a resurgence in luxury shopping. Bernstein analysts have also observed Chinese fashion enthusiasts beginning to travel abroad once more.
For purveyors of high-end products from Balenciaga to Basquiat, the hope is that Chinese consumers will unleash a new wave of “revenge spending” to revitalize the luxury and alternative asset markets.
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.
This article was initially compiled by an advanced AI, engineered to extract, analyze, and organize information from a broad array of sources. It operates devoid of personal beliefs, emotions, or biases, providing data-centric content. To ensure its relevance, accuracy, and adherence to BeInCrypto’s editorial standards, a human editor meticulously reviewed, edited, and approved the article for publication.


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Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax Coming to PS3 & Vita This Year
Previously only available in Japan, SEGA has announced that the 2D fighting game Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax will be getting a western release this year for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita.
Featuring playable characters from anime such as Asuna (Sword Art Online) to Kuroyukihime (Accel World) – it will be battle of the… waifus set against Sega-themed worlds.
Dengeki Bunko: Fighting Climax will be available in Summer 2015, so around mid this year. Watch the trailer below:


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Amid an intense atmosphere, with only 16 days left for the presidential and parliamentary elections, Turkey has attracted $500 million worth of direct investment from three foreign industrial giants one by one last week.
The biggest investment that marked this week came from China's State Development and Investment Corporation (SDIC Power). SDIC Power, one of the biggest global investors in the country, decided to establish a wind power plant with a size of 170 megawatts and a value of $300 million in Aegean provinces of Aydın and Manisa together with SGI Holding.
The licensing and bureaucratic processes related to the investment were also completed. Planning to make billion-dollar investments in Turkey in the long term, the group will announce the details of its planned facilities this week.
Another investment report is closely related to the automotive world. Bozankaya, the manufacturer of the electric bus used in Turkey for two and a half years, brings the world's largest lithium-ion battery manufacturer to Turkey.
Provided with all kinds of incentives from land to financing by the automotive giant Volkswagen to invest in Germany, the Chinese company has chosen Turkey for invesatment. Bozankaya research and technological development manager Dursun Çiçek said the Chinese state-owned company, which is also the world's largest manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, wants to invest in Turkey.
"The company, manufacturing tailor-made batteries for our buses, wants to produce in Turkey. We are still in talks. The size of the investment will be around 60 million euros. We will export a significant portion of production to Europe," Çiçek said.
Pointing out that along with the domestic electric buses, the prices of the imported ones have also fallen, he said before their production, Turkey had to buy electric buses four times more expensive than the current price.
"Our buses can travel 400 kilometers with a full tank and are four times cheaper than those sold by foreigners. With the battery investment, this cost can be even lower," he added.
Chinese cable company ZTT Group also announced last week that they will invest $110 million in Turkey. Ryan Shi, the head of the company's International Business Department, said they want to enlarge the capacity of their existing factory in Bilecik and make investments in Eskişehir and Gemlik from scratch.
Many Chinese companies coming to Turkey have so far purchased nearly 1,000 parcels from the Organized Industrial Zones (OIZ). Chinese companies eyeing investments in many cities including Gaziantep, Çorum, Yozgat, Konya and Denizli are interested in electronics, textile, food, mining and the energy sector.


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Czech Inflation Quickens in December and Bigger Jump Looms
Czech inflation accelerated at the end of 2021 but the focus of investors has already shifted to the start of this year when the central bank expects consumer prices to rise at the faster pace in over two decades.
The annual inflation rate rose to 6.6% in December, from 6% in the previous month, data from Czech Statistics Office showed Wednesday. The central bank said its latest “working estimate” sees January inflation at around 9% and that it can’t completely rule out double-digit figures for several months in early 2022.
The bank has pledged to continue with one of the European Union’s most aggressive campaigns of interest-rate increases, after lifting borrowing costs by a cumulative 3.5 percentage points since June.
- “The published data reflect strong and across-the-board inflation pressures from the domestic and foreign economies, which are higher than expected by the autumn forecast,” the central bank said.
- Overall price growth exceeded the central bank’s forecast mainly due to core inflation; that measure reflects strong demand pressures as well as rising property prices and accelerated to a record 8.6% in December, the bank said in a statement.
- While commodity prices and supply-chain problems are among key price drivers, the central bank says its monetary-policy tightening is aimed at preventing current high inflation from becoming a long-term phenomenon.
- The Czech Republic has the lowest jobless rate in the EU and policy makers want to prevent a wage-price spiral.
- Czech Rate Setters Saw Longer Inflation Pressures, Minutes Show
- Czechs Hoard Inflation Bonds as Fear of Runaway Prices Grows
- Czechs Say Rate Hikes Aren’t Over After Another Surprise Move
©2022 Bloomberg L.P.


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Panasonic has announced its new OLED TVs for 2022, at CES. While these don’t have any crazy features like some of the other TVs that we have seen this week. Panasonic mostly made these TVs larger, and improved the lag, making them great for gamers too.
As far as gaming features go, Panasonic has reduced the lag at 60Hz. There’s also HDMI 2.1 support available for 4K 120Hz gaming. No VRR unfortunately. Panasonic also has automatic detection of NVIDIA GPU’s and a Game Control Board overlay so you can adjust some common settings like the viewing mode and HDR tone mapping.
Maybe not the dream TV for gamers, but these are features that gamers will still appreciate. And while we don’t have prices yet, these will likely be cheaper than the LG G2 OLED, or some of the Sony OLED TVs announced at CES this week.
Panasonic OLED TVs now come up to 77-inches
Panasonic’s new 4K LZ2000 will be available in a 77-inch size. That is in addition to the 55-inch and 65-inch variants. There are also some new sensors available this year that can measure the ambient light temperature to produce more natural tones. Panasonic also added improved processing that will improve the “mid-level” brightness for well-lit living rooms, and is better at detecting content types, for example sports.
There are also revamped Dolby Atmos speakers that will provide clearer audio and a wider sound stage. There’s also directional sound that is able to aim at specific points or areas in your room.
As mentioned, there’s no prices available yet for these TVs. But they are expected to be released in the Summer of 2022. So we should hear more about prices on these new Panasonic OLED TVs by then. Typically, they are cheaper than Sony’s OLED models, but close to price when it comes to LG.


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The challenges facing Nigerian shippers are too many and from different directions. Apart from the issues of infrastructure in Nigerian ports environment that have impacted negatively on trade facilitation locally, importers have had to contend with the surcharges imposed on them by shipping agents who are acting on the dictations of multinational shipping lines under different conferences involved in movement of goods from one continent to another.
Although imposition of surcharges in itself is not out of place as certain situations demand for this, what is worrisome is the tendency for the shipping agencies to fail to vacate them when the need arises. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) provides for surcharges by liner conferences who are made up on individual shipping lines from different continents involved in shipment of goods worldwide.
But UNCTAD provision makes it clear that these surcharges are supposed to be temporary and subject to cancellation when the situation is normalised.
In the Nigerian environment, there are instances in which shipping lines impose surcharges without justification. For instance, in September last year, some shipping lines, including CMA CGM had given a notice to introduce a congestion surcharge of $400 per container.
In a notice, the shipping line had said “Port congestion at Lagos ports, Nigeria, is currently increasing our operational costs and generating severe service disruption for several weeks.”
The surcharge was to take effect October 15 last year but for the timely intervention of the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC).
Yet, the shipping agencies are not done, as they are again drumming for the introduction of more surcharges.
Surcharges by liners
Among the surcharges that have been identified as prevalent in Nigerian ports in different colorations according to the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) include peak season surcharge (PSS); extra risk insurance (ERI)/carrier security fee (CSF) surcharge; congestion surcharge (CS); freight tax surcharge (FTS); operations cost recovery (OCR); low sulphur surcharge (LSS); B.A.F (bunker adjustment surcharge) and C.A.F. (currency adjustment surcharge).
As the ports economic regulator, the NSC believes that most of the surcharges are not justifiable and negative to trade. The fear being expressed among stakeholders is that the surcharges if allowed to take place will affect traffic flow of cargoes to Nigerian ports. And this is considering the neighboring ports surrounding Nigerian ports in the West and Central African sub-region. Nigeria had competed over the years with neighboring ports for the transshipment hub. Such surcharges will further worsen the situation and many Nigerian shippers may be forced to use neighboring ports like Cotonou and resort to smuggling through the various porous border routes.
The Director, Special Duties, NSC, Mr. Tahir Idris, said the surcharges are built into the freight costs from parent companies. But he expressed concerns that the shipping agencies often ignore to suspend the surcharges even with the knowledge that the situation which justified their imposition has changed.
Tahir said, “it seems to be permanently being deployed as it is mostly built into the freight cost from parent companies.”
He explained that the surcharges are fees collected by shipping companies in addition to freight rates prevailing in Nigerian seaports.
He explained, “There are about eight or more surcharges imposed on Nigerian ports. The UNCTAD provisions in its Article 16 of the code stipulate that surcharges imposed on cargo moving to and from a particular port shall be regarded as temporary and likewise shall be increased, reduced or cancelled subject to when the situation in the port changes.
“But what we have observed is that, we hardly witness a total suspension of these surcharges as was intended to be a temporary measure, designed to bring equity in the recovery of some unexpected costs increases or losses. It seems to be permanently being deployed as it is mostly built into the freight cost from parent companies”.
Global Shippers Forum
In a bid to stop the shipping lines from the continued exploitation of Nigerian shippers, the NSC leadership said it will take the matter up with the Global Shippers Forum (GSF) which is an apex association of shippers’ councils all over the world.
As a member of the African Shippers Council (ASC), Nigeria will report the matter first to its parent body which will then take up the matter to the GSF. The forum has a way of checking the excesses of shipping lines operating in different continents of the world.
Speaking on the surcharges, the Executive Secretary, NSC, Mr Hassan Bello, described it as unjustifiable.
Bello, explained that while some of the charges were supposed to be temporary, reduced or cancelled as allowed by UNCTAD and as the situation in the ports changes, the shipping lines have maintained a permanent imposition of the charges on helpless shippers.
He said what is worrisome is that even incidents of piracy that have nothing to do with Nigeria are given different colorations in what is targeted at placing a surcharge on cargoes coming to Nigeria.
He added, “Everything that happens, even if it is in Togo or Benin Republic, it is attributed to have taken place in Nigeria. Even local infractions like somebody just enters the ship illegally even without weapons, it is reported as incidence of piracy. But that is not piracy, it is probably robbery incident. Piracy is total command of the ship on the high sea.”
Worried about the effect of the surcharges on cost of shipping and to the final consumers, freight forwarders are of the view that except the ports economic regulator moves fast in checking the shipping lines, Nigerian ports will become unfriendly. Former President, National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) Dr. Eugene Nweke said the shipping lines are out to inflict economic woes on shippers and should not be allowed to have their way.
Nweke, said the shipping lines fail to understand the effect on the importers and their customs agents who he said will pass the cost to the final consumers.
He urged the ports economic regulator to stop the shipping lines and their agents in Nigeria. Nweke recalled that it was the NSC that stopped the first planned surcharge that would have taken effect in October last year, adding that the decision of the NSC to take the matter to the GSF through the African Shippers Council (ASC) was a welcome development. He argued that there is no situation now that calls for surcharges by shipping lines.
Nweke said, “there are conditions spelt out by UNCTAD for surcharges. The NSC should ensure that these conditions are followed by shipping lines.”
Similarly, a maritime lawyer, Mr Kasa Opara, also kicked against any surcharge being proposed by shipping lines.
Opara said that in the first place the shipping agencies collect as much as N60,000 administrative charge on all 40-foot container despite the contract of affreightment entered between the shipping line and the importer for which freight charge had been paid abroad before the goods left for Nigeria.
He said that it was only the NSC as the ports economic regulator that will be able to stop the shipping lines from taking advantage of the helpless situation of shippers in Nigeria.
“It is only in Nigeria that these shipping lines want to try their luck on certain surcharges and am happy that this is being resisted by not just the freight forwarders but also the leadership of the Shippers Council,” he said. Opara said what most shipping lines coming to Nigeria do is to test the waters with illegal charges and enforce it permanently if not challenged.
“It is only in West Africa and particularly Nigeria that they try this nonsense, but am happy that the NSC has risen swiftly against them”, he added.
*Ugwoke, a journalist, writes from Apapa, Lagos


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Hyundai has delayed the launch of its Alcazar SUV, which will now be unveiled at the ending of May this year, according to autocarindia.com.The vehicle will be available in 6 and 7-seat designs and will feature a 1.5-litre diesel engine option as well as a 2.0-litre petrol engine and will give a direct competition to Mahindra's XUV 500, Tata Safari and Hector Plus.
The Alcazar SUV by the South Korean automobile giant also features a three-row seating capacity and was scheduled for launch in April this month. Hyundai's move to delay the launch comes in light of the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases across the country.
In principle, the new Alcazar is inspired by Hyundai's full-size SUV, Creta with both vehicles featuring a similar platform. The Alcazar however has been furnished with a longer wheelbase by Hyundai at 2760 mm to support the extra row of seats.
Hyundai has also given several styling modifications to help differentiate the Alcazar from the Creta. These incorporate a modified grille, a refreshed front bumper, an extended rear quarter glass, taillights featuring a wraparound design, faux exhaust tips and significantly large 18-inch alloy wheels.
The all-new Alcazar's petrol variant will be powered by a 2.0 litre, four-cylinder engine which will churn out a power of 159 hp and a peak torque of 192 Nm. The diesel version of the upcoming vehicle, on the other hand, will sport a 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged motor borrowed from Hyundai's Creta that produces 115hp and 250Nm. Both the variants will come with a 6-speed manual and automatic gearboxes.
Talking about features, the Alcazar is assumed to receive all the features offered by Hyundai Creta like a panoramic sunroof, Apple CarPlay, automatic climate control, wireless phone charging, 360-degree camera among others. The interior of the vehicle will feature a dual-tone colour theme.


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SocialCode Taps Data, Product Leader Todd Parsons as Chief Product Officer
Acxiom vet brings big data and applied analytics knowhow to paid social and video advertising
NEW YORK — September 14, 2016 — Brands that work with SocialCode will soon receive even more actionable intelligence, thanks to the arrival of Acxiom veteran Todd Parsons, the company announced today.
Taking a fully transparent, data-driven approach to paid social, mobile, and video advertising, SocialCode is producing continuously better marketing results for top brands. (Heineken shared how SocialCode does this in a recent article.)
“Social channels are the top contributor to how brands drive brand perception and sales,” said SocialCode CEO Laura O’Shaughnessy. “Enabling powerful insights about customers across their journey is changing the way brands do business. Todd Parsons is an exceptional product leader focused on bringing these insights to life to transform organizations.”
Before joining SocialCode, Parsons was GM of marketing services at Acxiom, where he held P&L responsibility and product direction over Acxiom’s core business. Before his time at Acxiom, Todd founded two venture-backed companies – BuzzLogic, the first SaaS solution for social listening, and Aditive, a social marketing platform acquired by Acxiom.
“Social is no longer just a channel, it’s a key data asset for driving business growth and customer retention,” said Parsons. “Marketers need a trusted partner to assemble their data and in turn, create better experiences for the right customers. SocialCode answers this need by combining the best expertise in paid social with complete access and transparency to data, technology and method. I’m excited to be part of SocialCode’s next stage of growth.”
This story appeared first in MediaPost.
SocialCode is a technology and insights company that provides tools and manages digital advertising for the world’s leading consumer brands. SocialCode decodes human needs to deliver actionable insights from consumer data on advertising platforms like Facebook®, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Snapchat. SocialCode is the only major social marketing platform that combines automation with a strategic solutions group. That’s why marketers like Heineken®, Nestle, Capital One, Reckitt Benckiser, and Visa trust SocialCode to know what to do now and what to do next. Visit SocialCode.com to learn more.


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#information Iconic Australian brands foreign-owned FourN’Twenty pies Herbert Adams while Mrs Mac’s remain Aussie #WorldNews
Several of Australia’s most beloved brands, together with FourN’Twenty, Nanna’s and Herbert Adams, have quietly grow to be foreign-owned, while one favorite has stayed true blue.
Patties Foods, the most important meat pie-producing firm in Australia, which is headquartered in Victoria’s Bairnsdale, additionally owns Chefs Pride, Snowy River and Boscastle, not too long ago was purchased by a significant Asian conglomerate.
One of the most important personal fairness corporations in Hong Kong, Pacific Alliance Group (PAG), purchased Patties, taking a number of the nation’s mainstay labels with it.
Australian Made Products, a well-liked Facebook group with greater than 160,000 followers, shared a graphic revealing the favored FourN’Twenty was now not Aussie-owned, prompting folks to explain the choice as a ‘shame’.
‘I will not be shopping for FourN’Twenty ever once more,’ a lady commented.
Several of Australia’s most beloved brands together with FourN’Twenty have quietly grow to be foreign-owned after a significant Asian agency purchased its producer
The actual quantity of the deal to amass Patties was not disclosed however is reportedly in extra of $500million and can permit PAG to increase their Australian providing after shopping for Red Rooster, Oporto, and the WA-based Chicken Treat for the same quantity in 2019.
Patties Foods boss Paul Hitchcock stated PAG’s buy would ‘unlock additional funding and innovation’.
‘It is recognition of our popularity as a extremely revered meals producer in Australia and New Zealand with a protracted listing of liked meals brands,’ he stated.
Aussies are much less satisfied, with some suggesting its headline model has modified its iconic recipe.
Herbert Adams is now additionally owned by the Hong Kong conglomerate after the $500million takeover of Patties Foods
‘I used to eat a couple of FourN’Twenty pies as a child they usually appeared alright. More not too long ago purchased some they usually have been completely horrible. Yuck. Never once more,’ a person replied to Australian Made Products’ publish.
‘Quite unhappy, is not it. I’m at a servo, they usually have simply swapped Mrs Mac’s out for FourN’Twenty,’ a lady commented.
Many folks stated there was a straightforward repair for folks not eager to help foreign-owned firms, purchase native.
‘Buy your pies out of your native bakery. I’m positive they might admire your help,’ a lady stated.
Mrs Mac’s, a staple of the Australian market since 1954, stays Australian owned and manufactured
The Facebook group did nonetheless reveal Mrs Mac’s, a staple of the Australian market since 1954, stays Australian owned and manufactured.
‘I like Mrs Mac’s merchandise and like to purchase them once I can,’ a lady responded to the publish.
‘Always use Mrs Mac’s microwave pies. They style scrumptious,’ one other stated.
PAG head of personal fairness and managing director of Australia and New Zealand, Sid Khotkar, stated the acquisition would ‘improve the power of our enterprise in Australia and NZ’.
Four’n’Twenty is the most recent in a protracted line of iconic Australian brands to be purchased out by abroad conglomerates.
The model turned synonymous with the VFL after which AFL after being based in Bendigo, Victoria 75 years in the past
Tim Tam maker Arnott’s was purchased by the US-owned Campbells Soup Company within the Nineties and on-sold to US funding fund KKR.
Breakfast desk favorite Uncle Tobys is owned by Swiss-based Nestle, Fosters beer is owned by Japanese large Asahi, and Tooheys is owned by its countrymate and rival Kirin.
Even nation clothes maker RM Williams, about as Australian as there may be, was bought to Louis Vuitton proprietor LVMH primarily based in France in 2013.
But in an encouraging transfer, that firm was repurchased by mining magnate Andrew Forrest and his spouse Nicola by their firm Tattarang in 2020, making the corporate wholly Australian-owned as soon as once more.
The PAG acquisition of Patties and Vesco is topic to regulatory approval from Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB), its NZ counterpart, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).


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United Biscuits (UBUK), has announced that McVitie’s HobNobs is relaunching with the addition of Golden Syrup to the biscuits’ recipe.
The new recipe is designed to increase the appeal of the brand to consumers and grow sales for retailers.
McVitie’s HobNobs biscuits with the new recipe are available for retailers now in a 300g roll wrap at an MRRP of £1.36.
Packs will feature an on pack flash communicating the new recipe in a bid to achieve greater on shelf stand out.
The launch of the new McVitie’s HobNobs recipe follows consumer research that showed 92% of consumers intended to purchase the McVitie’s HobNobs biscuits following the inclusion of Golden Syrup in the recipe.
Sarah Heynen, marketing director of Sweet Biscuits at UBUK, said:
“This investment in reformulating McVitie’s HobNobs will ensure we continue to develop and offer consumers the best possible tasting biscuits.
“Having received such a great response on the new recipe, we’re sure that this new recipe will help drive sales for retailers in the Everyday Biscuits segment, which is currently worth £320m and growing by 7%.
“Retailers looking to make this most of this high purchase intent should make sure they stock up now.”