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Moreover, Renoir X can be seen as a coreless version of the Renoir series APU, and should still use the 7nm process and Zen2 architecture. According to the news, there are currently known 4-core, 6-core, and 8-core models.
In addition, the detailed specifications of the AMD 7nm Athlon Gold PRO 4150GE were also revealed not long ago. The specifications are 4 cores, 4 threads, and Vega 5 core display, which may be in response to Intel’s newly released new Pentium processors.
Furthermore, Intel’s new-generation Core 65W processor is now on the shelves, and the i7-12700 with 12 cores and 20 threads is priced at 2,699 yuan. Three 12th-generation Core i5 processors are now available on JD.com, including the i5-12400, i5-12400F, and the China-specific i5-12490F.
The i5-12400 is priced at 1699 yuan, the i5-12400F is priced at 1499 yuan, and the i5-12490F is priced at 1620 yuan. In addition, Intel’s new generation of Pentium G7400 has also been launched, 10nm dual-core four-thread, priced at 699 yuan. At present, AMD has not officially announced the release time and price information of the new Ryzen 4000 Renoir-X desktop processor.


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The hard work of health advocates is paying off and showing real progress in changing norms. What’s the evidence? Coca Cola's quarterly sales just fell four percent amid growing health concerns about sugary drinks. Industry tracker Beverage Digest reported soda consumption hit a 30-year low in 2015. Total volume declined 1.2% in 2015, an acceleration from the 0.9% drop in 2014. The multiyear soda slump had Americans consuming 1.5 billion fewer cases than in 2004.
The good news is tempered by the fact that there is still a great deal of work to be done in reducing total consumption of sugary drinks. Even as soda consumption drops, sales have risen for products such as fruit drinks, energy drinks and sports beverages, which also are high in sugar. And as consumption drops among those who are wealthier and white, low-income and people of color continue to drink more soda, widening the health disparities between them. Meanwhile, the beverage industry fights policy efforts to discourage customers from consuming sugary drinks and spends billions of dollars to market products that have been shown to harm health.
Let’s keep making progress on soda in 2016 and reduce sugar consumption from other beverages as well. We have resources to help make it happen and look forward to sharing new ones with you soon.

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Net Zero commitments are the new fad this year for companies. According to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), more than 1,500 companies have committed to net-zero emissions.
This initiative is a certification for net-zero pledges. which considers corporate commitments “science-based” if they set goals in line with a 1.5°C future. Committed companies have 24 months to have their targets approved and published by the SBTi.
The catch is that these commitments don’t necessarily mean that companies are reducing their footprint. Companies could just purchase carbon offsets to meet their goals.
Amazon Is Putting Its Money Where Its Mouth Is
A couple weeks back, Amazon announced their first 5 investments from its Climate Pledge Fund. Not only is Amazon investing in these companies, but using their products too. The companies include:
- CarbonCure Technologies recycles waste carbon dioxide to make stronger and greener concrete. Amazon is using CarbonCure technology for construction of its new buildings.
- Pachama uses AI and remote sensing to verify and monitor carbon capture by forests to help finance conservation and reforestation. Amazon is using Pachama to monitor and assess its carbon offsets.
- Rivian manufactures electric vehicles. Amazon is purchasing 100,000 EVs from Rivian.
- Redwood Materials is an advanced technology and process development for materials recycling, re-manufacturing, and reuse. Redwood Materials will help recycle electric vehicle batteries and reuse the components.
- Turntide Technologies is developing an efficient and intelligent electric motor system. Amazon is testing Turntide’s energy efficient motors in some of its buildings.
Why does this matter?
Amazon is making sure that everyone knows the steps they are taking to implement their emissions goals. Amazon is already a big name and is taking advantage of that and setting the trend of transparency with their actions.
By implementing solutions, rather than just purchasing offsets, Amazon is demonstrating that larger organizations have a role to play for going net-zero. Carbon offsets are also a great way to meet goals, but offsets should really only be utilized by smaller companies and individuals. For a large company, purchasing carbon offsets is nothing.
Reducing carbon emissions and carbon capture will continue to accelerate. The demand is starting to shift, followed by the supporting policy. The supply side is ready for growth – from existing solutions to new innovations.
About The Author
Daniel currently works at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. His original assignment was to maintain and update facility safety documentation for all facilities on-site, and perform risk analysis. Over time, his role has expanded to leading continuous improvement efforts through product management.
Concurrently, Daniel volunteers with Techstars, helping organize startup weekends, and with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, organizing events on the local and national levels of the organization. He also volunteers with One World, and previously with Powerhouse Ventures, to source and screen startups for potential investment.
Daniel holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from UC Davis, and recently completed coursework in energy innovation from Stanford. His passion is at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and business.


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The Kantar Worldpanel data for the 12 weeks to January 24th sees Dunnes stay in first place on 22.6%. SuperValu edge ahead of Tesco to take 2nd place on 22.1% and Tesco are third on 21.9%. Lidl are fourth with 11.9% and Aldi are fifth with 11.3%.
The market grew by +16.4% during this latest period covering sales from 2nd November 2020 to 24th January 2021. This is considerably down on the +25% growth we saw during the first lockdown but growth of +16.4% still equates to nearly €450m extra spent on groceries over the 12 weeks.
This third lockdown is different from the first for two key reasons. Firstly, the food service sector is now much better prepared for a period of take-away only trading, having invested significantly in online selling solutions. Secondly, bear in mind the restrictions on non-essential retail. The discounters, Tesco and Dunnes all stock products that are not currently eligible for sale. And whilst these non-essential product sales were never captured within ‘grocery’ market share, they may have prompted additional visits to the supermarket in previous lockdowns. This dynamic may be adding an extra skew to their relative business performance.
Dunnes are the number one supermarket at 22.6% share, but their sales didn’t grow as fast as the market, so their market share is down a full 1% versus last year. The two key issues are their low store numbers relative to their competitors and their relatively late start in online grocery retail. That said, they have had a decent 12 week period, the roots of which lie in their Christmas 2020 performance. The four weeks into Christmas saw many discounter customers switching to Tesco and Dunnes especially. For shoppers that switched to Dunnes for their big Christmas shop, they received a €10 voucher for every €50 spent. This guarantees Dunnes a good start to the new year as these switchers stick with Dunnes to use their vouchers during the long, lean month of January. As a result, Dunnes share has ticked up slightly since the last read.
SuperValu are now the number two retailer at 22.1%, enjoying the benefits of their superior store numbers, offering proximity benefits to shoppers who are restricting their movements. Their share is +0.4% year on year and they have kicked in to 2021 with two strong marketing campaigns highlighting their expanding private label range alongside messages around in-store safety. ‘Safest Place To Shop’ is the new competitive territory.
Tesco have fallen to third place with 21.9% market share but their share has improved year on year thanks to over-lapping the loss of the Douglas Shopping Centre store. Their year on year share performance is very consistent, despite some Brexit supply chain disruption.
Battle of the discounters
Lidl and Aldi offer a compelling value proposition for stretched shoppers in the long weeks of January. For households that over-spend at Christmas, the obvious solution is to switch to private label and many chose to do this in a discounter. Competition is fierce, but the interesting thing is that it looks like the two discounters are competing more directly with each other than they are with the mainstream supermarkets.
For example, Aldi’s latest round of Swap & Save ads sees the Meldrum family of Leitrim saving €479 over 4 weeks whilst Lidl’s Mahony family had saved €604.92. In a separate competitive territory, Aldi announced 1,050 new jobs for 2021 whilst Lidl claimed 1,200 new jobs! Lidl recently won an IQFA award for best Covid response, whilst Aldi has won a Pakman award for excellence in recycling.
Lidl jumped on the Jerusalema train with their video hitting social media at 13:07 on 10th Feb, followed by Aldi 5 minutes later at 13:12. And this heightened competitive environment has now over-flowed on Twitter where @Aldi_Ireland apparently proposed a date with @Lidl_ireland. Lidl suggested that it probably wasn’t appropriate since everyone thinks they’re brothers. Lidl proceeded to block Aldi, Aldi retaliated with another tweet and it culminated in Aldi sending flowers to Lidl’s head office via Deliveroo. That escalated quickly!!
This is just a flavour of the constant flow of new messages as each retailer tries to gain an edge. And if you’re wondering which discounter is winning, then it depends how you look at.
Aldi currently have 11.3% share versus Lidl’s 11.9%. But Lidl have 168 stores versus Aldi’s 145. Aldi’s share is benefited by 6 new stores year on year and they are growing behind the market. Lidl have opened 5 new stores but they are growing at +25.6% year on year. Looking at store level performance, based on Kantar’s numbers, the average Aldi store is currently generating €20,000 per week more sales than the average Lidl. The problem is that Aldi currently have less capacity to absorb the pandemic uplift, so their market share is declining slightly year on year. But in the context of Covid it looks like Lidl are winning overall. They are further down the road on e-commerce, have a more nimble supply chain and have been more innovative and responsive overall. This level of active competition means that in Ireland we have one of the most highly developed discounter markets in the world. Just look at Northern Ireland where Lidl don’t have Aldi to compete with but have way less share than in the Republic. Let’s see how the battle evolves.
Join me at 10:00am on 26th February for next Ask Me Anything session, where we will take a deeper dive into the current trends. Tickets are free but registration is essential.
Retail Industry Consultant & Director at Food First Consulting www.foodfirstconsulting.ie
Partner at International Private Label Consult www.iplc-europe.com
Partner at Uspire Ltd. www.uspire.co.uk


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Most coffee cups are made with a cardboard outer layer and a plastic lining and the materials are difficult to separate. They can contaminate the paper and cardboard waste stream with the plastic and any liquid remaining in the cup.
Packaging company DS Smith announced a new solution: they separate the paper fibre from the plastic lining by adding warm water and pressure, leaving the lining fully intact for extraction. However, the collection of cups for recycling remains a big issue.
Go-Pak makes Edenware coffee cups made of paperboard lined with plant-based polylactic acid (PLA).
Mike Bristow, Sales Director at Go-Pak, said
“PLA lining is only compostable in commercial facilities where temperature, humidity and other variables are controlled to facilitate effective biodegradation.”
Mandy Kelly, Senior Recycling Manager, said
“ACE UK do not want to receive PLA as part of the infeed stock (food and drink cartons and PE-lined paper cups) for the plant as it contaminates our separated polyal (polyethylene and aluminium) output stream.”
Clayson Smith, Senior Manager at DS Smith, said
“PLA linings behave in a similar manner to the plastic lining in our process but may break up more than PE linings, so as such are an unwanted contaminant.”
Studies have found that if sent to landfill, PLA will decompose anaerobically and produce methane.
Vegware produces coffee cups made from CPLA (crystallised PLA) that have been designed to be recycled with food waste via industrial composting.
Vegware collaborates with HOTBIN (home compost bin that heats waste to 60oC) to compost Vegware’s products within 12 weeks.
Biodegradable cups, when composted properly, are more environmentally friendly than standard coffee cups – and companies such as Vegware are working with the waste industry to improve ease of access to composting facilities.
- Why would you want to recycle something that is biodegradable?
- EU Parliament recently voted on the SUP (single-use plastics) directive to reduce plastic waste in the oceans. The most important measure was the ban on plastic straws. What we call a “circus measure to appease the fools”. Plastic straws are probably the smallest source of plastic waste in the oceans. They usually end up incinerated.
- The most important sources of plastic waste in the oceans are fishing nets, plastics used in the agri sector (polyethylene and polypropylene) and the Chinese.


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Okay, here's what's happening in the coffee arena: it is bifurcating. Caffeine yuppieism can no longer be faked. As the high end coffee shops push prices into the stratosphere, Starbucks is—we regret to inform you—getting even more hobo.
Of course the end of Starbucks began when it decided that McDonald's was its top competitor, rather than, I don't know, Balthazar. We thought that the absolute bottom had been reached when Sbux announced that it would water its brand down to the consistency of lower-economic-class urine by selling its "Seattle's Best (*snort*)" brand in Burger Kings. But new details from the WSJ about this brand erosion make Starbucks' middlebrow future almost too horrifying to contemplate:
Eventually, Starbucks said, the brand will also be sold in convenience stores, drive-through kiosks, coffee carts, vending machines and mobile trucks. The company has already reached deals to sell Seattle's Best at Burger King and Subway restaurants and at AMC Entertainment Inc. movie theaters.
The knockoff brand's plainly offensive and false slogan: "Great Coffee Everywhere." One Starbucks executive "likened the Seattle's Best venture to Old Navy, the Gap Inc. discount chain." If every uncouth truck-driver has his onion ring-thickened meaty paws wrapped around a Starbucks-affiliated product to enhance the crystal meth he smoked for breakfast, Starbucks has truly has taken its niche evil to an entirely new and more alarming level.
[WSJ. Pic via]


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ith best practices in developed countries, Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has launched... ...http://www.business-standard.com/article/government-press-release/helplines-for-consumer-to-be-launched-in-all-the-states-grahak-114122600238_1.html
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Company news from the 07/18/06 News Brief
Santarus, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on products treating gastrointestinal diseases, has launched a new full-service Web site to coincide ...
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According to MAG press release, copies of regulations and statutes published on e-laws will now be an official source of law. Further, an on-screen display of a statute or regulation viewed on, or downloaded from, the e-Laws website; and a prinout of a statue or regulation viewed on, or donwloaded from, the e-Laws website, are both going to be official.
Canada: E-Laws Printouts Are Good Law!
Law is Cool strikes again. This time it is a post by Lawrence Gridin titled It’s Official: E-Laws Printouts Are Good Law. It is obvious that we all are more and more reliant on technology. Some of us can’t even imagine conducting legal research without electronic Lexis or Westlaw. As pointed out in the post, traditionally, legal research has been preferred to be in print and electronic printouts of legal materials, such are cases and legislation, have not been accepted in court.
In Canada this traditional belief undergone a reform, and the general rule has changed. As reported in this post, Ontario has been publishing its laws online since 2001. As of November 30, 2008, the Canadian government has gone even further.
What are your thoughts? Would you like U.S. state and federal governments to take similar steps or not, and why? Share your comments.


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A life science company that packed its bags and moved most of its business to the South Carolina coast from the mountainous west a few years ago has taken another big step forward.
Only not as tall as he had hoped.
Researcher and supplement maker Thorne HealthTech Inc. launched its initial public offering last week, but not before significantly downsizing the deal.
The company had hoped to raise up to $ 135 million by selling shares up to $ 15 each. He pulled that number down last week and ended up raising $ 70 million.
Nasdaq-listed stocks began trading when the opening bell rang on Thursday under the symbol “THRN” and stumbled sharply, falling 24% by the end of the session.
It was a decidedly cold market start for a company that aims to make deeper inroads into the growing and highly fragmented health and personal wellness industry, where no player has amassed more than 5 % of the market, according to Thorne’s calculations. A Grand View Research report earlier this year predicted the size of the dietary supplement industry to nearly double to $ 271 billion by 2028, from $ 140.3 billion in 2020.
In this context, Thorne said his goal was to redefine “consumer health and create a brand with science-backed personalized products that meet the highest standards of quality, safety and efficacy.”
“We have a significant opportunity to continue to penetrate the product categories and channels in which we compete today,” according to its IPO filings.
The share offering is the last step in this plan. Up to $ 20 million in investment products. along with existing liquidity reserves, will finance the development and testing of new dietary supplements as well as the Onegivity Health clinical research platform recently acquired by the company. Up to $ 30 million will go towards sales and marketing initiatives and the expansion of Thorne into new global locations. The remainder will be used to repay the debt of a Japanese lender which is due next year and for other general purposes.
“Our organization has never been so excited about the future growth potential and impact of our business as it is today,” wrote CEO Paul Jacobson in a letter to potential investors.
Although it lists New York City as its corporate headquarters, Thorne is essentially a South Carolina-based company.
Almost five years ago, the company announced plans to move most of its key operations to a new 270,000 square foot building in Summerville, northern Idaho. The deal included a capital investment of $ 35 million and 350 jobs of all kinds.
“This facility includes manufacturing and production, research and development, medical affairs, engineering, quality management, laboratory testing, brand marketing, inside sales, customer service, finance, legal, human resources, warehousing and materials management, purchasing and security, “Thorne said in a recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
He also noted that he recently signed a new five-year lease for an additional 115,500 square feet of warehouse and distribution space in Summerville.
“This will expand our warehousing and shipping capabilities for finished products to the eastern United States and international markets,” the company said.
The company passed through Thorne Research when it embarked on its quest to relocate across the country in 2014. By that time, it had moved beyond its manufacturing base in Sandpoint, Idaho, and n wasn’t sure if she could expand her building or even extend her lease. Over the next two years, he explored dozens of sites across the country. The Lowcountry and York County near Charlotte emerged as the two main contenders.
Jacobson believed the Charleston area would be attractive to customers and other visitors. In addition, Thorne thought it was a plus that the region grew and was home to several colleges, an established medical research community, and a major US seaport.
“It didn’t hurt that Charleston is a culturally diverse and interesting place,” Jacobson said in a 2016 interview. “It’s important to us because it allows us to attract the kind of people that we do. want to recruit. “
The former Goldman Sachs banker made an equally unconventional path to the corner office in Thorne, which started in Seattle in 1984 and moved six years later to Sandpoint, not far from Spokane, in eastern Washington. He recounted in his letter to investors how he came to acquire the company with certain partners in 2010, inspired in part by a former boss of the pharmaceutical industry whom he met while serving on a board of directors. ‘administration.
“He was fed up with me asking him how a big pharma could turn compounds that barely surpassed a placebo or natural products into multi-billion dollar drugs, and one day turned to me and said: “If you think you’re that smart, start a natural product business. ‘ He said that to do it right, we would need to compile clinical data to demonstrate the effectiveness of a more natural approach to health. … This sparked my interest in determining if he was right, which led me to spend several years researching the natural products industry, ”Jacobson wrote.
Thorne now develops, manufactures, and ships approximately 300 different supplements, health test kits, and other wellness products that it sells to 3 million customers through wholesalers, retail stores, online resellers and more. ‘a growing subscription business. The company also said it works with 42,000 medical professionals and thousands of professional athletes.
The IPO documents give precise figures on Thorne’s financial trajectory.
Sales jumped 35% last year to $ 138.5 million, suggesting the company benefited from the health and fitness boom that emerged during the COVID-19 crisis.
And while Thorne didn’t make a net profit on an annual basis – he lost $ 4 million last year – he was in the dark as of June 30 with a margin of $ 4.4 million. Meanwhile, revenue continues to climb sharply, increasing 38% from the first six months to $ 87.4 million.
“We have experienced significant growth in sales of our health supplements and tests through the acquisition of new customers and strong customer retention,” said Thorne.
While its Wall Street debut was a bit chilly, Wall Street seemed to warm up a bit for the newcomer on its second day in the public markets. Shares rebounded 10% on Friday to close at $ 8.35.


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It's amazing what one can learn by looking at the earnings of a grocery store
It's amazing what one can learn about the state of the economy just by taking a close look at the earnings results of a grocery store chain. Kroger (KR) knocked the cover off of the ball last quarter, significantly beating analysts' earnings estimates and raising its guidance for the year. While I certainly am impressed with the job that Kroger's management has done, that's not what I found interesting about the results. Digging a little deeper than just the earnings per share and same store sales increases I found these two pearls:
1) Sales of the chain's cheap generic aka private label products were up during the quarter. Kroger's CEO specifically stated "We did see solid growth in Kroger corporate brand share in the first quarter," during the conference call. This means that consumers are feeling really pinched by the current high prices of food and gas, so much so that they are changing from buying their regular products to cheaper alternatives. This may be bad news for higher end, branded food companies and it certainly is more bad news for the already beaten up fancier grocery chains like Whole Foods (WFMI). Consumers cutting back like this is probably even a negative indicator for consumer spending as a whole.
2) It appears as though consumers are eating at home more and eating out less. According to the following article, "The gas, pharmacy and food discounts help draw customers trying to save gas as costs rise by combining trips, and Kroger also says people are eating more meals at home. Sales in its deli-bakery sections were strong, as were for its own store brands, which are usually priced lower than major brands, the company said." (see article: Kroger 1st-quarter profit up 15 percent). This is what I expected would happen and if true it is definitely baaaad news for the restaurant industry.
No position in any company mentioned.


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Honda has unveiled the 2013 Crosstour Concept at New York Auto Show. According to Honda, the Crosstour will feature more capable-looking styling, more efficient V-6 drivetrain along with host of new safety and visibility features.
The production version is set to go on sale this fall with both four-cylinder and V6 versions.
“Fueled by a combination of versatility, luxury, and efficiency, owners have demonstrated remarkable devotion to the Honda Crosstour,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of sales for American Honda. “The 2013 Crosstour Concept shows how Honda will strengthen the styling and add even more content to one of the most efficient offerings in the class.”
Even though Honda says, the Crosstour Concept features a more capable, SUV-like styling direction… is more aggressive and has an athletic front end it still looks too similar to the original Crosstour. We’ll see soon how customers like this new sporty crossover.
- Watch “perfect dudes” perform wild tricks with Fiat 500C Abarths
- British Grand Prix Preview
- All-new BMW 4 Series Coupe revealed, replaces the 3 Series Coupe
- Audi A4 Avant with 380 horsepower by ABT Sportsline
- 30 millionth Volkswagen Golf drives off the assembly line in Wolfsburg
- PICTURES: Porsche Cayenne S Diesel shows its off-road capabilities
- New Porsche LMP1 prototype revealed ahead of 2014 season
- Rolls-Royce Wraith coupe in motion on British country roads (video)
- SEAT Leon Verde plug-in electric prototype unveiled – based on Leon hatchback
- Lamborghini Sesto Elemento caught on the track at a special event in Nevada (video)


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Microsoft Corp. this week said the Xbox 360 ranked as the top-selling game hardware in U.S. Oct. sales figures.
The Xbox 360 sold 270,000 units to rank as the No. 1 game hardware for the month in figures provided by NPD Group Inc.
Video game sales in Oct. fell 25 percent from one year prior to $$755.5 million
Software sales fell 25 percent to $451.8 million.
Hardware sales fell 37 percent to $187.3 million from one year ago.
Microsoft in Oct. recorded a 24 percent decline in Xbox 360 revenue from the year prior to $418 million. A total of 1.7 million Xbox 360 units shipped in the first quarter, down from 2.3 million units shipped the year prior. Xbox 360 hardware market share increased to 49 percent from 47 percent in the quarter.
In the Entertainment and Devices division, which includes the Xbox business, income fell to $19 million from $340 million one year prior.


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In an effort to help limit the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020, all city facilities will be closed to public walk-ins until further notice. City services will be available online, by phone, and through limited in-person appointments. Please review the full news release here.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC (3/23/2020):
Winder City Council passed an Emergency Declaration and Ordinance which is effective immediately and shall remain in effect until 11:59 PM on April 6, 2020. Please read the full document here.
It has been brought to our attention that some customers have attempted to use www.doxo.com (or the Doxo app) to pay their City of Winder utility bill. Please be aware that Doxo is NOT an authorized partner of the City of Winder.
The City has many payment options such as online payments at www.cityofwinder.com, bank draft, and by phone at 1-855-498-9974 if you do not want to mail or drop off your payment.


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[3/30] | Europe’s heroin market could soon be in for a supply shock, and experts fear the gap could be filled by something much worse. Almost all heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghanistan, where the Taliban have imposed a ban on poppy cultivation that will take effect in the coming weeks. The likely poppy shortage could make it more profitable for criminals to manufacture synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, to be sold to desperate addicts denied their hit of heroin. Cont.
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There is never a time when you are not looking for the best items to make your stay in irradiated Appalachia a swell experience. The Atomic Shop has noticed your effort to keep the neighborhood safe and wants to give you something free! Fasnacht is here, and Fallout 76 wanted to give you something in… Continue reading Fallout 76 Atomic Shop Update – February 16 – 23
In addition to the launch of the Xbox Series X/S today, Bungie released the newest Destiny 2 expansion, Beyond Light. However, the servers have been plagued with issues since being brought up at 11 am CDT. As always, you can find all you need to know about Beyond Light here in the Destiny Division. Players… Continue reading Destiny Division: Beyond Light Beyond Reach?
Need a round-up of all the Grand Theft Auto Online news for the coming week? Well look no further than our GTA Weekly segment! We’ll break down all the in-game events, discounts and bonuses for the week ahead. Here’s all you need to know in our GTA Weekly for September 3rd-9th 2020. Double Payout Events… Continue reading GTA Weekly: September 3rd-9th 2020


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By Art Stricklin, Global Golf Post/Biz
FRISCO, TEXAS | Scott Stone, national sales manager for the Ahead golf apparel company, has been to more sales meetings than he can count, but he didn’t have to think much to see the difference in the 2023 PGA Buying & Education Summit, the first held at the massive, new Omni PGA Frisco complex.
“This new venue has a new vibe, but you only have to walk around to see what a huge vendor support that is here,” he said.
PGA officials reported attendance here this week as being more than double any previous summer show, with 1,000-plus industry attendees and 166 exhibitors.
“The feedback has been extraordinary on the entire campus and very positive on the event itself,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh.
Hundreds of national and international golf companies, many first-time attendees, arrived for the three-day showcase at the home of the PGA of America, a 500-room Omni Resort, golf, teaching center and much more.
“We had people out until midnight putting on the huge putting green under the lights. We had people in the pro shop. This is an incredible facility,” Stone said. “Having this at the headquarters of PGA of America brings the pros here, and there is so much to do. The more amenities, the more people, the better it is for us.”
Formerly set in a hotel ballroom off the Las Vegas Strip, this was the first of likely many summer expo events set at the Omni PGA Frisco Resort. It spills out to the large outdoor practice area, the largest putting greens in North America lighted for nighttime play, the 10-hole short course, the PGA Teaching Center and the adjacent national headquarters building.
Reflo Golf co-founder Rory MacFadyen traveled from his U.K. company headquarters to North Texas for the first time and was amazed by what he found.
“Just walking into Omni, it’s like breath taken away,” MacFadyen said. “It’s like nothing I have seen before, fantastic. It’s been great this week and allows us to establish a presence in North America that we wouldn’t have had.”
While many of the vendors are regular attendees at the PGA Show in Orlando, this revitalized PGA Summer Show, with the active support of the PGA of America, was a Texas-sized boon to their company efforts.
“The caliber of clients here is really surprising, really good, almost equal to the Orlando show, much better than we’ve seen before in the summer,” said Josh Mark, brand manager of Canadian female apparel company Swing Control. “Beautiful resort and the best footprint to expose our product. We just want new eyeballs, new customers. Our people are so loyal, so caring, we just need more of them. That is why it’s so exciting to be at a new place with new people.”
While there is not the space or the organizational interest of ever moving the January PGA Show here, that doesn’t mean those involved didn’t want to see the huge upgrade presented this week for the summer show.
“This is the opportunity for the PGA Expo Show to become a national show instead of what we had in Vegas, which was a regional show, and quite honestly, a bit disappointing,” said Anne Broholm, CEO of Ahead.
That was especially true for the outdoor golf technology companies that were able to spread out on the 665 acres of former North Texas prairie, 45 minutes north of Dallas, to showcase their products for show participants who lined up in the 100-degree heat to see the companies’ products under large shaded tents.
“It was very positive, because the moment someone experiences GolfForever training and our program firsthand, they understand the impact you can have on a golfer,” said Jon Levy, a vice president at the Colorado-based company. “It is some of the best participation we have ever had.”
Callaway CEO Chip Brewer sent a team of sales executives to showcase the outdoor golf fitting system for his company.
“We are doing fitting training (outside) at the Expo, something we have not done before,” Brewer said. “We are always excited to support the PGA of America and have the opportunity to meet with PGA professionals and include offerings such as fitness training.”
Most of the educational sessions were held in the modern, technology-filled, four-story PGA of America national headquarters, which gave constant tours to the show participants.
“This is a great chance for us to explain the PGA of America to a new audience,” said Don Rea, PGA of America vice president, who spoke to some of the summer expo tour. “There are so many ways to get involved in golf, from the business side, the teaching side, technology and playing. We want to talk with people who could be interested and explain the work-life balance we are continuing to work on and what it means to be a PGA pro.”
While there is no determined term for the summer expo to be at PGA Frisco, it’s clear after the successful first year that it’s not going back to a hotel ballroom in Las Vegas or anywhere else anytime soon.
“We’re going to grow from here,” Stone said. “Just look around and see the participation level this year, and it’s very exciting for us and for them to see all the work at PGA Frisco.”


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The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday launched a five-year food security road map to enhance food sufficiency in the state.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security in the state necessitated immediate action towards ensuring food security.
The governor, who noted that the state relied on massive food importation and mutual collaboration on production with other states, said Lagos could no longer rely exclusively on production alliances, adding that it was time for the state to unlock its agricultural potential.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the roadmap will “set players in the agricultural sector on the path of wealth generation and value creation,” thereby improving food security and industrialisation of the agricultural sector, while also entrenching inclusive socio-economic growth.
He said, “The focus of the road map is the development of agricultural value chains where Lagos has competitive and comparative advantages to enhance self-sufficiency in food production from 18 per cent to 40 per cent over the next five years, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
“To successfully implement the road map, we will take a cue from other economies that have achieved self-sufficiency in food production. We will also aim to put the private sector at the heart of our vision for food security in Lagos State, with government as enabler and catalyst.”
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya, said the development of the road map started with stakeholders’ engagements and workshops around addressing the needs of the agric ecosystem in the state.
She said, “I dream of a Lagos where wholesome food is available, where healthy people thrive, where re-organised system reduces freight congestion, post-harvest losses and increases profits for value chain actors.”
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Contact: [email protected]


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The New England Revolution are calling back to a classic look in 2020.
The Revs, MLS originals, will be sporting an updated version of their classic red, white and blue flag look from the inaugural 1996 season, called “The Original.”
It will also be the first time since that season that the Revs will wear red shorts as part of the kit.
Celebrating the Revs' founder member status, it shows off a woven team badge on the chest. Soft, moisture-absorbing fabric keeps you comfortable as you look forward.
What do you think?


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If you’re looking to pick up a low-mid ranged Samsung device, you might be interested to learn that Samsung has announced the Galaxy Express which is expected to make its way across both Europe and Asia, although since Samsung did announce a Galaxy Express for AT&T back in September of 2012, we expect it might be called something different if it were to make its way stateside. It should not be confused with AT&T’s offerings as the specs do differ along with the design, with this particular model being reminiscent of the Galaxy S3 Mini. So, what can customers look forward to?
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Express will pack a 1.2GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and a 4.5” WVGA Super AMOLED display. It will come with 8GB of internal storage which can be expanded via microSD, a 5MP rear-facing camera, a 1.3MP front-facing camera, both LTE and NFC connectivity, a 2,000mAh battery on board and will come with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean running the show. No word on when exactly will the phone be launched, but Q1 2013 is a rough time frame. Hopefully Samsung will have more to share at MWC 2013 which will be taking place towards the end of February, so check back with us then for the details.
Filed in Samsung.. Read more about


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At the corner of Saratoga Street and St. Paul Place, the java jolt is coming.
Workers are putting the finishing touches on a Starbucks expected to open Nov. 2 at the Embassy Suites, manager Tony DeMaio said Wednesday.
The 2,200-square foot coffee shop will feature the usual house and imported coffee blends, lattes, cappuccinos, teas and espresso drinks in the brand’s inimitable short, tall, grande and vente sizes. A small menu of breakfast pastries and sandwiches as well as luncheon fare and assorted sweets will also be sold.
The new Starbucks was once a busy delicatessen that was part of the former Tremont Plaza Hotel, which for years attracted a lunchtime crowd of downtown workers and hotel guests from around the U.S.
The conversion has been dramatic. The shop has been completely gutted and remodeled to resemble a modern European café designed by local architect Peter Fillat. Behind a stained and rustic pine countertop, stainless steel coffee machines await a fire-up and chocolate brown tiles reflect a sleek style.
An Italian leather seating group of chairs and a loveseat will greet customers as they enter the shop, followed by a long community-style table with comfy chairs. Other seating areas are also in the works, DeMaio said.
A staff of 20 has been hired, he added, and will begin training in the near future for opening day.
The new downtown location is in good company: Starbucks has more than 18,000 coffee shops throughout the world, its website says.


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Britain’s economy shrank in the three months through October, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) confirmed on Monday, reflecting concerns over a lengthy recession.
Data showed that gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 0.3% in the period when compared with the three months through July.
The decline came even as estimates showed that GDP increased by 0.5% in the month of October after a 0.6% drop in September.
Despite the rebound in October, there is still a good chance that the British economy will shrink for a second consecutive quarter in the last three months of this year, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club Martin Beck was cited as saying by the Associated Press. Two consecutive quarters of declining output is the technical definition of a recession.
“The near-term outlook remains gloomy, as consumers continue to struggle under the weight of high inflation and with much of the impact of this year’s interest rate rises still to be realized,” Beck reportedly said.
The ONS statistics showed that output by productive industries, which range from manufacturing to mining and energy production, dipped 1.7% in the three months through October. Service industries, which account for about four-fifths of the British economy, tumbled 0.1% during that period.
Meanwhile, consumer price inflation accelerated to a 41-year high of 11.1% in October, fueled by skyrocketing costs for food and energy.
The Bank of England said last month the economy was probably already in a recession that could last until the end of 2023. The regulator has approved eight consecutive interest rate increases as it struggles to rein in spiraling inflation. That pushed the bank’s key rate to 3% from 0.1% a year ago.
“[I] doubt that the economy will grow again until early 2024, resulting in a deeper and longer recession than we envisage for all other G7 economies,” Samuel Tombs, the chief UK economist at the consultancy Pantheon Macroeconomics told the Guardian, commenting on the ONS data.
The British economy is on course to shrink 0.4% next year as inflation remains high and companies put investment on hold, the Confederation of Business Industry (CBI) warned on Monday.
According to the report, the UK has already fallen into a “short and shallow” recession that will leave business investment 9% below 2019 levels and productivity 2% below its pre-pandemic trend at the end of 2024. Persistent weak productivity and business investment “doesn’t bode well for the country’s potential to grow,” it said.
Inflation in the country, which hit a 41-year high of 11.1% in October, was forecast to average 6.7% next year and 2.9% in 2024.
The CBI expects the UK to suffer the second worst recession among major economies, after Germany.
“Britain is in stagflation – with rocketing inflation, negative growth, falling productivity and business investment,” CBI Director-General Tony Danker said. “Firms see potential growth opportunities but a lack of ‘reasons to believe’ in the face of headwinds are causing them to pause investing in 2023,” he explained.
The CBI called on the government to make Britain's post-Brexit work visa system more flexible, end what it sees as an effective ban on constructing onshore wind turbines, and give greater tax incentives for investment.
According to the lobby group, the government’s plan needs to be built around boosting productivity and increasing labor supply as the UK is the only major advanced economy with fewer people working than before the pandemic.
“We will see a lost decade of growth if action isn't taken. GDP is a simple multiplier of two factors: people and their productivity. But we don't have people we need, nor the productivity,” Danker stressed.


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Apple has poached a senior Compaq executive to run its worldwide manufacturing, distribution and procurement operations.
Timothy Cook was Compaq?s vice president of corporate materials and was in the charge of the company?s stock and procurement. He will join Apple as a senior VP, reporting directly to Apple?s CEO, still presently Steve Jobs.
Before Cook joined Compaq, he was with IBM for 12 years, as director of north American fulfillment and manufacturing.
Jobs said in a formal statement: ?Tim Cook has a rare combination of experience which includes product development, procurement, manufacturing, engineering and operations, logistics, channel configuration and customer services and support.?
The hiring has led to speculation that Jobs may stay on as CEO, despite the frantic hunt to find a replacement for him.
Yeah, sorry about all that, simpers Zuckerberg
Vivaldi promotes DuckDuckGo search engine over Google over privacy concerns
Scientists say that strontium titanate could transform electronics
The wheels of justice grind surprisingly slowly


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Fashion programme shortlisted for Guardian University Award
Mar 08, 2017
An innovative collaboration with a Chinese institution has seen the University of Salford’s fashion programme shortlisted for a prestigious Guardian University Award.
The programme is one of just three universities across the UK to have reached the shortlist in the teaching excellence category of the awards.
Judges were impressed with a project run by the programme in which the University’s fashion students spent one day working with their counterparts at the Zhejing Fashion Institute of Technology (ZFIT) in China.
Tutors from both institutions placed students into groups, each comprising one or two students from Salford who acted as creative directors as they worked with Chinese design students.
The groups were presented with a single word and colour and were given just nine hours to design and create a collection of outfits which they had to present at their own fashion show.
The project, which is to become an annual event, attracted media coverage in China, increasing the University’s profile in the region, and fulfilled a key role of the ICZ strategy, which seeks to enrich the lives of students by strengthening our international partnerships and collaborating with experts to co-create exceptional transnational partnerships.
Fashion graduate Lauren Tozer, who took part in the project and now works for River Island, said: “This was an eye opening and very rewarding project. I have found that having gained this experience has not only been very interesting to employers but has helped me understand sourcing and working better with suppliers during my employment.”
Fashion programme leader Bashir Aswat said: “It’s a huge honour to have the opportunities that we’re offering for our students recognised by being shortlisted for this award.
“This was a cutting edge project which had not previously been done on this scale, involving 20 students from Salford and 200 from China, and it offered them unrivalled experience of working to tight deadlines with people from vastly different cultural backgrounds – something that’s essential in the global fashion industry.”
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 29 March.


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They’re so over it! Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman put their ‘dramatic’ past behind them by showing support for each other’s companies! Watch their funny video inside.
On Feb. 6, Deadpool actor Ryan Reynolds, 42, and Wolverine star Hugh Jackman, 50, decided to end their social media “feud” once and for all. The jokesters had formerly been trolling one another on social media for years, but wanted to put that behind them. Ryan and Hugh buried the hatchet and decided to join forces for the greater good – to promote their gin and coffee companies, respectively. Ryan uploaded a video on his YouTube channel, simply titled, “Truce.” In the video, Hugh started to explain. “Ryan and I recently called a truce in our social media war,” he said. “We promised to make ads for each other.”
“I’ve been working 24/7 on an ad for Hugh’s incredible coffee company, Laughing Man,” Ryan said. “He’s been working hard, 24/7 I imagine, on an Aviation [American] Gin ad.” The two men then watched Ryan’s ad for Laughing Man first. Ryan’s voice introduced scenic shots of people sourcing coffee beans, ordering a freshly-brewed cup in a coffee shop, and Ryan boasted how the coffee “uplifts communities around the world.”
“Hugh could be behind such a Hugh-roic company,” Ryan asked, then chuckled. “Hugh guessed it. Hugh Jackman, the loving and caring man who created Laughing Man.” The commercial ended. The whole advertisement was quite complimentary to Hugh – and apparently, the older actor was shocked. Hugh didn’t know quite what to make of Ryan’s dedication to him. Ryan bragged that the video cost $1 million to make. Hugh then said he wasn’t “quite ready” to show his commercial for Ryan’s gin company yet, but Ryan insisted they watch it.
“Ryan Reynolds is a complete and total f*ck*ng *ssh*le,” Hugh plainly said in the commercial. “The gin’s pretty great though. I’ll have to try it someday.” He then placed the Aviation American Gin on its side, and let it pour out onto the coffee table as he sat on a leather chair and looked into the camera.
“Sorry man, I didn’t think the truce was actually real,” Hugh explained. Guess the feud isn’t actually entirely over, and Hugh got the last word in this time! You’re up, Ryan!
Source: Read Full Article


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HTC One 2014 is one of the most hotly anticipated smartphone in this new year. A leaked image Indicates that HTC is well on track to release its flagship in the first quarter of this year and the overall design takes on with the critically acclaimed HTC One of last year.
The image form evleaks shows the HTC One 2014 in a Gold/Champagne colored aluminium unishell with the HTC blinkfeed from last year adorning its homescreen. Cleary HTC is following the Mantra of “If it ain’t broken Dont Fix” as the design cues from the beautiful aluminium shell and the Speaker grill on the front are all reminiscent of last years widely praised HTC One. An interesting point to note is that the date on the homescreen in this press image appears to be the same as the one on which HTC one 2014 is rumored to be officially unveiled.
The image also confirms the inclusion of the rumored Dual camera setup complete with a dual LED Flash. HTC’s track record has been a little different when it comes to cameras in their smartphones. Last year, while the likes of major players such as Samsung, Nokia and Sony etc were busy in pushing through the megapixel count and using that as a marketing ploy to tout heir device’s imaging prowesses, HTC decided to follow a different route by coming out with something that they called the ULTRAPIXEL camera which was basically a bigger sensor that offered improved low light performance but was limited to 4 MP resolution.
While the response of the HTC ONE’s imaging capabilities were generally favorable but not without its criticisms, HTC seems to be following the same route by sticking with Ultrapixel but improving upon it by offering dual camera module touting enhanced refocusing capabilities
Another major change that can be noticed in the leaked image is the lack of the physical capacitive buttons one the HTC One 2014. This could very well mean that the screen size could also have been increased from last year’s model
It’s exciting to see how the HTC One 2014 is received this time around as even though the HTC one from last year is still considered one of the best Android flagships currently available in the market right now, the flagship android market is extremely competitive with great contenders from the major players. It remains to be seen if the lack of any radical new features in the HTC one 2014 are perceived as “Resting on laurels” by the fans and the market.


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Last week Amazon released Fire TV, yet another fine streaming media set top box that excels on so many fronts but stumbles when it comes to what consumers want most — easy & accurate universal search — succinctly put: the ability to search across all channels, apps & services for something to watch.
While we’re glad to learn Fire TV’s ‘Siri-like’ voice control helps search along, truth be told, voice control & gesture alone will never vanquish the search limitations inherent in connected TV. Just as the typical search using an onscreen keyboard will keep connected TV from achieving its full entertainment potential. (Disclosure: Kannuu is ecumenical when it comes to search input — so long as the results are lightning fast and completely accurate, and most importantly, consumers are thrilled with the experience!)
As we pointed out in Top Takeaways From #TVConnect London – OTT is King & STBs Reign, the present and future for STBs are bright as consumer appetite for OTT content continues to prove insatiable.
The reviews for Amazon Fire TV are mostly positive. But a recurring critique is how voice control falls short when it comes to universal search.
According to a review on PVRblog, “Amazon Fire TV First Impressions,” “The biggest failing is that end users (that’s us!) don’t get a truly Universal Search.”
And industry guru Colin Dixon on nScreenMedia, cites “No unified search” as reason number 1 in his review, “4 reasons not to buy Amazon’s Fire TV.”
We wish Fire TV and the entire STB industry the very best.
More than this, however, we wish STBs would give consumers what they want and tap the unbridled power, proven performance and ease of use of the Kannuu search and discovery ‘findability’ platform!


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The rocky relationship between Destiny developer Bungie and publisher Activision is over. In a shocking turn of events, the studio announced the split and that it will be keeping the game.
The divorce between the two was years in the making, and it existed long before the first game hit shelves. Bungie broke the news to its employees during a team meeting describing the split as fantastic news. Bungie’s employees who have grown tired of having to deal with Activision celebrated the news by popping champagne according to one person in attendance.
In a blog post, Bungie had this to say about the split:
“We have enjoyed a successful eight-year run and would like to thank Activision for their partnership on Destiny, Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce plans for Activision to transfer publishing rights for Destiny to Bungie. With our remarkable Destiny community, we are ready to publish on our own, while Activision will increase their focus on owned IP projects.”
Since its launch back in September 2014, Destiny’s introduction to the video world has been a rocky one because of its slow roll-out of content in the form of updates and expansions. Bungie’ most recent release Destiny 2: The Forsaken has been well received by fans but failed to meet Activision’s sales expectations.
With its newly gained freedom, Bungie is looking forward to a much better future for the game due to no longer being constrained to Activision’s annualized schedule.
“We’ll continue to deliver on the existing Destiny roadmap, and we’re looking forward to releasing more seasonal experiences in the coming months, as well as surprising our community with some exciting announcements about what lies beyond.”
Bungie also has a new game coming very soon as well thanks to a $100 million investment from NetEase. Activision stated via its Twitter account that Destiny 2 will remain on Blizzards Battle.Net.
We are looking forward to what Bungie has in store for Destiny 2.


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Well, it looks as if it’s finally happening: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon have announced their plans for a mobile commerce system allowing customers to pay for goods with a swipe of their phone.
The technology is based on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, and requires phones to be equipped with an NFC chip – which most US phoes currently aren’t – to communicate with the retailer’s reader.
Our mobile commerce network, through relationships with merchants, will provide an enhanced, more convenient, more personalized shopping experience for consumers,” said Michael Abbott, Isis CEO.
“While mobile payments will be at the core of our offering, it is only the start. We plan to create a mobile wallet that ultimately eliminates the need for consumers to carry cash, credit and debit cards, reward cards, coupons, tickets and transit passes.”
Isis is working with Discover Financial Services’ payment network, currently accepted at more than seven million merchant locations nationwide, to develop the infrastructure for the venture.
Barclaycard US is expected to be the first issuer on the network, offering multiple mobile payment products to meet the needs of every customer.
“We believe the venture will have the scope and scale necessary to introduce mobile commerce on a broad basis,” says Abbott. “In the beginning, we intend to fully utilize Discover’s national payment infrastructure as well as Barclaycard’s expertise in contactless and mobile payments. Moving forward, Isis will be available to all interested merchants, banks and mobile carriers.”


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WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- September is National Preparedness Month. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has partnered with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to help businesses become more aware of their risks while also helping them develop a continuity plan. Advance preparation is key to protecting your assets and reopening your business as quickly as possible.
Get tips on how to build your own disaster preparedness plan during an upcoming Twitter chat and webinar.
On Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 3:00 p.m. EDT, SBA, IBHS and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will co-host a twitter chat on disaster preparedness tips for businesses. Follow along with hashtag #SBAchat.
This year's National Preparedness Month theme is "Disasters Happen. Prepare Now. Learn How." This effort, led by FEMA and sponsored by the Ready Campaign, is aimed at increasing public awareness of the importance of disaster preparedness. It's never too early to think about contingency plans.
The SBA provides disaster recovery assistance in the form of low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, private nonprofits and businesses of all sizes. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov/disaster.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.


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Hours after site crashes, Nunavut's online cannabis store is out of stock
Tweed is the sole licensed retailer for cannabis in Nunavut, but users say website crashing regularly
The four products available on the website of Nunavut's only licensed cannabis retailer, Tweed, are all currently out of stock.
This is despite the fact the website was late to get up and running and it crashed regularly throughout Wednesday morning.
Dan Young, director of Nunavut Liquor and Cannabis, said the crashing was caused by high traffic.
"We've got a lot of interest and a lot of calls and a lot of emails about people confused about where they can get it from because they were told Tweed.com and then this morning the website wasn't working."
He says access to the site is mostly resolved now, but he has no timeline for when there will be more stock.
Nunavut's contract with Tweed specifies it will have 73 products available, however, some products are different sizes of the same blend.
There will be flower, pre-ground dry cannabis, pre-rolled joints, oil and gel capsules available.
Young says he has a meeting with the company in the coming days to sort out when these products will appear on the website.
Ontario and British Columbia each only have two products for sale from Tweed on Wednesday, because that's what Tweed was prepared to supply, but both provinces have other companies supplying residents.
I didn't have any issues creating an account... there's just nothing to peruse or purchase pic.twitter.com/c5Y8yF8Z05—@TulugakChatter
I haven’t consumed cannabis in any regular way in over 15 years. But Nunavut deserves the same access as the rest of the country. The GN has totally failed to ensure adequate access with their pathetic single supply agreement.—@Maqaiti
The Nunavut government says it plans to have more than one online retailer selling cannabis in the territory, but Tweed was the only company ready to sell it by Oct. 17.
- Here's what you need to know about legal cannabis in the 3 territories
- Nunavut officials say cannabis legalization is start of longer conversation
There are no physical stores in the territory where people can buy cannabis. All online purchases will be mailed via Canada Post.
With files from Jordan Konek


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Valued at close to $2.17 billion in 2020 and $61.5 billion in 2021, the online gambling industry in the US is expected to reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.34% by the year 2026. By comparison, a CAGR between 15% and 25% is considered a good mean annual growth rate for any investment. By 2028, the same industry is projected to reach a value of $114.4 billion. It is, therefore, safe to conclude that the future is looking bright for the industry.
Let’s take a closer look at the projected growth of this market in the US while learning a few interesting industry trends.
What Helped the Market Grow?
Several factors helped the online gaming market reach its current status in the US. We can mention the increased demand for recreational activities during the pandemic, the suspension of all global sports events, and the shutdown of brick-and-mortar casinos, lottery shops, bingo halls, horse racing venues, hotels, and bars with betting systems in place. All these things led to a massive transfer of land casino players and sports bettors to the digital world. As a response, many operators took the opportunity to transfer their services online. They were also encouraged by the continuous expansion of the online gaming industry in most US states. You can find the best online casino operators reviewed by our experts on the CBN platform.
Online Casino Gaming Trends: Live Dealer Games on the Rise
While still in its early stages and under the scrutiny of strict rules, the live dealer gaming market is currently on a rise in the country. Popular gaming studios powering new online casinos have received licenses to offer their live dealer games to players in various states, including New Jersey. Among them, we can mention Evolution Gaming and Ezugi. Evolution also signed several deals with a number of licensed casino operators including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, Ocean Resort Casino, New Jersey’s PokerStars Casino, and 888casino. The same providers are saying yes to important acquisition and merger deals to consolidate their foothold on the market. They are also constantly optimizing their services with the most rewarding no deposit bonus and welcome bonus offers.
Pennsylvania, the Fastest Growing Online Gaming Market
The Keystone State is the fourth and also the largest US state that decided to make online gambling legal. The fresh regulations enable players to freely access a plethora of online casinos, online poker venues, and sports betting facilities online. All casino gaming activities including online slots, table games, sports wagering, and fantasy betting are closely supervised and regulated by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Lotteries in the state fall under the scrutiny of the state’s lottery.
According to data from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the state’s casinos managed to shatter year-over-year records in 2021, with a massive $4.7 billion in combined gaming revenues from all forms of gambling. Even more, in March 2022, Pennsylvania’s total gambling revenue went over $462,740. The figure signaled an all-time high for Pennsylvania. Compared to March 2021, the state’s gaming revenue went up 14.7%. The record was triggered by all-time highs in online casino gaming and retail table gaming.
Online Gaming Industry Outlook for 2022-2027
In the upcoming five years, the online gaming industry in the US is expected to keep registering solid growth numbers. With more states choosing to legalize online forms of gambling, we can expect an upward trend in terms of employment and participation within the industry. Even more, the continuously increasing demand on the market is also expected to increase overall profitability. The same goes for the enhanced signup promotions for newcomers and the diversification of casino libraries.
Another important element to consider is the fact that, geographically, casino and sports betting operators usually operate in enclosed markets. This translates to almost no third-party competition from the outside for them to worry about. With a direct focus on encouraging more customers to migrate to their websites, operators are likely to provide bigger and better offers, flawless customer service, lightning-fast payouts, more rewarding VIP programs, and better wagering terms.
Mobile Gaming Growing in Popularity
The high levels of smartphone penetration across the country have helped mobile games grow their presence in the US in recent years. Mobile games are appealing to players thanks to the premium functionalities, rewards, and content they come with. Gradually, standard online games are expected to start losing their attractiveness in the eyes of their normal audiences.
Besides the convenient access to online forms of gambling via mobile, a series of celebrity endorsements, and numerous sponsorships are all helping the mobile gaming market grow. Experts also predict a future expansion thanks to the increased availability of cost-effective mobile apps.
Online Casinos in the US Create Growth Potential
By promoting free-to-play versions of their games, online casinos successfully promote the growth of their business. Operators that use fresh information solutions to bring more support and assistance to players are also likely to grow at faster rates. The same goes for casinos and sports betting platforms busy safeguarding the authenticity of all activities while keeping online frauds to a minimum. Casinos that rely on a series of advanced security technologies including Artificial Intelligence are in the lead today.
The online casino gaming and sports betting industry in the country is on a rising trend. The future is looking brighter than ever thanks to a series of factors. The COVID-19 pandemic brought almost the entire planet to a halt two years ago. Close to 50% of the global population became more interested in playing games online, causing a massive shift to online gaming alternatives. Their interest never stopped ever since, and today everyone is reaping the benefits.


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OpenAI's inaugural developer conference has just dropped a bombshell of innovation with the debut of GPT-4 Turbo. This isn't just an upgrade; it's a giant leap for AI, packing more punch at a price that doesn't break the bank. The tech titan is redefining the AI game, and the developer community is all ears.
GPT-4 Turbo is flexing its digital muscles in two flavors: the text-savvy version hitting the API scene today in preview mode, and the text-plus-images version, which will be taking the tech world by storm in the weeks to come. The cost? A mere penny for a thousand input tokens – that's about 750 words for the uninitiated – and three cents for the same number of output tokens.
For those keen on the image-analyzing prowess of GPT-4 Turbo, the price tag is as innovative as the technology itself, adjusted to the image dimensions, making it as accessible as it is advanced.
"We've ramped up the performance, so GPT-4 Turbo comes at a price that's kinder to your wallet – three times cheaper for input tokens and twice as affordable for output tokens compared to GPT-4," OpenAI announced in a fresh-off-the-press blog post.
But wait, there's more. GPT-4 Turbo isn't just about saving dollars; it's about delivering a knowledge base fresher than your morning coffee. With data up to April 2023, GPT-4 Turbo's responses are as current as the latest headlines.
The update also expands GPT-4 Turbo's context window to a whopping 128,000 tokens. That's about the length of your favorite epic novel, ensuring the AI keeps the conversation rolling without missing a beat.
Developers, get ready to geek out over the new "JSON mode" that makes sure GPT-4 Turbo plays nice with your web apps' data formats. Plus, the added parameters are set to bring consistency and precision to the AI's responses.
With GPT-4 Turbo, OpenAI isn't just upping the ante; it's changing the rules of the AI game. And for those who've been working with GPT-4, don't think for a second you've been left in the digital dust. OpenAI's fine-tuning program for GPT-4 is getting an experimental twist, promising to push the boundaries of customization under the careful guidance of OpenAI's experts.
The cherry on top? OpenAI is boosting the tokens-per-minute rate limit for all paying GPT-4 customers, letting your AI applications soar without upping the price.
In the dynamic world of AI, OpenAI's GPT-4 Turbo is a game-changer, making it easier and more affordable for developers to build and scale the intelligent solutions of tomorrow. Get ready to witness the dawn of a new era in AI, where power meets affordability, and innovation knows no bounds.


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Speaking of North Carolina, its new law implementing crowdfunding in the state went into effect a little more than a year ago. Now, a Wilmington, NC-based organization has designed a portal, called FundingStack, to provide a gateway for start-ups and small businesses in the state to pursue public crowdfunding in compliance with what is called the NC PACES Act. Concurrently, a second initiative named InvestinNC.com has been launched as a public resource package for interested investors and potential issuers. Read more about both here.
“SBIR/STTR Technology & Commercialization Forum”
- Jul 23 2019
Bunker Labs' "Muster Across America Tour"
- Aug 08 2019
TAEBC "Ask Me Anything" Session
- The Edney Innovation Center, 1100 Market Street, Chattanooga
- Aug 13 2019
Knoxville Technology Council Inaugural Event
- Jewelry TV, 9600 Parkside Drive, Knoxville
- Aug 15 2019
"36|86 Entrepreneurship Festival"
- Aug 28 2019


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David Kosslyn and Ian Thompson are the founders of a virtual reality company called Angle Technologies. Two years into this stealth project, backed by $8 million in funding, they won’t say much about the virtual world they’re building—at least not publicly. But they will say that they’re building it in a way that alters the relationship between computer hardware and software. When a PC or a game console runs this virtual world, the GPU chips play an unexpectedly large role, taking so much of the burden off the main processor.
GPU is short for graphics processing unit. These chips were originally designed as a better way of rendering graphics for games and other software. And they still play this all-important role for the virtual world under development at Angle. But that’s not all. Kosslyn and Thompson are shifting countless other tasks onto these chips, just because GPUs are so good at running so many calculations in parallel. A single machine can hold hundreds of GPU chips, and each chip can operate largely on its own. Juggling hundreds of digital tasks at the same time, Kosslyn and Thompson say, these chips can get you far closer to the illusion that you’re standing in an alternate universe.
  Related Video How a Chip Is Made
When they first started building their virtual world, Kosslyn and Thompson pushed most of those tasks through the CPU, a computer’s main processor. But that just didn’t work. As Kosslyn explains, they used the CPU to create new objects as you moved through this world—trees, bushes, rocks, and whatever else they needed to mimic reality. Loading each object into the chip took about one-fifth of a millisecond—far too long, considering just how many objects they needed to load.
“If you scale that up to 10 million objects, you’re suddenly crushed by the order of magnitude. Just loading the world is incredibly slow,” Kosslyn says. “We thought: ‘Man, if only we had a parallel way of doing all these pretty much independent operations really quickly.’ And, well, that’s exactly what the GPU is really good at.”
Their approach is part of a much wider shift across the world of hardware and software. For decades, the processing power available from individual computer chips increased every 18 months or so, according to the oft-quoted Moore’s Law. But in recent years, this trend has begun to slow, even as modern software applications demanded far more processing power than ever before. “Some people call it the end of Moore’s Law,” says Google chip engineer Norm Jouppi. “I like to call it the retirement of Moore’s Law, because it’s not totally dead yet but it’s definitely not working as hard.” The result: Companies and coders are now moving workloads off the main CPU and onto a wide range of alternative processors. If they can’t get enough processing power from a single chip, they need many.


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Following production line upgrades at Giga Shanghai, wait times for new vehicles had shrunk to as short as one week. The shortened delivery wait times applied to all models and variants built at the factory.
Now Tesla has updated their estimated delivery dates for all models except one, but only slightly.
At the same time, the company has also extended an insurance subsidy offered to new customers until the end of the year and is offering new financing promotions in honour of a national holiday.
Tesla Wait Times in China
Tesla China only sells the entry-level Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and Performance Model 3. According to the online Design Studio, new orders for both electric sedans are expected to be delivered in 4 to 8 weeks.
Prior to this update, the RWD had a wait time of 1-8 weeks, while the Performance was 1-10 weeks.
Giga Shanghai produces three variants of the Model Y.
Wait times for the Long Range (LR) and Performance have been adjusted to 4-8 weeks. Both were previously 1-10 weeks.
The RWD variant remains unchanged.
Tesla China Insurance Subsidy
In mid-September Tesla begun offering to buyers that were able to take delivery before the end of the month a subsidy of RMB 8,000 or $1,140 USD/$1,521 CAD. The promotion was only available in-store and Tesla China didn’t officially announce it.
Now Tesla China has announced on Weibo the promotion has been changed slightly and extended to the end of the 2022.
The insurance subsidy has dropped to RMB 7,000 ($980 USD/$1,500 CAD) and is now available until December 31, 2022 to any new owner who purchases insurance from an approved provider.
In addition to the insurance subsidy, Tesla is also offering two other incentives in honour of the National Day holiday in China.
Between October 1 and October 7 buyers can pick a down payment as low as 0 or opt for Tesla’s financing lease program.


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Snap Inc. (SNAP) kicked off the year with a good start, surging 40% at the beginning of the year. But its app overhaul soon caught up, bringing the stock down by more than 6%.
The plunge is a result of the stock sale of $50 million worth of shares by Snap's CEO, Evan Spiegal's on February 14, Citi's downgrade news and the redesign backlash from Snap's loyal userbase.
Wrapped under a code name ‘Cheetah,’ Snap unveiled its new redesign on November 29, 2017, via a 60-second video. Snap’s CEO Evan Spiegel explained that the latest version of Snap separated the ‘social’ from the ‘media’, and divided Stories from Discover. He wrote, “We are separating the social from the media, and taking an important step forward towards strengthening our relationships with our friends and our relationships with the media.”
In its Q417 earnings report this year, the company had said that Publisher Stories on Discover grew by over 40% in comparison to the old design. In addition, Snap mentioned that the redesign made the application simpler and easier to use, especially for older users.
In November last year, Snap Inc. introduced the changes to simplify its existing design for the users but instead made it harder for small advertisers to leave impressions. Though the overhaul was meant to be user and advertiser-friendly, for 1.2 million users it got ‘annoying’ and looked cluttered. TechCrunch reported that Snap’s redesign in the beta countries (U.K, Canada, and Australia) faced severe criticism from the users.
> Snap angered loyalists (which include millennials and celebrities) took to change.org to ask for the removal of the new Snapchat update. The petition so far has more than one million signatories. The petition reads “Many users have found that it has not made the app easier to use but has, in fact, made many features more difficult.”
Snap made an official response to the petition and maintained its stance on the redesign. But also added that it will introduce “tabs in Friends and Discover, which will make it easier to find the Stories” that users want when they want them. Simply put, users will be able to sort things like Stories, Group Chats, and Subscriptions and customize their Snapchat experience.
The company has time and again made it clear that it will continue to make adjustments in its products over the next few quarters. But the worrying part is that so far, the changes have not been accepted by many of its users.
Snap’s redesign model came a few months after its biggest rival, Facebook (FB) made similar changes. Following the new algorithm shift, Facebook shares tumbled 4% since many investors felt that the change could bring bad news impacting publisher’s traffic. The changes to its news feed also led to a total of approximately 50 million fewer hours spent on Facebook every day.
Microblogging platform, Twitter (TWTR) is reportedly working on a video sharing too which may have Snap like features. In an interview with Recode, Twitter’s CEO Jack Dorsey has acknowledged that Twitter’s current experience as ‘confusing’ and praised Snap for being ‘very modern’. In an attempt to make Twitter more appealing to users, Twitter may be following the route of Facebook and Snap. Bloomberg reported that according to the people close to the matter Twitter already has a working demo of the camera-centered product. Following the report, Snap shares had tumbled more than 5%, touching $13.72.
The app redesign by social media platforms have been a departure from what the companies had promised to its users and for Snap, it has surely backfired.
Citi recently downgraded Snap’s stock to ‘sell’ with $14 price target. Citi’s Mark May said, “While the recent redesign of its flagship app could produce positive long-term benefits, the significant jump in negative app reviews since the redesign was pushed out a few weeks could result in a decline in users and user engagement, which could negatively impact financial results.” Snap’s shares fell more than 7% following the downgrade.
Citi added to its report a chart that showed the one-star rating of 28% in November 2017 jumped to 86% in February 2018, owed largely to the dissatisfaction of the users.
> In the short run, Snap faces a bumpy ride as the company is deeply scrutinized by its users. In the long run, it faces stiff competition from companies like Facebook and Twitter, as the two also switch gears and divide personal and advertised content.
In the past, Snap’s CEO Evan Spiegel has acknowledged that there was a ‘strong likelihood’ that the redesign would be “disruptive to our business in the short term”. “We don’t yet know how the behavior of our community will change when they begin to use our updated application. We’re willing to take that risk for what we believe are substantial long-term benefits to our business,” he had said at the time of Q317 earnings report.
But while the company is willing to risk in for long-term benefits, investors need to remain very cautious.
With more than a million users (and still counting), the company remains adamant to introduce additional changes and maintains that “the community will enjoy it once they settle in.” But for that to happen users need to remain engaged!
Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Source : https://seekingalpha.com/article/4149405-snaps-redesign-faces-backlash-loyalistsThank You for Visiting My Website


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On March 12th, France.com suddenly went offline. For 24 years, it had been a tourist and travel booking site, but now it was redirecting to the English version of the government’s official site at France.fr. No one was more surprised than Jean-Noel Frydman, the previous owner of the domain and trademark holder for France.com. Overnight, his website had disappeared, and all associated email addresses were suddenly bouncing back. In a matter of minutes, a unique and lucrative asset had gone up in smoke.
“It’s all gone. In one instant, gone,” Frydman tells The Verge. “It’s been incredibly challenging. I have no contingency for this.”
Now, Frydman is fighting to get it back. He’s currently suing the French government and a string of hosting providers in federal court, hoping to undo the swap and rebuild his business. The fight has turned into a lesson in international relations, with US and French courts dueling over a prized slice of intangible namespace, testing exactly how neutral and international the infrastructure of the web really is.
““It’s all gone. In one instant, gone.””
Frydman first registered the domain in 1994, less than three years after the World Wide Web became publicly available. “I was at a crossroads professionally, and I wanted to discover something new,” Frydman says. He found his way to BBS boards and the still-young web, recognizing the possibilities immediately. “I could see it was a new frontier. And like the frontier, if you went in early, you could stake a claim.” A French expat, he was drawn to France.com.
The site went through a number of incarnations, briefly offering France-based news (including Le Monde) for paying subscribers before eventually settling on a travel agency model. For most of its history, the site has offered travel tips alongside packaged vacation deals. With roughly 100,000 visitors a month, Frydman could easily support the site on commissions. He had registered other domain names, too. But over the years, he sold them off, and France.com became his only project.
The French tourism bureau was friendly with Frydman, even giving him a “Best Website” award in 2009. But in 2016, the foreign ministry seemed to have a change of heart. He says they made no effort to buy the domain from Frydman (although he would have been unlikely to sell), but argued in court that the domain was rightful property of the government. Who should France.com belong to, if not France? In July 2016, the High Court of Paris agreed, ordering Frydman to transfer the domain or face a fine. The ruling that was upheld by an appeals court in September 2017, and it’s currently being appealed to France’s highest court.
Frydman still expected to maintain control of the domain while the case was going forward, even if he faces a fine for holding out. But sometime between September and March, France served an order directly to Frydman’s registrar, Web.com, which was enough to convince them to transfer the domain. Making matters worse, the transfer shifted the registration from Web.com to OVH, a French registrar that may be less responsive to US courts. (Web.com did not respond to multiple requests for comment.)
““I could see it was a new frontier. And like the frontier, if you went in early, you could stake a claim.””
It’s unclear if a US court ever validated the order with an international enforcement of judgment, a common measure for foreign rulings involving US businesses. But if Web.com had enough business in France, that may not have been necessary. Faced with a valid court order and the pressure of an entire government, the company’s lawyers may have simply decided it wasn’t worth fighting the issue in court. (Web.com did not respond to multiple requests for comment on their policy regarding court-ordered transfers.)
“Domain names are a first-come first-served product, and that’s true across the globe,” Frydman’s lawyer David Ludwig says. “This turns that framework on its head.”
The French office of foreign affairs did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Still, there’s little precedent for a .com domain being expropriated by a country. The .com top-level domain was intended for commercial ventures, with a clear distinction from .gov or country-specific TLDs. (The “com” stands for “commercial.”) As a result, it’s rare for a government to own its .com domain. USA.com, Canada.com, and Germany.com are all privately operated, while Japan.com is a Hong-Kong-based tourist site similar to Frydman’s site. Even beyond the domain name itself, it’s highly unusual for a government to simply assert legal ownership over a domain rather than trying to purchase it from the existing owner.
While less powerful in the age of search engines and social media, single-word domains can still drive significant traffic, and they regularly sell for over a million dollars as a result. (Super.com sold for $1.2 million earlier this year.) But while Frydman’s claim to France.com looks like a form of property, it’s mediated through private registrars abiding by their own sometimes obscure terms of service.
In theory, international disputes like this can be resolved through ICANN’s Uniform Domain-Name Dispute Resolution Policy (or UDRP), which gives registrars a clear set of rules beyond the specific rulings of national courts. But those rules mostly focus on straightforwardly abusive registrations. So far, neither side has invoked the rules in either US or French courts, leaving the issue in a kind of international limbo.


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The proposed supermarket adjudicator is unlikely to be in place until late 2013 and runs the risk of being toothless unless enforcement measures are toughened up.
Speaking at the Royal Cornwall Show this week (9 June), NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said the Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill was unlikely to be brought before Parliament until October 2011. “It could easily be the end of 2013 or early 2014 before it is in place.”
However, the role of the adjudicator was not to boost farm prices, warned farming minister Jim Paice.
“It is to enforce the retailer code of practice; it is about the terms of trade, not prices. We need to leave the market to sort itself out – the government’s role is to make sure the market is working as fairly as possible.”
However, unless enforcement measures were tightened up, the current proposals would not deter supermarkets from bullying suppliers, said Jeremy Best, Cornwall county chairman at the NFU.
“Supermarkets have taken over most of the grocery trade and command too much power. This is why we need an adjudicator with teeth to help restore the balance for suppliers, not just someone who is politically correct and paying lip service to it,” said Mr Best.
He echoed a call by West Cornwall MP Andrew George to speed up the introduction of the adjudicator, and demanded more monitoring of supermarket behaviour and greater protection for complainants who feared being blacklisted.
Mr Best said farmers and growers were not seeking special treatment, simply fair play, and claimed supermarkets were currently getting away with “blue murder”.
“I sell independently and am in constant dialogue with my buyers sorting out issues, which is a two-way process. But that is not the case with supermarkets – people supplying them simply have to do what they are told.”
Dairy producers were in particular need of protection against underhand practices, said Mr Raymond.
“The milk situation is desperate – the market isn’t working as it should.
It’s very important that the government takes on board the recommendations of the Higher Level Dairy Group, to create fairer contracts. Otherwise, we’re going to destroy an extremely important industry in the UK.
“Hopefully the adjudicator will lead to longer term contracts, to enable the industry to invest, increase productivity, and secure supplies for the consumer,” he added.


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Tokyo - When Naoko Ito uses a public bathroom, she cringes in embarrassment at the thought that other patrons can hear the sounds coming from her stall.
That's when she turns to the "Sound Princess".
Ito, like a rapidly growing number of Japanese women, presses a device installed in public toilets to simulate the sound of water flushing - and mask the cruder noises of nature.
"I usually use the flushing sound when I go to a public bathroom, such as at a department store, because I get a bit self-conscious," said Ito, a 60-year-old waitress.
The device - a curious mix of Japanese bashfulness and modern technology - is spreading rapidly through public buildings and has now become standard equipment for new construction.
Leading toilet producer Toto has sold 500 000 of their Sound Princesses - "Oto-Hime" in Japanese - since 1988, and the company says orders surged 125 percent in 2003 alone.
"The core of our clientele is schools and companies," Toto spokesperson Kumi Goto said. "Japanese women are very embarrassed by the sounds they make in a toilet."
There's another reason behind the increase in the gadgets: ecology. Women in Japan have traditionally flushed several times to cover up their noises, so the Sound Princess is saving water and cutting down on public building operators' utility bills.
The Sound Princess is fairly simple. The user passes her hand over a sensor, and the convincing sound of a torrent of water comes from a speaker.
Such gadgets might seem a dainty, modern excess of a shame-obsessed society, but the Sound Princess has deep roots in Japanese culture.
The Japanese are notoriously fastidious: the daily bath is practiced with near-religious fervor, and walking inside with your shoes on is considered filthy. The Japanese word for clean - "kirei" - also means beautiful.
And what happens in a bathroom stall is, well, among the dirtiest things that humans do.
Going to the toilet has been considered embarrassing and even shameful for women since ancient times in Japan, said Noriji Suzuki, a parasitologist at Kochi University Medical School.
"Sometimes you see people talking to each other over a stall in Western countries, but that would never happen in our culture," he said.
The trend is not limited to women these days. Some schools have done away with urinals because boys are increasingly too embarrassed to use the stalls, since going there would tell onlookers exactly what's going to happen next.
Tadafumi Morioka, a spokesperson for another Japanese toilet maker, INAX Corp, said his company also started selling a similar product in 1988 amid concerns of wasted water.
He said the installment rate of such devices in modern skyscrapers in Japan is 100 percent. INAX's sales increased 25 percent in 2003, Morioka said, although he refused to give precise numbers.
"Most of the demands for the device come from public facility owners and managers including department stores and elementary and junior high schools," he said.
But for now, "Oto-Hime" seems likely to remain for women only.
"I still haven't heard of men who say they want 'Oto-hime' in men's rooms," said Goto. - Sapa-AP


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Brothers Cider has reported 17% year-on-year growth thanks to new product releases and increased distribution for its existing SKUs.
Westons has launched a medium dry cider called Henry Westons Signature Vintage in a bid to attract a wider consumer base into the category.
Upmarket retailer Harvey Nichols has launched its first ever range of premixed cocktails in order to capitalize on strong growth in the cartegory.
Spirits giant Pernod Ricard has agreed a £183 million cash deal to purchase Jerfferson’s bourbon producer Castle Brands.
That Boutique-y Rum Company (TBRC) has launched the first in a new series of Signature Blends.
Cape Byron Distillery, the maker of Brookie’s Byron Gin, has release a premium roasted macadamia nut liqueur.
The Portman Group has upheld a complaint about Marks & Spencer’s premixed Porn Star Martini cans after deeming they link alcohol to sexual success.
Walker & Wodehouse has revealed its Autumn Tasting in London will include a focus on South African wines, supported by the chance to meet producers and sample wines from the region while also enjoying food from a braai.
Aldi is selling a 25 Year Old Glen Marnoch single malt for just £39.99 this week to mark the 25th anniversary of its launch in Scotland.
Sam Linter, managing director of Bolney Wine Estate, has been appointed director of the Board of WineGB.
Waitrose Wine Tasting at Home is introducing a whisky tasting experience.
Hong Kong’s richest family has secured a deal to buy 220-year-old brewer Greene King for £2.7 billion.
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has reported its highest-ever annual candidate figures for the latest academic year, with UK candidate numbers up 5%.
The former boss of Majestic Wine is to return to the retailer after a two-year absence, as the business takes shape under new ownership.
You can’t go down the alcohol aisle in a supermarket without noticing the influx of new no and low-alcohol alternatives. I’ve even picked one up thinking it was the alcoholic version and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Most bars and restaurants have pages in their drinks menus dedicated to alcohol-free alternatives. With restaurants and bars popping up where the drinks offering is strictly alcohol-free, it seems there’s no slowing the no/low movement.
Cognac exports to the UK decreased by 6.7% in volume and 4.1% in value during the 2018-19 financial year.
Aldi is launching its first national in-store spirits festival on Thursday and Didsbury Gin’s Tutti Frutti gin liqueur has secured a berth on shelves.
Tobermory, the only whisky distillery on the Isle of Mull, has expanded its repertoire to produce a Tobermory Gin.
Kingsland Drinks has announced it has made “high-level executive changes” in order to focus on the strategic direction of the business.
Bimber Distillery has announced the release its inaugural single malt whisky.
Rockstar Spirits has secured a five-figure loan to expand the business, following the success of its Two Swallows rum range, which was recently selected by Coca-Cola as the official partner for its new Signature range of mixers.
Remember Binge Britain? Only a few short years ago we were really worried about young people drinking too much, falling over and showing their pants. And now, suddenly, we’re worrying they’re not drinking enough. What are they up to?
Stourbridge-based brewery Sadler’s has launched its popular Peaky Blinder lager in 33cl cans in time for season five of the hit BBC show.
Borough Wines has been bought out of administration in a pre-pack sale worth £58,760 after widening losses caused it to collapse on May 31.
Napa-based winemaker, Celia Welch, is set to export her own wines to the UK for the first time.
The founders of Craft Beer Rising are launching a new beer festival called BrewLDN in February 2020.
Frosty Jack’s Cider has revealed new branding to recruit new drinkers to the brand.
Adnams has reported half year losses to June 30 rose to £783,000 from £557,000 in the previous year, but beer volumes grew for the first six months of 2019.
The Portman Group has welcomed a report highlighting a decline in underage drinking in the UK.
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