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Beef market outlook
- 4% fall in beef and veal production expected in 2021, due to tighter cattle availability
- Domestic consumption forecast to fall by 2% overall in 2021, driven by easing retail sales
- Imports expected to fall slightly in 2021 (-0.4%), due to lower Q1 volumes, but increasing foodservice in the second half of 2021
- Exports expected to fall by 8% in 2021, due to lower Q1 volumes, and lower domestic production
UK beef production is expected to fall in 2021, largely due to tighter domestic cattle supplies. Domestic consumption is also forecast to ease from 2020, as lower retail sales are expected to outweigh some recovery in the foodservice sector. Despite the recovery in foodservice, we expect trade to be lower in 2021 for both imports and exports. Lower trade figures recorded during the first quarter of the year are the main contributor to lower volumes for the year overall.
Prime cattle and cull cow slaughter are both expected to fall by 4% in 2021, largely driven by tighter cattle supplies. For the first six months of 2021, prime and cow kill are down by 3% and 4% year-on-year, respectively. Marginally lower carcase weights, plus lower cattle kill are expected to contribute to a year-on-year reduction in beef production of 4%. Looking ahead, higher numbers of younger animals are expected to contribute to production growth in 2022.
UK beef trade
UK imports of beef are expected to fall slightly (-0.4%) year-on-year in 2021. Volumes recorded for the first quarter of the year were much lower than anticipated, which is expected to reduce volumes for the year overall. Imports are expected to show some recovery in the second half of the year, as the foodservice sector reopens. However, foodservice activity is forecast to remain well below that of pre-pandemic levels. In addition, lower supply forecasts in Ireland are also expected to limit volumes somewhat. Future changes to import requirements later in the year could also affect volumes, but potentially more so into 2022.
UK beef exports are expected to fall by 8% in 2021. As with imports, trade during the first three months of the year was much lower than forecast, which we expect will contribute to lower volumes for the year overall. Lower domestic production could restrict volumes somewhat, as will continued administrative and logistical challenges from Brexit. We do anticipate that exports will show some recovery during the second half of the year, as foodservice demand increases in Europe, but not by enough to outweigh losses earlier in the year. Furthermore, if increased interest by UK retailers in stocking home-grown product continues, this may also limit supplies available for export.
GB cattle prices have remained elevated through 2021 so far, supported by lower cattle numbers and increased retail demand for domestic beef. However, several factors could have a bearing on prices going forward. Data pointing to continued tightness in finished cattle numbers in both the UK and Ireland could offer price support. In addition, any continued strength in domestic retail demand will also be positive for prices. On the other hand, easing COVID-19 restrictions and a rising population of vaccinated consumers are expected to lead to more demand from foodservice. However, activity in the eating out market is expected to remain considerably lower than pre-pandemic levels. Imported beef tends to do well in the foodservice market, so any increase in demand for imported beef in this sector may lessen support for domestic cattle. It will be important for domestic prices that out-of-home outlets back British beef.
Input prices will of course be another key watch point for producers, and they can be as influential on margins as finished prices. We take a closer look at key farm inputs elsewhere in our Agri-Market Outlook, which you can find here.
Beef consumption trends
Beef proved to be a staple for consumers in-home at the start of COVID, seeing the fastest volume increase in retail of all the meat proteins in the 52 w/e 14 June 2020. As the pandemic progressed, retail volumes remained positive up until March 2021. However, as beef sales data started to be compared against the significant sales seen at the start of the pandemic, monthly volumes have gone into decline year-on-year. Volumes however remain significantly up versus two years ago. Therefore, volumes in the 52 w/e 13 June 2021 are positive at +2.8% but beef is now the slowest growing meat protein, with lamb being the fastest.
Mince, a popular cut during COVID panic buying due to its versatility, in the past year has seen volume declines of -1.8%. Although, the cut is still up +8.0% compared to two years ago. Also driving retail losses in the past year are beef ready meals and pastry based products. Compensating for these year-on-year losses is continued momentum for steaks, roasting, burgers and added value as consumers are barbecuing and treating more at home.
The difficult foodservice conditions continued into 2021, with lockdowns only easing gradually during the first half of the year. We estimate the eating-out market for beef in 52 w/e 13 June 2021 saw volume declines of -57% year-on-year, with steak being the worst hit dish. Deliveries and takeaways offered a lifeline for the foodservice market, and we estimate that beef volumes in this market rose by +90% in the same time period. The biggest contributors to this were burgers and beef-based Chinese dishes (AHDB estimates based on Kantar Out-of-Home, 52 w/e 13 June 2021). We believe that the volume gains in retail and delivery/takeaway just balance out the eating-out and public sector losses in the 52 w/e 13 June 2021.
As lockdowns gradually ease, consumers have showed signs of getting back to some normality. ‘Freedom day’ during July means we anticipate more of a return to eating out in the second half of 2021. However, the market will not fully recover to pre-COVID levels due to business closures, the economic backdrop, and still some level of uncertainty.
Beef is not predicted to maintain high retail growth in 2021, but we do expect it to track significantly above 2019 levels. In-home occasions are expected to gradually move back to out-of-home over the coming months but we do see some working from home continuing as a legacy behaviour. This trend is not isolated to beef, but smaller reductions are predicted in the outlook scenario vs 2020 for pig meat and lamb.
Beef in the eating-out market will start to see a recovery this year but volumes will still be approximately half of that seen in 2019. Beef deliveries and takeaways will however remain buoyant.
Overall beef volumes for the full year 2021 are expected to be down -2% year-on-year. However when we compare back to 2019, being a more typical year, volumes are expected to be up 2%.
For 2022 we predict these trends will continue as we see retail and foodservice continue on its path back to normality. Eating-out will not return to pre-COVID levels this year and retail sales of red meat may start to suffer again as media noise around the industry accelerates. Overall beef volumes for the full year 2022 are expected to be down -2% versus 2021, and flat versus 2019.
To maintain momentum:
- Encourage consumers back out-of-home. Opportunities in the eating-out market include personalisation, indulgence, quality cues and pushing reputational factors such as health, sustainability and backing British.
- Encourage shopper’s in-store by improving the experience of the meat aisle. AHDB has commissioned a research project on the opportunities here with the report due to be published in September.
- BBQ inspiration is key during the summer months and then as we head into winter inspire warming stews/casseroles, playing on affordability and health.
- Address health concerns by communicating the health benefits of beef
- In the longer term, look to maintain and build consumer trust, demonstrating where farming values (animal welfare, environmental stewardship and expertise) are shared with consumers. Click here for more information on consumer views on the environment
Visit the retail and consumer page for more insight
Read the full UK beef outlook
Here you'll find more detail on production, trade and demand.
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While AHDB seeks to ensure that the information contained on this webpage is accurate at the time of publication, no warranty is given in respect of the information and data provided. You are responsible for how you use the information. To the maximum extent permitted by law, AHDB accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused or suffered (including that caused by negligence) directly or indirectly in relation to the information or data provided in this publication.


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Facebook Sidebar Status Lets You Stay in Touch When You’re Away
There was a time when Facebook used to let people put up a message that would be displayed when they were not using the chat.
Apparently, people at the world’s largest social media platform believe that a need for the same has arisen again. The Facebook away message has been reintroduced. They are now referring to it as the “sidebar status” which is going to appear when you visit the sidebar to chat with any of your friends.
Sue Young, who is a product manager at Facebook recently discussed the away message option in an interview. She explained that the reason why they were introducing the choice to put a message on chat like that was to allow people stay connected in a better way.
That really makes sense because this way even if your are not online you can let you peeps know what you are up to – if you are creative you could even make it a fun part of your day. Here’s an excerpt from Young’s comments on the matter.
People were having a difficult time staying in touch with their friends and seeing what they’re doing on a daily basis. Small things would make people feel connected in a big way. Now when I visit the sidebar, I can get an instant pulse of what all my friends are doing.
That is not all, you can also add a small icon image next to your status to match whatever it is that you are doing – and I am sure you guys are already getting the ideas that you could use to troll people.
Isn’t this an interesting addition to Facebook?
Being the Managing Editor of TechFrag, Sarmad splits his time between keeping up with latest news, technology, gaming and other awesome things like unearthing the merits of staying up at night and Californication!

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(The Hosting News) – Cloud company Green Cloud on Monday added an industry veteran to its staff, appointing former Windstream employee Dan Sterlin as its new president.
Discussing the matter in a press release, Green Cloud CEO Shay Houser noted the new company President would bring “great energy and passion to this key leadership position.”
“He has a wealth of leadership experience in the telecom channel and his strategic sales and marketing acumen will have an enormous impact on the company’s future,” Houser went on to say.
Green Cloud has kept busy opening new office locations in places including South Carolina and Tennessee. The company’s offerings include disaster recovery, cloud, virtual servers and more.


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Harry Fairbairn offers finance advice ahead of the 2020 Plate release
Harry Fairbairn BMW are delighted to be offering members of the public something a bit different ahead of the new 2020 Plate release date on Sunday 1st March. From Monday 17th February right through to the new plate date the dealership in Kirkcaldy will be running a new initiative which will allow car owners to speak to the sales team and get advice on their current car finance and see if they can offer some additional savings on upgrading. Whether you are a loyal BMW 3 series fan, or like the look of the all new BMW 2 Series Gran Coupe, with some amazing offers on new cars including huge savings on group stock across all models this is an opportunity not to be missed.
Speaking about the forthcoming event Business Development Manager Jimmy Robertson said: “We wanted to give customers the opportunity to look at options and potential savings available to them that they might not know they are eligible for. We are offering customers the chance to get a health check on their vehicle where we can value their part exchange, look at any outstanding amounts, and hopefully help them upgrade their car. People might be pleasantly surprised about the value of a part exchange or the low APR rates that BMW finance can offer.
He went on to say “We want to encourage people to arrange an appointment to speak openly with our sales team. So if there is anyone considering replacing their current vehicle or looking to upgrade feel free to contact us here at Harry Fairbairn BMW Kirkcaldy.”
For more details on the two week event or to arrange an appointment contact Jimmy.


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India’s largest online retailer, Flipkart, and its US-based parent entity Walmart have jointly invested an undisclosed sum in fresh produce supply chain startup Ninjacart, both companies said on Wednesday.
Bentonville, Arkansas-headquartered retail behemoth was likely to invest about $10 million in the first tranche and going up to as much as $50 million, in Ninjacart. The deal is the latest indicator of both Flipkart and Walmart’s ambitions in the broader grocery segment.
Under this agreement, which is expected to close by the end of this year, Walmart, Flipkart, and Ninjacart will ensure that there is better access to high-quality fresh produce for the retailers and consumers while it also creates more economic opportunities for the farmers.
A press release issued by Flipkart and Walmart said, “Partnering with Ninjacart will help Walmart and Flipkart strengthen direct sourcing of fresh produce for Walmart India’s Best Price B2B cash-and-carry stores and Flipkart’s online grocery business Supermart.”
Founded in 2015 by Thirukumaran Nagarajan, Kartheeswaran K K, Ashutosh Vikram, Sharath Loganathan and Vasudevan Chinnathambi, Ninjacart delivers over 1,400 tonnes of fruits and vegetables sourced from more than 44,000 farmers to 60,000 Kirana stores and restaurants across seven cities.
With the aim of helping farmers get a better price for their produce, NinjaCart controls the entire supply chain in an attempt to reduce food wastage, introduce competitive prices for retailers and ensure quality food for all consumers.
Ninjacart says that it leverages big data, predictive analytics, mobile applications and the Internet of Things to power a just-in-time supply chain that connects farmers to retailers via a network of more than 200 collection centers and 1,200 warehouses across India.
Further, with this new funding, Ninjacart will expand its customer base, reach new cities and gain exposure to global best practices to enhance the efficiency of the local fresh produce ecosystem.
“Developing Flipkart Supermart over the past year, we have focused on creating the right infrastructure, supporting local farmers, producers, and food processors, and building sustainability into the ecosystem, all while creating thousands of new jobs and bringing quality, convenience and value to consumers. In Ninjacart, we see a company that shares our values, our pioneering mindset and our commitment to tech-driven innovation that improves life in India,” Kalyan Krishnamurthy, CEO, Flipkart Group, said.


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China’s new national standard for glyphosate solution and powder shall come into effect from December 1, 2017, with Wynca playing a key role in the drafting. The implementation of the new standard will pave the way for an effective regulation of the glyphosate formulation market.
Currently, glyphosate is enjoying peak season, with its price continuing to rise month on month owing to the shortage in production.
Due to the sustained large volumes of pesticide exports from China, constant environmental pressure and the apparent rise in the cost of raw materials, the glyphosate industry sector may have longer periods of prosperity, which will bring in positive business performance for the industry players.
Open data have revealed continued price rise of glyphosate. Glyphosate price is currently Yuan29,000 per ton (referring to the 95% powder price of East China), which is a rise of Yuan2,500 per ton compared with the price in September, owing to the upcoming peak season and the rise in cost. On the other hand, the monthly average price will also go up with the upcoming peak season. The market price was on an average Yuan26,855 per ton in East China in October 2017, 36.3% up year on year and 5.4 %percent up month on month.
Among the 10 listed glyphosate enterprises, nine of them achieved an increase in profits, attributable to shareholders in the first three quarters.


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Chinese acquirers are continuing their buy-and-flip strategy and this time, it’s Fosun International’s turn. However the question isn’t only whether the fundraising will lower the company’s debt load, but how easy it will be to sell the asset in the first place.
Shanghai-based Fosun, which also owns French resort operator Club Med, said it was buying Bermuda-based insurance company Ironshore in a $1.84 billion deal in May last year. Ironshore filed for a U.S. initial public offering last week with a preliminary raising of $100 million, a placeholder-only amount used to calculate fees. Fosun will receive all the proceeds from the offering, the filing shows.
There was some other interesting information in Ironshore’s sale document too. It mentioned that Fosun’s purchase is under review by U.S. foreign investment watchdog CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.).
Ironshore said it was “uncertain” what decision CFIUS, which rules on national security grounds, would make, although it expects to get the final result before its IPO registration becomes effective.
A recent Newsweek piece said that federal investigators are looking at the purchase because Ironshore controls Wright USA, a key source of liability insurance for CIA agents.
Although it’s perhaps unusual for companies to finalize a cross-border transaction, especially one involving a Chinese firm, without first obtaining CFIUS approval, people familiar said Fosun didn’t feel Ironshore was a particularly sensitive asset, adding that Wright is only a small part of its business and anyway, is on the sale block. Fosun and Ironshore also filed with CFIUS as soon as the government body contacted them, the person said.
Ironshore itself says in its share-sale document that:
“controlling ownership of Ironshore by Fosun, which is based in China and has non-investment grade credit ratings, has negatively impacted our ability to compete in certain lines of business or for business from certain types of insureds, such as those connected to the U.S. government.”
Fosun, backed by Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang, could do with the money. It’s spent billions in recent years on everything from Club Med to Cirque du Soleil and, more recently, Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club.
Guo has long emulated his hero, Warren Buffett, and aimed to replicate a model of using insurance premiums as cheap financing for other equity investments. But with industrial operations like steel accounting for a larger portion of assets, Fosun is burdened with high debt levels, one reason why S&P has its outlook on the company at negative.
An IPO so soon after a deal isn’t exactly new for Chinese companies. Pork producer Shuanghui acquired Smithfield Foods in a $4.7 billion transaction in September 2013 and listed the combined operations in Hong Kong within 12 months; Dalian Wanda, the real estate-to-shopping mall operator owned by tycoon Wang Jianlin, bought U.S. cinema chain AMC Entertainment in May 2012. By December 2013, AMC was publicly traded in New York.
Ironshore won’t be an easy sell, though. Net income last year was down 32 percent on 2014 while revenue was basically flat, its share filing shows. Fosun’s debt levels have also been a drag , with even Ironshore saying a downgrade or negative outlook could “severely limit or prevent us from writing new and renewal insurance policies.”
When it works, the buy-and-flip strategy can be a great one, handing companies a war chest they wouldn’t have had otherwise. Proceeds from AMC’s share sale, for example, allowed Wanda to go after U.S. cinema chain Carmike and purchase British movie-theater operator Odeon.
For now, Guo may need to tame his acquisitive ambitions. The CFIUS cloud surrounding Ironshore could mean Fosun has to be a little patient around the flip part of its plan.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.
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California law to protect socially conscious firms
CORPORATIONS State law will protect businesses with socially conscious agendas
California could become a magnet for companies pursuing a triple bottom line - people, planet and profit - thanks to a law taking effect in January that extends legal recognition and protection to such "for benefit" enterprises.
AB361, signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last month, creates a framework for corporations to include social and environmental goals alongside financial ones in defining their purpose.
The Bay Area has long been a center for these entities, known as "benefit corporations" or "B corporations," with companies like Method, Give Something Back Business Products, New Leaf Paper, Numi Organic Tea, Bison Brewing Co. and New Resource Bank. But until now, while companies could go through a certification process to prove that a social mission was on their agenda, they weren't legally entitled to put that mission ahead of profit making.
"Without the new law, the only legitimate purpose of a business under California law was to maximize profit," said Jay Coen Gilbert, who co-founded the B corp movement five years ago and whose B Lab certifies B corps using a scorecard covering environmental practices, employment policies, purchasing policies and products' benefits to society.
MBA BY THE BAY: See how an MBA could change your life with SFGATE's interactive directory of Bay Area programs.
"If you wanted to make money but also make a difference with your business, you could be sued by shareholders for breach of fiduciary duty" without the law, he said. "Now investors and entrepreneurs have another choice: to form a benefit corporation. If they do so, they are legally protected to pursue more than just profit as their objective."
California is the sixth state to recognize companies that operate "for benefit" as well as for profit. But the Golden State, and especially the Bay Area, is already a hub for the B corp movement; more than 130 of the 500 B corporations certified with Coen Gilbert's group are headquartered in California.
That critical mass plus California's progressive climate may mean the new law will draw more B corporations to set up shop here, in the same way that Delaware's corporate-friendly laws attract big companies to incorporate there.
"California now has a good chance to become the Delaware of B corporations," said Don Shaffer, CEO of RSF Social Finance, a San Francisco financial services firm that specializes in lending to companies "with a deep social and environmental mission."
"I think this will carry quite a bit of cachet, and there will be a race on," he said. "California is the natural winner, in my opinion. We've got much higher environmental awareness and level of social activism here than almost anywhere else in the country. The ethos here around creating change is unrivaled."
Adam Lowry, co-founder of San Francisco's Method, which makes eco-conscious cleaning products and was among the original B corporations, agreed.
"The idea that incorporating environmental benefit and social good into your business will help your business grow and be more profitable, not less, is a progressive idea and has a lot more traction in Northern California," he said. "That's why this is a hot spot for B corporations already."
State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, who sponsored the Senate version of the bill, said it "is designed to meet the needs and desires of 21st century businesses." Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, carried the Assembly version.
"What we heard from many of the businesses supporting the bill was that current law limited them," Leno said. "All decisions they made legally had to only look at bottom-line considerations. With this bill, they'll have greater flexibility."
Mike Hannigan, co-founder and president of Oakland's Give Something Back, an office-supply company that donates all of its profit to charity, said that greater flexibility will free up his firm to seek outside investors to help it expand.
"We've grown dramatically in the past two years, but to accelerate growth, we need to bring in outside capital," he said. "But we don't want to jeopardize our mission. Even if we got an investor who was totally behind our mission (without the law), they could later say they had changed their mind and wanted a dividend. Now we can preserve our social mission into the future, regardless of what investors we bring in."
What is a B corp?
AB361, which takes effect Jan. 1, creates a class of California companies called "benefit corporations." They follow the same structure as existing California corporations, and also must:
-- Aim to create a material, positive impact on society and the environment as part of their corporate purpose.
-- Redefine fiduciary duty to require considering the interests of employees, community and the environment in decision making.
-- Give annual public reports on their social and environmental performance using an independent and transparent third-party standard.
More information is at www.bcorporation.net.
Source: B Lab


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If there’s one segment of eCommerce that’s seen an exorbitant surge in traffic as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, it’s platform-to-consumer delivery. More specifically, food and restaurant platform-to-consumer delivery. With a reported market share of some $26.5 Billion in the US during 2020 (a 204 percent increase since 2015), food delivery platform apps have permanently changed the face of the retail food and beverage industry—despite indications of backlash from independent restaurateurs and customers alike.
Online grocery delivery reported a 3 percent increase in daily sales in August 2020, with some indicators that it amounted to over 7 percent of all retail grocery sales at the end of the year. In comparison, online food service delivery saw an increase of over 200 percent in new monthly users during the peak of the coronavirus in March 2020. But grocery delivery services aren’t exactly a new phenomenon. Peapod, which launched over 30 years ago, may have been one of the first pioneers in grocery delivery. But its share of the online market faded quickly last year due to increasing competition, resulting in a complete shuttering of its Midwest division. Even Amazon’s online food delivery platform Amazon Fresh found itself dethroned last year after Walmart’s online grocery sales spiked to 30 percent of the market share.
But market share isn’t the same as innovation. And neither Amazon nor Walmart are necessarily the last word when it comes to platform-to-consumer delivery. So why did one platform-to-consumer app see a 226 percent year-over-year growth rate in 2020?
The DoorDash Phenomenon
If 2020 proved to be a year of uncertainty, last years’ growth in eCommerce hasn’t just confirmed that consumers may be living in an era of unprecedented acceleration. They're also living in an era of unprecedented choice.
Choice is woven into the very fabric of digital commerce. And choice is one of the key elements to understanding how platform-to-consumer delivery adapts to changes in communication as well as consumer needs. When Amazon was founded in 1994, it fulfilled a latent need for consumers for a convenient one-stop location for one and only one product: books. Today, it’s a $386.1 Billion entity selling over twelve million items in over thirty distinct product categories—and growing at a rate no one predicted.
Especially in May of 1997, when Amazon first went public (a virtually unheard of phenomenon for a relatively unknown company formed just three years earlier) at only $18 a share. But as of 2021? It’s being traded at roughly $3000 a share.
In comparison with food delivery apps, GrubHub didn’t go public until some ten years after its founding in 2004 at $26 a share. Today, that share is only worth approximately $60. Similarly, Uber also waited ten years before its initial public offering in 2019 at $72 a share in 2019. But despite being hailed as one of the prime movers behind the gig economy, their stock value decreased significantly, with opening shares of less than $60 reported in February 2021. So why did relative newcomer DoorDash only recently decide to go public at $182 a share?
Because it fulfilled three growing consumer demands during the pandemic:
DoorDash and Digital Consumer Demand
Direct online delivery may be one of the key drivers of the restaurant industry, with recent reports indicating it could reach a compound annual growth of over 15 percent by 2023. But prior to 2020, the common perception of DoorDash was simply one in a number of seemingly interchangeable food delivery services. Perhaps one of the more successful ones, yet hardly a game changer.
But the stark reality is that the disruption of the current pandemic has affected the very way consumers shop for daily essentials. A recent survey found that 68 percent of American consumers purchased groceries online between March and August of last year, with over 80 percent of respondents indicating they’ll plan on increasing their amount of deliveries in the immediate future. That doesn’t necessarily mean the death of the traditional in-store grocery experience. But it does indicate both widespread comfort and need in digital shopping.
Not just comfort and need but a widespread demand for rapid fulfillment, with almost a quarter of Americans indicating they expect same-day delivery from a retailer. DoorDash clearly recognized this demand by announcing their full scale expansion into grocery and convenience delivery in August 2020 by partnering with Walmart, CVS, 7-11, Walgreens, Meijer and Wegmans to name just a few. It may have been logical, but it was hardly original. Even with increased customer demand, it may have seemed unlikely the likes of DoorDash—an entity not even seven years old at the time—would make a debt in an increasingly saturated market.
But numbers don’t lie. DoorDash saw an 86 percent surge during its first day of trading, making its $72 Billion market valuation actually worth more than many of the national restaurant chains it delivers for. A valuation which was only 7 percent less than that reported by FedEx—and a company which DoorDash acknowledged they envisioned providing a localized, on-demand alternative to as early as 2013.
DoorDash and the Future of On Demand Delivery
Just how significant an impact on demand delivery apps like DoorDash will have on digital commerce remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the retail industry is adopting its model with enthusiasm.
Uber’s entry into online grocery delivery actually preceded DoorDash’s expansion with their acquisition of delivery apps Cornershop and Postmates to unexpected success, reporting additional investments of $40 - $50 million during the first quarter of 2021 in anticipation of eight-figure sales by the end of the year. But the trend towards on demand platform-to-consumer delivery isn’t isolated to groceries. In September, Bed Bath & Beyond announced they were partnering with Instacart and Shipt to provide same-day delivery for holiday purchases, resulting in approximately 7 million new customers during the third quarter of 2020. Meanwhile, even luxury brands are hastening to adopt same day on-demand delivery, with Sephora’s recent announcement of an Instacart partnership being a harbinger of a prestige market struggling for increased relevance in the face of steeply declining revenues.
In 2021, customers are looking to eCommerce to help soften the impact the coronavirus pandemic has left on physical retail. It’s reflected in their demands for everything from personalized and intelligent marketing to delivery fulfillment. The strength of a brand’s customer experience is dictated by customer need. And as those needs continue to be more prominent and nuanced, so will their solutions. DoorDash may not be the “new” Amazon. But with sales revenue more than tripling during the fourth quarter of 2020, Amazon may need to reevaluate just how vital a presence an underdog can be.
Color More Lines provides white glove, global account management of your eCommerce platforms so mission-driven companies can focus on new product development, branding and growth strategies. Find out more at Color More Lines.


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Finally, after much hype and hyperbole, the opening ceremonies of the Apple vs. Samsung trial -- the trial that could reshape the entire global smartphone market -- are complete. As anticipated, the first days of the trial are full of fun. Meanwhile, poor Siri is under legal attack again, this time from a Taiwanese University.
Join us for another week Law & Apple as we breakdown every move and score of the courtroom olympians.
With Mountain Lion, you can now dictate your text. While this isn't exactly Siri functionality we're talking about, Dictation is a step in the right direction for Mac users who don’t have the mobility or typing skills required to compose long emails or documents. The best part is that the new Dictation feature require third-party software manufacturers to make the function available. It works seamlessly with almost every application, including Microsoft Word.
Apple continues to roll out celebrity-powered television commercials for Siri, with the latest starring film director Martin Scorsese as he maneuvers the mean streets of New York in a taxi cab, with Siri helping guide the way.
We're guessing the deafening silence from the App Store today is a result of those corrupted updates that made headlines over the 4th of July holiday. If you've been relentlessly pressing the update button in iTunes only to keep seeing "there are no updates available for any of the apps in your iTunes library," it might be time to take a break and read up on what else is happening in the tech world -- including what Apple has to say on the subject. Here's what's making news for Thursday, July 5, 2012.
Just like clockwork, Apple took the wraps off iOS 6 on Monday during the WWDC 2012 keynote, and developers have already started tinkering with the first beta build. While the company showed off some key features, there’s plenty more in store -- and here’s a look at what we know thus far.
Although it’s little surprise after seeing banners go up Friday afternoon, iOS 6 is indeed real and Apple wasted no time jumping right in to show developers what they’ll be working with in the months ahead.
Now that June is in full swing, the annual E3 show kicks off this week in Los Angeles, only the first of a number of exciting (and costly to our wallet) events. By this time next week we’ll be basking in the glow of whatever Apple has deigned to show us at WWDC, and Google I/O will wrap up the busy month with their own brand of fun. Might be a good time to put those credit cards on ice, right? In the meantime, soak up some absolutely free fun with today’s recap for Monday, June 4, 2012.
The tenth annual D: All Things Digital conference kicked off in California on Tuesday night with a rousing Tim Cook interview. While the Apple CEO didn’t divulge any corporate secrets on the company’s HDTV plans, there was plenty of discussion about the future.
Hey, the weekend is here! And for those of you in the United States, it’s probably a three-day extravaganza, thanks to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday. Although we’re not sure getting an extra day off work is really showing appreciation for those in the Armed Services who keep us safe, we’ll take it where we can get it. The daily recap will be taking Monday off as well, so we’ll see you back here on Tuesday -- in the meantime, enjoy the day’s news for Friday, May 25, 2012!
Actor John Malkovich may not be the next actor you’d expect to see in a pair of Apple commercials following in the footsteps of Samuel L. Jackson and Zooey Deschanel, but that’s exactly who you’ll find discussing “Life” and “Joke” with Siri next.


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EPA request information from Mercedes over emission lawsuit
Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the car… The Emissions Scandal II: The Emissions Strike Back.
A spokesperson for Daimler said on Sunday the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had requested information from its luxury car brand Mercedes Benz to explain emissions levels in some of its cars. The request follows a lawsuit filed in the United States, claiming the carmakers knowingly lied about the emissions of their Clean Diesel vehicles.
The spokesman for Daimler claimed the company was fully cooperating with the EPA’s request for information, and that their Mercedes Benz vehicles conform to all the necessary rules and regulations. We have previously reported on this accusation that their ‘Clean’ vehicles were not so clean, after the lawsuit was filed alleging that some Mercedes models used a device that allowed the vehicles to deceive emissions standards tests when run at cooler temperatures, making them less environmentally friendly than advertised. ). In the complaint filed, the allegations being made against the carmakers claim that “Mercedes never disclosed to consumers that Mercedes diesels with BlueTEC engines may be ‘clean’ diesels when it is warm, but are ‘dirty’ diesels when it is not. Mercedes never disclosed that, when the temperature drops below 50 degrees, it prioritizes engine power and profits over people.”
Though the automobile company was quick to deny any wrongdoings in the matter, arguing that it is quite common for emissions from real life driving on the road are always higher than in test conditions, apparently the EPA are not so easily dissuaded. Christopher Grundler, director of the EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, is quoted by German newspaper Handelsblatt as saying: “We know about the lawsuit. We have contacted Mercedes and requested the test results for the U.S. diesel engines.”
Daimler have been steadfast in their stance since the first rumblings of the lawsuit, and remain so following this update. A spokesperson for the company publically acknowledged that there is a system in place that switches to engine power based on the temperature, but maintained that in doing so the system to treat exhaust fumes could operate at a level of reduced effectiveness to prevent condensation from building up in the exhaust system. The condensation could otherwise lead to corrosion, and harm the engine and exhaust system. A system that is not, in fact, illegal, claimed the spokesperson.
We’ll be sure to keep up-to-date with this story, but for the sake of the industry – and our own sake – we hope it is not going to be another emission scandal.


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More than 20 million coffee seedlings are due to be produced by the end of the year, according to the director of the National Coffee Institute of Angola (INCA), João Ferreira.
The INCA director said that the seedlings would be distributed free of charge to producers as a way of supporting coffee production in Angola. He noted that in 1973 Angola produced 210,000 tons of commercial coffee, which fell to 3,000 tons in 2002.
At the moment, he said, Angola produces 12,000 tons of coffee per year, which is less than 10 percent of production levels in the colonial period, due to the country’s civil war following independence in 1975.
Speaking to Angolan news agency Angop, Ferreira said that the coffee producing areas most affected by the civil war were the provinces of Uíge, Bié, Kwanza Norte, Huambo and Kwanza Sul.
Coffee production is now mainly focused on the provinces of Kwanza Sul and Uíge which, altogether, account for around 77 percent of national production.
Ferreira called for the banking sector to increase its support for coffee and soy projects in Angola as coffee was not included in the Agriculture Campaign Credit scheme. (macauhub/AO)


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Big Blue birthday: IBM PC turns 20
By Jim Battey
(IDG) -- The IBM PC was introduced to the world 20 years ago at a press conference in New York on August 12, 1981. Evolving from the MITS Altair hobbyist computer and taking cues from early PCs such as the Apple II, the IBM PC -- and the story behind its development -- provided a foretaste of how the whole tech industry took shape.
The IBM PC originated not at Big Blue's Armonk, New York, headquarters but at its small Entry Systems Division in Boca Raton, Florida, which was headed by IBM veteran Bill Lowe. It was Lowe who proposed to IBM's top brass that they build a personal computer made of components provided by outsiders, bucking IBM's long-standing practice of using its own hardware and software.
A one-year deadline was established that would have been impossible to meet operating under IBM's traditionally proprietary ways. Lowe says IBM's decision to buy instead of build was driven by economics. "We visited retail stores such as Sears and ComputerLand and determined that the PC had to be distributed through retail for us to make a profit," Lowe says, emphasizing that it would have been too expensive to market the PC through IBM's own sales force.
Lowe says the proposal to sell the PC through retail channels led to the decision to go with an open architecture. "Distributors would have to service the product themselves and retailers would accommodate the product only if we used non-IBM hardware," he says.
One IBM engineer involved in the development of the PC, Dave Bradley, thinks this decision changed the face of the industry. "By going with an open system you invite the rest of the industry to participate. For example, other companies such as Lotus were able to develop applications," Bradley says. This paved the way for open hardware standards and, eventually, the opportunity for thousands of companies in the PC sector.
Intel was one of the many companies that flourished. IBM selected Intel's 8088 processor for the system chiefly because it was the only 16-bit processor available that had an 8-bit bus. Also, Bradley says, "We were familiar with the Intel processing family, having worked with them on the Datamaster," which was the forerunner to the IBM PC.
Another company that benefited from the open system was Microsoft. In the early 1980s the most common OS in non-Apple PCs was CP/M, developed by Digital Research in Pacific Grove, California. "We sent a team to the West Coast to meet with [Digital Research], but they weren't interested in working with us," Lowe says.
Microsoft, then a small software company in Bellevue, Washington, seized on this opportunity. Co-founders Bill Gates and Paul Allen assured IBM that in addition to developing the Basic programming language for the IBM PC, Microsoft could provide an operating system.
But Microsoft did not have an OS of its own. Racing against IBM's tight deadline, Allen got in touch with a local hardware vendor that did have an OS, Seattle Computer Products.
Microsoft executive Jeff Raikes remembers what the industry was like when he joined the company in 1981. "The software business was dominated by hardware companies, and everybody thought they would just come in and wipe us out," Raikes says. "People forget that Microsoft took a huge bet to think that an independent operating system and programming language would be successful."
Lowe says the selection of Microsoft was due, in part, to its ability to meet the deadline. "We put a real premium on schedule. They were able to provide an operating system on the schedule we needed," he says.
After shipping in October 1981, the roaring success of the IBM PC meant that PCs were ready to make the leap onto corporate desktops. "IBM legitimized the notion of the PC -- that it would not be just a hobbyist computer," Raikes says.
Soon IBM compatibles from Compaq and software applications such as Lotus 1-2-3 appeared, and the PC industry shifted into full gear. Summarizing the success of the IBM PC, Bradley says, "Clearly it was a product whose time had arrived."
Predictions for 2010
TERABYTES OF STORAGE: A media-rich future means a heavy-storage future. The 1.44MB floppy might survive longer than we think, but by 2010 the traditional floppy, superfloppies such as the Zip, and even CD burners will disappear as DVD burners become stock items. And multigigabyte hard drives will go by the wayside as multiterabyte drives will be required to hold the Microsoft bloatware of a decade out.
64-BIT CPU UNDER THE HOOD: The typical configuration of today's PC includes a 32-bit processor running at 1.0GHz or faster, 128MB of RAM, and 128KB of Level 2 cache. A limited number of of 64-bit desktop PCs also are expected to ship in 2001, following the delivery of Intel's 64-bit Itanium processor. In 10 years, we'll all be using 64-bit systems with 64GB or more of RAM and several megabytes of cache to process the voice and video streaming throughout the corporate network.
NO-HANDS INPUT: Ten years out, everyone will be using a flat-panel screen, typically 18 inches diagonally, but it will sport a built-in digital camera for full-motion videoconferencing. Keyboards and mice will be wireless, and they'll incorporate fingerprint readers for authorizing the user. And these input methods will be supplemented by speech recognition, which, along with biometric security, will be built into the OS of future. This OS will be either a Windows derivative or a Mac/Linux fusion, depending on your personal degree of masochism.
WIRELESS CONNECTIONS: In the future, Bluetooth and 802.11 wireless LANs will have evolved into something that is secure. It is difficult to foresee whether or not wireless LANs will scale to gigabit speeds, which we deem a prerequisite for secure on-demand video applications. For Net access, there will still be a battle between DSL and cable technologies.
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PCD Pharma Franchise in Deogarh: Deogarh is a holy city which is situated in the state of Jharkhand. According to the latest report it is found that the population of the city will be 3,84,000 by the end of 2022 which is estimated to be at a growth rate of 4.63% from the last year. This increase in the population has simultaneously increased the growth of the vehicles in the city. The rise in pollution has resulted in affecting the health of the people. The health of the person is affected and the number of diseases is increasing at a rapid speed. We, at Abigail Healthcare, are aware that people are not compromising their health and do not care about the cost of the medicines. We are helping our customers in treating the various health issues as we are providing franchise opportunities along with numerous benefits.
Abigail Healthcare is an experienced company offering quality-based pharma and derma products to our customers. The products offered by us are based on the quality and according to the demands of our customers. Being an ISO-certified company, we mainly focus on treating the health problems of our customers. We have experts in our manufacturing team who ensures to make the stock available so that our customers don’t face any difficulty in searching for the products. The products manufactured by us are manufactured under the strict guidelines of the international policy including the DCGI. According to the need of the hour, we are inviting our franchise partners and associates to come and join hands with us as we are providing the PCD Pharma Franchise in Deogarh with numerous benefits.
We are searching for capable people who can help us in treating the health problems of our customers to make society disease-free. Come and join our franchise company by calling us at +91 9855445073, +91 6296063333 or you can reach out to us through email at email@example.com
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Offering quality-based products to all our customers has made Abigail Healthcare the leading company in the market since its inception. With the help of our quality-based products, we have gained the satisfaction level of all our customers. We have a team of experts who manufacture the products keeping in mind the health of our customers. All the processes including the manufacturing of products, quality checking, etc are done in our widely spread manufacturing unit which is certified by WHO & GMP. The following features have made us the leading company for Derma & PCD Pharma Franchise in Deogarh:
We don’t compromise the health of our customers, so our experts in the manufacturing units manufacture quality-based products. Our quality-based products help our customers in curing themselves of the health issues that they are suffering. For the quality checking of all our products, we have a separate department. Besides ensuring the quality of all our products we also make sure to deliver the products at affordable rates to all our customers. The international standards and the guidelines are followed by us while the manufacturing of all our quality-based products. Following are the ranges of our products which help our customers in curing the health issues :
PHARMA PRODUCT RANGES
DERMA PRODUCT RANGES
As there is a huge scope for the pharma companies to open their franchises in the city. Along with the franchise opportunity in the city, we are also offering numerous benefits to all our pharma professionals, experts, and individuals which would help them to sustain themselves in the market. The benefits offered by us also help our franchise partners to treat the health problems of all our customers. The benefits which we offer to all our franchise partners, as well as our associates, are as follows :
Now, what are you waiting for? Come and join hands with us as we are searching for capable people for our PCD Pharma Franchise in Deogarh. We are just one call away. Contact us at the given address.
Name: Abigail Healthcare Pharmaceutical
Address: Plot No. 160, 1st Floor, Industrial Area, Phase 2, Panchkula – 134113
Mobile No: +91 9855445073, +91 6296063333


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Traders’ body slams FDI in retail, says will ‘lead to slavery’
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Rejecting FDI in retail, the Bhartiya Udyog Vyapar Mandal (BUVM) has decided to stage a massive protest against it at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on December 3.
This was announced by BUVM national president Shyam Bihari Mishra, an ex-MP, in an interaction with mediapersons after presiding over a meeting of the national executive committee of the BUVM along with the working committee members of Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM).
Asserting that FDI in retail would "lead the nation towards slavery", he said the UPA government had been misguiding the country on the issue of FDI in retail. It would not only affect the retail sector but also the wholesale trade. Besides, the transport sector would also be hit.
Mishra said they would send 10 lakh postcards carrying a message against FDI in retail from across the country to the Prime Minister. This nationwide campaign had already started from Uttar Pradesh. Besides, the BUVM had decided to collect 10 lakh signatures of traders against FDI in retail. These signatures would be sent to the President.
He said they had also written to all MPs cutting across parties to support the traders' community on the issue and support them for the cause in Parliament.
Regretting that the UPA government had been following policies of the other nations, the BUVM national president sought a ban on forward trading.
Replying to a question, he said Sunday's meeting also discussed problems and difficulties being faced by the traders' community in Punjab. He rejected the state government's decision of introducing "e-TRIP" system and charging of processing fee. He asked the traders to impress upon the state government to refund their processing fee.
Mishra criticised the Punjab government for enhancing power tariff from back date.
He asked the traders' community in Punjab to demand accidental insurance of Rs 5 lakh each for themselves from the state government on the pattern of UP.


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With the strong support of Linglong racing tyres, Linglong Tire Drift Team Orange swept the winner and runner-up at DIGP 2021 Season Finale.
Kumho Tire Develops Bespoke Tyre for TCR Competition
The WSC Group has announced that Kumho has developed a bespoke tyre for TCR competition.
Vipal Rubber Sponsors Promising Italian Rally Driver
Vipal Rubber has a tradition of supporting its business partners through various international sports competitions on wheels.
Giti Tire to Return with F3 Asia in 2022
The 2022 series to take place in the UAE, bringing together top drivers around the world, as 2021 F3 Asia winner Zhou prepares for his F1 spot on Alfa Romeo.
Pirelli Concludes 18-Inch Formula 1 Testing
Pirelli’s test campaign for the new 18-inch Formula 1 tyres that replace the current 13-inch size next year concluded recently.
Cooper Tire Europe As Official Tyre Option For Motorsport UK
Cooper Tire Europe has announced that it will be an official tyre option for the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship from the 2021 season.
Formula 1 World Champion Nico Rosberg Becomes Brand Ambassador for Continental
Joining strengths, Continental and Nico Rosberg will be working together on the Extreme E race series. The partnership is a great fit for both sides as Continental is committed to safety, top performance and sustainability, while Rosberg has also shown a keen eye for sustainability solutions.
Sailun and EVA Unveil New Car to be Used for the 2021 D1GP
Two new Toyota GR supra cars, including the number 91 drift were launched at the Toyota GR Garage in Yokohama in April 2021, in preparation for the 2021 D1 Grand Prix (D1GP).
Toyo Tires Joins the 2021 D1GP Series
Toyo Tire will be participating in the 2021 D1 Grand Prix Series (D1GP.) The annual drift competition will be opening at the Okuibuki Motorpark on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Hankook Expands its Involvement in Motorsport, as Exclusive Tyre Supplier to European TCR Series
Hankook has expanded its involvement in motorsport, as the new and exclusive tyre supplier to various European TCR series. It will supply with the high-end Ventus Race tyre from this season.


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REDFORD TWP. (WWJ) – A well-known Ford dealership is expected to be open for business Thursday following a fire overnight.
The fire broke out inside of a service area at Pat Milliken Ford on Telegraph Road just south of Plymouth Road in Redford Township.READ MORE: Detroit Police Department To Host Drive-Up Candy Stations On Oct. 31 At All Precincts
Owner Brian Godfrey said a night guard called 911 after commercial cargo van caught fire in the garage.
“This was a customer’s van and we don’t know the exact cause at this point,” Godfrey told WWJ’s Mike Campbell.
No one was injured, but the fire caused extensive smoke damage to the service area. Godfrey said crews are still assessing damage to other vehicles.READ MORE: Metro Detroit Woman Files Lawsuit Against Walmart, Says Discriminated Against By Managers
“This is something you worry about in the business and you try to take precautions, but sometimes this happens,” he said.
Despite the fire, the dealership will still be open for business Thursday.
“We won’t be at full operation and obviously heading up against the holiday weekend there’ll be some challenges, but we’ll be able to take care of our customers,” he said.MORE NEWS: Fourth Stimulus Check: Is Another Relief Payment Coming Soon?
An investigation is ongoing.


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Best-selling new cars plagued by expensive faults
Owners of new cars face huge bills to repair faults such as flat batteries and broken locks because of “serious production issues”, a report has revealed.
Which?, the consumer group, found that seven of Britain’s most popular cars were dogged by faults that affected up to 28 per cent of vehicles.
Harry Rose, editor of Which?, said: “It is unacceptable that trusted car brands continue to take customer cash without fixing these widespread faults.”
Which? said the models included the Nissan Qashqai, the Tesla Model S and Range Rovers. Its call for the companies to recall faulty cars and repair them free of charge was rejected.
Which? surveyed the owners of 55,833 cars between December and February, asking about problems in the previous 12 months.


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Huawei Honor 6 Gets Android 5.1.1 Lollipop With EMUI 3.1By cheatmaster 12:15 Wed, 28 Jul 2021 Comments
Huawei Honor 6 is now getting the Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, enhanced with the recent EMUI 3.1 launcher. The first country to acquire the recent firmware is India, but oddly the update is now available via the OTA service just yet.
Huawei has uploaded the Read-Only Memory (ROM) on the official Huawei India website, so you can download it from there and update it manually. Just few people reported for OTA notifications. The file is 1.3GB big, so in case you'll do the update manually, you should free at least 3GB on your phone.
There is no official changelog for the recent firmware, but it will upgrade your KitKat up to the latest Lollipop and bring some traces of Material design, lots of under-the-hood optimizations, better security and switch to ART runtime for better performance.
Huawei Honor 4C and Honor 4X already got the update - in case you've missed the news you can found the ROMs over the source link. Now it's turn for the Honor 6. Other markets should be getting the update very soon and hopefully the OTA release is just around the corner, too.
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BTS Becomes 1st Foreign Male Artist Certified As Million Seller In Japan For Single
BTS’s Japanese single “Lights/Boy With Luv” has been certified as a million seller by the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ)!
On August 9 at midnight KST, the RIAJ announced that BTS achieved this feat with their single and they are the first foreign male artist ever to do so. “Lights/Boy With Luv” is one of only five releases so far in 2019 to reach a million in sales according to the RIAJ.
“Lights/Boy With Luv” is also the bestselling Japanese single by a foreign artist both in terms of first day and first week sales.
Congratulations to BTS!


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Former Barclays boss Bob Diamond's merger bid lifts stockbroker Panmure Gordon 64%
Swoop: Ex Barclays boss Bob Diamond has struck a deal to buy Panmure Gordon
Shares in Panmure Gordon jumped more than 80 per cent after former Barclays boss Bob Diamond struck a deal to buy the historic City stockbroker.
The AIM-listed firm, which dates back to 1876 and has close links to David Cameron's family, is being snapped up by Diamond's investment vehicle Atlas Merchant Capital and the Qatari royal family.
Diamond and his Qatari partners QInvest, which already own 43 per cent of Panmure, have agreed to pay 100p a share for the rest of the business – valuing the company at £15.5million.
The deal has been driven by Matt Hansen, Diamond's top executive in London and a former executive at vulture fund Cerberus.
Panmure shares hit a high of over 108p after the bid was announced before closing up 64 per cent, or 38.5p, at 98p.
The deal casts doubt over the future of the 98 staff at its headquarters in London although sources said the plan was to invest and expand the business.
Panmure chief executive Patric Johnson said it was the 'right time' to take the company private.
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Engagement season is in full swing and retailers are seeing new trends emerging around holiday engagement ring purchases. Last year, there was a rise in vintage estate rings and unique colored stones. This year the diamond is returning – and bigger than ever – and people are feeling more and more comfortable buying online. Gleem & Co., a luxury online jewelry consignment and curator, sees a 200-300% jump in sales during the holiday and proposal months. Gleem curates a custom collection for their clientele and has noticed a few new trends for one of life’s most important (and expensive) purchases:
- Diamonds are Forever: Solitaire diamonds are making a comeback, as colored center stones become less and less common
- Size Matters: Two carats is the new baseline, and people are willing to sacrifice clarity for size
- Gold over Platinum: As people wear and tear their rings more during their spin cycle, pilates class and everything else in life – white gold is coming back as a more durable alternative to platinum
- Make a Statement: Women want their engagement ring to be a statement piece – vintage and estate ring sales remain high
The post Holiday Engagements & Ring Trends on the Rise for 2017 appeared first on Fromgirltogirl.com.


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2020 C-HR 1.8 litre engine, Hybrid, Japanese factory build.
A fuel leak caused by the fault could result in an engine bay fire, according to the manufacturer.
"Toyota Australia has recalled 7671 examples of its C-HR SUV, citing a potential fault with the fuel pump.
The affected vehicles were sold between 2 December 2019 and 26 May 2021 (Model Years 2019 to 2021).
The recall notice, lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), says: “The internal components of the fuel pump may wear and fracture the welded area of the fuel pump, which could lead to a fuel leak in the engine compartment."
The Australian C-HR is a Japanese factory import, but may also affect the European models, presuming they use the same fuel pump?


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With maximum amount on platter, the $1.6 billion U.S. Powerball jackpot has gone to three winning tickets after the draw was held on Wednesday with the odds at 1 in 292 million. The winning number tickets with – 08 27 34 04 19 and Powerball 10 – were sold in Tennessee, California and Florida.
Each winner will get one-third of the amount worth $528.8 million, said the California Lottery and each store winner will receive $1 million as bonus for selling the winning numbered ticket. With no one coming forward to claim, the winners identity is not yet known.
Otherwise, the three stores which had sold the rickets were — a 7-Eleven convenience store in Chino Hills, east of Los Angeles, the second one at Munford, Tennessee and the third one is a Publix grocery store in Melbourne Beach, Florida. Tennesse is claiming second winning ticket in less than three months as it had the last winner was in November, who claimed $144.1 million.
The craze for Powerball lottery has become a craze in the US that the rush hour peak on Wednesday before the lottery is drawn reaches $1.3 million per minute, according to Gary Grief, executive director of the Texas lottery. The winner will be given a choice to receive multi-year annuity or a lum-sum amount. In case of lump-sum pay out, the amount gets reduced from $1.6 billion to $983.5 million.
Despite the casino and fluke in winning the ticket, half of the proceeds goes to prizes, 40% to social causes and 10 percent to retailers who sell the tickets and administrative costs. Usually no winning tickets emerge making the jackpot rollover into millions and this time it has gone into one billion dollars, making it highest amount ever given out. However, Powerball is played only in 44 out of 50 states in the US, besdies Washington, D.C. and two U.S. territories.


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In the wake of the Wirecard scandal, the Deutsche Spielbankenverband (DSbV), Germany’s gaming machine operator association, has called on all payment processors to stop facilitating payments from unregulated gaming platforms.
The DSbV CEO Otto Wulfdering released a statement to say that Wirecard had heavily been involved in online betting in Germany and the fact that the company filed for bankruptcy after disclosing that €1.9 billion was missing from its accounts is a wakeup call for the payments industry. He went ahead and praised Visa and PayPal for distancing themselves from illegal online gambling operators.
According to Wulfdering, online casino sites that accept players from Germany without a German license are breaching the regulatory framework as they don’t fulfill the conditions put in place for the safety and security of player transactions.
Wulfdering also petitioned for a stop to what he referred to as “incoherent case law” around online betting. At the moment, the German states are talking over a possible transition period that would permit operators to carry on providing online casino services before the vertical is legalized in July 2021.
Discussions are currently undergoing ahead of the official implementation of the long-awaited gaming laws dubbed, Glücksspielneuregulierungstaatsvertrag (GlüNeuRStV) from 1 July 2021. Right now, the GlüNeuRStV framework is being vetted by the European Commission before Germany finally implements an online market outside sports gambling for the first time.
Currently, payment providers are prohibited by the law to cease processing payments from betting platforms that don’t abide by Germany’s gaming regulations. Failure to abide by these rules could mean that the payment processor is barred from running any operations in Germany entirely.


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Microsoft has been named a Leader on the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Access Management for its Microsoft Active Directory (Azure AD) competencies.
The company was positioned farthest right on the completeness of vision axis, and third equal for its ability to execute.
According to Gartner, More than 70% of new deployments will prefer converged identity and access management (IAM) by 2025, and by 2024, low-code and no-code orchestration tools will be critical in IAM products.
Speaking about Microsoft, the report notes, “Its Azure AD product is sold in bundles and is focused on delivering AM as part of a converged SaaS IAM platform for internal and external AM use cases. Its operations are geographically diversified, and its clients vary in size and industry. Most Microsoft clients use its products for workforce scenarios.
“Recent product innovations include the addition of FIDO2 support (for passwordless authentication), an agent for joining AD forests and adaptive access for CIAM,” the report notes, however, these are what Gartner considers to be catch-up features.
“Microsoft plans to invest 10% of its security revenue in R-D for risk protection in multicloud infrastructures, enhancing embedded adjacent IAM capabilities, and improving decentralised identity and verifiable credential features.
Microsoft Identity Program Management corporate vice president Alex Simons says the achievement would not have been possible without its ‘passionate' customers.
He adds that the company will focus on three particular areas that will shape its product vision: zero trust, multi-cloud security and governance, and a new trust fabric.
According to Simons, zero trust is an important and necessary method for protecting digital environments from end to end.
The company is integrating access control across endpoint management with Microsoft Endpoint Manager, threat protection with Microsoft Defender, and networks with network security vendor partnerships.
“We will continue to add innovative, fine-grained access controls that can be consistently applied across your entire digital estate,” Simons says.
In the multi-cloud security and governance space, the company recently acquired CloudKnox Security, a specialist cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM) firm, with the aim of helping businesses discover, organise, and manage permissions for all identities across clouds.
“This is part of a larger effort on how we protect identities while also managing and governing their access,” notes Simons.
Microsoft is also focusing on a new decentralised identity system to help organisations establish trust in real time.
“Together with partners across the industry, we're building the digital identity systems that will serve as a trust fabric for the ubiquitous, decentralized digital ecosystem of the future with our decentralized identity,” concludes Simons.


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Kobe Bryant has settled his dispute with his mother, Pamela Bryant, conceding that she had the right to consign and sell several of the items that she placed with a New Jersey based auction house. On Monday, Ken Goldin, the owner of Goldin Auctions, said that he'll be selling six Kobe Bryant items in an online sale scheduled from June 17 to July 19.
As I reported in early May, Pamela Bryant had originally asked Goldin Auctions to sell a large number of items that Kobe had left in her home going as far back as his high school days. She said that she'd asked Bryant if he'd wanted the items over five years earlier, and he'd told her that he didn't.
When she needed funds to buy a house in Nevada, she consigned them to Goldin in exchange for a $450,000 advance.
When he caught wind of the sale, Kobe Bryant asked his lawyer to send a cease-and-desist letter to his mother, telling her that she didn't own the items and couldn't sell them.
Goldin Auctions fired back with a lawsuit that would have been heard next week if not for the settlement.
As a result of the agreement, Joe and Pamela Bryant released a statement that said in part, "We apologize for any misunderstanding and unintended pain we have caused our son and appreciate the financial support he has provided over the years."
Hmm. According to ESPN, the Bryants are allowed to auction less than 10 percent of the original items. However, interestingly enough, those items appear to be the most valuable ones.
Like most lawsuits, there's a confidentiality agreement, and Ken Goldin has said he isn't allowed to reveal the terms of the settlement. However, he seemed confident that he will still make a profit after paying off Pamela Bryant's hefty advance.
"If I'd looked at the list from the beginning and picked nine items I wanted to get my hands on, I've got five of them," Goldin said.
The Kobe Bryant memorabilia going on the auction block will include two of Bryant's high school uniforms, his 2000 NBA All-star game ring, and his medallion and ribbon from a high-school all-star game.
Goldin predicted that each of the uniforms and the All-Star Game ring would fetch six figures ranging from around $100,000 to $250,000 apiece.
Although he did get most of his old stuff back under the agreement, it doesn't really feel like a win for Kobe Bryant. The pick of the litter seems to be going on sale.
What does he have to say about it?
ESPN reported that Kobe Bryant refused to comment.
[Kobe Bryant photo by Christopher Johnson via Flickr and Creative Commons]


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BAYPORT, Minn. – Window and door manufacturer Andersen Corp. says it will return to the International Builders Show next year, featuring its latest products and employee-driven innovation. IBS 2017 runs January 10-12 in Orlando.
Over the past five years, Andersen says it has invested heavily in product development and plans to use the 2017 IBS event to showcase its enhanced product portfolio.
“We’ve dramatically grown both our products and services in the last five years, and we are excited to show our builder customers the depth of our expanded offerings,” said Sal Abbate, senior VP and chief sales and marketing officer at Andersen Corporation. “We want to continue to demonstrate to the builder community our unwavering commitment to providing different and better products and services for their building projects.”
Abbate highlights some of Andersen new products and services in the last five years including:
• The Architectural Collection: premium windows and patio doors with fully integrates Andersen A-Series and E-Series products.
• Weiland Acquisition: Andersen acquired Weiland Sliding Doors and Windows, Inc. to augment its door business and lead the “big door” category
• World Class Service: Andersen’s hallmark commitment to customer service has continued to grow and expand
• Contemporary Styling: Andersen offers the broadest selection of contemporary-styled windows and doors at every price point.
• Smart Home Technology: Patented VeriLock were named a Consumer Electronic Show 2016 Innovation Award Honoree.
• ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2015 Recognition: Andersen launched a new triple pane glass offering for A-Series windows with options that were recognized as the Most Efficient of ENERGY STAR in 2015.**
Abbate also notes that Andersen led the fenestration industry as the company released the industry’s first Environmental Product Declaration.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) organizes the Builders' Show show, which will be held in Orlando, Florida in January 2017.
“We are delighted that Andersen Windows has decided to rejoin the International Builders’ Show and will be exhibiting at the upcoming 2017 event,” said NAHB Chairman Ed Brady, a builder and developer from Bloomington, Ill. “Andersen has always generated a lot of excitement at the show and our attendee surveys over the last few years show it has been one of the companies most often looked for at the IBS, but not found. So we are pleased to welcome them back to the show and know that NAHB members and IBS Attendees also eagerly await their return.”
Privately hgeld, Andersen was founded in 1903 and employs nearly 11,000 people in locations across North America. andersencorporation.com.
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“Abundance” of Caution: UK Court Action over Beeple Artwork
Russells is acting for Mr Amir Soleymani in English court proceedings against the digital art auction platform for non-fungible token (“NFT”) art, Nifty Gateway.
Mr Soleymani’s action relates to an online auction earlier this year concerning the digital artwork “Abundance” by the artist Beeple. Mr Soleymani was outbid at the auction but Nifty Gateway has demanded payment from him, claiming the auction was a “ranked auction” which required the top 100 bidders to pay for a numbered edition of “Abundance”. Mr Soleymani has refused to pay and the matter is now being litigated.
In his action, Mr Soleymani asks the English court to declare that:
- Any contract between Nifty Gateway and Mr Soleymani is illegal under the Gambling Act 2005 and therefore void.
We believe this to be the first UK claim issued involving an auction for digital art traded as an NFT. The case has been widely reported:
- “An Irate Collector Is Suing the NFT Platform Nifty Gateway Over the Terms of a Very Weird Beeple Auction” – https://news.artnet.com/
- “Art collector sues NFT platform Nifty Gateway over Beeple auction” – https://www.theartnewspaper.
com/2021/10/01/art-collector- sues-nft-platform-over-beeple- auction
- “NFT Platform Nifty Gateway, Collector Caught in Legal Battle Over Beeple Auction” – https://www.artnews.com/art-


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If Google leads a smartphone OS with its Android, KaiOS has begun to grow into the OS of choice for feature phones, especially in a number of developing countries.
KaiOS started last year as a mobile OS version of Firefox OS. KaiOS is used in some Nokia phone features, such as the Nokia 8110. Some devices from TCL and Micromax are also supported by KaiOS.
Some people think Google's investment in KaiOS is weird, considering Google has Android that dominates the world's smartphones. Moreover, Google also developed Android Go.
Even so, KaiOS CEO Sebastien Codeville said, Google and KaiOS have agreed to work together to create some new features for KaiOS users.
"Google and KaiOS have agreed to make Google Assistant, Google Maps, YouTube and Google Search available to KaiOS users," Codeville said.


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NEW YORK (sbup) – Whether they’re hunkering down for bad economic times or optimistic about the U.S. economy, Americans are taking steps to reduce their credit card debt, according to the New York Federal Reserve.
The agency’s most recent Quarterly Report On Household Debt and Credit says U.S. consumers have chopped their credit card balances to their lowest levels since 2002, at $672 billion.
In addition, Americans are doing a much better job of keeping up with their credit card debts, with credit card payment delinquency rates at 10.9% – the lowest level since the second quarter of 2008.
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York doesn’t take a stand on whether Americans are genuinely bullish on the economy or paring back debt because they fear another economic tidal wave this year or next.
But the agency does say that consumers have used the past four years wisely, shoring up family finances, no matter what the future brings.
"The continuing decrease in [credit card] delinquency rates suggests that consumers are managing their debts better," explains Wilbert van Der Klaauw, an economist at the New York Fed. "As they continue to pay down debt and take advantage of low interest rates, Americans are moving forward with rebalancing their household finances.”
Most of the numbers detailed in the Federal Reserve report bear out that sentiment. Here’s a snapshot of Americans and debt management:


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Celebrating the ‘New’ Normal
Events, Music, Fun Return
Life and activities are returning to normal downtown, and we couldn’t be more pleased about it, or the variety of events happening the weekend of April 23-25. The fun begins in earnest Saturday morning with the Snowmageddon Plant Swap at The Lot, 400 Crockett St., and the Downtown Mercantile Spring Market at C & C Mercantile and Lighting, 1110 Texas Ave.
hugely popular spring market is the bi-yearly showpiece of Derek and
Lauren Ross Simmons, the arty and creative owners of C & C
Mercantile and Lighting. The market, says Lauren, is all about
community. “We (C&C Mercantile) are a small business,” she says. “My art business is also small; the other artists and vendors participating are small. We were all hurt by Covid. It’s time for everyone to be outside and enjoying life again and for these artists to be earning revenue.”
A packed house of vendors – more than 52 of them – will be staged in a lot beside the Texas Avenue business, tucked in along the sidewalk in front and positioned in a vacant building beside. “We had to turn vendors away,” Lauren says. “There were just more than we had room to accommodate.”
Starting Saturday, April 24, at 10 a.m., these vendors will be ready to sell their creative and needful things; items like abstract faces painted on the pages of books, outdoorsy shirts with pithy sayings, colorful small-batch pottery, repurposed journals, leather goods, clothing, handmade pillows, papercraft, hats, jewelry, lotions, potions and notions.
Lauren, an accomplished artist, will be selling her own paintings, but knows that any money made will likely be spent quickly. “I usually turn right around and buy items from other vendors,” she tells me. “I am really looking forward to purchasing a Beautox Art painting and am constantly surprised by all that artists in Shreveport-Bossier and elsewhere have to offer.”
The spring market will also feature live music from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 -7 p.m. Saturday, and a variety of food dishes will be for sale ranging from Southern stuffed shrimp and traditional Mexican plates to West African oxtail and coconut rice dishes. New this year is The Sun Up Social Brunch on Sunday, April 25, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., giving a chance to enjoy brunch foods, gospel singing and one final round of shopping before the market is done. Admission to both the Saturday and Sunday markets is free.
Several blocks to the east will be the 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Snowmageddon Plant Swap, a new-to-Shreveport event featuring all things green and growing. A project of the Downtown Development Authority, the plant swap came to life in the aftermath of the ice and snowstorm as social media blew up about local landscaping losses due to the cold.
It started small as a way to get people together and allow them to trade plants, seeds and seedlings they didn’t want for garden goodies they did. It has since grown … and grown some more. It will still feature tons of “swappable” items, but will also have free plants, seeds and seedlings, cookbooks and items to repurpose; gardening advice and information will be available as will loads of plants, vintage items, crafts and other items to purchase outright.
After choosing your plants, enjoy lunch from food trucks featuring Greek, Jamaican and Mexican dishes. The only rules for the swap are to bring something from the garden to trade and to be nice. Admission to the plant swap is free.
Also free is the first of many Sundays in the Park at the Caddo Common Park, 865 Texas Ave. From 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, take part in yoga, try your hand at art, watch outdoor painting, enjoy outdoor theater performances and, later, music by The Joanitones. Area arts and social service organizations will be on hand to share information about what they offer, and there will be a small arts market and food trucks.
The kick-off re-opening of Caddo Common on April 25 will be the first of many opportunities there to exercise, learn more about health, dance, interact with nature, watch art being created, enjoy a festival of cultures, have a great date night and so much more, all courtesy the Parish of Caddo, Shreveport Regional Arts Council and a myriad of partners and supporters.
Downtown Shreveport is coming back to life. Office workers are returning, businesses are reopening, and all those events that make Shreveport a special place are once again making plans. In the weeks to come, the Downtown Artwalk will return, as will CORK and Mudbug Madness. Life is returning to normal, and we couldn’t be happier to welcome it – and you – back.
Liz Swaine is the executive director of the Downtown Development Authority. She can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Aug 5, 2008 12:19 am US/Pacific
Business Owners 'Yelp' About Internet Ratings Site
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ―
"This is like you coming out here and trying to accomplish something, and someone is saying something horrible about you, and it's painful," said Selena Kellinger.
Kellinger has been "Yelped!" by a website getting up to 10 million users a month. Reviews here can help or hurt a business. "A lady posted a really horrible review," said Selena.
So, Kellinger, whose business Razzberry Lips does makeover parties for little girls, called Yelp because she says the posting was slanderous. "We kind of felt that it was saying that we were doing something illegal," said Kellinger.
But Yelp's policy is not to remove negative postings. "Instead they removed some positive postings. They refused to remove the bad posting, and then they called me to solicit a business account," said Kellinger.
A business account called a "Sponsorship Program" allows businesses to bring a favorite review to the top, provide a photo slideshow, and a message from the business owner.
Kellinger said Yelp told her they would move the negative posting to the bottom of her page. Kellinger refused to pay. "I felt like that was really unfair, and that they were holding me hostage," said Kellinger.
Mary Seaton of the Sofa Outlet was also Yelped! "A customer had written a negative review. ... So, about a week after that Yelp contacted us, and said, 'We noticed that you had some negative reviews, and we would like to help you with that. ... If you pay $350 a month'," said Seaton.
So she paid for five months, a total of $1750. Seaton said some of her negative reviews were moved to the bottom. But, Seaton said, "All of a sudden some more negative reviews got posted, but there were no favorable or positive reviews."
So she canceled. "I feel like they are extorting money and preying basically on business owners," said Seaton.
"Yelp will not take a negative review and move it somewhere else," said Stephanie Ichinose of Yelp. She said that the $350 is to enhance a business' presence, a major source of Yelp's revenue.
"We have a majority of advertisers which are locally owned businesses that are purchasing the enhanced profiles," said Ichinose.
Both Seaton and Kellinger said they have customers who posted favorable reviews that were taken down. But Yelp said they have proof that some of those favorable reviews are written by the business owners or their friends. "When we see that kind of suspicious activity taking place, we will move quickly to take action against it," said Ichinose.
But some consumers question the integrity of the site if certain businesses indicated they're being asked to pay to downplay negative reviews. "You have to know in the back of your mind that someone could be paying to make the results end of up higher," said Mark Ettlenger.
"I think that would be unfair and unhonest. I wouldn't appreciate that," added Analisa Goodin.
Another growing problem: customers threatening to "Yelp you" with a negative review to get free services or products. So, some stores, like Roos in Oakland, are posting signs saying "No Yelpers."
But in fairness, you can "Yelp" Yelp. Kellinger did. "We posted a bad review about Yelp that they did this, but they removed that one," said Kellinger.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)


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Wednesday, March 19, 2014
McDonald's settlement for stealing wages
Recall this prior story. NY State reached a settlement those McDonald's so accused to pay $500,000 back from stolen wages. This will go to more than 1600 workers, which amounts to about $313 per worker. Something tells me the stores ripped off far more than that per worker. The theft came from workers not being compensated for work off-the-clock, and for uniform upkeep reimbursement. Similar suits have been filed in NY, CA and MI.
McDonald's says it's the fault of the franchisees, as this is not the official policy. Yet per above wage theft is not an isolated incident with McDonald's. The fast-food giant sets the tone by paying slave wages, thereby inculcating the model that workers are not valued and to be abused. Franchisees get this message loud and clear and are only extending that corporate model.
They also do not hire enough workers to handle the workload, thereby creating the need to work extended hours off-the-clock for fear of being fired. After all, these workers can be replaced by people without any job who are literally starving and one step from living in the street, so workers are desperate to do what it takes for the next 'happy' meal.
This is endemic to business models everywhere, how business has degenerated and regressed into the same kind of wage slavery that we fought wars to overcome. Much of the gains the people have made are being overturned from corporate fascism in our governments, stealing from the poor and giving to the rich. Perhaps we need a modern day Robin Hood to do the reverse?


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Toyota throws down the hybrid gauntlet
Toyota Motor Corp. has outlined the launch of what is characterizing as a “new era in hybrid technology.” At the same time, the automaker has challenged industry competitors to significantly step up their commitment to hybrid vehicles.
To date, Toyota has sold more than 5 million Toyota and Lexus hybrids worldwide. Company officials say those sales have cut C02 emissions by an estimated 34 million tons — the equivalent of taking 4.8 million vehicles off the roadways.
Bob Carter, senior vice president of sales for Toyota Motor Sales, has called on the industry to duplicate that 5 million figure in the U.S. by the end of 2016.
“That results in 3 billion gallons of gasoline saved, which is more than enough gas for the entire population of the United States ... ,” Carter explains. “It’s do-able. And I think we will do it.”
Satoshi Ogiso, managing officer for Toyota Motor Corp., says when the automaker rolls out its next-generation Prius that will mark a new chapter for a broad range of Toyota and Lexus vehicles, and the introduction of an “improved family of hybrid powertrains.”
Between now and the end of 2015, Toyota plans to introduce 15 new or redesigned hybrid vehicles globally. Toyota officials say these new hybrid powertrains will deliver significantly improved fuel economy in a more compact package that is lighter in weight and lower in cost.
W. Scott Bailey covers health care, tourism, sports business, economic development; he also plans and edits some special reports.
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By Jessica Banes
Forbes Middle East Staff
Olivier Latour, CEO of Grandiose Supermarkets, reveals the latest plans from the unique local supermarket chain.
Grandiose, the contemporary neighborhood supermarket chain, is embarking on an aggressive expansion to establish itself as a leading grocery retail player in the U.A.E. Encouraged by its initial success with U.A.E. grocery shoppers, the chain has ramped up it’s activities to penetrate into more communities in need of better providers.
Grandiose supermarkets currently operate in Dubai Marina, Um Suqeim, Barsha, Dubai Mall, Silicon Oasis, Address Downtown), Ras Al Khaimah (Grove) and Abu Dhabi (Reem Island). The chain is now set to expand into several locations over the next two years, promoting its popular assortment of products and enhanced levels of consumer loyalty.
Seeking to differentiate from its competition in the market, Grandiose focuses heavily on an entirely customer-centric approach to product range and shopping experience. Customers have reacted positively to the refreshing change in the grocery retail landscape, particularly supporting the eco-friendly practices adopted by Grandiose. Its initiatives towards promoting a healthy lifestyle have also gained traction, creating excellent reputation in its communities.
Grandiose offers many common and regularly-consumed products for good value, while also providing a gourmet customized range. The customers enjoy a unique look and feel environment with the associated warmth of service. Amongst its specialties are an extensive range of international foods, healthy foods (organic & free from), balanced fresh ready meals and freshly baked bakery products. Grandiose has collaborated with leading French retailer Intermarche to offer its wide range of niche products.
Sourcing from local producers and farms is a key aspect of Grandiose operations, in addition to promoting a positive eco-citizenship concept.
Since its launch, Grandiose has been focusing on enabling consumers to purchase high-quality products while acting responsibly in conserving the environment. The outlets encourage customers to bring their own re-usable shopping bags or opt for the paper bags available at the plastic-free checkout counters. In addition to the instore initiatives, Grandiose organizes several social events like the beach clean-up drive and partners actively with the government youth hub to educate consumers on the reduction of waste.
Convenience, Health & Safety
During the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, ensuring efficient home deliveries to customers has become even more important for Grandiose. Grandiose has strengthened its delivery offering and stock levels are constantly monitored and adjusted to adequately meet customer needs, providing them with even greater value and convenience.
In response to the current situation, Grandiose has also stepped up its health and safety measures to ensure the well-being of staff and customers. The supermarkets and their facilities are well sanitized based on approved best practices. The staff are well trained with updated practices in hygiene, health protection and social distancing.
Grandiose aims to be a responsive and innovative provider of grocery and is thereby investing significantly in enhancing its online and instore capabilities. In the coming months, residents of UAE can anticipate a refreshing transformation in this sector.
Article Source: Forbes Middle East