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HTC sues Apple in latest round of patent dispute
Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC Corp. is accusing Apple Inc. of violating three patents covering smartphones and other technologies, the latest round in an ongoing dispute between the two companies.
HTC filed the latest lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Del., where Apple Inc. had sued HTC a year ago. Both companies also have brought complaints before the U.S. International Trade Commission, which has the power to block imports of devices and parts found to infringe on a company’s intellectual property.
In the latest case, HTC sought unspecified damages and a ban that would prevent Apple from using the technologies in question. HTC said affected products include the iPhone, the iPad tablet computer, Mac notebook and desktop computers and iPod music players. HTC’s patents cover such things as integrating a device’s computing and communications functions — something basic to all smartphones.
Phone makers have been increasingly suing one another as competition intensifies in the marketplace.
It is a key reason behind Google Inc.‘s plans to pay $12.5 billion to buy Motorola Mobility. Google, which makes the Android software powering phones made by HTC and others, wants patents owned by Motorola to defend itself against patent lawsuits from rivals.
These disputes often result in settlements, in which companies license patents to each other. Rarely do such disputes end with the blocking of sales to consumers.
Apple did not immediately respond to an e-mail message for comment on Tuesday.
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Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Posted originally on the CTH on February 6, 2023 | Sundance
John Boyd Jr., President of the National Black Farmers Association appears on Newsmax TV to discuss the ongoing issue of higher farm input costs. Energy costs, fertilizer costs, fuel costs as well as all packing and distribution costs that are associated with petroleum manufacturing, are continuing to drive farm costs throughout the supply chain.
After a review of the current farm output status, there is a very strong possibility we will see the fourth wave of food inflation hit this spring, in combination with several manufacturing and production facilities. Again, the lack of consumer spending on durable goods has moderated the price in hard goods (supplies up, demand down); however, the highly consumable products like food, fuel and energy continue to experience upward price pressure as a direct result of Biden energy policy. WATCH:
If consumers could eat missiles and weapons, the U.S. government would be offsetting the costs. Unfortunately, for actual farming products, there is no government attention, policy or support. Apparently, food is still not considered a national security issue.

domain: news


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Nature's Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of its Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10 because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella . The products affected are limited to chicken medallions, patties and chubs.
The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the US and in limited distribution in Canada.
No pet or human illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this lot code.
Still in its infancy, cell-cultured meat is being looked at for its possibilities, but environmental challenges exist, as well.
By David Sprinkle
While forecasts can have short shelf lives, being overtaken by unforeseen events, there’s no question that the U.S. economy and American houseeholds have been buffeted by COVID-19 shutdowns and illnesses, patches of job insecurity despite low unemployment rates and record price inflation only partially offset by wage increases.


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A recent Nokia-MBIT study reveals a 50% data traffic growth in India, with 3G growth outpacing 2G networks in all 22 circles in the country.
The study hints that 3G data is growing fast leading to slow growth rate of 2G data at just 12%. With most of the major telcos expanding 3G networks in all the circles, it was to be expected that 3G will record a high growth rate. 3G contributed nearly 71% of total traffic in major metros as of December 2015. Further, the growing adoption of 3G data is driven by 3G device penetration, which more than doubled in 2015.
The study also pointed towards a growing consumption of data. The average monthly data usage for 3G surpassed 750 MB per subscriber. The mobile broadband ecosystem is maturing in the country with the launch and expansion of 4G networks. There is a growing device ecosystem leading to an increasing adoption of multimedia services, which will further boost mobile traffic. Video and social networking now contributes 60% of data traffic.


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In the future, car owners will be able to carry out all procedures related to the registration of their vehicles online. A corresponding ordinance was approved by the federal cabinet on wednesday (jan. 9, 2019). January 2019). Previously, the redaktionsnetzwerk deutschland had reported that.
The bundesrat still has to approve the regulation, which is to come into force later this year after an introductory phase for the state administrations, according to the federal ministry of transport in berlin.
With the new regulation, car owners will be able to carry out all registration procedures online, such as initial registration, re-registration, change of owner or change of address. Until now, deregistration and re-registration were already possible online under certain conditions. This regulation is intended to implement the third of four stages of internet-based vehicle registration (i-kfz).
Car owners will have to identify themselves for the procedure with their electronic id card. Around two-thirds of germans already have a credit-card-sized id card, but only five percent have the necessary reader. The license plate must be embossed as before. The sticker, which is important for registration, is sent by mail and must be affixed to the license plate by the owner.


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Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement after introducing the Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act (H.R. 4078):
"Over the past year, I've talked to job creators from all over Arkansas -- folks who run businesses of all sizes. They've told me this Administration is burying them in regulations, which is hurting their ability to grow their businesses and create jobs. Under President Obama, the number of costly regulations reviewed and finalized has skyrocketed when compared to the previous administration. That's why I've introduced the Regulatory Freeze for Jobs Act, which will prevent the Administration from further burdening job creators with costly regulations until our economy turns around.."
H.R. 4078 would place a moratorium on all new "significant" federal regulations from being proposed, advanced or finalized until the national unemployment rate falls to six percent or lower. Significant regulations are those that have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more, interfere with another agency action, alter the budget impact of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs, or raise novel legal or policy issues.
According to the Small Business Administration, regulations cost our economy $1.75 trillion annually. If the Obama Administration maintains its current pace, it would add nearly $150 billion in new annual regulatory costs over eight years. One example of the Administration's overregulation efforts is the proposed Boiler Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) rules, which could cost Arkansas's economy over $338 million and put more than 5,400 Arkansans out of work.
H.R. 4078 makes exceptions for agency actions needed to address national security, imminent threats to health and safety, enforcement of criminal laws, and implementation of trade agreements. It has more than a dozen original co-sponsors, including House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (TX-21) and all majority Members of the subcommittee of jurisdiction.


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Henrik Arle, EVP staff/finance, is taking on the responsibilities of general international relations, following the retirement of Oiva Rejasammal. The marketing aspects become the responsibility of EVP marketing Leif Lundstrom.
Air New Zealand has appointed Annabel Cotton manager investor relations, and John H Blair company secretary and corporate counsel.
American Airlines has appointed Michael Smith as managing director sales for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, based in London. He replaces Peter Bowler who returns to Fort Worth as managing director reservations.
Abacus has announced that Herman Liu, vice president and general manager for China, will head up the company's new office in Beijing.
BAA has appointed Andrew Jurenko chief executive officer for the Australia Pacific Airports Corporation based in Sydney.
R F Hendriksen has resigned from the board of Fokker. The company has appointed Eelco Wagner vice president marketing and sales for North America, as well as president Fokker Aircraft USA Inc.
Source: Airline Business


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The future is electric, but the past is electric.
For many, it’s an exciting time to buy a new electric vehicle.
But for those of us who have been waiting for electric cars for decades, it may feel like a distant dream.
In India, the Tesla brand is a force of nature.
It has become the biggest company in India, a country that has seen no electric car launch since 2011, when a Tesla Model S P100D rolled off the assembly line in Bangalore.
The brand is also the most popular electric vehicle brand in the world.
Tesla has been the first brand to launch a new product in India since 2011.
And today, it is also one of the biggest players in the market.
Tesla is also now the third-biggest brand in India after Volkswagen and Jaguar Land Rover.
For India, Tesla has become a household name.
The company has been in the business of making electric cars since 2011 and it is now the world’s largest brand in terms of sales.
Its brand name has become synonymous with luxury.
But for many Indians, it might feel like the future is still a long way off.
For them, Tesla is not just a brand, but also a technology.
In India, as a country where a huge portion of the population is under 30 years old, the perception of a brand is the first step to getting a new car.
A brand is an identity.
A product is a brand.
In the eyes of many, Tesla represents luxury, quality and a dream to achieve.
The story of the Tesla Model 3In 2017, Tesla launched the first car in India in partnership with India’s state-run Tata Motors.
Tesla Model X, which is a hybrid electric SUV, was released in March.
Since then, the company has introduced a slew of electric vehicles, including the Model 3, which it is preparing for launch this year.
It was only in 2016 that Tesla launched a second car, the Model X SUV, which offers the same specs as the Model S, but with a range of about 200 km (125 miles).
This is the second car that Tesla has released in India.
In 2017, the second model was a car that was priced at Rs 7,900 ($1,500).
It sold in India at Rs 8,400 ($1.35 lakh).
The Model 3 was also released in the same year as the second Model S. The second model had an electric motor, which helped the Model 1 car reach a top speed of 190 kmph (115 mph).
Tesla says the Model 2, which has an electric drivetrain, achieved similar performance but a range in excess of 300 km.
As a company, Tesla’s marketing efforts have not been limited to selling cars.
It has also invested heavily in marketing and publicity in the country.
The electric car brand has created its own brand for its electric vehicle customers, as well as partnered with several brands and brands across the world, including BMW, Jaguar Land Rovers, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Audi and Nissan.
It is clear that Tesla is trying to establish itself in the luxury market.
But the company is also investing heavily in the education sector.
In December 2017, it launched a new brand called Kalaal.
This was a name that was picked for its simplicity.
In other words, it was a brand that would look similar to a traditional Indian brand, including a house brand and a brand of cars, but Tesla wanted to make it unique.
In its first marketing strategy, Tesla was not focused on education.
The first part of the strategy was to sell vehicles, and in this phase, it focused on selling electric cars.
In 2018, the first vehicle, the P100, was launched.
This is one of Tesla’s flagship electric vehicles.
The second part of its marketing strategy was also focused on educating people about electric vehicles in India and the world at large.
The third part of that strategy was the rollout of the Model E, a smaller model that would have an electric driving range of around 120 km.
This also saw the company introduce a brand called EV Drive, a brand aimed at education and learning.
It should be noted that Tesla did not launch the Model K in India until the end of 2019.
It did launch a smaller Model S sedan, called the Model C, in India only in 2020.
It looks like the company was also investing a lot in the marketing of its brand.
The last part of this strategy was an education initiative, aimed at educating the people about EVs and the benefits they could offer to India.
It also focused the company’s efforts on promoting the Tesla Energy brand.
Tesla Energy is a new business that Tesla hopes will help educate people about the benefits of EVs and to promote them to customers.
The concept is similar to that of a travel agency, where they help customers book their hotel and transportation options in advance, and then they charge the customer a fee for each


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Governor Kate Brown Announces Launch of ‘Give the Gift of Oregon’ Campaign to Support Local Businesses
Oregon retailers are prepared for Oregonians to shop safe, shop local
Salem, OR—Governor Kate Brown today announced the launch of the “Give the Gift of Oregon” campaign as part of a comprehensive effort to support local businesses statewide. Shopping local is more important than ever due to the significant economic hardships that COVID-19 has created for Oregon businesses across the state. As Oregonians do their part individually to contain the spread of the virus, businesses are implementing necessary health and safety measures to protect customers and employees so they can get back to business and stay open.
“Oregon’s businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economy, and I am encouraging all Oregonians to shop locally this holiday season,” said Governor Brown. “Strengthening our economy starts here at home. One way Oregonians can help is to spend locally to keep dollars with our homegrown businesses that are run by our neighbors, family, and friends. Many local retailers are offering online, curbside pickup, and ‘take-out’ shopping options, making it easy for Oregonians to shop safely.”
Travel Oregon and Business Oregon, the state’s tourism and economic development agencies, are collaborating to carry out this consumer campaign, which runs from November 18 through December 31. The project aims to inspire Oregonians to keep it local and support their favorite businesses as they check off holiday gift lists. There are many ways to shop locally online, and through safe retail operations. Travel Oregon is also appealing to Oregonians to help offset a nearly 60% reduction in direct travel spending, including shopping and restaurant business, that has affected the entire state.
Oregonians will be able to find featured businesses across the state, along with gift ideas on traveloregon.com/giftoforegon . The campaign also highlights the Oregon Wine Board’s The Giving Season efforts, as well as the Built Oregon Marketplace , an online platform that provides consumers with an opportunity to discover products from Oregon makers.
“Oregon’s local businesses are the bedrock of the state’s tourism economy – boutique Oregon accommodations, restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, wineries, attractions, tour operators, and retail shops that promote and sell Oregon-made products comprise the fabric of tourism in Oregon,” said Todd Davidson, CEO of Travel Oregon. “COVID-19 continues to have a devastating impact on these businesses and, now more than ever, they need support. We encourage Oregonians to shop local this holiday season and to share hope by giving the gift of Oregon.”
“The spending power of all of us this season can make a big difference,” said Business Oregon Director Chris Cummings. “We continue to push out as many resources as we can, through funds from the CARES Act and our existing programs, and this promotion is just another way we can help. This also provides a great opportunity to discover incredible local products throughout Oregon.”
There are many “buy local” campaigns happening throughout Oregon, and this statewide promotion will highlight many of these during the season on social media with the #GivetheGiftofOregon hashtag. Oregonians are encouraged to share their support on social media by sharing their purchases or favorite local businesses and using the hashtag. Oregon businesses and communities can learn more about participating in the campaign by visiting Travel Oregon’s website: industry.traveloregon.com/


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Npower fined £26MILLION for bungling billing and complaints handling - and will be banned from advertising unless it cleans up its act
- Customers due a payout will be contacted directly
- Problems arose after Npower introduced a new IT system
- Money will go to worst-affected customers and charity
Npower will be forced to pay a £26million fine for failing to treat its customers fairly, the energy watchdog announced today.
The penalty is the largest ever issued by Ofgem against one of Britain's big six energy companies and will be divided between some of Npower's worst-affected customers and charity. Affected customers will be contacted directly, the energy supplier said today.
The fine comes after years of billing problems and poor complaints handling by the energy supplier.
Problems first came to light in 2011 when RWE-owned Npower introduced a new IT system.
Bungle: Npower sent out incorrect bills to hundreds of thousands of customers, Ofgem said today
Issues with the system meant hundreds of thousands of customers started to receive inaccurate bills, no bill for long periods of time and sometimes more than one bill for different amounts all at once.
This is Money and our sister publications Financial Mail on Sunday and Money Mail have received countless letters and emails from readers over recent years who have been hit by Npower's problems.
Up to 500,000 customers are thought to have received late bills between September 2013 and December 2014 alone, Ofgem said today.
Over this time, Npower customers made over two million complaints with the majority concerning late or inaccurate bills. Even so, Npower often failed to resolve issues quickly, the regulator said, pursued debts that were in dispute and failed to keep its own commitments to customers on billing.
Such behaviour from an energy supplier can be hugely distressing. Customers worry when they can't budget because they are receiving incorrect or late bills, when they are being chased for debts that don't seem fair or when they are having to spend time contacting customer service to sort out endless issues.
Ofgem said today that Npower had improved slightly, but set it new targets that the supplier will have to meet or else forfeit the right to go after new customers or advertise at all.
The picture painted by the regulator today of Npower's processes are a far cry from a pledge by former chief executive Paul Massara to become 'number one for customer service'.
The chief executive later admitted it would miss its target, but told This is Money earlier this year that the supplier would get there in the end.
Mr Massara was replaced in August by former chief operating officer Paul Coffey after a set of disappointing financial results.
Rebuked: Npower was hit with a record fine
Npower also failed to deal with complaints effectively because of failures with its IT system, the regulator said.
The firm recorded complaints incorrectly, failed to refer all customers to its complaints handling procedures, and in some cases did not tell them they could take their problem to the Energy Ombudsman if unresolved after eight weeks.
Dermot Nolan, Ofgem's chief executive, said: 'Npower failed its customers.
'Not only have its billing and complaint handling procedures been chaotic, it treated many of its customers poorly, which is completely unacceptable.
'Npower's management failed to act quickly enough to protect its customers when things went wrong with changes to its IT system.
'It's important that all suppliers ensure they follow the principles of treating customers fairly at all times.
'The payment of £26 million sends a strong message to the industry that we expect them to act quickly and effectively to ensure a good customer experience.'
Bungle: Npower will not be able to go after new customers unless it cleans up its act, Ofgem warned
Simon Stacey, Npower's managing director of domestic markets, said: 'The last few years, since we changed the systems that support our domestic business, have been very disappointing for our customers - and for Npower. We are very sorry about what has happened and that is why we have agreed this significant package of customer redress.
'We've reduced complaints by nearly 70 per cent since the beginning of this year and as part of this package of measures with Ofgem, we have agreed targets for significant sustainable customer service improvement that everyone at Npower is working tirelessly to achieve.'
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BURNABY, BC – December 2, 2019 — D-Wave Systems Inc., the leader in quantum computing systems, software, and services, today announced the expansion of the Leap™ API into Amazon Braket, a new, fully managed Amazon Web Services (AWS) solution that allows scientists, researchers, and developers to begin experimenting with computers from quantum hardware providers in a single place. The service, announced today at AWS re:Invent 2019, gives AWS users live cloud access to D-Wave’s 2000Q™ quantum processor via the Leap™ quantum cloud service API. Customers and developers will be able to leverage D-Wave’s processing power in real time to run quantum applications directly from Amazon Braket. This access will extend to forthcoming D-Wave systems, such as the next-generation Advantage™, coming in mid-2020.
Since the first commercial sale to Lockheed Martin in 2010, D-Wave has been focused on making it easy for customers to develop early real-world applications. With more than 200 early applications, customers today are using the D-Wave 2000Q to develop solutions to important problems. By participating in the launch of Amazon Braket, D-Wave expects to continue to grow the company’s developer and user base.
“D-Wave’s quantum systems and our Leap cloud environment were both purpose-built to make practical application development a reality today and, in turn, fuel real-world business advantage for our customers,” said D-Wave’s chief product officer and EVP of R&D, Alan Baratz. “Amazon’s Braket will open the door to more smart developers who will build the quantum future, and the forward-thinking executives who will transform industries.”
“We believe that opening up access to current-stage quantum computers is a crucial step in accelerating the development of useful applications. That’s why, in designing Amazon Braket, we chose to collaborate with providers like D-Wave, who have built promising technologies that are of interest to our customers,” said Simone Severini, Director, Quantum Computing, Amazon Web Services, Inc. “Together, we can make it easier for researchers to innovate, with the shared goal of realizing the true long-term potential of quantum computing.”
About Leap Quantum Cloud Service
The Leap quantum cloud service was designed to make quantum computing accessible – fueling practical quantum computing development and driving business value for D-Wave customers. As the only quantum cloud service that gives customers and developers immediate access to a real-time quantum processor through the Leap API, as well as a Quantum Application Environment, training resources and a growing quantum community, Leap makes application development accessible to millions of programmers worldwide. Expansion of the Leap API into the newly announced Amazon Braket quantum cloud service means a global community of customers and developers will now have access to the D-Wave 2000Q quantum system via the Leap API, as well as D-Wave’s robust Ocean™ software development kit and tools like D-Wave Hybrid™, an open-source framework for building hybrid quantum applications.
About D-Wave Systems Inc.
D-Wave is the leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services and is the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers. Our mission is to unlock the power of quantum computing for the world. We do this by delivering customer value with practical quantum applications for problems as diverse as logistics, artificial intelligence, materials sciences, drug discovery, cybersecurity, fault detection, and financial modeling. D-Wave’s systems are being used by some of the world’s most advanced organizations, including NEC, Volkswagen, DENSO, Lockheed Martin, USRA, USC, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. With headquarters near Vancouver, Canada, D-Wave’s US operations are based in Palo Alto, CA and Bellevue, WA. D-Wave has a blue-chip investor base including PSP Investments, Goldman Sachs, BDC Capital, DFJ, In-Q-Tel, PenderFund Capital, 180 Degree Capital Corp., and Kensington Capital Partners Limited. For more information, visit: www.dwavesys.com.


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China's factory prices slow further in April
CHINA'S April producer price inflation cooled more than expected in a sign manufacturing activity may be losing momentum along with other sectors of the economy as domestic demand remains muted and the government cracks down on financial risks.
Prices for raw materials fell
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Newmarket: Hygiene products firm Tristel ends the financial year on a high
- Credit: Archant
A Newmarket-based hygiene products firm has ended its financial year on a high.
Tristel plc says the preliminary results for its financial year, which runs until June 30, show revenues and pre-tax profit are ahead of expectations following a strong second half performance.
The company is celebrating second half sales of £7.04million – a rise of nine per cent on the same period last year.
Its pre-close trading update also revealed its full year revenues are £13.48m – up 28% on the previous year – and its full year pre-tax profit is £1.8m before share-based payments.
The firm makes infection prevention, contamination control and hygiene products at its Snailwell base for the human healthcare, animal healthcare and contamination control markets under its Tristel, Anistel and Crystel brands.
The firm’s chief executive, Paul Swinney, believes the good performance will continue.
“The company ended its financial year in good shape,” he said. “The improved performance achieved over the past 12 months relates to all areas of the group and is expected to continue into the new financial year and beyond.”


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The Drug Safety and Accountability Act, a bill filed today by Senator Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) is long overdue in protecting American citizens from unsafe drugs.
This past April, a Johnson & Johnson recall of more than 40 brands and 130 million bottles of children’s over-the-counter medications left worried parents here in Colorado and across the country scrambling to empty their medicine cabinets of the potentially harmful products. In this downward trend in patient safety, last year saw more than 1,700 drug recalls – four times more than in 2008 – that were mostly tied to manufacturing quality.
Why are Americans more at risk now?
Drugs – or their ingredients – made overseas, where quality standards may be lower, pose a serious threat. Three years ago, blood thinner (heparin) contaminated in China entered this country and led to the deaths of more than 100 Americans. In June of this year, drug makers recalled intravenous antibiotics made in India because of mold contamination.
Today, at least 80 percent of the active ingredients in U.S. drugs are made overseas. Second, the FDA, which is charged with ensuring the safety and efficacy of U.S. drugs, lacks the resources and authority needed to safeguard our drug supply in an increasingly global market. For example, while the FDA inspects U.S. factories on average every two to three years, a factory in China receives FDA oversight much less frequently.
These recent disturbing, and sometimes deadly, incidents serve as a wake up call that Americans are not adequately protected from the risks of unsafe drugs. The problem is twofold. First, many drug companies have shifted their manufacturing operations outside of the United States to developing countries such as China and India.
Fortunately, help is on the way: Bennet’s Drug Safety and Accountability Act would strengthen manufacturer quality standards and give the FDA the tools it needs to ensure our drugs are safe, no matter where they are made.
A Pew Prescription Project poll released Aug. 3, 2010, shows that most Americans are concerned about drug safety, particularly the safety of drugs manufactured overseas, and support increased regulation. Seventy percent of respondents have little or no confidence that drugs manufactured in China are free from contamination and safe for Americans; 54 percent of respondents expressed the same concern about drugs manufactured in India. Ninety-four percent of Americans favor giving the FDA recall authority for drugs, which it currently lacks. Currently, almost all drug recalls are voluntary.
The Bennet bill would hold the pharmaceutical industry to a higher standard by strengthening industry oversight of suppliers and contract manufacturers. To better regulate manufacturing, it would ensure the FDA has the accurate and up-to-date data on domestic and overseas manufacturing sites. (Current FDA databases are out of date and ineffective.) And it would provide the FDA with essential new authorities to protect the U.S. drug supply, including mandatory recall authority and the power to subpoena documents and witnesses.
Moreover, the bill would prevent FDA from relegating over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to a lower risk category simply because of their OTC status. FDA has traditionally focused supply-chain oversight on manufacturers of prescription drugs, but serious quality issues, such as those prompting the Johnson & Johnson recalls, have been identified at OTC plants in recent years.
Americans deserve the peace of mind that the drugs we take to improve our health and well being are safe and effective. We cannot wait for another heparin crisis with tragic consequences before we take action, and the Bennet bill is an important step forward. The Johnson & Johnson recall may have been the latest wake up call – let’s make sure it’s the last.
Lynn Parry, M.D. is chair for the Colorado Prescription Project. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an online-only column and has not been edited.


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The day has finally come! Kettlemans Bagel has officially opened its first downtown Toronto location on Thursday.
Right in the corner of Bathurst and Niagara, the beloved Ontario bagel shop is welcoming customers to its 33 Bathurst Street location on March 3.
Guests can finally get their hands on freshly made deli sandwiches on their bagels, salads, spreads, baked goodies, and more.
Customers are encouraged to download and sign up on the Kettlemans Bagel app to earn points and even place pick-up orders.
“Our guests know us for quality products made in-house with the freshest of ingredients,”
says Craig Buckley, CEO and Founder.
“We’re excited to have the opportunity to serve our menu to the downtown Toronto community, who we know are food-obsessed.”
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This would be the second location in the Toronto area following Kettlemans Bagel’s 2021 grand opening of their Etobicoke location. Next up is their Whitby storefront before opening in the area of Yonge and Eglinton.
It’s been a long road for the chain as it announced back in August of 2021 that it’d be opening in the area of Bathurst and Niagara, but it was worth the wait.


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In what has become a trend, top talent continues to make its way to Wealth Masters International (WMI). The latest addition comes in the form of internationally recognized Network Marketing and Direct Sales superstar, Michael Hamburger. As VP of Marketing, Hamburger brings his multi-dimensional expertise as Trainer, Speaker, Mentor, and Entrepreneur to WMI’s already impressive pool of talent.
“As we approach the launch of the “new” Wealth Masters in 2010, the addition of Michael to WMI’s corporate team is one of the last major pieces to the puzzle. Michael’s reputation and proven success will enable him to successfully train existing Consultants on our more traditional marketing approach and to also attract top producers throughout the industry. With Carbon Copy Pros industry leading expertise we have the air game covered… now, we will have the ground game as well” said Kip Herriage, CEO and Co-Founder of Wealth Masters International.
"Once again we have attracted a top marketer and one of the premiere team builders in the industry. It is no coincidence Michael Hamburger is now a member of the WMI Family. Quality companies always attract quality leaders. Going into the next decade of the 21st century, we are excited about the growth, the numbers and the lives Michael will help us positively impact in the coming years." said Karl Bessey, President and Co-Founder of Wealth Masters International.
Specializing in all levels of Marketing, the role of VP of Marketing will come as one of familiar territory to Hamburger. “I believe that the signature of the best companies in the home business industry are created by empowering their Members with the right tools, a simple proven system, world class products and a lucrative compensation plan while focusing on the right goals", shares Michael Hamburger. "Wealth Masters International is poised as the industry leader and joining the WMI team was a no-brainer. I am committed to our WMI members around the globe and excited to assist in the worldwide expansion and growth. Kip and Karl have assembled a great team of marketers, along with the world's best products that have no competition in our unique space in the market. I feel that by joining the Wealth Masters International team, I now have the great honor of assisting people around the world in not only improving their income but also in improving their financial intelligence. Leslie and I look forward to contributing to the WMI culture and community for years to come."
Focusing on Team Building, Business Development, Personal Development, Marketing in today's high tech/low tech environment, Prospecting, Lead Generation, Leadership, Teleconference, Home Business Management, Mindset Training, and Corporate Training, his experience and sustainable results are time tested and proven. Michael's track record within Network Marketing is apparent, as countless industry top income earners created their mark within the industry by utilizing his services, which have benefited thousands of entrepreneurs and direct sales professionals on a global scale.
WMI's newest addition signifies its continued success and increasing growth. On January 30th, the company will celebrate their 5th year in business with a birthday bash in Houston, TX where they will further unveil what the future holds for the company and its Members. During a time when competitors are falling by the wayside, Wealth Masters is continuing to add top talent and find ways to provide its members with the most innovative and effective financial tools in the industry. When you consider its unmatched success it's no surprise that the industry's leaders are flocking towards Wealth Masters International.
About Wealth Masters International
Wealth Masters International (wmitoday.com) is a Texas based LLC incorporated in January 2005. They are at the forefront of promoting the best financial education and providing their members with a platform for securing life-changing wealth and success.
In just a few short years, Wealth Masters International has propelled itself as the leading company in its respected industry, due to their ability to combine exceptional products with a business opportunity that is geared towards generating unlimited prosperity.
In these uncertain economic times one company is bucking the trend, hiring top talent, and treating its members to lavish events akin to the lavish lifestyle it represents.
If you would like more information regarding this topic, please visit us on the web or contact WMI directly at (832) 532-7655.


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John Everist, founder and managing director of SCA, said: “Any company’s stationery costs are frequently one of the biggest mystery rides in creation.
“This area of expenditure amounts to an alarming part of an annual budget and it is seldom known if value for money has been achieved. Few financial directors are even aware of the loss.”
SCA does not sell office supplies but is an analyst that prepares detailed yet uncomplicated reports for directors highlighting the biggest area of unknown wastage.
John has 30 years’ board level experience in the office supplies industry and an in-depth knowledge of the prices, quality and manufacturers of more than 10,000 different products together with the prices, service and efficiency levels of most of the UK’s leading office supplies companies.
For a limited period SCA says it will provide a free price scan for companies that are spending in excess of £10,000 per year on office supplies.
John said: “This will give an excellent insight as to the additional ‘revenue’ increase that will be achieved without even changing an existing supplier.
“Every £10,000 SCA puts on a client’s bottom line is equivalent of £200,000 extra sales, assuming a net profit of five per cent.
“How many companies would turn down a profitable order of that value?”
John Everist can be emailed at email@example.com.


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SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - Princess Cruises is extending the suspension of several of its cruises in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, officials announced Wednesday.
The action applies to all cruises sailing in and out of Australia on Majestic Princess, Regal Princess, Sapphire Princess, Sea Princess, and Sun
Princess through Oct. 31, 2020.
Additionally, all sailings in Asia, Caribbean, the California coast, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal, South America and Antarctica, Japan, and Tahiti/South Pacific through Dec. 15, 2020 are canceled.
The Santa Clarita company, a subsidiary of Miami-based Carnival Corp., said it was making the decision due to "the continued progression of COVID-19 and related decisions of various government, health authorities, and airlines regarding travel restrictions.''
"We share in our guests' disappointment in cancelling these cruises,'' said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "We look forward to the days when we can return to travel and the happiness it brings to all who cruise.''
Guests currently booked on the canceled voyages who have paid Princess
in full will have the option to receive an equivalent credit for future cruises plus an additional bonus credit of 25% of the cruise fare.
For guests who have not paid in full, Princess will provide a refundable credit for the money currently on deposit plus a matching bonus credit that can be used on any voyage through May 1, 2022.
Guests can request a full refund for all monies paid on their booking through an online form. Requests must be received by Aug. 31, 2020 or they will be registered for the Future Cruise Credit option.
More information can be found at www.princess.com/plan/impacted-and-


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Twilio scores funding to build telecom in the cloud business
- Eric Engleman
- Staff Writer
Back in November, TechFlash reported on a new startup, Twilio, from Amazon Web Services veteran Jeff Lawson, that allows developers to build phone system applications in the cloud. Today Twilio took a big step forward, scoring funding from the Founders Fund and Mitch Kapor, and announcing a slew of customers.
Twilio didn't specify the amount of funding, but said it would use the money to expand its platform and its sales efforts. Current customers include Sony Music; Earth911, a recycling website; and Tumblr, a tumblelogging site (quick, mixed media blog posts). Twilio said the Heineken, Cheetos, Exxon/Mobil and Monsanto's Roundup brands are also "benefiting" from its technology.
Twilio lets developers quickly build advanced voice applications, such as automated calls or recordings, without having to pay for complex and expensive telephony software. The applicatons are hosted in the cloud and can be scaled up or down as needed. Twilio charges users on a pay-as-you-go basis, much like Amazon does with its web services business. Sony Music, for example, has been using Twilio to record artist messages to fans as part of album promotion, Lawson said.
Twilio investor Mitch Kapor has an interesting resume. He was founder of Lotus Development Corp and designer of Lotus 1-2-3. Kapor was also a founding chair of the Mozilla Foundation, co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and a founding investor of RealNetworks, according to his web bio.
Twilio has offices in Seattle and San Francisco.
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“Beat cybercrime in your downtime”, a new public information campaign to increase awareness of the importance of cyber security and empower Australians to be more secure online, will launch today.
Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the campaign would have useful tips for all Australians who use the internet or have a digital device.
“Cyber security isn’t something we normally stop to think about; but phones, smart devices, TVs, WIFI routers, social media accounts, emails and e-commerce transactions can all be exploited by criminals if we take cyber security for granted,” Minister Andrews said.
“Everyone with a digital presence is a potential target. No one would leave home without first locking their door, in the same way – we all need to secure our digital assets and information.
“This campaign will demonstrate that a few small steps – such as increasing the complexity of a password – could be the difference between protecting your identity or having it stolen.
“No one can afford to be apathetic about their cyber security. Just as the Morrison Government is taking action to increase Australia’s cybersecurity, this campaign will give Australians the tools and tips to safeguard themselves and their data against a range of cyber security threats.
“It builds on the Morrison Government’s launch of Australia’s first Ransomware Action Plan, the establishment of an AFP-led multiagency taskforce to tackle ransomware gangs, and the passage of important cyber security legislation through the House of Representatives – both to tackle crime on the dark web and to better protect our critical infrastructure.
“Backed by our $1.67 billion Cyber Security Strategy, Australian’s can be assured that the Morrison Government is taking strong, tangible action to safeguard our digital future.”
The campaign will launch today (Sunday 31 October) on free-to-air television and digital channels, and encourages Australians to visit cyber.gov.au – the Australian Government’s one-stop shop for cyber security advice and guidance.


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The Dutch pension asset manager's Asia Pacific head of real estate says his team has just had one of its busiest years ever and that 2021 is looking similarly promising.
Mark Konyn, regional CEO of RCM in Hong Kong, explains the firm wanted this immediate connection with investors rather than relying on its parent, Allianz Global Investors (AGI). But it will also support AGIÆs existing retail business in Korea, which often distributes RCM products.
The decision reflects an ongoing strategic decision by AGI to allow its various fund-management units to operate under their own brand, with AGI serving as the retail platform and distribution hub. RCM is a San Francisco-based specialist in global equities that was owned by Dresdner Bank, which Allianz Group acquired in 2001.
In the Korean market, RCM will now market to institutions, while AGI will handle the onshore retail business, as well as represent other fund-management units in the group, which include Oppenheimer Capital, NFJ Investment Group and Nicholas-Applegate. Bond house Pimco, acquired by AGI in 2000, has always handled its own branding and marketing.
ôWe want to represent ourselves and make sure the message is clear to the market,ö Konyn says.
RCM had a business in Korea before its acquisition by Dresdner but pulled out in the midst of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, so it is effectively starting from scratch.
Adam Phua, senior marketing manager in Hong Kong, will lead business-development efforts, promoting both global equity products manufactured in California and London, as well as the Asia-Pacific suite. He will remain based in Hong Kong, having transferred there from Singapore in 2006 to look after institutional marketing throughout Asia ex-Japan. Adding dedicated resources, either in Hong Kong or Seoul, will depend on the business RCM attracts.
The French fund house becomes the world’s largest responsible asset manager to help asset owners implement sustainable investing, underlining its serious commitment to ESG.
The long-waited infrastructure Reits have finally arrived in China and, while experts see a slow start with hurdles ahead, they say it will later move to a 'big bang'.
AsianInvestor reveals the second half of the standout funds in our latest awards, including equity funds, the top Reit and the best smart beta vehicle.
Regional institutions’ investment managers outperformed their external peers, underlining that they are just as vital as modern asset allocation strategies.


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The 2018 Mathews Market Days Home Goods Competition was a success with more than 50 items entered in seven categories, a 25 percent increase in participation over last year. Attendance was also about double that of last year, according to event organizer Cheryl Dale.
The winners in each category were:
Best of Show: Quilting—Pat Rawls of Foster (“Batik Sampler”); Food—Sandy Warhol of Hallieford (basil jelly); Embroidery—Barbara Frey of Port Haywood (tamari ball); and Knitting—Bobbi Hatton of Port Haywood (fisherman sweater).
First-, second- and third-place winners by categories were:
Quilting—1st, Pat Rawls (“Batik Sampler”), 2nd, Cheryl Dale of Mathews Court House (“Hoot Who?”) and 3rd, Louise Witherspoon of Port Haywood (“Darwin’s Dream”).
Quilted Table Runner—1st, Cheryl Dale (“English Paper-Pieced Christmas Tree with Charms”), 2nd, Louise Witherspoon (“Chickadees & Be...
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Vikings and 2 More Show-Themed Online Slots by NetEnt
October 18, 2018
To celebrate the upcoming release of Vikings, NetEnt's new TV series-based slot, here are some of the best show-themed titles by the online game developer.
More casino software providers now push for skill-based games. One of these is BetConstruct. But are these games necessary in today's iGaming market?


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Technology reporter Stanley A. Miller II tracks news and trends, from the coolest new gadgets to the latest stuff on the Web
PlayStation 2 adaptor recall
Sony has recalled about 3.6 million adaptors used for the PlayStation 2 because it might overheat and cause a fire, the company announced Tuesday. The adaptors were made in the four months ending December 2004 and were sold with the game consoles worldwide starting in November, the company says in a statement. Sony will replace the adaptors for free. As many as 960,000 units are affected in North America. The company said it received 38 reports of the adaptors overheating, including 19 reports of melting, according to the statement.


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GFT’S EMANUEL APPOINTS COUZZI, WOLFE TO NEW JOBS
NEW YORK — Two executive changes were made at Emanuel/ Emanuel Ungaro, the bridge sportswear company here.
Anne Wolf has been promoted to national sales manager for all divisions of the collection, including the new casual category. She will report to Maria Viccaro, vice president of sales.
Wolf, who has been with the company since its launch in 1991, was national sales manager for its special sizes divisions. She has been succeeded in that post by Julie Couzzi, who will be responsible for the Emanuel Petites and Emanuel Woman divisions.
Couzzi, who also reports to Viccaro, comes to Emanuel from DKNY, where she had been national sales manager of the petite division for three years.
Emanuel/Emanuel Ungaro is a division of GFT USA, a subsidiary of the Turin-based Gruppo GFT, one of the world’s largest apparel manufacturers.


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JDRF is dropping names—the name of its online community, to be specific. On November 14, World Diabetes Day, we announced that Juvenation, our online forum for the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community, had been relaunched as TypeOneNation. Part of JDRF’s new branding initiative, which began with the new organization logo that was unveiled in fall 2011, TypeOneNation is the bigger and better, new and improved place to join the T1D conversation.
Earlier this year, JDRF announced the plan to revamp Juvenation and invited the T1D community to chime in with suggestions for the new site name. This fall, a team of JDRF volunteers and staff members pored over the hundreds of suggestions, looking for names that would best represent the site’s members and mesh seamlessly with JDRF’s new brand. We then put the top three choices to a public vote, and—drum roll, please—TypeOneNation won by a landslide.
The new site offers more than just a new nom de plume, of course—there are new features as well. Along with a new Facebook page and Twitter handle, the site has a JDRF chapter-directory feature and a calendar of upcoming JDRF events happening across the country—all wrapped up with new graphics and logo. JDRF sends a special thank-you to our corporate partner Novo Nordisk for providing a grant to create the site and support it moving forward.
JDRF will be rolling out even more new features in the weeks to come—including a mobile application for smartphones. Whether you were a dedicated member of Juvenation or are totally new to JDRF, we welcome you to TypeOneNation and encourage you to explore the new site today. Visit TypeOneNation.org.


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Moss Bluff in-Laws Location Announces Projected Opening Date
Back in September of 2023, In-Laws broke ground on the brand new location that was set to be in Moss Bluff. Well, it looks like we now know when the popular restaurant could open its doors here in 2024.
For quite some time now In-Laws Cajun Specialities has been killing the game in down-home cajun cooking including sausage, cracklins, boudin balls, and their famous fried ribs. They even sell specialty items like stuffed boneless chicken, stuffed pork chops, and stuffed pork loin.
Of course, most of us here in Southwest Louisiana know all about In-Laws and their location in Iowa at 1121 Lowe-Grout Road. A few months back, a billboard popped up on Highway 171 that just about made the rumors of a Moss Bluff location TRUE. Back in September of 2023, construction officially began to bring In-Laws to Moss Bluff.
On Wednesday Afternoon, the restaurant posted on Facebook and teased a picture of the restaurant inside and the potential opening date as well. Here are a few of the photos we have found that have been posted of the early process of the building process.
On Wednesday, In-Laws posted that it looks like mid-March is the targeted opening date.
It’s coming along y’all!!!! Starting to look like mid-March projected opening:) We’ll keep yall posted as we continue the progress to bring In-Laws to the Bluff 💜
We do not have an OFFICIAL opening date but stay tuned to our website as soon as we find out we will let you know!
This is of course exciting news since we will now have an INCREDIBLE Cajun restaurant coming to the Southwest Louisiana area!
Eight Signature Louisiana Dishes


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Huawei’s next foldable phones – Huawei Mate Xs will be launched in March 2020 equipped with Kirin 990 5G and now this upcoming phone grabbed China Compulsory Certificate (3C) to take a step towards launch date.
A Huawei phone with model number TAH-AN00m received 3C certificate including a 65W charger and 5G network, the phone is identified as the upcoming Huawei Mate Xs.
The specs of this smartphone will be the same as first-gen Mate X 5G, which includes a foldable OLED display that measures 8-inches with 2480 x 2200 resolution while unfolded and during the fold, the display parts 6.6 inches (2480 x 1148) for the front side, 6.38 inches (2480 x 1148) for the backside.
This foldable phone is powered by Kirin 980 processor and Balong 5000 modem for 5G connectivity. Huawei has also announced a new Kirin 990 (5G) powered Huawei Mate Xs will be launched in March 2020.
Huawei Mate X comes with 8GB RAM + 512GB of storage and runs EMUI 9.1 (Android 9) upgradable to Android 10. It features Leica quad camera setup of 40MP Wide Angle (f/1.8) + 16MP Ultra Wide Angle (f/2.2) + 8MP Telephoto (f/2.4) + 3D depth camera.
The Huawei Mate X is equipped with a 4500mAh battery supporting a 55W Huawei SuperCharge that can recharge up to 85% battery in about 30 minutes.


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Energy department suggests changes to cut the cost of fuel
The energy department has proposed changes to the structure of the nation’s basic fuel price as it seeks to reduce the cost of petrol and diesel. The proposals include making Singapore the main reference market for the basis price of petrol, diesel and paraffin, removing a premium on the freight rate and reducing the coastal storage element in the calculation. The basis fuel price accounts for just under half of the retail price of petrol, which is regulated by the government and is determined by the movement of international prices and the rand’s exchange rate. The proposals published for comment in the Government Gazette make no mention of changes to taxes and levies, which make up almost a third of the retail price of petrol. The retail price has increased 22% over the past year to a record high in October, adding to pressure on consumer spending and fuelling inflation. While energy minister Jeff Radebe is reported to have said the government will finalise proposals to cap the pr...
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ADT (NYSE: ADT) has been named as the premier provider of smart home security and automation services for D.R. Horton, the nation’s largest homebuilder by volume.
D.R. Horton homes will be outfitted with “Home Is Connected,” a suite of smart home and ADT security-ready products “that keep you connected with the people and things you value most,” a press release states.
Each D.R. Horton home will include connected thermostats, video doorbells, door locks, light switches and lamp modules installed by Safe Haven Security, an ADT authorized dealer. Homeowners who choose ADT monitoring can seamlessly connect their smart home security system and connected devices with the company’s mobile app and use voice control features for simple, hands-free operation.
“D.R. Horton’s Home is Connected smart home system was designed to help consumers automate and protect their homes,” says David Auld, president and CEO of D.R. Horton.
“As the leading smart home security provider, ADT is well positioned to serve D.R. Horton now and for years to come,” says Jim DeVries, president and CEO of ADT. “We are committed to bringing innovative smart home security and world class customer service to the expanding residential new construction market.”
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The ADT security-ready automation technology in new D.R. Horton homes enables owners to set custom scenes so they can automate the living experience, such as setting lights to turn on when the owners come home or raising the thermostat temperature automatically when they leave, the press release states.
“We are focused on offering homebuyers value when they purchase a new home,” Auld says. “Delivering homes that are ADT security-ready is another way we can provide a better experience for our homeowners from the moment they move in, and that’s what America’s Builder is all about.”
This article originally appeared on our sister publication Security Sales & Integration‘s website.
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Apple’s sweatshop supply chain
By Ben McGrath
7 February 2012
US technology giant Apple last month released its annual Supplier Responsibility Progress Report, detailing its commitment to improving working conditions in the international network of factories that produce its products. These yearly reports, which began in 2007, are nothing but a cynical public relations exercise designed to whitewash the company’s image.
The latest report declares that Apple requires its suppliers to “provide safe working conditions, treat workers with dignity and respect, and use environmentally responsible manufacturing processes.” This claim, issued for public consumption in the US and other markets, bears no relationship to the harsh regimes throughout the factories of its suppliers in China and other countries.
Apple’s reputation was undermined in 2010 by a series of suicides at Foxconn, its largest supplier, in which 14 people died. Young workers jumped to their deaths from factory buildings due to the long hours of exhausting labour, and abusive and humiliating discipline, enforced by Foxconn’s army camp-style management. (See: “Report exposes Foxconn’s oppressive work regime”)
Amid an international outcry, Foxconn president Terry Gou promised higher wages and fewer hours, but the pledge was never implemented. Foxconn could not afford to make concessions because rivals such as Flextronics, BYD and Quanta took advantage of the scandal to poach orders, while maintaining a work regime that was just as exploitative.
Foxconn soon returned to business as usual. The huge corporation, which employs one million workers in China, moved more of its production lines to inland cities where labour is cheaper. Workers had to sign a “no suicide” pledge, but the conditions that gave rise to desperation and despair did not change. Last month, 150 workers at its Wuhan plant threatened a collective suicide in protest over unbearable conditions.
The factories are also unsafe. Last May, an explosion in Foxconn’s Chengdu facility, which makes iPads, killed four workers and injured 18. The blast was the result of poor ventilation and a build up of combustible dust.
Apple requires its suppliers to conform to its “Supplier Code of Conduct.” In reality, the company routinely ignores breaches to avoid the costly process of finding new manufacturers. Given the scale of the Foxconn’s operations in China, Apple has little alternative. Along with hundreds of thousands of workers, Foxconn employs an army of 30,000 trained engineers to keep its factories operating.
In a lengthy article in the New York Times on January 25, former Foxconn manager Li Mingqi explained: “Apple never cared about anything other than increasing product quality and decreasing production cost… Workers’ welfare has nothing to do with their interests.”
Even Apple’s report makes clear that its suppliers do not meet basic standards. For instance, Apple’s code states that workers shall not exceed 60 hours of work per week and that one day a week shall be allowed for rest. However, only 38 percent of the 229 facilities worldwide audited last year had been in compliance.
A former Apple executive told the New York Times: “We’ve known about labour abuses in some factories for four years, and they’re still going on… Why? Because the system works for us. Suppliers would change everything tomorrow if Apple told them they didn’t have another choice. If half of iPhones were malfunctioning, do you think Apple would let it go on for four years?”
An investigative report published by China Labour Watch last July of 10 “electronics sweatshops,” including two Foxconn plants, found that each factory violated the legal limit of 36 hours overtime per month. Workers were paid basic wages so low that they were forced to undertake long hours.
The China Labour Watch report said the work regime was gruelling, with most factories providing only 10 minutes a day to drink water and go to bathroom. “There are many people and few toilets, so some workers have no opportunity to use the bathroom during this time,” it stated. “On some production lines, managers demand that workers continue to work through their breaks. It is clear that this high level of labour intensity will adversely affect many workers’ physical and mental health, leading to serious, long-term consequences for their well being.”
These exploitative conditions in original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in China are the direct responsibility of the major corporations that they supply. The chief concerns of companies like Apple are low costs, good quality and on-time shipments to out-compete their rivals. The OEMs, mainly owned by capitalists from Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and China, operate on low profit margins and are under considerable pressure to be competitive.
The OEMs produce to design specifications using standard components and materials. Thus their only means for lowering manufacturing costs is to intensify the exploitation of labour, resulting in long hours at high intensity. For instance, the iPhone 4, which sold for $600 in 2010, is assembled for $6.45, with the cost of materials fixed at about $187. On average, Foxconn workers make less money per day than it costs to assemble one iPhone.
The attitude of factory owners is one of utter contempt for workers. Foxconn’s Gou provoked outrage last month when he declared that he would like to learn from the director of Taipei Zoo how to control his huge workforce, because “to manage one million animals gives me a headache.”
Last month, Apple reported one of the most profitable quarters in the history of any corporation—$13.06 billion in profits and $46.3 billion in sales. During the past fiscal year, the company recorded $108 billion in revenue, and, with rising share prices, surpassed Exxon Mobil as the world’s largest corporation.
In response to the New York Times article, Apple’s chief executive Timothy Cook feigned indignation, declaring: “We care about every worker in our worldwide supply chain… Any suggestion that we don’t care is patently false and offensive to us.” As Cook is well aware, Apple’s massive profits, as well as his bonuses, depend completely on maintaining sweatshop conditions throughout its network of suppliers.


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DoorDash delivers to 60 more cities. Melbourne, Rockledge, Port Canaveral made the cut
There's a new way to get breakfast, lunch and dinner delivered.
DoorDash announced Wednesday its restaurant delivery service has expanded to 60 Florida cities, including Stuart, Port St. Lucie, Vero Beach, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Pensacola and Tallahassee.
“Today marks DoorDash’s largest launch day in the company’s history,” said Tony Xu, CEO and co-founder of DoorDash in a news release.
“We are thrilled to be expanding throughout the Sunshine State, enabling more than 12 million residents to enjoy having their favorite foods delivered straight to their door while empowering local businesses."
With the expansion, the on-demand service added 3,000 restaurants to its platform.
DoorDash delivers national chains, including Chipotle, Burger King, IHOP and Red Lobster, along with locally owned restaurants and regional chains. The company also has exclusive delivery partnerships with Wendy's and the Cheesecake Factory.
In the DoorDash's new markets, deliveries for the next month will be $1.99 and the first delivery is free for new users. Through Sept. 27, Florida residents also can use the code FLDASH2018 for $5 off orders of $15 or more.
The San Francisco-based company was founded in 2013 and first came to Florida in February 2015 in Miami. It's already in Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, St Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville and surrounding areas.
The 5-year-old technology company, now available in 1,200 cities, is part of the growing delivery trend.
Restaurants from quick-service chains such as Panera Bread to sit-down eateries such as Applebee's have been ramping up or diving into delivery to meet the demand of diners who increasingly want everything dropped at their door.
According to research firm the NPD Group, revenue from food deliveries jumped 20 percent in the past five years, and the overall number of deliveries increased 10 percent in the same period.
Find restaurants at doordash.com. DoorDash app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play.
New DoorDash cities
Space Coast: Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Malabar, Merritt Island, Mims, Port Canaveral, Port Saint John, Melbourne, Palm Bay, Palm Shores, Rockledge, Satellite Beach, Titusville, West Melbourne
Treasure Coast: Fort Pierce, Jensen Beach, Port St. Lucie, Sewall’s Point, Stuart, Vero Beach
Daytona Beach Shores
Jan Phyl Village
New Smyrna Beach
Tyko is a consumer columnist and retail reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers and TCPalm.com, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Read her Bargainista tips at TCPalm.com/Bargainista, follow her on Twitter @KellyTyko and email her at email@example.com. Sign up for her weekly newsletter at tcpalm.com/newsletters.
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Louisiana seafood industry says adequate federal help is needed as the pandemic persists
NEW ORLEANS, La. (WVUE) - People working in Louisiana’s seafood industry and their advocates hope Congress treats fishermen better when it passes the latest COVID-19 aid package.
The pandemic is crushing restaurants and by extension the local seafood industry.
Pete Gerica is a longtime commercial fisherman.
“Your in-town sales, your sales out of state and all that, everything is at a standstill basically,” said Gerica.
Because of rising cases of the deadly virus Louisiana restaurants have mandated capacity limits.
“Everything is at a standstill basically with everybody with 25, 45, 50 percent of their sales and all of the wholesalers and retailers that we deal with directly they’re all having a rough go of it just like we are,” Gerica stated.
Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser works with the seafood industry.
“When you’ve got the restaurant, industry shut down where 80 percent of their catch goes it’s going to be difficult,” said Nungesser.
On Capitol Hill, Senate Republicans’ latest coronavirus relief package provides millions to help the fisheries and Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, says Louisiana will share in that money if the legislation becomes law.
“There is going to be $500 million for fisheries that benefits the folks in Louisiana,” said Cassidy.
Cassidy told Louisiana news reporters he is aware of how the pandemic is adversely impacting Louisiana fishermen.
“If you’re a shrimper and you sell a large portion of your catch to restaurants and now restaurants are closed you’re sucking wind, you’re just not doing well,” said Cassidy.
Nungesser believes Louisiana fisheries did not receive sufficient financial help in the federal CARES Act which sent money to states earlier in the pandemic.
“No, you know, and after that money it was kind of like a drop in the bucket when we get $14 million and Alaska gets $50 million. I wrote all our congressional delegation and said this is not fair, we should get a larger portion than that,” said Nungesser.
He said any new federal aid must be fairer to Louisiana and its seafood industry.
“I applaud him, Sen. Cassidy’s listening to the fishermen, he sees the need, so that is a great ask for Congress and hopefully we’ll be able to get our fair-share of that $500 million and not get dealt a short hand like in the last pot of money,” said Nungesser.
Gerica commented on what he would like Congress to do to help fishermen.
“You need something that’s more going to be direct to help people survive in business. I mean, we’re going to open up the shrimp season probably in a week or so and we got small shrimp and small shrimp is something that’s used in restaurants, the stuff we don’t have buying stuff right now,” he said.
Louisiana’s fisheries have weathered Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill which sullied waters, negative effects of spillway openings and now the pandemic.
“You look at Katrina what happened it was just one location down trying to get that location up now it’s the whole universe,” Gerica said.
He believes he can hold on until times get better.
“We can hang in there because we do a little direct marketing, you know, and that helps. Any time you get a sale that’s a help, you know. What we did for a little while when it first went down is, we made home deliveries to some of old-line customers that we had,” Gerica stated.
Still he has cut back on how often he heads to open waters looking for catch.
“Absolutely, I mean there’s times I can’t go out because I ain’t got a sale,” said Gerica.
Nungesser is concerned some restaurants may not survive the impact of the pandemic.
“You know, my greatest fear is when we do open the doors to the world again we don’t have all those tools in our toolbox; those great restaurants that people come here for if they’re gone, that’s something that we don’t have to promote our great state,” said Nungesser.
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Note to executives at Blockbuster (BBI): PEOPLE DO NOT WANT TO GO TO THE VIDEO STORE ANYMORE!!
Hasn't the butt whipping they have received from NetFlix (NFLX) the past few years convinced them of that yet?
Blockbuster said on Thursday it was testing pricing for its rental formats and will experiment with store layouts to add downloading stations, books or beverages in a bid to shore up its customer base. CEO Jim Keyes said "Are we raising prices? No, as of today, what I don't want to do is raise them three or four times." The ideas mentioned for its new retail format include an interactive area in stores for children, a destination for downloading entertainment to portable media devices or a kiosk for Sony Corp's (SNE) PlayStation 3 game console.
Then something was said that was incredible. Keys noted the retail success of Apple Inc (AAPL), which has a far smaller store base and sells its iPod digital media players, iPhone mobile phones and personal computers. "I get excited about what we could do with what is some of the most choice real estate," Keyes said. Yeah, how about selling it and reinvest that money into the online operations!! The fact that Keyes even mentions his company and Apple in the same sentence illustrate a certain lack of grasp on reality.
Keyes said the company is still considering ways to build up a digital distribution channel for films. Proposals include merging its Blockbuster.com Internet site for ordering films by mail with its Movielink download service, and partnering with telecom and cable companies. This ought to be the sole focus of the company right now. This is the future, not a revamped "old way". Any money being plowed back into the stores is just wasted. Stop trying to reinvent the wooden wheel and and admit the rubber ones are the one folks want.
Keyes also said that the change would not be "an overnight success". Translation? More dismal performance for shareholders.
I think this is in part why shares are down 11% Thursday and are almost cheaper than a rental.


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THE Consumer Council of Fiji has received complaints against the quality of cellphones sold by some retailers in Labasa.
Council chief executive officer Premila Kumar said 10 complaints from Labasa were recorded in January, compared to three in the corresponding month last year.
"Electronic shops were noted as prevalent sellers of these phones.
"The Northern Division has come in the spotlight for selling sub-standard mobile phones," she said.
"Several consumers raised their concerns over these retailers for selling cheap and poor quality phones that last for a few days only."
Mrs Kumar said the nature of the complaints ranged from problems with phone batteries, missing phone features as promised in advertisements, non-disclosure of information, replacement warranty and speaker problems.
She said the inferior products were designed and programmed in such a way that had misled consumers.
"This is nothing but an advertising tactic used to lure consumers into buying the product.
"What further frustrates consumers is the absence of expected back-up services when things go wrong with the products.
"This is an ongoing problem in the north.
"The council calls on traders to exercise responsibility and stop dumping garbage on consumers.
"The council further urges consumers to be vigilant and exercise their responsibility while shopping for electronic gadgets."
The council has also advised consumers to examine the products carefully.
"Do an online search for the brand if possible, check the brand market reputation and find out about the warranty status prior to buying the product.
"It is wise to go for quality and long lasting products rather than rush into buying cheap products that leave you out of pocket later," said Mrs Kumar.


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Hamleys is a British retailing enigma. The best-known name in toy retailing, its iconic Regent Street store is an international tourist destination to rival Harrods.
Yet, as chronicled in its new Retail Week Knowledge Bank profile, over the years Hamleys has failed to capitalise on its name to create a provincial network. Today, it comprises just the flagship, a large new store in Glasgow, three airport units, a presence in Eurostar’s St Pancras terminus, plus one remaining factory outlet store.
In 10 years UK sales have risen from £27m to just £40m, falling in four years including the latest two - and with a patchy profit record to match. The over-riding question remains why management has failed to establish a sustainable regional network, given the name and wide recognition?
In the meantime, that much newer kid on the toy shop block, The Entertainer - another new profile - has expanded from 20 to 55 stores, with sales jumping from £17m to £66m and remaining consistently, albeit modestly, profitable.
Both have had to contend with Toys R Us plus major non-specialists like Argos and the superstores. It is instructive that Gary Grant, leading The Entertainer from the front, stepped up expansion to capitalise on Woolworths’ demise. Hamleys, in contrast, has contracted, closing various airport, factory shop and concession stores. Management has been exploring overseas possibilities, while The Entertainer keeps expanding domestically and is welcomed by landlords, despite not opening on Sundays on religious grounds.
It is a stark difference and one, ultimately, that must be ascribed to management - or, in Hamleys’ case, successive managements. It has been a wasted opportunity, given the advantage of the Hamleys’ heritage, which is probably too late to rectify.
For comprehensive analysis of every top 200 retailer in the UK, visit retail-week.com/rwkb


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Flanked by ministers for the environment, health, food safety and industry, cabinet office minister Jack Cunningham launched two new committees to advise the government on biotechnology in healthcare and in the environment and announced new guidelines for managing the cultivation of GM crops. He also published a study on the health implications of GM foods and a survey of public attitudes to biotechnology.
Announcement of a new "human genetics commission" and an "agricultural and environment biotechnology commission" follows a review of the UK's regulatory framework for biotechnology. Both will include experts in consumer issues and ethics as well as scientists, the government said. They will have a duty to consult widely with stakeholders, and will work alongside a new food standards agency being created by the government.
Guidelines on GM crop cultivation were drawn up by the supply chain initiative on modified agricultural crops (Scimac), which represents agricultural industry organisations. At the core of the Scimac code of practice are measures to provide "identity preservation" of GM crops - essentially to ensure clear labelling from farm to consumer. The code also includes guidance on farm management issues such as crop separation distances, machinery operation, herbicide use and post-harvest monitoring.
In a report on health effects of GM foods, the government's chief medical officer and chief scientific adviser concluded that there was "no evidence to suggest that the GM technologies used to produce food are inherently harmful". The advisors nevertheless recommended establishing a national surveillance unit to monitor population health following the introduction of GM foods. The government noted on Friday that a separate advisory committee was already looking at just such an initiative.
The low regard that the British public now has for GM crops and foods was highlighted in a report by polling organisation Mori published simultaneously by the government. By comparing the proportion of respondents saying that particular developments were beneficial or not beneficial to society, Mori determined "net beneficial" scores of +56 for the development of new medicines and +42 for new cures for illnesses, but -44 for GM foods and -27 for genetic modification of animals and plants.
UK Cabinet Office, tel: +44 171 270 1131.
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Doesn’t everyone want to visit Asia nowadays? If you’re not a member of this cohort, then you definitely know someone who is. And Japan seems to be the destination that most travelers favor.
The Economist reports that over the years, the Asian country has been enjoying exponential growth in its tourism sector.
The expected number of international tourists in 2019 was 31 million, a figure that’s five times the number of tourists the country welcomed back in 2011.
Next year, they expect to host at least 40 million tourists, especially since Tokyo will be the city hosting the Olympics. These games alone are expected to send as many as 10 million tourists to Japan, and the country needs to be ready for this influx.
Thus far though, the country has not been cashing in on the huge number of visitors it has been receiving.
According to Raini Hamdi, a reporter affiliated with Skift, Japan may be receiving an increased number of tourists, but most of these individuals are not big spenders. As such, the tourist boom isn’t as beneficial as it should be.
Fortunately, the government has an ace up its sleeve. Just recently, they announced their intention to attract luxury tourists.
To do this, the government intends to build as many as fifty luxurious world-class hotels, with investments as well as multiple loans being the source of funding. All things considered, this is an investment that will pay off in the long run.
In truth, the Asian country has a luxury hotel deficit. According to the Wall Street Journal, only 32 five-star hotels are present in Japan. 32 hotels can’t comfortably hold 40 million tourists, can they?
For comparison, there are 793 such hotels in the United States, 187 in Italy, 127 in France, and 112 in Thailand. Japan is really lagging behind, no?
Times are changing though, and Wall Street Journal reports that the country is currently in a luxurious hotel boom. While the government intends to set up its hotels, existing ones are currently undergoing renovation to keep up with the ever-growing tourism sector.
$1 Billion Renovation
Three months ago, the Okura Hotel in Tokyo was reopened after a renovation that cost $1 billion. You wouldn’t expect it to be cheap after all these dollars were splashed to revamp it, would you? And for $28,000 each night, staying at this hotel requires you to have serious bank.
So, how is it that a country like Japan doesn’t have hotels? According to the Economist, it is because until very recently, the Japanese government gave no mind to tourism.
Growing the industrial sector has been what the government has been pushing for all these years, and whatever hotels that were set up were build with businessmen as the target market.
Unfortunately, the 50 hotels they intend to build won’t be ready for the Olympic games. Business Insider reports that Tokyo will face a 14,000-room shortage each day during the Olympics, so you can just imagine how stressful it’ll be to do your business in the Japanese capital at the time.
But knowing how resourceful the Japanese are, the government plans to have luxury ships fill in as floating hotels. Fancy, don’t you think?


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Cease-fire at the top of Volkswagen
On Monday, the Supervisory Board of the VW Group had drawn a compromise to solve the internal conflict with CEO Herbert Diess. The board has confirmed its support for the CEO after weeks of commotion over the future strategy to be followed and the top people concerned.
“The strategy, especially the focus on electric mobility and the connected car, has the full support of the Supervisory Board,” said an official press release, emphasizing it was a unanimous decision.
“The directory will implement this strategy in the coming years under the lead of Herbert Diess,” the release adds. Rumors that the CEO would lose his position following the clash with the employers’ representatives are hereby dismissed.
The contested proposals of some of its collaborators for new functions have now been approved. Arno Anlitz, CFO at Audi, will now also exert the same duties at the Group level when his predecessor Frank Witter is leaving in June 2021 on retirement.
As of January 2021, Thomas Schmall, now the head of VW Components, will become Technical Director, and Murat Aksel will also lead the Group’s purchasing department, something he was until now only responsible for at Volkswagen.
According to the German press, during his arm-wrestling with the President of the Supervisory Board, Bernd Osterloh, CEO Diess has played poker. He asked for an anticipated prolongation of his contract, which was already running until 2023.
This was a demand he didn’t obtain. Still, thanks to the ‘vote of confidence’ on Monday, there is now “an absolute consent between the supervisory board, the directory, and the representatives of the employees about the goals to achieve,” Mr. Osterloh declared.
Tensions had mounted severely between the employee representatives and Herbert Diess (62), Group CEO, since April 2018. Diess was determined to “tear down ancient and sclerosed structures within the group” and wanted to finally turn the page on dieselgate and launch Volkswagen into the electric era.
In June, Herbert Diess had lost his responsibility as CEO of Volkswagen (going to the number two Ralf Brandstätter), to remain solely the Group CEO after a violent clash with the unions. In a public letter, the unions denounced “massive management errors” during the launch of two new models, the new Golf (8th generation) and the maybe even more important electric ID.3.
No selling out
“In the coming years, we will be continuing to invest in the car of the future, and simultaneously, we will reduce the fixed costs and the material costs all over the world and within all members of the group,” Herbert Diess declared.
In electric mobility, Diess has officially announced that he wanted to catch up with Tesla as soon as possible. On Monday, the Supervisory Board has also unanimously decided that Lamborghini and Ducati (motorbikes) are “important parts of the Group to be preserved”.
There had been ample rumors of an imminent ‘departure’ of those two iconic brands in the press, be it by selling them or going IPO. The other super-exclusive brand, Bugatti, hasn’t been mentioned. Here the rumors of selling remain persistent.


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Business outlook sets out four key business and economic factors in the lead up to and beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games
The state’s peak business body is setting the agenda for Queensland Beyond 2032 following the latest business insight into the economy and global markets, workforce, digitalisation and business sustainability providing a preview of the path that lies ahead for the state's business landscape.
Released this week, Business Chamber Queensland’s Beyond 2032 Business Outlook is a comprehensive, contemporary and long-term vision for the enduring economic, social and environmental future of Queensland.
The research was formed using decades of business data, business insight and experiences from Gympie to Geneva as well as the lived experience from Olympics host cities in Europe and the UK, to set the scene for the Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games opportunities against a global context.
CEO Heidi Cooper said it was a critical resource for the state’s business community, industry and decision makers in both the immediate and long term.
“For Queensland’s business community, the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine and refashion our state as a contemporary and competitive global player, in the lead-up to, and beyond, 2032.
“Through the catalyst that is the Olympics and Paralympic Games, we can enhance Queensland’s growth – both for the decade preceding 2032 and the years that will follow.”
Beyond 2032 considers the growth opportunity across four key pillars; extending the economic horizon in local and global markets, digital and innovation, growing the future workforce and advancing Queensland sustainability.
“Our vision is every business, of every size and in every part of the state will benefit from the growth to come over the next decade and beyond but to see that realised, we must ensure businesses are at the forefront of planning, decision making, investment and opportunities – that will set the foundation for business gold,” Ms Cooper said.
"Global sporting events such as the Olympics and Paralympics drive motivation to advance the business experience, from sustainability and economic growth to prosperity and positive legacy. To realise a positive business outcome, there must be careful consideration of both the opportunities and challenges.
“As the state’s peak body for business, Business Chamber Queensland will lead a conversation that comes down to one key outcome: positioning the whole Queensland business community and economy beyond 2032.
“There is still work to do and this business outlook is just the beginning. We will continue to lead the business agenda now and beyond 2032, with a forthcoming comprehensive Business Outlook which will offer further analysis, more rich data, comprehensive business stories and another valuable resource for future business and industry planning.”
Many Queensland businesses are already looking to scale and diversify their operations to capitalise on economic opportunity and global demand long-term.
Gold Coast skin care manufacturer Skin02 CEO Alison Atia is already thinking global, all from the heart of one of Queensland’s most in-demand international tourism regions on the Gold Coast.
Husband and wife team Dr Aaron Atia and Alison Atia established SkinO2 in 2005, to help patients recover from surgery and provide protection from the Australian sun.
The business has since grown to be sold in thousands of clinics across the country as well as into multiple international markets including Vietnam, Morocco, Korea, America and India. SkinO2 has been a Business Chamber Queensland export member for close to two decades.
“We already have good scalable systems in place in terms of manufacturing, logistics and creation of new jobs in line with our strong growth forecast, so we are in a good position to take advantage of the Olympics demand opportunity,” Ms Atia said.
Ms Atia said developing comprehensive tourism promotion strategies would highlight the unique cultural, historical, and natural attractions of the host city and its surrounding areas like the Gold Coast while collaboration and networking was critical to long-term economic success.
“This can help in attracting tourists before, during, and after the event, boosting local businesses and the economy,” Ms Atia said.
”Fostering collaboration among local businesses, organisations and individuals to form strong networks and partnerships can also help in generating new ideas, sharing resources, and collectively working towards common goals.”


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OpenAI’s Innovative Strides with Custom GPTs: The New Frontier of AI Utility
Introduction: Unveiling the Potential of ChatGPT
A year has passed since OpenAI unveiled ChatGPT, revolutionizing the concept of conversational AI. Today, OpenAI embarks on a new journey, introducing a platform designed for creating custom ChatGPT models tailored to distinct use cases, streamlining the process without the need for coding expertise.
The Advent of GPT Store: A Marketplace for AI Innovation
In the near future, OpenAI’s GPT Store will open its virtual doors, offering an array of AI agents, termed GPTs, designed for specific applications. Although details on the storefront’s operation remain sparse, OpenAI has committed to financially rewarding creators, correlating with the utilization of their custom GPTs. Access to these innovative tools will be exclusive to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and OpenAI enterprise clients, who will also have the option to develop private GPTs for their workforce.
OpenAI’s DevDay Revelations: Custom GPTs and Beyond
At DevDay, OpenAI’s inaugural developer conference in San Francisco, several announcements were made including the launch of custom GPTs, a more potent and cost-effective GPT-4, and the remarkable milestone of ChatGPT achieving 100 million weekly users. OpenAI acknowledges the growing demand for personalized AI, citing past enhancements and the continuous clamor for greater control.
Customization and Integration: Tailoring AI to User Needs
During a demonstration, a “Creative Writing Coach” GPT evaluated a writing sample, showcasing the platform’s ability to swiftly create and deploy functional AI agents like the “Event Navigator” for DevDay. The platform’s builder interface allows for nuanced customization, incorporating web browsing capabilities, integration with DALL-E, and the Code Interpreter tool.
The Competitive Landscape and OpenAI’s Unique Approach
As OpenAI introduces custom GPTs, it joins the ranks of AI developers like Character.AI and Meta in an increasingly competitive market. Yet, OpenAI differentiates itself by focusing on utility rather than creating personified AI bots, even as it accommodates the development of human-like GPT personas.
Privacy and Monetization: Balancing Creator Rights and Responsibilities
Creators will not have access to individual chat logs with their GPTs, and OpenAI has yet to clarify the extent of available usage data. The organization emphasizes its commitment to monitoring for misuse, including fraud and inappropriate content. The future GPT Store will mandate identity verification, with initial GPT access provided through shareable links.
Vision for the Future: Toward AI Superintelligence
OpenAI envisions its custom GPT platform as a critical step toward achieving the ultimate goal of an AI superintelligence (AGI). By restricting access to paid subscribers, OpenAI not only refines its service offerings but also propels its financial growth, with aspirations of reaching a $90 billion valuation.
Q: What are custom GPTs?
A: Custom GPTs are specialized AI agents developed on OpenAI’s platform, designed to cater to specific use cases without the necessity for coding.
Q: Who can access the GPT Store?
A: Initially, the GPT Store will be available to ChatGPT Plus subscribers and OpenAI enterprise customers.
Q: Will creators be compensated for their GPTs?
A: Yes, OpenAI plans to compensate creators based on the usage frequency of their custom GPTs.
Q: Can creators access the chats between their GPTs and users?
A: No, creators will not have access to individual chat logs to ensure privacy and security.
Q: What is OpenAI’s ultimate goal with these developments?
A: OpenAI aims to advance towards the creation of an AI superintelligence, or AGI, while also boosting its revenue as it seeks significant investment valuations.
For a deeper dive into OpenAI’s developments and the potential impact on the future of AI, readers are encouraged to follow updates directly from sources like The Verge and OpenAI’s announcements.


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John Lewis’ sales returned to growth in the week to July 27, rising 13% to £64m as the hot weather eased.
The department store group’s operations director Dino Rocos said: “With the heat of recent weeks easing, customers found an increased appetite to visit our stores and online proposition.”
He added that the best week-on-week turnaround was within Home, with total sales advancing 6.9%, and noted: “A particular call out to Cooking and Dining with sales growth of 13.7%, driving double-digit increases across every buying office, and against some strong promotional activity last year. Particularly noteworthy were Sophie Conran china and new/exclusive lines.”
Electricals showed the biggest year-on-year growth, closing the week with a 24% increase. Within Small Electricals, among the items drawing attention were juicers which, Dino Rocos said, “continue to be the gadget of the moment, delivering triple-digit growth on the year”.
Sales of juicers have soared 1,886% on last year. One product – the Sage by Heston Blumenthal ‘The Nutri’ Juicer (£149.95) – has been given an extra boost after appearing on Channel 5’s award-winning documentary ‘Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead,’ in which Joe Cross ‘reboots’ his life with a juice diet.