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There are vegan food alternatives to everything. Nondairy milk sales are growing faster than conventional dairy, and meatless meats sell out in record time. There are vegan eggs that scramble, vegan aged cheeses, vegan cheeses that melt and stretch, and now, it’s gelatin’s turn.
Not nearly as appetizing as vegan cheese or burgers, but gelatin plays a significant role in our food and supplement system. It’s often found in yogurts, cakes, marshmallows, gummy candies, and, of course, Jell-O.—those colorful, wobbly cubes that dissolved into pure sugary sweetness. Bet you never knew they were once the bones of pigs, cows, and fish, aka gelatin.
Turn the bottle around on most encapsulated dietary supplements or medicines, and you’re likely going to see gelatin listed as the primary ingredient for the capsule. For vegans, it can be a compromise when taking necessary prescription medicines. Sometimes there is no vegan capsule alternative, save for buying empty cellulose capsules and transferring the contents yourself.
According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), gelatin is produced by “boiling animal skin, tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and/or bones in water.” In short, it’s a dated factory farm practice that uses up the parts of the animals most people would be horrified to consume. But add some neon colors and a jiggle, and it becomes nearly impossible to imagine where it really came from.
But times are changing.
One company, Gelzen, is working to produce a gelling product out of bacteria and yeast that performs just like animal-derived gelatin.
“Scavenging essential products from animals presents urgent economic problems, environmental problems, public health problems, and for many, moral problems,” Gelzen says on its website.
Agar-agar and kudzu have long been used as gelatin alternatives. Agar-agar, derived from seaweed, recently had a moment in the spotlight with the viral New York City concoction spotted at Smorgasburg called Raindrop Cake—it’s agar-agar dissolved in water to form a translucent raindrop-shaped cake that’s more like colorless Jell-O. And it’s now available in Los Angeles, too.
“It’s a very specific proportion of agar that I use,” says Darren Wong, the creator of the Raindrop Cake. “It’s a very delicate process that creates the correct texture of it looking and feeling like you’re eating a raindrop.”
What’s most impressive, though, is that it’s done without the use of gelatin, shining the spotlight on healthy vegan alternatives.
Trader Joe’s is getting in on the increasing demand for vegan gelatin-based products with the recent launch of vegan marshmallows that use tapioca starch to get the gelling effect.
One woman, Katerina Schneider, is working to replace gelatin in all supplement capsules with her supplement company called Ritual, which emphasizes gelatin-free capsules and gel-caps. Ritual recently attracted $1 million in funding for its subscription-based supplement program.
“I realized that most people didn’t know if the vitamins they were taking had what they needed, or where the ingredients in those vitamins came from or even what they were,” Schneider told the New York Times.
But while the demand for gelatin-free products may be on the rise, gelatin is still big business for the livestock industry. Sales of gelatin are expected to hit more than $4 billion by 2024.
Still, vegan businesses are poised to take away that market share.
“That’s what they care about and that’s how we hurt them,” Ryan Howard of Chicago Vegan Foods, which makes Dandies vegan marshmallows told All About Vegan Food.
“[T]here’s an added level of comfort that goes with running a vegan business. My employees can really get behind it and be proud because it is in line with their beliefs.”


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BOSTON (CBS) — Five brides-to-be will be diving into a wedding cake in Boston Sunday, and not for a taste-testing. Rather they’ll be looking for matching wedding bands valued at $2,500.
The “Battle Of The Brides” will take place at 4 p.m. at the Boston Wedding Show.
The wedding show features more than 85 wedding professionals. There are two fashion shows scheduled.

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McDonald’s is closing all UK locations for a day
McDonald’s may be synonymous with Golden Arches Americana, but on Monday, September 19, the fast-food giant will honor Her Majesty the Queen.
All United Kingdom locations in the United Kingdom will be closed for the Queen’s funeral until 5 p.m. on Monday, according to the chain. UK Twitter account, There are currently approximately 1,200 McDonald’s restaurants operating in the United Kingdom.
RELATED: Queen Elizabeth II Disliked This Food So Much, It Was Removed From Buckingham Palace
The tweet read: “All of our UK restaurants will be closed until 5pm on Monday so everyone at McDonald’s can pay their respects to Queen Elizabeth II. Operating hours and services may vary after 5pm, so please visit our website first Check out the app. Travel.”
McDonald’s is far from the only major brand to close its UK locations for the occasion. Many restaurant chains and stores such as Primark, Harrods, Asda, Marks & Spencer, Greg’s, John Lewis and Pizza Express will either close completely or operate on reduced schedules.
Monday will also mark the last day of national mourning in the United Kingdom, so London’s financial markets and banks will also be closed.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has been making headlines around the world for weeks, but Her Majesty’s death truly marks the end of an era for the United Kingdom. The past week has seen incredible domestic support for the Queen and the Royal Family, as thousands have come out to send well wishes with flowers, cards and memorials.
Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September at Balmoral Castle, Scotland. From there, his coffin was moved to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh on 11 September. The next day Queen Elizabeth’s coffin was carried to St Giles in a procession by her four children. ‘ Cathedral.
In St Giles’ Cathedral alone, the Queen’s coffin was visited by some 33,000 mourners. Her Majesty made her last visit on 13 September, flying from Edinburgh to London on a military transport plane.
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral will take place on Monday and will take place in London, but many specifics are yet to be revealed. It is known that the Queen’s coffin will travel to Westminster Abbey for an early morning funeral service and will then be taken to St George’s Chapel, Windsor for burial. Around one lakh people are expected to visit his coffin and pay their last respects.
John Anderer is a writer who specializes in science, health and lifestyle topics. John. read more about


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Queues stretched to nearly 4,000 people and fights broke out among bargain-hunters today as Boxing Day sales turned Britain into a 'madhouse'.
Experts expect around 22 million people to visit high streets and shopping centres today - with a predicted spend of more than £3.7 billion.
The clamour for savings of up to 90 per cent on many items sent some into a frenxy.
Sally Erwin, a shopper from the US at Selfridges in Oxford Street, said: "This is really a madhouse compared to the United States. I don't think we have this at all.
"I think we have queues and everything, but we don't have it like this, it is kind of mobbish."
Daniel Graham, from Australia, was out shopping with friends who were hoping to snap up a bargain at Selfridges.
He said: "It's a bit mental, there are a lot of people, a few fights. This lady was trying to push in, and this person wasn't taking it, so they got security."
Some took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
Brodie Lines, from Leeds, tweeted: "If I get pushed out of the way by another crazy Boxing Day shopper, I'll punch them in the face."
Twitter user Tavleen, from London, added: "Everyone's so aggressive in the sales."
And shop workers slated rowdy customers for "ruining" their Christmas.
Twitter user alianawaz_, from Preston, Lancs, tweeted: "Customers are so rude on Boxing Day."
Hannah Butcher, from London, wrote: "First rude customer at 8.10am - and we're not even open yet."
Selfridges had its most successful-ever first hour of trade, taking more than £2 million between 9am and 10am.
There were nearly 4,000 people snaking around the department store when it opened its doors at 9am.
Jace Tyrrell, chief executive of New West End Company, which represents 600 retailers in Bond Street, Regent Street and Oxford Street, said wealthy foreign tourists were fuelling bumper sales.
He said: "We are in the west end, which is a huge international draw, so we see a lot of international shoppers here - 50% of our shoppers are tourists, particularly from China, the Middle East and the US, and they probably spend about four or five times the amount of a UK shopper."
He said some shoppers had brought along suitcases to stuff with bargains and they were expecting £100 million to go through the tills over the next three days.
He said: "£100 million is the target and we are in line to do that as forecast.
"We are seeing more Chinese here than ever before, which is good news for our retailers, and they are spending a healthy amount of money, which is good for our stores."
While many big name retailers launched their sales online on Christmas Eve, the high street is hoping for record footfall today.
Figures from VoucherCodes.co.uk and the Centre for Retail Research suggest 22 million shoppers are set to spend £3.74 billion in the Boxing Day sales - a 6 per cent increase on last year.
In good news for the high street, the research predicts that 78 per cent of total Boxing Day transactions will take place in bricks and mortar stores.
Online sales are set to be up 13 per per cent on last year.
VoucherCodes managing director Claire Davenport said: "While pre-Christmas sale dates have soared in popularity over the last couple of years, it seems they are yet to take over our more traditional savings days, with many retailers choosing to go all out on Boxing Day, running deals as early as Christmas Day right through to the start of the New Year.
"Judging from our research, it looks as though consumer appetite to snap up deals is here to stay, both on the high street and online."
Department stores Harrods, Selfridges, Liberty and House of Fraser are offering designer goods at a fraction of their usual price, while both Next and Marks & Spencer have launched discounts of up to 50 per cent on sale items.
Retailers across London's West End are preparing to take over £100 million in sales over the next three days.
A number of Bond Street stores will open on Boxing Day for the first time as a result of it falling this year on a Saturday rather than a public holiday.
Fenwick department store on Bond Street will open for its first Boxing Day in its 124-year history.
Steve Richardson, UK regional director at analysts FootFall, said: "With Boxing Day falling on a Saturday, this means for most an extended Christmas break with the extra bank holiday on Monday.
"We anticipate the extra day will motivate shoppers to use this additional day off to seek out further bargains, spend Christmas vouchers and even return or exchange unwanted Christmas gifts, causing shopper traffic to rise 3% year-on-year on Boxing Day."
Usdaw general secretary John Hannett urged shoppers to respect store staff "every day, but particularly during the Boxing Day sales when bargain hunting can turn into a frenzy".
Online shoppers are expected to spend £856 million today, up 22 per cent on last year's £699 million, according to data firm Experian and online retailing trade association IMRG.
Steven Madeley, general manager for St David's shopping centre in Cardiff, Wales, said he is expecting thousands of shoppers.
He said: "At peak times, we've seen Welsh shoppers spend around £2 million a day at St David's, and over one million visitors a week.
"High tech gadgets and beauty have performed particularly well, and we expect savvy shoppers to get some great deals over the coming days. Some of our stores even closed early on Christmas Eve this year to prepare for a busy Boxing Day.
"The last few years have seen even more shoppers visit on 27 and 28 December - we're expecting the coming days to be very busy at St David's."


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Fusion-io shares plummeted as much as 21 percent on the stock exchange yesterday after it reported financial results for the second quarter of 2012.
Fusion-io generated $120.6 million in Q2, a 43 percent increase from a year earlier and a quarter million bucks more than what Wall Street expected. Net profit was $1.7 million, compared with a loss of $5.7 million in the second quarter of 2011, while earnings rose to 13 cents per share (bolting ahead of the eight cents that analysts predicted).
Margins grew by over 10 percent to 61.8 percent from 51 percent in the same period 12 months ago.
Save the worst for last
Fusion-io delivered nothing but good news, right until the point management delivered its revenue projection: $420 million and $440 million for the full year, compared with $530 million expected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuter. That’s when the stock started to tumble.
The flash storage maker cited lowered demand from Facebook and Apple, which presently account for 51 percent of its revenue. AllThingsD’s Arik Hesseldahl got a hold of Fusion-io’s CEO, who did his best to explain things as they are.
“I just got off the phone with CEO David Flynn, who told me that having two customers account for so much of its business was always a risk. But? When Fusion first IPO’d in 2011, Apple and Facebook accounted for 70 percent of sales, so it could have been worse. “We knew there was going to be some risk with customer concentration,” he said. “Over time the concentration will work itself out.”
Not a bad omen
A known risk, for sure. But this may not be the bad omen some investors believe it to be, especially as Fusion-io has demonstrated significant growth for the quarter. Wikibon co-founder and chief analyst explains:
“It’s a classic case of a company falling victim to its huge success. here’s what’s happening. Fusion-io has been consistently beating its numbers. Management is always conservative in its statements and always makes sure to convey the risks. But Wall Street analysts want to get ahead of the curve and predict better than expected growth – especially for a growth company. Most people are bulls. It’s understandable, but trees don’t grow to the moon. Expectations get inflated, people get out over their skis and when companies miss it’s like the world is coming to an end.
“I don’t think this signals any kind of fundamental change in Fusion-io’s business. On the contrary. We’ve always known that Fusion-io was exposed to Facebook and Apple buying cycles. This wasn’t a matter of if but when. The only hope was that the Facebook/Apple buying cycle wouldn’t turn down beforeFusion was able to broaden its customer base. But that didn’t happen enough to mask the order cycle. Not surprising at all. I would predict over the next couple of quarters Apple and Facebook demand will come back. It’s cyclical, especially with two large buyers such as those two.
Having said that, Fusion must continue to expand it’s channel, it’s product line and evolve its business model.
The key to me in the numbers is Fusion’s revenue grew 40 percent. That’s huge. This is still a growth company with very unique IP and an enormous lead over the competition in a huge market. To me, Fusion is a long term play with lots of legs.”
Fusion-io’s stock has made a steady recovery in the past 24 hours, but it’s still down by about 15 percent.
The vendor’s dependency on its top clients is a problem, but one that hardly diminishes its leadership position in the flash market. Seagate recently invested $40 million in an SSD startup just so it could gain a foothold the industry. Both Seagate and Virident are “indicators that the broader market is surging and demand will be high for some time,” SiliconAngle founder John Furrier says. But as more startups find the funding to break into the flash market, the question remains whether or not Fusion-io’s product is the issue if two high profile clients have begun to pull back their support.


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Co-founders of WazirX crypto exchange, Nischal Shetty and Siddharth Menon moved to Dubai for more crypto and business opportunities. The headquarters remain in Mumbai, but the base will be operated from the hub of the crypto world.
India is one of the leading Web3 and crypto markets in the world. The industry is so progressive that almost every new innovative startup is originating from the country.
Despite the huge potential of the industry, the Indian government refuses to comply with its legislative policies regarding crypto. So many exchanges and crypto users struggle to pay the high-priced taxes for transactions.
Indian startups are forced to leave the country while operating remotely to establish their business on a global scale. Similar to WazirX, many other crypto startups moved to Dubai for better opportunities.
For example, the co-founder of Polygon, Sandeep Nailwal, and his team moved to Dubai two years ago due to the lack of policies in India for Web3 development. ZebPay, an Indian-based crypto exchange, moved to Singapore in 2018, and Mudrex went to the U.S.
There are many other examples of Indians moving out to operate from abroad while keeping their headquarters in India.
The Indian government refuses to accommodate the crypto industry
Crypto and blockchain communities have expressed concerns regarding India’s policy for the industry.
- The government applied a legislative policy for Crypto users to pay 30% tax on virtual digital assets from April 1 with a 1% tax deductible at the source.
- To add more, the government also issued a statement that companies cannot set losses in digital assets against profits.
- The Crypto mining process also requires users to pay a certain amount of tax.
This caused a severe drop in trading volume in the Indian crypto market, stressing thousands of crypto users in the country.
The trading volume dropped by 88% to 96%, based on the reports by Bloomberg.
WazirX took the biggest hit from the declining trading volume, which can also be considered one of the main reasons for the crypto exchange to leave the country and shift to Dubai.
These taxes were applied without any apparent explanation or clarification to the crypto community. Many people have criticized the government’s lack of transparency regarding policies against crypto.
On CBNC-TV 18, Shilpa Mankar Ahluwalia expressed, “The lack of clarity on what the crypto regulatory framework will look like is making investors rethink their decision to make India the base for launching crypto platforms and products.”
Dubai: The Hub of Crypto
Since the launch of the cryptocurrency and blockchain industry, Dubai is one of the countries that welcomed innovative technology.
Seeing the rising worth of the digital economy, Dubai’s government has decided to welcome every crypto investor or startup to do their business by accommodating them with clear and simple legislative policies.
Dubai plans to become the hub of crypto and web3 development by empowering every potential startup or business.
WazirX Future Plans
Following the transfer to Dubai, the crypto exchange, the WazirX team is ready to kickstart their upcoming projects and co-founders’ individual projects.
WazirX’s spokesperson informed the media about the headquarters by releasing a statement: “We are a remote-first organization with employees in over 70 locations. This gives all the company employees the option to work from anywhere, subject to their comfort and convenience unless they are required to travel officially. WazirX is headquartered in Mumbai and there is no change in any of our operating procedures. It is business as usual.”
Menon has already announced their plans to “update” the app with new features soon. They also launched the Highstreet (HIGH) token deposits to facilitate users in depositing HIGH via Binance for zero fees.
Shetty also announced a project in February with Omar Sayed called ‘Shardeum,’ a layer 1 project on blockchain to solve Scalability and Higher Transaction complications in crypto tokens.
Menon will be partnering up with SuperGaming to launch Tegro, a Web3 game ecosystem marketplace.
Over the years, India has seen a massive development in Web3 and the blockchain world. There are thousands of software developers and experts launching new startups and bringing new technological innovations to the blockchain industry.
Compared to that, the Indian government refuses to acknowledge the huge potential of blockchain technology and ruled out a high tax percentage, frustrating many startups and crypto users in the country.
India’s economy can improve effectively if the government rules out high tax rates and makes regulatory crypto policies.
As Shetty says in a tweet:


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Business Monday: Chase Bank to set up branch in Hyman mall
One of the first questions people ask when learning that Chase Bank is opening a branch location in the Hyman Avenue pedestrian mall is “But does it meet city code?”
Yes, it does.
Chase has entered into a lease with the Paragon Building with plans to open on its ground-level space in October.
It will be Chase’s first full-service branch in the Roaring Fork Valley and 37th one to open in Colorado, based on information from its website.
“We already have clients there but as far as the branch footprint, this will be our first in that area,” said Maura Cordova, a Chase spokeswoman based in Phoenix.
Chase also is compliant with the city code pertaining to office space on the ground level in the downtown core, said Jessica Garrow, director of the Community Development Department, which reviews all land-use applications within city limits.
The City Council in 2004 passed an ordinance, which was part of its infill program, partly aimed at increasing the “vitality of the downtown retail environment” with the “rejuvenation of aging properties.”
Prompted to tame the surge of real estate offices seizing space downtown, the ordinance bans “Realtors, timeshare sales, nonprofit organizations, travel agents, advertising or insurance agents, lawyers, physicians, dentists, architects, engineers, accountants, other licensed professionals and property management companies or agents” from occupying ground-level space in the core. Existing businesses were grandfathered in.
The ordinance considers Chase Bank, however, an allowable “service” on ground-level space. The ordinance defines service as “commercial establishments engaged in providing personal or financial services to the general public including banking, dry cleaning, laundromat, tailoring, mortuary, post office branch, shipping and receiving services, personal or sporting equipment storage lockers, barber and beauty shop, tattoo parlor, instructional or performing arts studio with no public performances, health and fitness facility, spa, and similar activities.”
“The quick answer is banks are considered a service use,” Garrow said. “They provide a personal use, so they’re allowed.”
Chase will hire a staff of about a dozen for the 1,892 square feet of space at 419 E. Hyman Ave., home to a building that was erected in 1888. The New York-based company would not disclose the length of its lease.
“I wouldn’t be able to provide specifics, but we are a 200-year-old company and when we enter a community, we do it understanding that we want to deepen our relationships with customers and we are committed to the community for the long-run,” Cordova said in an email to The Aspen Times.
As of Friday, Chase had yet to file a building-permit application with the city unveiling its design plans.
“The branch will feature Chase’s newest design and state-of-the-art banking technology to serve consumers and businesses,” Cordova said.
The retail section of the Paragon condo building has been home to retailers as well as a Ritz-Carlton sales gallery, which was grandfathered in when the ordinance was passed and moved out in December 2006. It also was home to Club 81611, an alcohol-free strip joint that lasted about two months in 1996.
A local kid got on the X Games Aspen podium on Sunday night, but it wasn’t the one most people expected. Even Jon Sallinen didn’t think he’d be taking home a medal.


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Just because it won’t be releasing devices with its new BlackBerry 10 operating system until October, doesn’t mean that RIM won’t be releasing other handsets in 2012. One such device has surfaced today, a new BlackBerry Curve, that will likely be announced at BlackBerry World next week.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen the device leak out but this is the clearest look yet at RIM’s new BlackBerry 7 -powered Curve.
The device is said to be running BlackBerry OS 7.1 along with some fairly mediocre specifications. Not surprising considering this is a budget handset.
It’s said to have a single-core processor, 512MB of RAM, a 2.44-inch display with a 320 x 240 resolution, HSPA connectivity, a 3.2MP rear camera, and a 1450 mAh battery.
It also employs the familiar BlackBerry style physical QWERTY keyboard.
The last time we saw this device it had a dedicated BBM button. This new leak does not detail that so it’s unclear if the button will be coming along with the final product.
With BlackBerry World set to kick off next week, it’s possible that the company will unveil this device then.
It’s unclear exactly how many BlackBerry 7 devices RIM intends to launch throughout 2012 but at the very least, consumers should see the BlackBerry Curve 9320 hit shelves in the days ahead.
When we heard about an official announcement, we’ll be sure to fill you in.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


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As a result of the pandemic, 2020 was a tremendous year for e-commerce growth. At times, online ordering and fulfillment was the only channel open for both brands and consumers—and shopping will never be the same as a result, according to new research from omnichannel operations management firm Radial.
While brands may be concerned about consumer spending plans as the pandemic continues, the firm’s latest consumer insights study found that 65 percent of shoppers surveyed plan to spend the same amount or more compared to 2020. This means the upcoming holiday season will be as busy as ever—with consumers now confidently interacting and purchasing through multiple channels—especially online.
But brick-and-mortar stores will see plenty of traffic as well
In fact, 50 percent of shoppers claimed that COVID-19 has influenced them to shop even more online. Nearly half of respondents said they plan on increasing their usage of new shopping options like buy online, pick up in store this holiday season. However, this uptick doesn’t mean brick-and-mortar stores won’t be busy—the data revealed that 45 percent of consumers do plan to shop the same amount in store as 2020.
“This year’s survey shows us that in-store shopping is still alive and well despite the pandemic, but consumers are showing more preference and confidence in using other channels as they’ve been forced to drastically adjust how they shop over the last year,” said Laura Ritchey, chief operating officer at Radial, in a news release.
“What we’re seeing this holiday season is high demand distributed across online, in-store, curbside, buy online, pick up in-store, and other emerging channels,” she added. “The reason there is such a mix of purchasing options comes down to convenience for the consumer and product availability. Consumers are getting used to going in-store to browse but buying online due to convenience of home delivery or out-of-stocks in-store. Brands that have developed and optimized their omnichannel strategies during the pandemic will be better positioned to serve customers regardless of the channel they are shopping in this holiday season.”
With another busy holiday season ahead, brands need to prepare for the holidays now
The 2021 data revealed that 57 percent of consumers plan to shop earlier compared to 2020. Additionally, eight in 10 shoppers claim that if brands start offering deals before Black Friday they will shop sooner. For one in five respondents that means as early as August.
With e-commerce demands and consumer expectations rising, brands need to focus on omnichannel e-commerce operations as the primary channel of choice for shoppers and aim to drive satisfaction with timely order deliveries. Shoppers may have relaxed their expectations around delivery timelines due to the strains of the pandemic last year, but those feelings are changing.
The 2020 survey found that only 14 percent of respondents expected their holiday gifts within two days, whereas nearly a quarter of shoppers (23 percent) surveyed in 2021 expect their items to arrive within two to three days. Most consumers (45 percent) agree three to five days is a reasonable time frame for delivery of holiday gifts and fewer than a quarter think one week is reasonable. Less than 10 percent of consumers find more than one week acceptable.
Radial surveyed 1,000 adults across the United States to determine their holiday shopping plans.


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The British nonprofit Oxfam is condemning the G7’s global minimum tax for digital corporations as unfair and too low.
The G7 finance ministers agreed on Saturday to make big tech companies like Apple and Google pay at least 15-per-cent taxes worldwide, in what was touted as a major step towards a global tax reform.
However Oxfam’s executive director Gabriela Bucher responded that the G7 “are setting the bar so low that companies can just step over it,” adding that it will “do little to end the damaging race to the bottom on corporate tax and curtail the widespread use of tax havens.”
“It’s absurd for the G7 to claim it is ‘overhauling’ a broken global tax system by setting up a global minimum corporate tax rate that is similar to the soft rates charged by tax havens like Ireland, Switzerland and Singapore,” Buchers said.
In addition to being “far too low,” she said the tax was unfair as it would largely benefit G7 states, where many of the big companies are headquartered, at the expense of poorer nations.
Many of the large corporations to be taxed are based in G7 states – Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United States.
According to the plans, the internet giants should also pay taxes where they do business – and not only where their headquarters are located. In Ireland, for example, the tax rate for these companies is currently 12.5 per cent.
The rules would apply to international firms with a profit margin of at least 10 per cent, and 20 per cent of the profit above that margin would be taxed in the country where it was made.


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- Don-Alvin Adegeest |
Italian luxury brand Agnona is to relaunch its menswear division. The announcement was first made on WWD, which will see the Ermenegildo Zegna Group-owned brand return to designing and distributing men’s fashion and accessories.
The brand will return after a 20 year hiatus and show its first collection for Fall 2020 on the catwalk during Milan women’s fashion week in February. Simon Holloway will oversee both men’s and womenswear as the brand’s Artistic Director, a post he has held since 2015.
“Menswear has played an important role in the brand’s DNA and has been very successful,” Alessandra Carra, CEO of Agnona, told WWD. “I think that our aesthetic is naturally connected with the world of men’s fashion, and with this new line we will offer our point of view, focusing on modern design and noble materials.”
According to WWD, Agnona’s menswear business could grow to be 35 percent of total revenues over the next five years. Wholesale distribution will be very selective and limited to “a maximum of 30 stores,” said the article, instead the collection will be sold via the company’s own retail channels.
Image via Agnona website


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The world today is in a deplorable plight due to increased pollution. Time and again, scientists have spoken rhetorically on the alarming issue. It is essential to bring up in this context, what David Attenborough had mentioned before the UN assembly. He brought into limelight the need to focus our attention towards the changing global environmental scenario and look out for means to ensure a better future for the upcoming generations.
The increasing pollution throughout the globe is due to many reasons like spilling of oil and tar from ships in the oceans, emission of harmful gases like carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide due to increasing industries, and devices like refrigerators and cars. A prominent cause among them is the use of plastics which has essentially reduced the chances of survival for all of us. Dumping plastic bags and bottles in water bodies tends to become hazardous for the aquatic creatures that choke on them and die. Contamination of water is a large cause for the death of thousands of people who use that polluted water for survival purposes.
Plastics do not necessarily need to be littered to cause pollution. The very production of plastics on a magnanimous scale releases harmful chemical compounds which are detrimental to the environment. Scientists have also noted how there have been traces of plastics in the deepest of seas. On an average, millions of plastic waste is dumped into oceans and lakes excluding the landfill grounds. The pollution generated is not restricted to any particular zone, however, the South Asian countries seem to have a higher production of the same. China alone emits around 30% of carbon dioxide which is responsible for the ozone layer depletion.
A very important decision has thus been taken by Australia in the aforementioned case, in order to reduce the use of plastics. A campaign, ‘Clean Up Australia’ has been inaugurated which undertakes, ‘Ban the Bag’ project that has been launched in order to reduce the use of plastic bags as much as possible. Recycling of plastic bags has been a better alternative since then. The government has ensured the maximum reduction on the use of light weight plastic bags which are used as shopping essentials. Though there has been considerable resistance from retailers to eliminate plastic bags at check points, places like Western Australia and Queensland have been dedicated towards the cause since July 2018.
Grocers all across Australia have sought to limit the use of degradable plastic bags and biodegradable bags as well due to their slow decomposition process thereby contributing to a plastic free environment. Widespread supermarket chains like Coles and Woolworths have tried to extend the ban beyond the supermarket realm by using reusable bags. The NRA reports that Australia has been successful in banning almost 80% of plastic bags since the emergence of the campaign.
Voluntary attempts to stop the use of bags at checkouts are a sign of how aware the people are of the danger and willing to contribute in every possible way to the noble cause. Clean up Australia, along with prominent retailers of the country, has been working to move towards a plastic-bag free nation by introducing alternatives like paper bags and boxes in their wholesale market areas, the first of them being Harris Farm Markets.
Countries should follow this wonderful example set by Australia and start preserving their environment before it is too late!


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Around the World of Care: Hyatt Shares Progress Update Across Environmental, Social and Governance Commitments and Initiatives
To share progress made across World of Care, the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) platform, Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today published its 2021 World of Care Highlights and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Report to demonstrate how Hyatt is advancing care for the planet, people and responsible business.
“Caring for people so they can be their best has been at the core of Hyatt’s story for 65 years. Through World of Care, we embrace our responsibility and opportunity to work together to shape a more sustainable world and future,” said Margaret Egan, executive vice president and general counsel, Hyatt. “By intently focusing on driving progress against key ESG commitments like our environmental framework and Change Starts Here goals, we are holding ourselves accountable for continued action and progress in order to create the needed changes for our industry, society and planet.”
Hyatt Advances Diverse Workforce Representation
Following last year’s inaugural DE&I report, Hyatt’s 2021 workforce diversity data shows increased levels of representation of people of color across its U.S. workforce, as well as growth across nearly all races and ethnicities among colleagues, managers and leaders. Hyatt’s commitment to share progress annually serves as a critical benchmark to measure the strides made toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for colleagues.
Hyatt continues to work toward its 2025 DE&I goals around who it employs, supports and works with, outlined as part of its Change Starts Here commitments. With a focus on improving diverse vendor representation across its supply chain, Hyatt welcomed 220 new Black suppliers in 2021, with a continued focus on advancing progress looking ahead. For example, Revival Baltimore, which is part of the JdV by Hyatt brand, worked with Black-owned Black Acres Roastery to supply coffee to all hotel guestrooms and the property’s onsite coffee shop, ‘Dashery, and Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach recently welcomed Black-owned brewery Crowns & Hops to its Watercraft Lounge.
“At Hyatt, we believe in the power of belonging – of making people feel at home no matter where they are in the world. We constantly strive to reflect the world we care for with teams that achieve and grow together,” said Malaika Myers, chief human resources officer, Hyatt. “To advance our vision of a world of understanding and care, we must continue to prioritize DE&I across every dimension of our business and take action to make meaningful progress against our goals.”
Hyatt Announces Donation to Launch Human Trafficking Survivor Fund
In an effort to expand the hotel industry’s ongoing work to support human trafficking prevention and survivors, the Hyatt Hotels Foundation has announced a $500,000 donation to launch the “No Room for Trafficking Survivors Fund” in collaboration with the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). With the donation, and further support from the industry, the Survivors Fund will equip community-based organizations with the resources they need to engage and support survivors – from direct financial support of their short-term, baseline needs to career-related support that can empower and equip them on their path forward.
Hyatt Works to Advance Climate Action
Hyatt further accelerates its efforts to engage in more sustainable business practices as part of its environmental framework – focused on areas of climate change and water conservation, waste and circularity, responsible sourcing and thriving destinations.
In 2021, Hyatt received approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) on its 2030 science-based target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Hyatt’s targets include reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 emissions, engaging key suppliers to set science-based targets by 2025, and decreasing additional scope 3 emissions.
Hyatt remains diligent in promoting initiatives that support progress toward its science-based target, which focus on energy conservation, efficient technology, building automation systems, advancing sustainable design considerations and more. An important ongoing focus will be on increasing the number of hotels that have on-site solar panels or are using one-hundred percent renewable electricity such as Hyatt Regency Amsterdam and Hyatt Regency Phoenix. Ongoing property efforts are also critical in achieving these targets, such as the ones displayed at Alila Villas Uluwatu through its on-site sustainability lab.
The term “Hyatt” is used in this release for convenience to refer to Hyatt Hotels Corporation and/or one or more of its affiliates.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of March 31, 2022, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,150 hotels and all-inclusive properties in 71 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, JdV by Hyatt™, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club® brands, as well as resort and hotel brands under the AMR™ Collection, including Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Vivid Hotels & Resorts®, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
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Asaf Ashkenazi Named CEO of Verimatrix28.7.2022 19:00:00 EEST | Press release
Regulatory News: Verimatrix (Euronext Paris: VMX) (Paris:VMX), today announced the appointment of Asaf Ashkenazi as Chief Executive Officer effective Monday, August 1st, 2022. Amedeo D’Angelo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since 2015, remains Executive Chairman of Verimatrix effective the same day. Asaf Ashkenazi joined Verimatrix in 2018 and currently serves as Chief Operating Officer. He will lead the company’s ongoing business model transformation announced last year that focuses on recurring subscription-based revenue sources and new products. “This evolution and reinforcement of the Verimatrix governance structure aligns well with the company’s needs as we further the progression of our business model,” Amedeo D’Angelo said. “I look forward to working closely with Asaf in his newly expanded role as CEO during this strategic development of Verimatrix.” Previously leading the company’s R&D, product, sales and marketing operations, Asaf Ashkenazi will continue to harness his d
GUESS Heads to Granada for the 2022 Fall/Winter Advertising Campaign28.7.2022 18:00:00 EEST | Press release
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Innovaderm Bolsters European Presence With Two Newly-Established Operations Hubs (Spain & Poland)28.7.2022 17:00:00 EEST | Press release
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Cuphead Works on Tesla Dashboard, Playable While Parked
For those with a Tesla Model S, Model X, or a Model 3, you’re going to have the option to play Cuphead on the vehicle’s dashboard. Cuphead is not what many would expect to play in their car, due to the game’s reputation for being a notably challenging shooter based on precision dodging and quick timing.
Cuphead is not the first game to make its way to the Tesla dashboard. Tesla’s V9.0 software update introduced Asteroid, Centipede, and Missile Command, three important Atari games, before also adding 2048 and Breakout to that growing list. The initial wave of games was older and was likely easier to feature in the car’s internal platform. Cuphead is a far more recent title, releasing for the Xbox One and Microsoft Windows store in September 2017. A port of the game later made its way to the Nintendo Switch earlier this year in April.
“Cuphead, we’ve got working. The developers have been helping us make it work,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk talked about during a Ride the Lightning podcast discussion. “It’s a cool game. It’s insanely difficult. It’s sadistically difficult. It’s a twisted plot. It’s dark. It looks like some cute little Disney thing, and you’re like, ‘This plot is very dark.'”
Those interested in playing the game during transit are going to be disappointed. The game system only works on the Tesla if the vehicle is parked, so it’s a great time-killer if you’re sitting in the car waiting for someone to finish up their errands on a slow weekend. You’re also going to need a wired USB controller to make the game function, as it’s a game that requires a significant amount of precision to play.
More games are likely going to make their way to future Tesla models as they continue to refine and improve the vehicle’s internal systems. Based on Cuphead’s reception from Tesla owners, we may see more modern games making their way to Tesla’s growing game library.


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Levi’s has launched a new spring campaign — “Buy Better, Wear Longer” — that raises awareness and speaks to our shared responsibility on the environmental impacts of apparel production and consumption.
Featuring an inspiring group of changemakers — Jaden Smith, Xiye Bastida, Melati Wijsen, Xiuhtezcatl, Emma Chamberlain, and Marcus Rashford MBE — this multi-platform global ad campaign fuses Levi’s longstanding commitment to making quality clothing that can last for generations with the passion of six icons and activists working on issues critical to the future of our planet.
“Ultimately, Levi’s denim is meant to be worn for generations, not seasons. So we are also using this campaign to encourage consumers to be more intentional about their apparel choices: to wear each item longer, for example, to buy SecondHand, or to use our in-store Tailor Shops to extend the life of their garments,” said Jennifer Sey, brand president. “As a company that has celebrated pioneers and aspired to bring inventive environmental solutions to the market, we saw our voice in these young leaders. Change will come if we all work together and we’re humbled to partner with them in reducing our collective impact on the planet.”
Buy Better, Wear Longer also encapsulates Levi’s ongoing efforts to drive more sustainable production practices: by driving ambitious climate and water action and by investing in materials and technologies such as Cottonized Hemp and Organic Cotton, and scaling Water manufacturing, Levi’s is working to reduce our own natural resource footprint and help deliver a more planet-friendly apparel industry. In fact, to cite one example, 76 percent of all Levi Strauss & Co. products, and 70 percent of all Levi’s bottoms and Trucker Jackets are now made using our Water technology — built on a series of finishing techniques and water recycling guidelines that have saved more than 4 billion liters of water and resulted in the recycling of nearly 10 billion liters of water since they were first introduced. These innovations have been open-sourced to share and encourage the industry to adopt these water-saving practices.
“You experience the difference when you have jeans that have been through it all with you, or when you go thrifting for second-hand jeans,” added Paul Dillinger, VP of product innovation. “A pair of Levi’s holds up better, and holds its value longer. It’s both a physical and an emotional durability that we strive to offer consumers by investing in quality and designing for lasting value.”
“The world we live in encourages us to constantly buy. It puts us in this bad cycle,” said Jaden Smith. “I’m glad that Levi’s is changing that message by making thrifting cool. Some of my favorite pairs are thrifted. And I’m even more happy to see that Levi’s is supporting these amazing young voices who are all speaking up for the environment.”


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The Nissan 2020 GT-R is a Nissan concept vehicle that was designed and developed specifically with the Gran Turismo 6 game in mind.
Jul 5 2014, 1:10pm CDT
Read More Gran Turismo Stories
Nissan has come up with its Vision Gran Turismo which is actually a dream come true.
Jun 16 2014, 12:06pm CDT
Acura NSX concept hits Gran Turismo 6 game
Dec 9 2013, 10:42am CST
GT6 offers over 1000 cars for racing fans to play
Dec 9 2013, 10:05am CST
Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo is unveiled. The German luxury car company brings its virtual reality super sports car to PlayStation 3. Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo will celebrate its world premiere tomorrow at the opening of the new Mercedes‑Benz Research & Development Center in Sunnyvale, California,
Nov 18 2013, 7:44am CST


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The market, like Soylent Inexperienced, is made of individuals. That’s by no means extra clear than when there’s one thing bonkers taking place — like what’s occurred with online game retailer GameStop’s inventory since final September. Again then, it was buying and selling at round $6.68; by this morning, nonetheless, it was buying and selling at $146.97. (Since that astounding excessive, it fell to $61.13 as of 12:26PM EST.) What occurred?
For that, check out this wild story from Bloomberg, which reported precisely how the subreddit r/WallStreetBets grabbed maintain of an enormous alternative — discovered, naturally, in the mass shorting of GameStop stock. As author Brandon Kochkodin explains, the stage for the rise was set in 2019, when two necessary issues occurred. “One was Michael Burry — of Massive Brief fame and the veritable spirit animal for web inventory gurus hoping to hit the massive time — saying he was long the shares by way of his fund Scion Asset Management,” writes Kochkodin. “Second was the surfacing of an thought, first in jest, that finally advanced into the blueprint for the crowd-sourced brief squeeze that has blown up in January. May GameStop fall as far as to make a takeover attainable — by WallStreetBets itself?”
The remainder of the story includes ballsy strikes from a cadre of retail traders with, as they are saying over on r/WallStreetBets, “diamond arms.” These Reddit customers managed to maneuver the needle — to vary the inventory value — with their distinct model of semi-disciplined investing. The entire thing is price a learn, as Kochkodin deftly explains the market circumstances that led to not less than one individual turning into a millionaire (not less than on paper).


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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on March 15 that it filed an administrative complaint against Electronic Payment Systems for allegedly opening credit card processing merchant accounts for fictitious companies on behalf of a scammer, Money Now Funding. While the money at stake in this case isn´t significant, these proceedings may be relevant for another federal agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).
According to the FTC’s administrative complaint, the Money Now Funding scammers falsely promised consumers that they would earn thousands of dollars in income. They allegedly took numerous steps to hide their identities behind fake businesses to evade detection by credit card companies and banks. The complaint alleges that Electronic Payment Systems facilitated that evasion by creating 43 different merchant accounts for fictitious companies on behalf of Money Now Funding, allowing the scammers to run more than $4.6 million in consumer credit card charges through those accounts.
Electronic Payment System submitted a consent agreement in January to settle the matter, which the FTC has accepted, though it is still open to public comments. After the 30-day deadline for comments, the FTC will decide whether to make the proposed consent order final. The company and its owners have agreed to restrictions on the merchants for whom they can provide credit card payment processing services, as well as additional merchant screening and monitoring requirements.
“Companies involved in payment processing can’t ignore red flags that fraudsters are using the system to steal people’s money,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “It’s urgent that our authority to get money to consumers be restored, but in the meantime, we’ll do everything we can to stop scammers and those who help them.”
This case shows the advantages that an administrative complaint offers to a federal agency, as opposed to the judicial route. The FTC can issue this type of complaint when it has “reasons to believe” that the law has been or is being violated. This is an expedited process that can put an end to an infringement while the agency retains its power to impose additional remedies on companies.
In this case, the FTC not only voted to issue an administrative complaint, but also to dismiss a prior federal court case against the respondents. In the court case, the court granted summary judgment for the FTC against the company as to liability under the FTC Act but denied summary judgment as to the availability of injunction relief. This administrative route allows the agency to put an end to an enforcement action without spending additional resources litigating in a federal court. However, this proceeding also has some limitations — the FTC cannot obtain monetary relief from the company under the FTC Act following a Supreme Court’s ruling in AMG Capital Management, LLC v. FTC.
This announcement comes a few weeks after the CFPB issued procedural rules that may represent a change in the agency’s strategy to pursue enforcement actions. The proposed changes empower the director of the CFPB to rule on key issues more quickly than under the previous provision and make it easier for the CFPB to litigate in the administrative process.
The new rules establish a clear pathway for the Bureau to use enforcement through administrative action in a similar fashion as FTC does. It also allows the CFPB to be more strategic in the forum to litigate cases, preferring administrative law judges over federal courts, and it grants additional powers to the Director of the Bureau to rule on the merits of a case.
The CFPB may be the next agency to pursue enforcement via administrative actions, and the FTC’s complaint against Electronic Payment Systems seems like the perfect blueprint to use when the Bureau decides to explore its new powers.


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Retail leaders call for clarity from political parties on key issues to allay consumer fears
Retail leaders have called for politicians to be clear with the electorate about their plans if elected, in order to bolster consumer confidence.
Regardless of who occupies Downing Street after next month’s general election, tax rises and spending cuts are widely expected.
n executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose said: “Now that the election campaign is under
way, hopefully there will be no more obfuscation. We believe that increased consumer confidence will be the result of greater economic certainty for consumers.”
The impending election has sparked fierce debate about issues affecting retailers and consumers alike, such as potential VAT and National Insurance increases and unemployment. Retail leaders including Next’s Simon Wolfson and Kingfisher boss Ian Cheshire have this week led the business rebellion against Labour’s planned National Insurance increase.
Last week, GfK NOP’s Consumer Confidence Index fell after increasing for two months as uncertainty ahead of the election took a toll.
Irrespective of who wins, Rose said M&S would welcome a reduction in bureaucracy and waste, and recognition of retail’s role “helping consumers through difficult times”.
Alliance Boots chief executive of health and beauty Alex Gourlay said: “What we’d like to see is stability - that anyone who comes in makes the transition to clear the public debt as soon as possible. That means not implementing the National Insurance increase, keeping a close eye on interest rates and a close eye on inflation.”
Ryman owner Theo Paphitis said: “Stealth taxes defeat the argument of pumping money into the economy to get people to spend. The government should take a very serious view on cutting costs.”
Fat Face chairman Alan Giles said: “What most retailers are looking for is a sustainable recovery in the economy and therefore consumer confidence.”
Retailers hope that a new government will have a clear mandate because otherwise uncertainty will persist. New Look chief executive Carl McPhail said: “The worst thing that could happen would be a hung parliament.”


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Microsoft has detailed some legal activity that it is engaged in to restrict the use of malicious infrastructure such as typosquatted domains - called "homoglyphs" - that are used for impersonation.
Here are the top features and changes that Microsoft is bringing to Windows 11
windows 11 promo
Microsoft has issued an advisory about a widespread and sophisticated gift card scam that is targeting organizations across various sectors. Companies are requested to use Defender for Office 365.
Researchers from the Godai Group announced this week that it took 20 GB of email data from various Fortune 500 companies by setting up web domains that were similar to the names of the legit domains.
A class-action lawsuit filed Monday against Yahoo! Inc. and group of unnamed third-parties accuses the company of engaging in "syndication fraud" against advertisers who pay Yahoo to display their ads on search results and on...


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Details are murky on the Halo Showtime series, but that could be changing soon.
Four and a half years later, the creators of the Halo TV show promise that it's still coming.
Or at the very least, it's not completely dead yet.
Entertainment One have announced that they’ll release Bobcat Goldthwait’s recent comedy special, “You Don’t Look The Same Either,” on DVD ...
EA has announced the latest expansion pack for The Sims 3, known as Showtime.


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“The weather has been good everywhere,” Adam Lytch, operations manager for Raleigh, N.C.-based L&M Cos. Inc., said in late February. L&M Cos. grows and packs from Immokalee and Palatka.
“Except for that one little freeze where we had some damage, it was little damage. Except for that, the crops have been tremendous and the quality has been really good. The yields this year have been really huge.”
Freeze damage was minor
Brian Rayfield, vice president of sales and marketing for J&J Produce Inc., Loxahatchee, agrees that weather conditions are helping the crops. Since the early January freeze, he said, growers have experienced mostly favorable weather.
“The younger plants that didn’t get frozen and the replanted fields are all going well now,” he said in late February.
“I think we will have an excellent spring season. The crops look great. We expect excellent quality and good volumes. Florida will be in a position to support retail efforts to promote their products, especially in March and April when the weather starts warming up in the north when retailers are looking for promotions to get consumers out and about, shopping.”
Calvert Cullen, president of Northampton Growers Produce Sales Inc., Cheriton, Va., which grows and ships bell peppers, cucumbers, squash and cabbage from Florida and Georgia, said growers experienced some minor damage from the early January freezes. However, the damage wasn’t as profound as recent years’ freezes, he said.
“We are hoping for a good spring,” Cullen said in mid-February.
“The crops that are planted all look good. Barring any weather problems, buyers can expect to see good volume, and quality should be very good. Production and plantings are on schedule.”
Early start for some crops


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Outrage that these two big cable companies would join hands to form an even more massive entity spurred a cascade of sarcastic tweets and satirical memes: The killer Death Star battle station from Star Wars, the evil Eye of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings, and a South Park snippet where character Eric Cartman and friends are tormented by cable employees before a logo curiously similar to Time Warner Cable's own.
Consumers weren't buying the assertion of Comcast CEO Brian Roberts that the combination, which will have 30 million TV and internet subscribers, would be pro-consumer and pro-competitive.
Using a contorted logic, the two companies are expected to argue to anti-trust regulators that the fact they don't directly compete against each other in many parts of America shows the deal won't reduce competition and therefore should be approved.
But it is that lack of overlap, and lack of choice, which is at the root of customer frustration, according to America Customer Satisfaction Index MD David VanAmburg. Cable companies that purposely don't compete against each other to provide fast internet or reliable TV service can get away with not fully meeting customer needs in markets where they dominate.
Michael Pinto, a 48-year-old Time Warner Cable customer in Brooklyn, New York, said a lot of people in the city are trapped into whatever service happens to run into their building that the landlord allows. He worries that a lot of creativity could be stifled if control of internet and TV service is consolidated into too few hands.
I suppose it's good news for shareholders. You get a bigger, growing company with smaller cost structures, said Pinto, a website designer and CEO at Very Memorable. But I think as a democracy not just a democracy in politics but in a creative sense I wonder what new channels are we missing out on
Simon Eldridge, a 36-year-old media technology consultant in San Jose, California, is concerned about everything from the combined company raising prices to throttling back the streaming speeds of online video companies such as Netflix.
The British native is a Comcast internet customer, mainly because no other provider in his area will give him the speed he needs to work from home.
He pays about $80 a month for a download speed of 50 megabits per second. He says that's about one-third pricier than in the UK, where there is more competition.
This kind of a merger is going to give them a third of the internet market in the US and they can charge even more, he said.


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If you thought that the political world of international diplomacy was dry and boring, then guess again….
This week in Japan, government leaders shocked the media by announcing that their latest ambassador to the world is a giant anime cat. Of course, we’re not just talking about any old cat, but none other than Hello Kitty ( ??????????????????; Har? Kiti), that lovable feline that has appeared on everything from bento boxes and chopsticks to cell phones and designer tennis shoes.
According to the Japanese government, Hello Kitty will soon begin serving as the tourism ambassador to China and Hong Kong in a bid to attract more foreign visitors. At a light-hearted public event, a kimono-clad Hello Kitty received a certificate to commemorate her appointment from Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Tetsuzo Fuyushiba.
Hello Kitty is no stranger to politics. Since 1983, she’s served as the Children’s Ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). However, her new appointment is much more monetary in focus, especially since Japan is hoping to raise its tourism revenue by attracting more than 10 million overseas visitors each year. At present, tourists from China and Hong Kong comprise more than 15 percent of foreign visitors to Japan.
Hello Kitty was created in 1974 by Sanrio – the very first product was a clear vinyl coin purse bearing the face of Hello Kitty, which sold for 240 yen or approximately two dollars. Surprisingly, Hello Kitty was intended to be named ‘Kitty White’ after one of Alice’s cats in the Lewis Carroll classic Through the Looking-Glass. At the time, British culture was the height of fashion amongst Japanese girls, and Hello Kitty was never intended to have any appeal beyond the pre-adolescent female market.
Of course, the designers at Sanrio failed to fully appreciate the Japanese obsession with all things cute!
Interestingly enough, Hello Kitty is the second anime cat to receive an official government title. This past March, Japan’s foreign minister, namely Masahiko Komura, appointed a giant stuffed Doraemon as Japan’s first ‘anime ambassador,’ tasked with making friends by traveling around the world. According to Mr. Komura: “As an anime ambassador, Doraemon will deepen people’s understanding of Japan so they will become friends with Japan.”
On a serious note, the recent appointments of cartoon cats to government posts couldn’t come at a better time, especially since Japan’s international popularity has waned significantly following a number of controversies including various World War II denial scandals and increased whaling efforts. So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Japanese government is extremely keen to promote the country’s strong cultural attributes, such as the weird and wonderful world of manga.
So, I’d like to join the chorus of well-wishers by congratulating Hello Kitty-san on her sexy new job as Japan’s tourism ambassador. 心から本とにおめでとうございます！！
(Special thanks to my sister for uncovering this amusing little news item!)
** Top photo taken by Koji Sasahara (AP)**


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Your favourite curry houses won’t survive Brexit – ‘vindaloo visas’ will speed up their demise 15/11/2019
These businesses have been a part of British history for 200 years. But with persistent restaurant staff shortages and plans to shake up the industry, time is running out for them.
BORDER checks between Scotland, England and Wales could be required because of varying food standards after Brexit, academics have warned.
Border checks between Scotland, England and Wales could be required because of varying food standards after Brexit, academics have warned.
Boris Johnson accused of eyeing post-Brexit US trade deal by ripping out food safeguards imposed by parliament 26/10/2019
‘This is clearly an attempt to make it harder for the public and parliament to ensure protections are not traded away’
Food industry is ‘completely integrated’ on island of Ireland, say farmers’ groups.
Millions of apples left to rot in UK as Brexit uncertainty worsens EU fruit picker shortage 21/10/2019
‘The level of food waste is morally reprehensible,’ says National Farmers’ Union chair.
Would food be cheaper in a no-deal Brexit? 10/10/2019
The government is facing an unprecedented backlash from five key industries over Boris Johnson's plans for post-Brexit trading arrangements.
UK farmers 'betrayed' by government's Brexit tariff plans that risk flooding UK with lower-quality imported food 08/10/2019
British goods face tariffs of up to 60 per cent while many imports won't be charged any under latest Tory plans.
Applicable since 1 August 2017, the EU school fruit, vegetables and milk scheme combines two previous schemes (the school fruit and vegetables scheme and the school milk scheme) under a single legal framework for more efficiency and an enhanced focus on health and educational.
Post-Brexit food standards 08/03/2019
On Feb 28, 2019, the US Trade Representative (USTR) published the US negotiating position on a post-Brexit US–UK trade deal. USTR made clear that the UK must abandon the EU's high food safety, animal welfare, and environmental protection standards as a condition for agreeing the kind of deal many Brexiteers desire.
Trade secretary says scrapping protections ‘vital for giving us the freedom and flexibility’ to sign deals.
Huge warehouse in secret location holds £5m-worth of medical products and food.
Scores of local councils have said a no-deal Brexit could result in food, medicine and fuel shortages in their constituencies – with many stating that crashing out without an agreement could lead to civil unrest and damage to social care.
Chlorinated chicken: British public being ‘softened up’ to accept lower food standards after Brexit 13/09/2019
Experts are worried British food standards will be lowered to accommodate a trade deal with the US.
FOI request from Green MP Caroline Lucas denied on grounds it would threaten EU negotiations
Parliament recall urged after Operation Yellowhammer documents warn UK may face food shortages and medicine delays 11/09/2019
Boris Johnson is facing renewed pressure to recall Parliament after the Prime Minister was forced to reveal that a no-deal Brexit could trigger medical shortages, food price rises and major cross-channel trade delays.
Operation Yellowhammer: Government’s no-deal Brexit plans like preparing for ‘war or natural disaster’ 12/09/2019
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said the Government's documents on no deal 'reveal an absolute catastrophe for our country'
Operation Yellowhammer: No-deal Brexit could cause food and medicine shortages and spark civil unrest, ministers admit 11/09/2019
Operation Yellowhammer documents were released by Michael Gove after an order from Parliament.
Low consumer confidence also affects sales at Morrisons, and Co-op says crashing out of EU threatens its supply chain.
Supermarket chain says it may have to fly in fruit as it books extra warehouse space to stockpile goods
Operation Yellowhammer: Government no-deal Brexit documents warn of food shortages and riots 11/09/2019
Ministers have been forced to publish details of concerns about public disorder and disruption to medicine and fuel supplies.
Operation Yellowhammer documents predict public disorder, rising prices and disruptions to food and medicines.
Big names KFC, Pret, Lidl, Co-Op, M&S, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Asda and McDonald's have signed a damning letter warning food supplies could run short - read it in full.
British Retail Consortium says a no-deal Brexit will result in shortages of fresh food [2 mins] 04/09/2019
“Do you have any explanation at all as to why [Michael Gove] should have said there will be no shortages of fresh food given what you've just told us? / “No.” / The British Retail Consortium says a no-deal Brexit will result in shortages of fresh food.


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As troubled music retailer HMV goes into administration, putting 4,500 jobs at risk, the company says it still has a future.
Bosses at HMV said they are “convinced” they will secure a future for the business despite the appointment of Deloitte as administrator to the 92-year-old company.
The group confirmed today they had struggled over Christmas with disappointing sales, while failure to secure supply of two key tablet computers meant it missed out on surging demand for technology.
The company did not reveal its festive performance but said sales decline remains close to the 10.2 per cent level seen up to October. Some 4,500 members of staff face an uncertain future but Chief Executive Trevor Moore said management remain “passionate” about the chain.
“I would like to personally pay tribute to the 4,500 people who work for HMV. Clearly this is a very worrying time for them and their families,” he said.
He added that they would do “whatever we can in conjunction with Deloitte to safeguard jobs where possible”.
Read more: Where do we buy CDs and records now?
HMV’s 239 outlets will remain open while Deloitte attempts to find a buyer for some or all of the business, although it is likely that there will be widespread store closures as a result of the collapse. The news comes after the recent failures at Jessops and Comet.
The company’s administration also means that vouchers and gift cards, many of which were given as Christmas presents, will be worthless.
Concerns about the future of the firm were raised last week, when it announced a month-long, 25 per cent off sale across its stores.
Squeezed by internet retailers and supermarkets, whose scale has enabled them to offer CDs and DVDs at cheaper prices, HMV’s boss Trevor Moore warned before Christmas that the entertainment group was in trouble.
The firm has struggled with the move to buying films and music online. In recent months, it has trialled the sale of more consumer electronics in its stores, but to little avail.
Late last week, HMV asked its suppliers, which include music labels, game makers and film companies, for around £300m in additional financing to pay off its bank debt, and fund an overhaul of the company’s business model.
But the proposal was turned down, raising fresh fears that the company would be forced into administration.
The HMV administration comes after the collapse of camera retailer Jessops last week, with the loss of 1,400 jobs. It announced on Friday it would close all of its UK stores, making a gloomy start to retail in 2013.
Any closure of HMV could strike a damaging blow to the UK retail market for video games, CDs and DVDs.
According to Verdict, HMV’s share of the combined music and video market, defined as physical and downloaded products bought on and offline, was 22.2 per cent in 2012.
HMV, founded in 1921 selling gramophones in London, has 239 stores in the UK and Ireland, including nine Fopp stores, all of which are affected by the administration.
HMV’s market share and sales peaked in 2009, after the demise of Woolworths. Its market share has remained steady, despite falling sales as well as the collapse of rivals like Zavvi.
HMV’s woes follow a turbulent 2012 for the UK high street, which saw the demise of firms including Comet, JJB Sports, Clinton Cards, Game Group, Peacocks and Blacks Leisure.


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They are exotic but increasingly popular names: FIFA 18, PES 2018, NBA 2K18, NBA Live 18, Madden NFL 18, F1 2017, UFC 3, Tennis World Tour, Rugby 18 and MLB The Show 18. They are some of the sports video games most recent that shook the market. Soccer leads the sale indexes but it is not the only one that generates impact.
That’s one of the reasons why different sports leagues in the world are getting closer and closer to electronic sports, eSports. The recent news that the Superliga Argentina will have its official championship confirms the current, with the intention of attracting a young audience that no longer consumes so much sport on television.
FIFA VS PES
Negotiations continue with EA Sports (FIFA) and Konami (PES) to define the game, but the tournament will follow the official calendar, there will be online and face-to-face rankings, a draft will be set up to define the representatives of the clubs and the matches ( one against one) will be transmitted via Twich (streaming platform) or YouTube. In addition, it will have its own social networks and a television program to generate content.
The effect crosses all sports. The Formula 1 eSports Series is on its way to its second year with rewards greater than $ 400,000; the NFL has the Madden NFL 18 Club Championship, which distributes more than 550 thousand dollars; The NBA will debut this month with the NBA 2K League, after an online draft with 72 thousand players. Of them, there were 102 that will be divided to represent 17 franchises, receive a salary (between 32 and 35 thousand dollars for six months) and compete for one million dollars.


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Export prices increased as import prices soared for February, according to a Labor Department report (link opens as PDF) released today.
Import prices gained 0.9% month over month for February for the third straight month of increases. Analysts weren't expecting such a jump, having predicted just 0.5% growth. The main reason behind February's rise was fuel. Import fuel prices increased 5.1% as nonfuel import prices fell 0.2%, due primarily to cheaper capital goods and foods.
In the past 12 months, overall import prices are down 1.1%.
Export prices increased 0.6%, exceeding analyst expectations of 0.2% growth. Agricultural prices jumped 1.7% after a 0.4% dip in January. Prices for nonagricultural exports increased 0.6%, the largest percentage gain since February 2013. Export prices have been on a roll recently, steadily increasing every month since a 0.6% decline last October.
Despite February's increase, export prices are down 1.3% over the last year.
On a regional basis, import prices from Canada increased 2.3% (primarily due to more expensive fuel), while China imports fell 0.4% in price.


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Rental Price Growth
6th April 2023
Over 60% of properties placed on the rental market are being snapped up by renters within a week of being listed, one in six letting within 3 days, according to the latest Dataloft poll of subscribers. Less than 3% of properties are currently on the market for more than 2 weeks.
Email (65%), phone (22%) and WhatsApp (12%) are the preferred ways renters wish to be contacted by agents if there is a new property on the market that meets their requirements.
Rental price growth is anticipated to outpace sales price growth in the UK market over the next five years.
There are several factors that are expected to contribute to rental price growth outpacing sales price growth in the UK market over the next five years:
- Supply and demand: The demand for rental properties in the UK is expected to remain strong due to factors such as population growth and changing attitudes towards homeownership. At the same time, the supply of rental properties is limited, especially in areas of high demand such as major cities, which will push rental prices up and make them less accessible.
- Affordability: Many people in the UK find it increasingly difficult to afford to buy a property, due to factors such as rising house prices and stricter lending criteria. This means that more people will be forced to rent, which will further increase demand and rental prices.
- Economic uncertainty: The UK is facing a period of economic uncertainty and in turn contributes to a lack of confidence amongnst buyers. This could lead to more people choosing to rent rather than buy.
- Government policy: The UK government has introduced a number of measures designed to curb the growth of the housing market, such as stricter lending criteria and the introduction of stamp duty on second homes. These measures are likely to have a greater impact on the sales market than the rental market, which could further widen the gap between rental and sales price growth.
Source: Dataloft, poll of subscribers March 2023
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Pillow Suppliers Fight for Share in Tough Economy
October 13, 2008,
A confusing economic crisis and a recent upheaval in the market with the Chapter 11 filing of memory foam pillow maker Sleep Innovations has suppliers of basic bedding on guard. With a credit crunch and shrinking consumer dollars to go around, vendors are focusing on core strengths and on making an impression with shoppers in a crowded marketplace.
"With the state of the economy being uncertain, we continue to push even harder, not only making sure that we have the best price possible, but that we have the best possible product for that price," said Mandy Talbert, product development manager, Louisville Bedding. "Consumers are still willing to buy and pay, but truly want to get their money's worth and more, now more than ever."
"It's a time for being conservative financially but redoubling our efforts to innovate," noted Chris Ernst, vp of Sleep Studio. "The market needs innovation to create excitement, in order for consumers to open their wallets."
"People's dollars are stretched, agreed Jane Enis, president, Hensen Sleep Relief. "Our goal is to provide the best possible product, at the best possible price." According to Enis, the news on Sleep Innovations' woes has kept Hensen "very busy" as some merchandisers look to shift their sourcing options.
For the short term, Dan Schecter, vp, Carpenter, sees "lots of misery on profitability and margin erosion, due to sale prices." But Schecter counters that Carpenter "is unique in that we have no debt and we are vertically integrated — we are in good shape to weather anything that comes our way."
In fact, companies with U.S.-based manufacturing are using that as a calling card. For one thing, they point to their ability to provide quick turnaround at a time when retailers shun holding any excess inventory. For another, this speed-to-market can provide a fresher range of goods.
"You are definitely seeing retailers tightening inventories, and buy-in to programs is lightening. They are very cautious," said Jeff Chilton, svp sales and marketing, Perfect Fit. "But, because we are 80% domestic, we are in the position of being very reactive to what's happening in the market."
"We continue to stay in front of retailers, showing them new product, designs and ideas — and continually remind retailers that we are locally owned, and our goods are locally manufactured right here in the U.S.A.," said Louisville Bedding's Talbert.
As the marketplace toughens, there is evidence of a new focus on packaging. Suppliers are vying to capture every consumer's attention, if not brand loyalty. "Paying special attention on creating eye-catching product in a sea of white bedding is important," said Jyl Davis, marketing director, Downlite. "It has been an ongoing effort for our design team to incorporate small embellishment details and color into a traditionally basic white product. We feel that it is...also an added value to the consumer at the point of purchase and every time she changes her pillow."
Another trend worth noting: the increased use of natural latex, which imparts a number of benefits. For one, utilizing this material from the rubber plant can allow for the use of the word "natural" in marketing. It also mimics many of the benefits of foam pillows, and is designed to be anti-dust mite and anti-bacterial, but is a lower cost alternative to petroleum-based foam products.
Perfect Fit, for one, has introduced latex in its new Oodles line, a program that combines new technology in construction with a modern menu of natural materials. Hollander Home Fashions has also introduced a quilted latex pillow that is garnering a lot of attention from retailers, the company said.
Ultimately, sleep pillows, pads and mattress toppers are still designed with comfort and health benefits in mind as the most important selling points to consumers. Each vendor interviewed by HTT is looking to keep its head firmly in the market with additional feature-benefit offerings.
Fresh from the New York Home Fashions Market, Amy Webster, vp, Hollander Home Fashions, said that Hollander's Purista line is growing steadily. Purista is a textile treatment that keeps products fresher and cleaner for a longer period of time. As an aside, Webster reports that Hollander body pillows are doing extremely well, suggesting that in these troubled times, "people need something to hold on to."
Louisville Bedding introduced the Muse line at market, a group featuring a "fit for life" guarantee, even on pillows. "It's not about fitting the bed, it's about fitting you, is what we tell people," said Talbert. "We guarantee that the style pillow chosen from our Muse collection will fit your sleep style for life."
Carpenter's Sleep Better Signature Collection continues to be one of the widest assortments of health related bed pillows. According to Schecter, bi-component products that work together to increase comfort and support, as well as new shapes that pamper the neck and shoulder area, are doing well.
For Sleep Studio, new shapes are also a factor. Ernst said, "The contour pillow, a longtime staple of the foam pillow category, is being replaced by other more traditional shaped pillows, often using a combination of materials to provide customers with both support and comfort."
"We have to speak to the consumer in a language they understand," said Downlite's Davis. "Keep them engaged and informed while providing new details to catch their eye."
"The 'next big thing' is keeping our category fresh and inviting, not necessarily through gimmicks," said Davis. "Products need to be both relatable and beneficial for the consumer."
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As Activision and Slegdehammer Games announced, this week another live stream of “Call of Duty: WWII” will take place. In this one will be about the origin of the Shooter.
A few days ago Activision or the guys from Sledgehammer Games let the proverbial cat out of the bag and announced “Call of Duty: WWII” officially.
As we’ve seen in the run-up to the official revelation, the latest offshoot of the long-lived shooter series will take us to the fronts of the Second World War, returning to the thematic roots of the franchise. In addition to gripping firefights, the developers of Sledgehammer Games also promise us a story that we should remember for a long time.
Call of Duty: WWII – More live stream announced
As confirmed by the official site, another live stream of “Call of Duty: WWII” will take place this week. More precisely, it will be so in the night from Tuesday to Wednesday at 0 o’clock our time. But what can we look forward to in detail?
On the one hand, the developers of Sledgehammer Games will go into the development of “Call of Duty: WWII”. In addition, the players will have the opportunity to ask the creators of the shooter questions and to answer them.
“Call of Duty: WWII” will be released in November for the PC, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.


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The National Retail Association (NRA) is celebrating the launch of the WA Containers for Change scheme today. The new container deposit scheme aims to reduce litter, improve recycling rates and the create new business and employment opportunities across the state.
In Western Australia, easily recyclable beverage containers, such as glass, aluminum and plastic, account for 44 per cent of all litter by volume. Through Containers for Change, the Western Australia Return Recycle Renew (WARRRL) aims to recover and recycle 65% of eligible beverage containers in Western Australia by 30 June 2021.
From today, consumers can return eligible containers for a 10c refund to an array of refund points in operation, including over-the-counter depots, ‘bag drops,’ mobile refund points and reverse vending machines.
The cost of eligible containers may increase by up to 10c for consumers to reflect the refund and scheme costs. The NRA recognises that retailers play an important role in this scheme in raising awareness and understanding of the scheme for consumers.
NRA Director of Policy David Stout is pleased that the retail industry was consulted over the past 18 months.
“We thank the Minister for Environment Stephen Dawson and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for their ongoing engagement with the NRA as part of the WA Container Deposit Scheme Advisory Group, alongside other key industry, community and environment bodies.
“As part of the group, the NRA was able to minimise costs to retailers, ensure an appropriate transition period to adopt the refund marking was granted and consistency was maintained across other jurisdictions and containers.”
To find out more about the National Retail Association’s work on sustainability and the environment, click here


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According to Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, Tesla’s strategic adoption of Bitcoin (BTC) will have a major impact on the company’s adoption of digital assets.
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Ives said that Tesla’s Bitcoin use is “not just a fad” but part of a long-term strategy based on investment and operational dissertation.
He said: “I think Tesla will double the investment in Bitcoin.”
“There is no doubt that this is some elon muscle and Tesla will dive deep into the #bitcoin pool because they do so not only in terms of investments but also in terms of transactions,” Wedbush’s Dan Ives told TSLA $ and # btc. pic.twitter.com/0Wt2IHCdZI
Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) February 22, 2021
“There is no twin than this thing. Elon Musk and Tesla […] want to dive into the deepest part of the bitcoin pool because they do so not only when it comes to investing, but also when it comes to transactions. ”
Ives referred to Tesla’s recent decision to set aside $ 1.5 billion in bitcoin and begin accepting the digital asset as a form of payment. At the time of the interview, Tesla had earned about $ 1 billion in paper profits from trading with BTC. “This is more than their profit on all electric vehicle sales” in 2020, he said.
Wedbush Securities estimates that between 3% and 5% of listed companies will find themselves in a rabbit hole over the next 12-18 months, Ives said, although their dependence will be limited to investments. The 5% threshold is unlikely to be broken without more regulatory clarity around Bitcoin.
Ive’s comment on Tesla reflects his recent analysis of Bitcoin, and describes the digital asset as part of a much broader adoption history. He said the bitcoin obsession “is not a whim in our opinion, but rather the beginning of a new era on the digital currency front.”


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In a surprise announcement, DICE reveals that brand new Battlefield 4 DLC, called Night Operations, is coming this September – offering nighttime maps.
Battlefield Hardline’s second DLC, Robbery, will bring four new maps, new weapons and gadgets, and a new Squad Heist game mode to Premium members in September.
In their latest investor call, EA’s CFO Blake Jorgensen confirms that the next Battlefield game will be released in 2016, with more features, extras, and destruction.
The first images of the upcoming ‘Battlefield: Hardline’ DLC, ‘Criminal Activity,’ show off the new Code Blue, Backwoods, Black Friday, and The Beat multiplayer maps.
In preparation for the release of ‘Battlefield Hardline’s first DLC, Criminal Activity, EA today reveals the list of additions coming with the expansion.
‘Battlefield Hardline’ Multiplayer Producer Zach Mumbach teases first details for the ‘Criminal Activity’ DLC, which will include more destructibility and no planes.
Some franchise are capable of sustaining multiple sequels with increasing levels of success, while others draw intense backlash with each new release.
Visceral has been listening to ‘Battlefield Hardline’ players. The first patch will fix over a dozen bugs and gameplay issues, as well as adding Rent-A-Server for consoles.
Visceral Games reveals the patch notes for the next ‘Battlefield Hardline’ update. There will be fixes to spawning as well as new damage and recoil stats for several weapons.
While ‘Battlefield Hardline’ has had a successful first week, there are still a few tweaks that could be made to the game to make it a little better for players.
‘Battlefield Hardline’ developer Visceral Games includes a playful potshot at an oft-criticized scene from last year’s ‘Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare’.
Xbox One players report ‘Battlefield Hardline’ connection issues with the game’s multiplayer, but Electronic Arts claims the errors are the result of a DDoS attack.
Reviews for ‘Battlefield Hardline’ are flying in, and many publications have some interesting things to say about the game’s campaign and its multiplayer.
Developer, Visceral Games, has hidden a number of ‘Dead Space’ Easter Eggs for players to find in ‘Battlefield Hardline’, including an appearance by Isaac Clarke.
As the ‘Battlefield Hardline’ team gears up for the game’s release, Visceral Games does some last-minute rebalancing based on feedback from last winter’s beta.
Visceral Games continues to up the comedy quotient in ‘Battlefield Hardline, this time with an Easter Egg that lets three players drive a couch in multiplayer.
The developers behind ‘Battlefield Hardline’ say they have learned from the mistakes of ‘Battlefield 4’s multiplayer and are working hard not to repeat them.


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Dog Days Are Over: Beating the Post-Pandemic Pet Blues
Spending more time at home has brought us closer than ever to our pets. As we begin to return to normalcy, how will our animal companions be affected, and will workplaces become more pet-friendly? Learn how pet parents are navigating changing schedules and separation anxiety in a post-pandemic world.
All Pet Topics
Growing older is inevitable, but do aging pets have to act old? Not necessarily. With the right nutrition and early intervention, pets can stay healthier,
Spending more time at home has brought us closer than ever to our pets. As we begin to return to normalcy, how will our animal
Today’s conscious consumers have come to both appreciate and expect sustainably sourced pet food that’s healthy for their pets and the planet. Join us to
Along with the COVID-19 pandemic came a massive surge in e-commerce sales. As restrictions begin to ease, will pet parents return to buying pet food


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With the the cost of ingredients, gas prices, and interest rates dropping, why are food manufacturers continuing to hike prices and shrink products? According to the L.A. Times, supermarkets don’t know, but they’re as pissed as we are.
We noted in July that food prices were expected to rise. The justifications offered by the companies at the time were that the price increases were necessary due to the rises in the cost of production and commodity prices.
When we wrote that post, gas was about $4 per gallon. The price has fallen dramatically since September, to around $2 per gallon, about what it was in 2005. So fuel costs are no longer a justification.
The Times article cites a few examples of products whose main ingredients have also decreased in price, yet the products themselves have gotten more expensive (and gotten smaller). Kraft macaroni and cheese, for instance, went up by 9% this year, even though cheese and wheat prices have dropped by 38-68%. There’s a chart that lists the drops in commodity prices over the last year; pretty much everything but chicken wings and pineapples have decreased in price.
Manufacturers blame the price increases on futures contracts they unwisely bought, and now they’re paying too much for cheapened ingredients. Bad speculation strikes again!
Grocers, name-brand food producers at odds over prices [L.A. Times]