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Pre-MWC Future of SIM Briefings by Kigen
9th June 2021
Watch this informative webinar featuring Kigen and an industry expert panel to find out what the future holds for embedded security.
With increased demand from consumers for digital-first services driven by their experiences during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, we stand at a pivotal moment in the mobile industry’s evolution.
eSIM and iSIM unlock exciting new product opportunities in building trusted, user-centric experiences that can benefit from stronger security. The recent announcement of the Android Ready SE Alliance is a notable development bringing secure element to hardware devices to be used for digital IDs, unlocking cars, and more.
Our expert panel examines what the future holds as embedded security drives opportunity beyond just smartphones and tablets, into wearables or devices in automotive and the home. These less traditional form factors have huge potential beyond being purely companion devices. We invite you to explore with us how this collaborative work on eSIM and iSIM is democratising access to trust.
Discover the following:
Tim Green, Freelance Journalist, Copywriter and Analyst, GSMA (Host)
Vincent Korstanje, CEO at Kigen
Jean-Christophe Tisseuil, Senior Strategy Consultant, Qualcomm
Shawn Willden, Staff Software Engineer, Android Platform Security
Neset Yalcinkaya, VP of Products/ GM NA R&D Center, Quectel Wireless Solutions


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Altria Group Inc
The parent of Marlboro cigarette maker Philip Morris USA and Skoal tobacco maker U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co, also stood by its full-year earnings forecast.
U.S. cigarette makers are adjusting to a 62-cent-per-pack increase in the federal tax on cigarettes, which took effect on April 1, as well as a recessionary economy and a long-term decline in cigarette consumption.
Altria's net income fell to $589 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with $2.45 billion, or $1.16 a share, a year earlier. But year-earlier net income included $1.84 billion from discontinued operations, as the company spun off the Philip Morris International
Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose to 39 cents from 37 cents per share a year earlier. Analysts on average forecast 38 cents a share, according to Reuters Estimates.
Revenue rose 2.6 percent to $4.52 billion.
Philip Morris USA shipped 14.2 percent fewer cigarettes in the quarter than a year earlier as wholesalers and retailers reduced inventories that would have been subject to the higher excise tax if they held them on April 1.
The company's total cigarette market share fell to 50.9 percent of the U.S. market from 51.2 percent a year ago.
But profit in the Philip Morris unit rose 9.9 percent, as higher prices lifted margins. The company raised the price of Marlboro and other cigarettes by more than 70 cents per pack in March.
Altria stood by its 2009 forecast calling for earnings of $1.70 to $1.75 a share, excluding one-time items. Analysts on average forecast $1.73 a share.
(Reporting by Brad Dorfman; Editing by Derek Caney and Maureen Bavdek)

domain: news


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Angeles City—-Global First Philippines Creative Production (GFPCP) today announced the launch of its first-ever Ultimate Body (UB) Search 2023 on August 12, 2023 at the SM City Clark Cinema 1.
In a press conference held at Prime City Resort Hotel, GFPCP President and CEO Patricia Cortez said the Ultimate Body Search 2023 will be the company’s major project, which aims to ignite a global movement that encourages people to embrace their bodies and celebrate their unique qualities.
“Just like at GFP Creative Productions, we dream to make memorable experiences of every candidate here that bring brands to life. We wanted also to create something that was not only visually stunning and entertaining, but also thought-provoking and meaningful,” Cortez said.
For her part, GFPCP Chief Operations Officer Cristelle Pauline Adaya proudly presented 23 candidates —10 females and 13 males — vying for the UB 2023, representing Pampanga, Bataan, Tarlac, Olongapo, Bulacan, Camarines Norte and Quezon City.
Adaya said the primary goal of UB 2023 is to challenge societal beauty standards that often perpetuate unrealistic ideals.
The pageant, she added, seeks to inspire individuals to embrace their bodies, regardless of shape, size, or background.
Ultimate Body 2023 candidates will have the opportunity to share personal stories of their fitness journey, self-acceptance, and body empowerment, inspiring others to love and appreciate themselves.
“As fitness evolves, the importance of health and strength is not just to take care of ourselves but also to help and support others. This pageant provides contestants the opportunity to share their fitness journey and purpose for staying strong, “ GFPCP Managing Partner and Designer Frederick Policarpio said.
According to Policarpio, the holistic approach to health and fitness includes a series of events, including fitness workshops, digital challenges, and a beauty and wellness day for its finalists.
Meanwhile, Cortez expressed gratitude to Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., Interior Designer Kat De Leon, Political Tactician Irish Calaguas, and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel for their unwavering support for GFPCP, particularly for UB 2023.
She also thanked SM City Clark, Prime City Resort Hotel, Beautederm, El Vistra Hotel, Niji Restaurant, Songdowon, Blanc Pro, La Hermoza Aesthetic & Wellness Spa, Pure Beauty Collagen, Pampanga Press Club, Maribago Blue Water Resort, Trence Fitness, Fitness Barracks Gym, Best Western Metro Clark, Brands & Beyond, City Clark and The Grill 88.
FEMALE CANDIDATES: Angela Chloe Guatno, Florita Gross, Angelica Cayanan, Joela Macalino, Marinel Tungol, Krish Abad, Penelope Velasco
Cristel Galang, Kristine Ramos and Mariah Nilo.
MALE CANDIDATES: Grant Mariano, Lee Felix Pocson, John Roy Reyes, Jomar Guinto, Tristan Hipolito, Timothy Cajipo, Charlon Guanga, Jerome Quizon, Jovy Angel, Jerome Galvez, John Paul Gundayao, Mark Carbungco
and Mark Anthony Sy.
The grand prize winners for male and female candidates will receive P300 thousand worth of prizes, P150 thousand for the 2nd winner, and P50 thousand for the 3rd winner.
GFP Creative Productions is the newest digital marketing and event production company in Angeles City. It offers live event solutions, concert productions and digital marketing for businesses.
The company, which goes beyond its tagline “Creating Above and Beyond Experience”, is the legacy of Cortez’s late husband.
GFPCP is passionate on creating innovative, engaging and memorable experiences that brings brand to life.
The GFP Creative Productions team is composed of Business and Finance Lead Pem Adaya, Managing Director Cecille Sanchez, Marketing Director Mark Anthony Adaya, Organizers Barbie Alcantara and Sam Manuel, and PR Consultant Marna Del Rosario.


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GOOGLE has a great security feature that can tell you if your passwords are up to scratch.
The latest Google Chrome update has a tool that can tell you if passwords have been hacked or are too weak to keep you safe from cyber crime.
Chrome users should already be aware of its password manager feature that remembers passwords and autofills them for you on different websites.
Once you've downloaded the Chrome 88 update you can access its new protective feature.
Simply open the browser and click in the top right hand corner to go to Settings.
Then click on the key symbol to be taken to the password options.
Here you should see a section called "Saved Passwords" and it will contain all the websites for which you have saved your login details.
Then click "Check passwords" and Chrome will scan your details and let you know if any have been compromised.
It will also tell you if any of your passwords are weak.
If this is the case you can click on a link to make the passwords stronger.
This feature is avaliable for Apple users with the Chrome app on iPhone or iPad.
It should be coming to Android in the future.
Google said its Safety Check tool is used 14 million times a week.
How to update Google Chrome
Follow these steps...
On your computer, open the Google Chrome browser and click the More icon (three vertical dots) in the top right.
Click Update Google Chrome, or if that option isn't there, it means you're already using the latest version.
Once you've updated, click Relaunch.
The browser will save your open tabs and windows and re-open them when it restarts.
You can also restart your browser later on by clicking Not Now.
This will cause the update to be applied the next time you restart your browser.
The More icon will be coloured (1) green if an update has been available for two days, (2) orange if an update has been available for four days, or (3) red if an update has been available for seven days.
Most read in Phones & Gadgets
In other news, police are warning Facebook users about a scam that could target your friends and your bank account.
Assassins are accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin to commit crimes, according to Russian media.
And, WhatsApp has made a U-turn on its decision to thrust controversial new terms on users next month.
Are you bad at choosing passwords? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at email@example.com


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Jennifer MacKenzie is an agricultural photo journalist with almost 30 year's experience. Operating from her base in Cumbria, Jennifer undertakes mainly industry-related freelance writing and photography.
Borderfields produce Rapeseed Oil
A group of Borders farmers have set their store to trade beyond the farm gate in premium products through a newly formed company.
Borderfields was set up by producers from the east coast in North Northumberland and the Borders. The farmers are proficient and experienced growers of cereals and oilseeds as well as having a total commitment to quality and full traceability of their products.
The company has just launched the second of its two products – a cold pressed virgin rapeseed culinary oil, grown by local farmers and marketed under the name of Olifeira, which is Latin for oil bearing seeds. It is the only cold pressed virgin rapeseed oil produced in the north with only three UK competitors – in the south of England.
The oil production adds to the company’s second specialist product, a high quality bird food, made to recipes to attract particular species of birds without wastage.
|From this to this - left to right, Colin McGregor, Louise Nixon and John Baker Cresswell in an oilseed rape crop with Borderfields' culinary oil and birdseed.|
Borderfields, set up a year ago coinciding with a business plan, is run by a group of four farmers who share a common desire to add value to locally produced crops. However, in total there are a dozen farmers who have given their backing to the company.
“We were all commodity producers making variable returns on our cereals and oilseeds and we felt it was time we had a go at putting some value into what we grew. We decided at the outset that we wanted to do it professionally with the right research and funding,” said John Baker-Cresswell, who along with Colin McGregor, Terence Pardoe and Julia Wailes-Fairbairn makes the day-to-day decisions about the business.
“From the business plan we decided to set up the oil production business and it has taken us from April this year to get everything right for the marketing and packaging.
“Since 1973 we farmers in the region have been growing oil seed rape in large quantities and it has always gone into a very industrial process. 1.9 million tonnes traditionally has gone to three plants which produces a homogenous oil which is used for individual use, biofuels or oil for eating. This is refined, bleached and de-odorised,” said Mr Baker-Cresswell.
The farmers decided that if they did things completely differently with a cold pressing of the oil seed to produce a very fine culinary oil with a subtle flavour and attractive deep colour, they could market the benefits, particularly its nutritional qualities.
The oil is very low in saturated fat and contains high and balanced levels of essential omega 3, 6 and 9, as well as being a natural source of vitamin E.
Rapeseed oil can be heated to higher temperatures without burning than other oils and the stability of the oil lends itself to a variety of culinary uses including cooking and salad dressings.
They established that oilseed rape has become an important source of edible vegetable oil in Europe, since with sunflower it is one of the few edible oilseeds which can be grown under cool and temperate conditions, particularly those in the UK.
Through the research and work done by focus groups funded with help from the Rural Enterprise Scheme they set their goals, spurred on by the 20 per cent growth in speciality culinary oils in the last few years.
“When looking at ways to add value to our product we dismissed the biofuels route as obviously it takes huge investment. Producing oil could be done locally, on-farm - and we can interact with our customers,” said Colin McGregor.
“We trialled 20 different varieties and we have arrived at one which is right,” he added. “We found enormous differences between the varieties and we are keeping this one secret.”
Oil production can be done in batches after the summer’s harvest, depending on demand, at The Press House which has been set up for the on-farm processing in converted buildings near Bamburgh at around a quarter of the total investment costs in the project. The oil has a shelf life of in excess of a year.
One tonne of oilseed rape produces enough oil for 600 half litre bottles which are sold retail at £6 a bottle.
“As an oilseed producer that retail price is adding around 2,000 per cent to the commodity value of my crop,” said Mr McGregor who grows more than 2,000 tonnes of the crop each year.
So far the venture has created two new jobs – for a press operator as well as for a full time sales representative – Louise Nixon.
“First indications are that we are going to exceed our sales targets. The reception we are getting in specialist outlets and delicatessen shops from the Lothians and Borders and into Cumbria and North Yorkshire has been great,” said Mr McGregor.
John Baker-Cresswell added: “Our company ethos has been to build it step by step. We feel that the initial sales are going to be through speciality shops.”
Other culinary products could be added in the future, including organic rapeseed oil, although their research showed that the demand was for an oil with local provenance was way above that of an organically produced oil.
Borderfields’ second enterprise has been grown from a business originally operated by the Baker-Cresswell family which emanated from John’s father Charles’ passion for wild birds.
Charles Baker-Cresswell developed several recipes to attract particular species into the garden and now under the new label Bird Song.
As far as possible the ingredients for the collection of feeds is grown on farms in the area and the feed is packaged in tough, re-sealable buckets of a range of sizes which keeps them vermin-free and avoids damp or spillage.
Wheat, oats, oilseed rape and linseed are sourced locally with sunflowers bought from Lincolnshire. The only import to the UK is a thistle seed called Niger, which is brought in from Ethiopia.
Further information about Borderfields’ products can be seen on the website at www.borderfields.co.uk


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Microsoft has built a USB thumb drive for the police that scans computer hard drives.
The Computer Online Forensic Evidence Extractor can be used in police raids to map hard drives and decrypt passwords without shutting the computer down and losing evidence.
The device was shown off at a three-day security conference for 350 law enforcement officials in Redmond, Washington.
"These are things in which we invest substantial resources, but not from the perspective of making money," Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith told the Seattle Times. "We're doing this to help ensure that the internet stays safe."
The thumb drive has 150 commands and can log hard drive activity, check on surfing history and decrypt some passwords.
Microsoft has distributed the device for free since last year, and claims that it is in use by over 2,000 officers in 15 countries.
However, Smith acknowledged that there is a financial upside for Microsoft in giving away the device, since it makes money selling ancillary software and services.
Microsoft has been holding law enforcement meetings since 2006 in an effort to educate police about cyber-crime.
Biggest screen ever, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 and 6GB of RAM for forthcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 8
Windows 10 Chinese Government Edition completed by Microsoft
And even when IoT projects do get completed, one-third aren't considered a success
So, the Frontier Edition launches at the end of June, the Radeon RX Vega in July - and the Ryzen 3 straight after?


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Price of your holiday will go up – thanks to euro court tax ruling: Exemptions set to be abolished means average cost will rise 3%
- The tax exemptions secured by Britain when it joined the EU will be scrapped
- New ruling could add £120 to peak season trip for family of four
- Holiday firms to be forced to step in line within six months
Families face paying more for their holidays after a ruling handed down by the European court in Luxembourg.
The decision by the EU’s Court of Justice affects the complex way VAT on travel is calculated on package holidays within the European Union.
Certain tax exemptions – secured when Britain joined the EU – are set to be abolished, forcing tour operators to pass on the higher costs to holidaymakers.
Holiday hike: Following the ruling on tax exemptions in the EU, families have been warned they could be paying 3 per cent more for trips abroad
And tax experts claim the change could lead to a 3 per cent increase in the average cost of a package holiday.
That would mean that a family of four taking a £4,000 peak season trip, including flights and a villa in Spain or Greece, forking out £120 more.
And it would add £75 to the average £2,500 cost of a cheaper self-drive camping holiday. A spokesman for the Association of Independent Tour Operators said the ruling, which was bizarrely released only in French, would ‘certainly put holiday prices up’.
Holiday firms could be forced to adopt the new tax rules within six months to fall into line with countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Finland, Poland and the Czech Republic.
The EU's Court of Justice could force British holiday firms to adopt the new tax rules within six months
Tom Kivlehan, a partner at accountancy firm BDO, said: ‘Companies will already be looking at increasing their prices now. There’s only one consequence if you sell at a loss, you can’t survive.’
Tory MP John Redwood last night lambasted a move he said would hit already hard-pressed families.
‘Typically, the answer to any problem in Europe is to take more money from people whose budgets are already under pressure,’ he said.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Business for Britain, has slammed the EU ruling, claiming it will raise prices and hurt both customers and businesses
‘My view is that tax should be a matter for the national government, not for the European Union.
‘We’ve been assured by successive governments that they have protected our rights to make our own decisions.
‘Once again the European Court has torn a hole in this promise.’
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Business for Britain – a campaign backed by 750 business leaders pushing for EU renegotiation – said: ‘Most people will be shocked to hear Brussels can influence UK taxes in this way. Bad directives like this one artificially raise prices, hurting consumers and businesses alike.
‘Business leaders want to see a thorough renegotiation that repatriates powers like those the EU holds on VAT back to the British government.’
VAT expert Martin Pooley warned Europe might now turn its attention to other VAT exemptions on travel-related costs that Britons enjoy.
And he said the European Commission had pulled off a trick by bringing the dispute to court in the first place.
Yesterday’s ruling was triggered by Brussels taking Spain to court for charging too much VAT on holidays. It lost that claim but, Mr Pooley said, in doing so Brussels now had an excuse to begin a broader review of other VAT exemptions on travel costs.
‘The EC probably got exactly what they wanted,’ he added.
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Saving Up By Saving Water
Five simple ways for homeowners to save water
With over 2 billion Energy Star?certified products sold in the U.S. since 1992, energy-saving appliances are becoming the rule, rather than the exception. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency—the program's creator—is trying to duplicate its success with a new water-conserving campaign called WaterSense. First up is a label for toilets that use less than 1.3 gallons per flush—that's 20 percent less water than the 1.6 gallons currently required by federal law. It'll be a few years before WaterSense sets standards for other products, such as washing machines and dishwashers. Until then, follow these five simple steps to make your home more H?0-efficient:
1. Put a pitcher of drinking water in the fridge; letting the faucet run until water gets cold wastes two gallons per minute.
2. Fix leaks pronto. One drip per second adds up to 2,700 gallons a year.
3. Hose down the garden in the early morning or at dusk to avoid losing water to evaporation caused by the hot sun.
4. Don't use your toilet as a trash bin. Every unnecessary flush equals 1.6 gallons of wasted water.
5. Scrape, rather than rinse, plates when loading the dishwasher.


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Image via CrunchBase
YouTube becomes a TV station tomorrow, March13 2010...
Excom New Zealand
Provider Of Microsoft, Cisco, ITILTraining Courses & Certifications.
YouTube's first major move away from being a video-sharing site and towards an online TV destination begins early tomorrow morning when it begins streaming free live Indian Premier Cricket League matches.
The Google-owned YouTube yesterday unveiled eight sponsors, half of which are global brand names. HSBC, Hewlett Packard, Coca Cola, Samsung, Indian mobile phone company, Airtel, Honda motorcycles, an Indian university, and one of the teams, the Bangalore-based Royal Challenger team were named as sponsors of the initial 56 matches of this season.
YouTube does not disclose the dollar size of the sponsorship packages but interviews with executives have indicated that because this initiative is a new one they are not asking advertisers to pay over the odds.
At least 32, 30-second ads will appear during the play in each match watched live or on demand later.
The cricket deal is part of YouTube's ambition to become a destination for internet users as a place not just to upload content but watch it, in the form of movies, sport and concerts, said Leigh Terry managing partner of media buyers OMD.
"Rather than just going to YouTube and searching for a video they hope to become a destination much like a portal where people can go for a variety of content, not just sports," he said
"I have a feeling that this is just going to be the first [of others] to come."
Mr Terry said that while YouTube's success at attracting audiences was not in doubt - an estimated 36 million videos are watched by Australians each month - it had struggled to gain advertising dollars. "The audience hasn't been the problem, it's the quality and the exclusivity of the content," he said, adding that initiatives such as this addressed that.
ExcomEducation Google sets its sights on television dominance (telegraph.co.uk)


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By integrating a wide variety of software engines, Royal Panda has become on of the most popular online casinos on the internet today. In the last two years, the operator has been bestowed with a great deal of news-worthy experiences. The most recent was proudly announced by Royal Panda following an incredible weekend of winners, wherein four lucky players shared in life-changing payouts totaling near a quarter-million dollars on slots, roulette pro and live roulette.
“What an incredible weekend for four of our players, who have won over $235,000 worth of cash prizes between them!” extolled the online casino operator on Monday.
Royal Panda said the fortuitous four were “playing a combination of roulette games and popular video slots,” when the two-day extravaganza of payouts took place. The lucky winners, who’s full identities have not been revealed, were a Swedish player named Mickael, a Polish player named Wojciech, and two British members of the site, Freddy and David.
Each of these Royal Panda members was lucky enough to strike a payout of life-altering proportions, with roulette games being the most lucrative of all. The top two winners, Freddy and Mikael, were playing Roulette Pro Series and the casino’s Live Roulette platform respectively, collecting about $140,000 between them.
Breakdown of Winnings
Freddy’s lucky number selection on Roulette Pro Series, by NetEnt, earned him a whopping $78,752.67 (£59,250.00).
For Mikael, choosing the right number at the Live Roulette tables, powered by Microgaming, earned him an equally impressive $65,122.09 (SEK 549,850).
For Poland’s Wojciech, his luck came about on a series of spins at two online slot machines, including the recently launched Guns N’ Roses Slot from NetEnt, and The Spin Lab Slot by NextGen. His munificent spins earned him a collective $37,734.34 (PLN 149,680).
What To Do With All That $$$?
“With a wonderful weekend of wild wins, what will our players spend their money on?” the operator posed. Only one of the winner’s comments made the press release, as Royal Panda explained.
“Mikael has already booked a luxury trip to Las Vegas using just his Loyal Panda points!” Royal Panda exposed, plugging the online casino’s valuable VIP program.
However, it wasn’t just Mikael’s fortunes over the last weekend that earned him enough points to experience a grand holiday in Sin City. According to the press release, “He’s been enjoying an incredible winning streak, having also won over $229K on Live Roulette only a matter of weeks ago!”


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DELTA was present at METEC Exhibition from 25th to 29th June 2019
Like every four years, the exhibition METEC was held in Dusseldorf and DELTA was present with most of the worldwide sales people.
This exhibition was the right moment for DELTA to show the new products launched recently like the Stao-Sonde Z50, the Dilas FT1600, the radiant Bar BR4000. Both were in use to show all the innovations and advantages.
Other products were also highlighted like the new stereoscopic width gauges DigiScan and the velocimeter Velas DL4000.
Hope to see you in June 2023's edition !


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Honey brand appoints Aubergine
Aubergine has been awarded the content and PR brief for FMCG company, Hilltop.
The Welsh company, which produces honey products has just completed a full rebrand and extended its range to include Canadian maple syrups.
It’s brought in the Leeds-based agency to manage its press office and create “proactive and engaging” consumer campaigns.
“It goes without saying we are huge fans of Hilltop - it’s a sweet addition to our list to our growing list of food clients,” said Aubergine co-founder, Verity Clarke.
“This is a really exciting time for the brand as they have a new look and logo, are expanding their range and gaining more national retail listings. We are delighted to have been chosen to shout about them at such a pivotal time for them.”
Lowri Jones, marketing co-ordinator for Hilltop, added:
“We wanted to choose a PR agency that we knew could bring the passion Scott has to life and amplify messages about the increasing product range to as wide an audience as possible. It was clear as soon as we spoke to Aubergine that they were the right fit for Hilltop.”


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Metro Bank, known for its exceptional customer service, has added a new mortgage product to its range with the Armed Forces Help to Buy scheme.
Metro Bank announces its Q3 Summary for 3 months ending 30 September 2019
Metro Bank today announces that Vernon Hill has decided to step down from his role as Chairman with immediate effect, while remaining a Non-Executive Director until 31 December 2019, and has agreed to accept the honorary position of Emeritus Chairman.
Metro Bank will be holding its annual Halloween family day on Sunday 27 October, where kids will be able to decorate a pumpkin ahead of Halloween. From 12:00 until 16:00, all the family are invited to their local Metro Bank store to join in the fun.
Metro Bank has announced a trio of fintech and SME partnerships, in a move that will support hundreds of thousands of SMEs up and down the country.
Metro Bank has announced the launch of ‘Business Insights’ – its artificial intelligence-led, in-app account insights tool for business customers.
Metro Bank today announces that Mr Hill, Founder of Metro Bank, has decided to step down from the Board and his role as Chairman by 31 December 2019.
Metro Bank announces the successful pricing of a £350 million MREL-eligible debt transaction at a coupon of 9.5%.
Metro Bank, the revolution in British banking, opens its 69th and 70th stores on Friday 20 & Saturday 21 September in Solihull and Merry Hill.
Metro Bank is set to open two brand-new stores in Bradford and Sheffield, creating around 50 new jobs in the county.


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Toro (TTC) stock down as supply chain trims Q4 earnings
15:33, 15 December 2021
Toro (TTC) stock fell on Wednesday as the outdoor equipment maker reported a dip in profits due to “supply chain challenges and inflationary pressures” despite a 14% rise in revenue.
The company makes a variety of equipment including lawnmowers, sprinkler systems, drilling equipment and snow plows.
For its fiscal fourth quarter ended 31 October, net earnings fell to $60.1m (£45.47m) from the $72.2m reported a year earlier on net sales which rose to $960.7m from $841m reported in the fourth quarter 2020.
Adjusted earnings of 56 cents beat analysts’ estimates of 53 cents on net sales of $956m, according to figures widely available on financial news sites.
On the NYSE, the stock opened up 5% on Wednesday at $103.40. As at 10:30 am EDT (UTC-5) the stock was down 2% at $99.77.
“We exceeded our top- and bottom-line guidance for fiscal 2021, driving double-digit net sales growth for both the quarter and full-year for our professional and residential segments,” Toro chair and CEO Richard M Olson said in a press release.
The company said professional sales grew 14% year-on-year while residential sales were up 20%.
Gross margin decline
Toro cited higher material and freight costs as the reason for a decline in gross margin, which fell to 30.1%, from 35.7%.
“As we enter the new fiscal year, we continue to see robust demand for our innovative products and remain focussed on serving our customers,” Olson added.
Looking ahead, for the current 2022 fiscal year Toro’s management expects net sales growth in the range of 8% to 10% and adjusted EPS in the range of $3.90 to $4.10 per share.
Read more: Playtech (PTEC) stock surges on bid war


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A new rumor suggests the Sony Xperia 10 III smartphone will sport a Snapdragon 690 chipset, which has powered other mid-range phones launching in 2020, likely making it Sony’s first 5G mid-range handset.
The Snapdragon 690 was mentioned (under the model number sm6350) in a chunk of code tweeted by code diver Nodar Sikharulidze that referred to upcoming phones. Given its surfacing now, it’s likely referring to the Xperia 10 III, while the other chipset mentioned – the Snapdragon 875 – is likely meant for the flagship Sony Xperia 1 III.
Sony brought its smartphone lineup for an entire year in a single announcement this week and there are things we Read more
If you're a fan of small-body phones you likely followed the Sony Xperia Compact news - rumors suggested the Xperia Read more
Sony Mobile has announced the Xperia 10 III, which takes its mid-range device into the realms of 5G, thanks to Read more
Sony has confirmed its line-up of Xperia phones for 2021, including the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III. Rather Read more
Sony Mobile revealed three smartphones in April 2021, all of which will be available at some point in the summer. Read more
Sony announced the third generation of its compact Sony Xperia 5 smartphone during an online event on 14 April 2021, Read more
Sony has confirmed that the Sony Xperia 10 III is in the works and will ship in the next few Read more
The Sony Xperia 5 III, announced on April 14 alongside the flagship Xperia 1 III and mid-range Xperia 10 III, Read more
Alongside the brand new Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III, Sony introduced a compelling midrange offering dubbed Xperia 10 III. As the name Read more
Sony has announced the Xperia 5 III and Xperia 10 III smartphones to accompany the new flagship Xperia 1 III Read more
It’s likely the Sony Xperia 10 III will be announced soon, yet until now we hadn’t heard much about it. Read more
Although there are rumors circulating again that LG might be shuttering its mobile business, others that have been in the Read more


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If strains between China and Taiwan continue to worsen, the Chinese Communist Party has a trump card: threatening to cut off the island’s exports, which include products from pivotal chipmaker and major Apple supplier TSMC.
Gina Chon for Reuters Breakingviews [Opinion]:
It’s possible that Americans will start to care about U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan once they find out the production of their new Toyota is risk.
[TSMC] plays an outsized role in the global economy, supplying Apple, Qualcomm, and other industrial giants with key components. It should be enough to make even Americans – who otherwise remain largely uninterested – nervous…
China, too, would face consequences if it were to make life difficult for TSMC. Mainland chipmakers, handset brands, electric vehicles and more rely on the $447 billion company’s cutting-edge technology just as much as their U.S. rivals. That makes it less likely read more that the People’s Republic will follow through.
Still, the strength of TSMC puts U.S. companies, who have many friends in Washington, on the back foot. The company’s chip factories, which are mostly in Taiwan, supply more than half of the contract chip-making market, including 80% of microcontrollers used in cars and 90% of the most advanced semiconductors, according to Bain & Company.


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If the past two years have taught us anything, it’s that being available to consumers across different channels is key to your success. In the fourth report of its kind, Pattern Australia polled 1000 online shoppers in March 2022 to learn about customer behaviour last year and how shopping habits are likely to change in the year ahead.
Each month Pattern releases research into online performance trends, benchmarking a range of metrics and channels for the Australian market. This data along with the recently launched 2022 Australian Shopper Report paints a data-driven prediction of what 2022 may look like in the months ahead.
According to Statista, Australian e-commerce user penetration will be 74.7 per cent this year and is expected to hit 77.2 per cent by 2025. With continued growth on the horizon, we’ve highlighted five key predictions for this year.
- Online share of wallet will increase
Eighty-five per cent of those polled plan to maintain or increase their online spending levels this year, with 19 per cent expecting to spend ‘a lot more’. Confidence levels are increasing in newly converted online shoppers with 38 per cent of respondents planning to buy from different online stores this year and we’ve also seen a notable increase in those planning on spending more on marketplaces such as Amazon, Ebay and Catch.
- D2C has a huge opportunity – but also huge competition ahead
Each year we hear that price is the major determining factor in deciding who to buy a product from. When asked why consumers purchased specifically from a D2C site, aside from price, the perception of a wide range and exclusive products was a key driver. Following this was the idea that a D2C site was easier to use. Understanding the key factors influencing consumers to buy from your site over others will be key to your 2022 D2C success.
- Brands will be found first on marketplaces
Seventy-five per cent of Australians used Amazon to inform purchase decisions in 2021 with 48 per cent stating they visited the site to check prices. Sixty-five per cent of consumers made a purchase on Amazon last year and of these, 64 per cent bought from a brand for the first time. Marketplaces such as Amazon are being treated as search engines for consumers to discover, research and try new products. Of those who had shopped on Amazon in 2021, 44 per cent expect to increase their spending on the platform this year.
- Luggage and travel goods will fly
The biggest online growth categories expected are in Luggage & Travel, with 60 per cent more consumers expecting to make a purchase in 2022, compared to the previous year. DIY and Home Improvement showed the next highest potential with 13 per cent more consumers planning to spend online compared to last year.
Looking specifically at Amazon, aside from luggage, both Haircare and Sports, Fitness & Outdoor categories showed the highest growth potential, with more respondents indicating they would purchase these categories from Amazon this year than they did in the past year.
- Brands will reconsider store locations
Thirty-six per cent of those polled expect to spend less in brick-and-mortar stores this year; this sentiment was shared mainly with those in metropolitan areas. Australian retailers need to consider what this means for the role of their physical locations in the year ahead.
With 73 per cent of consumers expecting their shopping habits to change this year (up significantly from our 2021 report), brands also need to strategise how their business will change and continue to evolve to the changing behaviours of Australians.
To discuss how Pattern can help to define your digital strategy, trade your direct-to-consumer website or support your sales on Amazon and other marketplaces please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.org or visit pattern.com/au.
About the author: Kathryn Coleman is head of customer marketing at Pattern Australia


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The Top Retail & Grocery Merchandising Trends We Expect to See in 2021By Jackie Ceithamer May 25, 2021
Retail and grocery have seen major changes in the last 12 months. From an increase in relying on online ordering to things such as curbside pick-up, we're utilizing e-commerce in a whole new way. Consumers are prioritizing their health as a means to fight the pandemic by eating foods that provide support to their immune system, as well as looking for healthier options due to the major benefits that come with eating green. While every city is currently going through their own changes of rules and regulations, grab and go trends with healthy options is here to stay.
So, what all can retailers and grocers expect to see throughout 2021?
As grab-and-go options sweep across the nation, one thing's for certain: consumers are eating more plant-based items than ever. Partially due to the pandemic and partially due to the growing understanding of how different foods impact our bodies, consumers are unafraid to walk away from a merchandiser if they don't have plant-based items.
From salads to meatless burgers, people are doing whatever they can to find healthy alternatives for their snacks and meals. Many consumers are looking for items with recyclable packaging so that while they're taking care of their bodies, they can also feel like they're taking care of the environment.
GRAB AND GO OPTIONS
It doesn't stop there, consumers have gotten used to the rush of a hectic day. They're not looking solely for a quick snack to grab and run. Americans are looking for bold flavors that mix culturally authentic foods into their grab-and-go service. They're looking for flavorful options they can pick up from a shelf and enjoy.
For retailers, this means keeping items stocked with merchandisers that help maintain the quality of your products. Whether it be hot, cold, or even non-refrigerated items, consumers are opting for groceries that are fresh but still give them the convenience of grabbing, paying, and going on towards their next task of the day.
CURBSIDE PICK UP
One trend that seems to be really taking off is ordering online and picking up curbside. The solution was originally crafted to limit interactions with others and help prevent the spread of COVID, but it's now become such a convenience that we don't see it ever going away. When consumers can't get access to delivery or need to grab a few items, retailers are finding incredible success in offering this solution.
FIND YOUR SOLUTION
If you're looking for merchandiser solutions to keep up with the latest trends in the foodservice industry, contact us today. Find out today how the trends we expect to see throughout 2021 could impact your retail or grocery operation. Start by letting us know what kind of content and news you’d like to receive from Federal Industries by clicking below.


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Lyft joins Uber to end forced arbitration for sexual assault victims
Jets host Preds with shot at West final
CALIFORNIA SCHEMIN': California Becomes First State to MANDATE Solar Panels
Fond du Lac's Gorske chows down 30000th Big Mac
Microsoft's Windows 10 April 2018 Update Improves Dictation, Adds Timeline, Other Features
GM to launch new EVs, says future is all-electric
03 October 2017, 08:07 | Maryann Sutton
GM will introduce 20 new all-electric vehicles by 2023
According to the company, its September domestic passenger and commercial vehicle sales rose by 25 per cent to 53,965 units.
In addition to the 10,000 electric cars, it will also roll out almost 100,000 electric auto rickshaws and buses in the next few weeks.
While those products are expected to use batteries to provide power, GM is also development SURUS, short for Silent Utility Rover Universal Superstructure, which it calls a "fuel-cell-powered, four-wheel steer concept vehicle on a heavy-duty truck frame that's driven by two electric motors". "Although that future won't happen overnight, GM is committed to driving increased usage and acceptance of electric vehicles through no-compromise solutions that meet our customers' needs".
GM joins a growing list of manufacturers who have, in recent months, announced plans to greatly expand their range of battery and fuel-cell vehicles. "Because General Motors believes the future is all electric, these aren't just words in a war of press releases". Nissan recently announced a redesigned version of that vehicle, with longer range and a price that remains lower than even Tesla'snew, more accessible, Model 3. But it also said that "getting to a zero emissions future will require more than just battery-electric technology". Last year, GM and Honda announced plans to cooperate on fuel cell development, with plans for a joint venture dedicated fuel cell factory by 2025.
At least the first two new vehicles will be based off the current Chevrolet Bolt EV architecture, while future ones will feature an "all-new battery system" and architecture that GM briefly previewed Monday at its Technical Center in Warren, Mich., near Detroit. The first two of the series will rollout in the next 18 months. GM envisions SURUS as a delivery vehicle, truck or ambulance.
After almost a century of building vehicles powered by fossil fuels, General Motors - one of the world's largest automakers - announced Monday that the end of GM producing internal combustion engines is fast approaching. And he said GM did not expect to be hurt financially by a move toward electric models, which can carry higher price tags than comparably sized gasoline-powered vehicles. Reuss said that the next version is going to be better than the one GM has on the road today.
John Rosevear owns shares of Ford and General Motors. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
Is Kylie Jenner Pregnant with Travis Scott's Baby?
Jenner discussed her high-profile breakup with Tyga on a recent episode of her E! reality series "Life of Kylie ". One insider claims that the Houston rapper, 25, informed his friends that they're having a baby girl.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make their public debut
Hand in hand, Prince Harry and girlfriend Meghan Markle made their first official public appearance as a couple. Speculations are that Markle might quit her show after the season is over in preparation for the royal life.
Uber apologises after losing London licence
According to a statement released by Transport for London , Uber is no fit to be issued with a private hire operator license. However, it has emerged that should Uber make changes to its policies, they will most likely benefit drivers and passengers.


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Last year, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) launched "Project Loon" through which the company used air balloons to provide internet access to billions living in remote or rural areas. One of its balloons, the Ibis-167, has been around the world in just 22 days. Google is now working on other balloons that can float for more than 100 days.
Google has now made three major acquisitions in the aerospace industry, expanding its operations from balloons to solar-drones and satellites.
Google is reportedly acquiring a stake in Richard Branson's commercial spaceflight company Virgin Galactic. The latter, which could start its commercial operations as early as this year, is valued at around $2 billion. Google could acquire a 1.5% stake in the company through a $30 million investment.
Google will be eyeing the company's LauncherOne which can kickstart Google's space program by launching its micro satellites in the low-earth orbit. The search engine giant is expected to spend between $1 billion and $3 billion on developing 180 small satellites.
LauncherOne is virgin Galactic's launch vehicle designed to handle smaller payloads of up to 225 kilograms. That should be enough to support Skybox Imaging's satellites. Earlier in February, the company revealed that its new Earth observation satellites weighed around 120 kilograms.
About a week ago, Google acquired Skybox Imaging, which develops micro satellites that can take high definition photos and videos, for $500 million. Skybox Imaging also has impressive data processing abilities. The company can mine one terabyte of data on a daily basis as it collects imagery from its constellation of satellites.
Earlier in April, Google bought the solar powered drone maker Titan Aerospace. Titan develops drones that can fly at high altitudes, nonstop, for up to five years before any sort of maintenance is required.
Although Google has not disclosed the details of its investment in Titan Aerospace, according to a report by TechCrunch, Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) was also mulling the acquisition of the drone maker for $60 million. When Titan decided to go with Google, Facebook acquired Ascenta, another solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicle maker, for $20 million.
What's in it for Google?
Through these acquisitions, Google will be able to provide internet services to farfetched regions of the world, which can have a positive impact on Google's advertising revenues.
In the less developed part of the world, which lacks communication infrastructure such as telephone lines and communication towers, providing internet services through satellites and drones can be a cheaper option.
Moreover, Titan has said that its drones can provide high-speed internet services of up to one gigabit per second. That is even faster than the broadband speeds that are usually offered in developed countries.
The acquisitions will bolster Google's Maps offerings, which can go on to become an integral part of our daily lives in the coming years. Skybox Imaging's satellites, as well as drones, can start capturing and distributing images at ultra-high-resolutions.
In the future, Google will be able to display these high-quality images on Google Maps and provide imagery services to businesses. Google will benefit from the U.S. government's decision to lift restrictions on companies from selling high-resolution satellite images to commercial customers.
Within the next four years, Google will have 24 satellites orbiting in outer space, thanks to its Skybox Imaging acquisition and supported by relatively smaller investments in Titan Aerospace and Virgin Galactic. The company will start capturing imagery of the entire globe, including real-time videos, thrice in a day.
So, for instance, if you are planning on going to a Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) store, you might want to check Google Maps first for availability of parking space.
Similarly, analysts can use the same information (parking space at Wal-Mart) to calculate Wal-Mart's quarterly revenue and income estimates. Skybox's co-founder Dan Berkenstock has been analyzing the density of trucks outside Foxconn facilities to predict the next Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iPhone launch.
In short, the high-quality satellite imagery can be used for a variety of purposes, from improving home security, to the provision of disaster relief services, to analyzing geological formations for natural resources. The possibilities are endless.
The three recent acquisitions have propelled Google's growth in the aerospace sector. Just a year ago, the company launched its air balloons to provide high-speed internet to the remote corners of the world and now it is planning on sending satellites into space.
In the coming years, through drones and satellites, Google can significantly enhance its Maps offerings that can become an essential part of our daily lives. Moreover, the company can also capitalize on the U.S. government's decision by lifting restrictions on the sale of sharp images by offering high quality satellite imagery services to business customers. This can potentially open a new revenue stream for Google.
Disclosure: This article was written by Sarfaraz A. Khan, with valuable contribution from Ali I., research assistant at Half Bridge Business Review. Neither Sarfaraz A. Khan, nor Ali I., have any positions in the stock(s) mentioned in this article.
Disclosure: The author has no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. The author wrote this article themselves, and it expresses their own opinions. The author is not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). The author has no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.


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Another financial publisher is coming to the Web. A new online publication called The Daily Rocket will launch on April 7 targeteted at self-sufficient, beginning investors.
The service is part of the rush to provide investors with online information. The Motley Fool, for example, has become legendary as a forum for investors. No trading will be offered with The Daily Rocket.
The company wants to keep details under wraps until its formal launch, but it already has posted a Web site. "The Daily Rocket provides a bevy of financial content targeted at investors not fully comfortable with financial information," the site says. Authors will include Leslie Whitacker, author of The Beardstown Ladies' Common Sense Investment Guide.
The site features original company profiles, audio programming, a comic strip, interactive investment contests, and discussion rooms. It also has stock quotes, Securities and Exchange Commission filings, and a customized ticker, as well as a radio program.
Company president Noah Tratt, formerly a Microsoft consumer executive for Encarta, has assembled a team that includes former execs at the software giant and McCaw Cellular. "Our mission is to make it easy for you to monitor your investments, to learn about the world of investing, and to enjoy yourself doing it," he said.
Tratt said some basic information will be available on the site for free, while the company will charge for the rest. He said pricing has not been finalized.
Tratt said he is undaunted by the competition. He hopes that the company will have an edge in offering easy-to-use, customized information.


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Premier Inn takes over Buxton pub
The Marston’s pub, on London Road, closed down last week.
Nick Johnston, acquisition manager for Premier Inn’s parent company Whitbread, said: “Buxton is an incredibly popular search on the Premier Inn website.
“We know our customers want to come here and we have been searching for the right site in the town for many years. We have explored all of the options but the right site has not been available until now. The Robin Hood site is ideal for a new Premier Inn. It’s in a great location, is the right size and shape and is available and deliverable.”
Premier Inn’s plans include 63 on-site customer car parking spaces and a 62-cover restaurant and bar, which will be open to the public.
Nick added: “Buxton’s success is built on its beauty and local character. We recognise that and have spent a lot of time getting our designs right.
“We are proposing a conservatively designed hotel building that respects and suits its surroundings. It will provide an active front onto London Road and the designs include a variety of building materials such as stone, brick and render to create an interesting and attractive new building.
“We have also managed to retain the existing sycamore trees on the site. I am proud of what we have created and I am certain the hotel will be a positive addition to the town.”
Gary Timmins, of nearby Wyedale Close, said: “This is great news for Buxton. Let’s hope the people of Buxton give the council its full support. I did email various pub chains several months ago to say it was a great business opportunity for somebody with money and vision. If I had the money, I would have bought it myself.”
There will be a public exhibition of the plans on Thursday June 26 between 3pm and 8pm, at The Octagon at Pavilion Gardens, on St John’s Road, Buxton.
The proposals will be on display and members of the development team will be available to answer questions.
Full details will also be available on the consultation website for the scheme at premierinnbuxton.co.uk from Thursday June 26.
Premier Inn is expecting to submit a planning application to High Peak Borough Council for the proposed hotel later this summer.


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Samuel Ross has big plans for China. The British designer, who founded his menswear brand A-Cold-Wall in 2015, is expanding his presence in the region with two new flagship stores slated to open by the end of 2022 in key cities Shanghai and Shenzhen.
It’s an ambitious expansion for the brand, which made its debut in China in 2020 with an online storefront on JD.com. Ross says his brand’s jerseys and T-shirts were a “huge success” on the platform, and he opened his first A-Cold-Wall store in China in July, located in Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun shopping district. He’s now ready to go bigger with his direct-to-consumer business in the market as sales in China continue to grow. (Ross declined to share specific sales figures.) “My focus now is on the physical retail experience. I believe in DTC growth,” Ross says.
Ross’s all-in attitude on China marks an overall shift for menswear in the region. As a Virgil Abloh protégé and LVMH prize finalist, Ross represents a new generation of menswear designers who are approaching garment design from a multidisciplinary perspective. However, there are very few menswear brands in China with a similar avant-garde style and high fashion taste, providing designer labels like A-Cold-Wall an ample opportunity to grow — if it catches on.
Ross is confident about the readiness of Chinese male consumers to embrace the aesthetics and concept of A-Cold-Wall. “It always struck a chord with me that the more conceptual elements, such as our knitwear, were already understood in Shanghai back in 2018 and 2019,” says Ross. “It feels very organic to be able to tell a local story of the brand, which doesn't change the way in which the brand communicates.”


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The launch of a medieval puzzle-solving challenge has been hailed a howling success after hundreds of families attempted to solve cryptic riddles scattered across Chester city centre.
Deva Codex Wolf Quest launched on Saturday (10 October), inviting the public to try and unlock a 2,000-year-old mystery by unravelling a series of clues in locations such as Grosvenor Museum and retailers including Jack Wills, Specsavers and Lakeland Leather.
Characters in historical costumes and a pack of Siberian husky dogs animated the high street throughout the launch weekend as people of all ages took on the Wolf Quest, which is part of Chester Unlocked – the history and heritage project created by CH1ChesterBID and Big Heritage.
“Deva Codex Wolf Quest has really caught the public imagination and we’ve given out hundreds of bags to people wanting to take part over the launch weekend”, said Julie Charlton, Marketing Manager at CH1ChesterBID Company.
“All the Deva Codex challenges have been inspired by real-life events and people from Chester’s past, so we’re using that history to bring our city centre to life and encourage people to explore some of the city’s hidden heritage.
“The Wolf Quest is open until Saturday 31 October and it’s completely free, so we hope everyone will find the time to take on the challenge, have some fun with friends and family and learn a little bit about our beautiful city at the same time.”
Deva Codex Wolf Quest follows on from the popular Boar Quest and is the second instalment of a trilogy of free citywide mystery quests from Chester Unlocked.
Historical characters will be in the city centre every weekend throughout the rest of October handing out free Deva Codex Wolf Quest bags for people to take on the challenge. Clues must be submitted online at www.chesterunlocked.com/devacodex/ where people can find out if they have unlocked the mystery, with prizes of up to £300 to spend in the city on offer for those that successfully solve the riddles.
The free Deva Codex bags are also available in selected retailers across the city and in the following locations: The Grosvenor Museum; Chester’s Visitor Information Centre; Chester Cathedral; St John The Baptist’s Church (see www.chesterunlocked.com/devacodex for more information).
People can take part any time between 9am and 5pm (Mondays to Saturdays) and 11am and 4pm (Sundays).


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We last saw Huawei’s Ascend D2 after it leaked as it made its way through the FCC. Now we have several new photos of the device, which we’re expecting will make its official debut during the Consumer Electronics Show in just a couple of weeks.
As earlier leaks have suggested, we’re again hearing that the Android phablet will pack a 5-inch display with a full 1080p display, a quad-core processor, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, a massive 2,900mAh (or 3,000mAh, depending on the rumor you listen to) battery and a 13-megapixel camera. The device looks more rectangular than recent phablets, such as the DROID DNA, and clearly has sharper edges. I’m also not really digging the raised camera module on the back of the phone.
We’ll certainly know more about the Ascend D2 during CES, so stay tuned for photos and video.


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Here is a sneak peek at the new Sakura collection by @stenzhorn that will be presented at Baselworld watch and jewellery show next week.
‘We decided to design and represent the cherry blossom flower in a shape of a cup, as it symbolises life and the glorious way of living it,” says Anna Strarosti, Stenzhorn designer. 📖 Read the full article here:
30 255312:50 PM Mar 14, 2018
Cool off with Diamond Cluster Earrings paired with Invisibly Set Diamond Enhancers 💎


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Since supply chains are typically responsible for 80% of an organization’s carbon emissions, companies feel pressure to decarbonize logistics, and technology is the single biggest enabler when it comes to achieving net zero goals.
However, the technology is more advanced in some areas than others. Take drones, for example. In May, Walmart announced the largest drone delivery system in the United States, in a move designed to give it a competitive advantage in last-mile delivery.
The retail giant is looking to expand drone deliveries to six US states. As many as 4 million households will be able to pick up groceries and supplies by remote-controlled drones by the end of the year, according to Walmart.
The company says it will charge $3.99 per drone delivery, with a weight limit of 10 pounds, and enforce the safety principle: “If it fits securely, it flies.”
according to David Guginasenior vice president of supply chain, innovation and automation at Walmart, participating stores will feature a drone delivery center, with a team of certified pilots “who operate within FAA guidelines and manage flight operations for safe deliveries.”
“Once a customer places an order, the item is delivered from the store, packaged, loaded into the drone, and delivered straight to their yard using a cable that gently lowers the packaging,” he adds.
Last-mile drone technology ‘not ready for widespread use’
But Walmart hasn’t specified exactly how its massive fleet of drones will negotiate airspace concerns, nor how the machines will be operated.
Brandon RaelBusiness Transformation Leader at Capgemini Invent says that while automation is the last-mile future, drone technology is not ready for widespread adoption.
“Robots, automation and eventually drones will be the new standard for supply chain execution capabilities,” he says. “Automation and robotics will be an absolute must to reduce cost of service, reduce inefficiencies, and improve operations.”
But Rael adds that for widespread adoption, drone technology needs to improve: “The drone delivery model requires more work. It is built around supply chain implementation innovation but will require a crawling strategy to implement safely, with regulations and policies.” correct.
He goes on to explain that, as drones become more advanced, socially acceptable, and most importantly safe, “we can expect the drone delivery model to expand and companies to invest in this space.”
Gugina says using Walmart drones is ‘an exciting ride’
But for his part, Gugina calls Walmart’s drone initiative “an exciting ride.”
“Having completed hundreds of deliveries in just a few months across our existing DroneUp centers, we have seen first-hand how drones can offer customers a practical solution for getting certain items quickly. More importantly, we have seen a positive response from customers who have used the service. We have been We thought customers would use the service for emergency items but have found that they are actually using it for their absolute convenience, like a quick fix for a night meal.”
As Rael pointed out, the technology is much more advanced in the areas of robotics and automation than in drones, so its adoption in warehouse environments is long-term, and it’s at a point where solutions can be widely adopted.
Warehouse automation has a history of 120 years
Warehouse automation dates back 120 years, to the first conveyors, while automated storage and retrieval systems were first deployed in the 1950s.
But with robots starting to appear in greater numbers than ever before, many of today’s warehouses are reminiscent of something out of a science fiction movie. Moreover, the pace of adoption helps companies control carbon emissions in the supply chain more effectively.
Gavin HarrisonUK Sales Manager with Warehouse Automation Specialist, element logicsays it’s the boom in e-commerce — along with the ever-increasing demand for faster online order fulfillment — that is driving companies to invest in warehouse automation technologies.
He notes that these same companies, along with their customers, are increasingly concerned about their carbon footprint and sustainability practices.
“This combination of factors has led companies to look to warehousing operations for opportunities to reduce carbon emissions within the supply chain,” says Harrison. “Warehouses are a natural place to start, because around 90% of them worldwide still rely on manual processes, which is an inefficient use of both space and energy.”
“The more a company relies on humans to operate its warehouse facilities, the more energy it needs — particularly in terms of lighting and heating.”
Robots in warehouses can do without heat and light
Harrison adds that more people also makes workspaces less efficient “because humans can’t work efficiently with highly dense warehousing systems in the same way that warehouse robots can.”
He points out that buying more warehouses, or commissioning new facilities that are too expensive to build, is neither sustainable nor necessary when flexible warehouse automation systems can help companies increase existing space.
“Many warehouse automation systems help companies save significantly on energy bills, while avoiding unnecessary carbon emissions,” says Harrison. “For example, autostoring robots use rechargeable batteries and self-generate as much power as they require.” The total energy use of ten car storage robots uses about the same energy as the average vacuum cleaner.
Harrison also states that using flexible, automated warehouse storage and retrieval systems allows companies to set up warehouse operations in non-traditional environments — like the back of a high street store — without compromising storage density. These small fulfillment centers, also known as “dark depots,” can operate without lighting.
“Some warehouse robots can operate in the dark without the need for heating, both of which obviously help reduce energy use.”
He concludes: “Another major advantage of opening small fulfillment centers is that they can be located in urban centers, much closer to the end customer. This makes last-mile delivery less dependent on ground transportation, as customers can pick up orders directly from the fulfillment center. Little “.
#Automation #robotics #future #sustainable #logistics


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Angus Lindsay reflects on the flobal influence present at recent industry trade shows and the latest info from top manufacturers.
January saw a couple of interesting trade shows in the form of LAMMA (Lincolnshire Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Association) at the NEC, and the BTME (BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition) event at Harrogate. Despite tractor sales being down in the UK, the LAMMA event saw a strong turnout from both exhibitors and visitors – an encouraging sign that UK agriculture is unfazed by Brexit.
It was also encouraging to see suppliers more akin to our marketplace displaying wares at the NEC and getting a response from farmers looking to diversify from agriculture, venturing towards landscaping and grounds maintenance operations. This seemed to ring especially true with core machinery that could be utilised for verge mowing, hedge cutting, and earth moving.
Despite some of the larger manufacturers opting not to attend the event, there was room for several newcomers from eastern Asia, Turkey and India to display their wares in, everything from electric compact tractors to telehandlers. Whilst the price tag on these machines may be tempting, you need to do your homework in terms of compliance and back-up. Cheap is not always cheerful!
We also saw the first fully electric commercial compact tractor from Farmtrac, which are now being imported into the UK by Reesink, the Toro importer. The Indian-built machine is little changed from the standard tractor, albeit with a lithium battery. It will give six hours of run time and is aimed predominately at the horticulture and equestrian markets, or where noise and pollution can be an issue. Following close on its heels, but not shown at the LAMMA event, are further electric offerings from Kubota and ISEKI. The quiet revolution is upon us.
The BTME event saw a couple of surprises which echo the automotive industry’s move towards globalising product lines: firstly, it was no coincidence that the Kubota and Baroness stands were together. With Kubota having just celebrated its 130th year and having expanded into agriculture to challenge the likes of John Deere, New Holland, and the AGCO Corporation, it makes sense that it should align itself with a manufacturer of golf course equipment to further compete with John Deere, Toro, and Textron.
A bigger surprise was the announcement that Toro has bought the US-built Ventrac product, lock, stock and barrel. This multipurpose tool carrier was initially taken into the UK by Textron, but in the last couple of years under the guidance of Price Turfcare the product has seen its numbers grow steadily. It’s an extremely versatile machine, ideally suited to landscaping, amenity horticulture, agriculture, and more. Let’s hope the Toro influence doesn’t dilute this.
So, interesting times are upon us. Much as the Volkswagen Group bought several manufacturers and now has a range of vehicles under its umbrella to cater for all pockets and tastes from Skoda to Bugatti, it seems the machinery manufacturers are following suit too.
It’s not all about tractors either. Look at the American-owned Alamo Group, which controls nearly all the supply of tractor-mounted hedge cutters in the UK, be it Bomford, McConnel, Twose or Spearhead. It recently bought Dixie Chopper, who make a range of zero-turn machines which we probably won’t see in the UK. But, more importantly, it recently acquired Roberine mowers, a name previously lost when John Deere acquired that business decades ago.
Original Source: www.prolandscapermagazine.com


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A Seattle-based nonprofit launched to provide digital health solutions for poorer countries is applying its expertise to help with COVID-19 testing.
Audere is building software for administering rapid result COVID tests that can be integrated into products being developed by U.S. manufacturers that use saliva or nasal swab samples.
“There is a critical need for rapid testing,” said Philip Su, CEO and founder of Audere. People are increasingly realizing that the widespread distribution of a vaccine is still many months away. The availability of accurate, inexpensive tests that provide results in minutes can help control the spread of the virus in the meantime, Su said.
The tests — known generally as rapid diagnostic tests or RDTs — can have high rates of failure, though the basic concept is simple. Imagine a home pregnancy test, as an example. A liquid sample is applied to a testing device, the fluid travels across the testing material and triggers a chemical reaction if a target disease or hormone is present. That reaction is visible as a colored bar or other shape.
In the past 20 years, the tests have grown in popularity, particularly as tools used in low- and middle-income countries for detecting HIV and malaria. They can be administered in clinics by providers with limited medical expertise or by people at home.
The tests “are simple, easy to use, affordable and they’re stable,” said Roger Peck, a senior program officer in diagnostics at PATH, a longstanding global health nonprofit not affiliated with the project. “They’re becoming more and more commonplace, and really accepted by healthcare workers.”
But they’re not fail-proof. Studies show that the tests can give inaccurate results when people take the
(Bloomberg) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. reported a stronger-than-expected 22% rise in quarterly sales, buoyed by orders from its largest customers including Apple Inc.
The world’s largest contract chipmaker saw revenue for the three months to September climb to a record NT$356.4 billion ($12.4 billion), up from NT$293 billion a year earlier, according to Bloomberg calculations based on monthly sales data disclosed by TSMC. Fellow Taiwanese chipmakers United Microelectronics Corp. and MediaTek Inc. on Thursday also reported strong sales, suggesting a broad recovery in the industry.
TSMC in July raised its 2020 outlook, saying that revenue this year will grow by more than 20% in dollar terms. Sales for the first nine months of the year suggests that Apple’s main iPhone chipmaker is on track to meet its growth forecast as the Covid-19 pandemic fueled demand for home computing equipment.
The company’s business typically revs up in the months before Apple unveils new iPhones and the holiday season. It also likely received a boost during the quarter as its second-largest customer Huawei Technologies Co. raced to stockpile supplies before a U.S. ban on shipments to the Chinese telecom giant came into effect last month. Rival chipmaker Samsung Electronics Co. reported on Thursday earnings that beat analyst estimates after its mobile and chip businesses benefited from the curbs on Huawei.
“The demand strength will sustain and see an upside risk to TSMC’s 4Q20 revenue guidance to be announced next week,” Bernstein analysts led by Mark Li wrote in a note. “The ramp of iPhone is delayed but just makes 4Q20 sequentially stronger. Apple silicon is ramping and will fuel the momentum in 4Q20 too. More recently, Huawei’s competitors are aggressive in placing orders, all vying to gain the share left by Huawei.”
Monthly figures released
Seattle startup Strike Graph raised a $3.9 million seed round led by Madrona Venture Group.
The company, founded less than a year ago and spun out of Madrona Venture Labs, helps companies prepare for the cybersecurity certification process.
Most B2B organizations need to pass cybersecurity audits to ensure their service meets security and privacy standards. Strike Graph says its customers can earn a SOC 2 Type 1 certification in 45 days and save $50,000 in consultant fees thanks to automation and customization features.
The 5-person startup is led by CEO Justin Beals, a veteran of NextStep, Koru, Roundbox Global, and other startups, along with Brian Bero, who previously co-founded Seattle tech stalwart Apptio and recently sold security startup Greytwist to SmartRIA.
The idea for Strike Graph came about after Beals struggled with the SOC 2 process as the CTO of an AI startup getting through procurement. The biggest roadblock to closing deals was the security review process that could take anywhere from six months to two years with one client.
Beals said Strike Graph competes against legacy compliance platforms that have “empty databases” and require outside consultants.
“Some new entrants into the market are overly prescriptive and don’t allow companies flexibility in their security practices,” he added. “Our platform carefully threads the difference so that companies can efficiently adjust Strike Graph to meet their current cybersecurity practices.”
GeekWire previously reported on the company in May. It launched just as the COVID-19 pandemic began in the U.S., though Beals said demand for Strike Graph’s initial pilot offering was high.
“This team is going after a large and significantly growing opportunity to serve a sharp pain point for B2B businesses,” Madrona wrote in a blog post. “Strike Graph defines what we
The total number of Covid-19 cases recorded in the UK since the start of the pandemic has exceeded 500,000, with official figures for the number of patients in hospital beginning to rise as the number of cases also increase around the country.
It comes as Boris Johnson warned the nation that the Covid-19 crisis will remain “bumpy until Christmas and possibly beyond” on Sunday.
Here is your daily roundup of coronavirus news you may have missed overnight.
An “artificially high” new daily record of almost 23,000 new Covid-19 cases were recorded in the UK on Sunday night due to a computer glitch, said the government.
Public Health England said its official Covid dashboard failed to count more than 15,000 positive results reported between 25 September and 2 October, and added it to the figures for the weekend, resulting in record rises of 12,872 on Saturday and 22,961 on Sunday.
The backlog meant contact tracing for those cases had potentially been delayed for over a week. While officials insisted it had not affected “decision-making in local areas”, the glitch has been criticised by Labour as “shambolic”.
Less than half of the UK population could receive a vaccination against coronavirus, said the head of the country’s vaccine taskforce.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Kate Bingham said officials were hoping to vaccinate around 30 million adults in the UK, which has a population of around 67 million, adding: “We just need to vaccinate everyone at risk”.
She said there would be no vaccination of people under the age of 18, and that it would be “an adult-only vaccine for people over 50”, focusing on health workers, care home workers and the vulnerable.
Lord Bethell, a health minister, has compared the UK government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic to the staging of the


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For one self-starter, a bad experience spun a new business venture
Adella Colvin began her yarn-dyeing business, LolaBean Yarn Co., after noting how few makers of color there were in the industry.
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Amid the global pandemic, even supply chains get sick. The director of a polyester yarn factory in Honduras describes how COVID-19 is affecting business.
Britain's textile industry gets an unexpected boost from COVID-19
After the coronavirus lockdown in China, British clothing retailers turn back to British manufacturers.
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Spoiler alert: It features a clash between NASA and Playtex, the women's underwear company.
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Hint: It's tariffs.
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The drive for environmental sustainability will need to pick up if it is to match the industry's rapid growth.
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Clothes that can hear
And make noise and sense light. Why do these stories always happen at MIT? http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20010254-264.html


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Struggling sellers in Toronto’s rental current market are bringing a wave of units for lease to the downtown main.
“We’ve started out to shift a great deal of sellers into the rental industry,” suggests Christopher Bibby, broker with Re/Max Hallmark Bibby Team Realty.
Some annoyed house owners are trimming their asking cost and nevertheless not getting showings, claims Mr. Bibby, who estimates that condominium prices in the town have slipped amongst 6 and eight for every cent since the peak in early spring.
Very last week Mr. Bibby had six listings for sale this week, three of the attributes are heading up for lease.
He details to the common Hudson building at the corner of King Avenue West and Spadina Avenue. Till March, models offered inside of a pair of times at large premiums earlier mentioned the asking price.
Mr. Bibby experienced a person unit prepped and polished for sale but it nonetheless sat on the marketplace for 60 times. The owner made the decision to uncover a new tenant instead and the device drew a number of provides.
Mr. Bibby suggests he can have an understanding of why potential buyers are nervous when they are grappling with soaring inflation and a string of desire fee hikes by the Bank of Canada. Several are betting that house price ranges have farther to slide.
Consumer self-confidence in Canada has recently plunged to crisis-era amounts – and that studying was recorded in advance of the central bank’s 100 foundation points interest level hike in July, suggests Stephen Brown, senior Canada economist at Funds Economics.
Toronto could confront wave of condominium challenge cancellations as expenses rise
He believes the central bank’s shock methods will weigh greatly on client sentiment.
Mr. Brown now forecasts that the variable mortgage loan rate will rise to 5.3 for each cent. That compares with a 1.3 for every cent price at the conclude of 2021.
The adjustments have turned buyers’ “fear of lacking out” into paralysis.
Mr. Bibby factors to the distinction amongst right now and the depth of very last slide and winter season, when his team may well line up four to six houses a buyer could see the subsequent day. In advance of they could get in the doorway, two would have currently sold and one more would be in the center of an offer.
Now the very same potential buyers can see that line-up of properties the up coming working day and 4 to six new kinds later on in the week. At that time, the unique batch will continue to be on the sector.
The abundance of alternative gives consumers the perception they can get their time.
“There’s just not this perception of urgency. Potential buyers want discounts, but substantial deals, to protect by themselves from the foreseeable future.”
At the same time, sellers are resisting any downward strain, Mr. Bibby says.
“If they cannot get their price, they are not heading to offer. It is interesting that there is a stand-off.”
Condo income in the Larger Toronto Region plunged 40 per cent in June when compared with June, 2021, according to the Toronto Regional Genuine Estate Board, whilst the average value jumped 9.3 for each cent in the exact same period.
Mr. Bibby suggests a single seller resolved to lease his device soon after a customer came in with an aggressive give that was only superior for a couple of hrs. The selling price-for each-square foot on offer was really a report for the developing, he adds, but the seller pulled the listing.
“Their approach just soured the course of action,” Mr. Bibby suggests of the buyer’s get-it-or-leave it present.
The GTA has found the variety of terminated apartment listings surge 643 per cent given that January, in accordance to genuine estate system Strata.ca.
To Anna Wong, a authentic estate agent with Strata, the cancelled listings signal that sellers are not having the selling prices they want, and they are incredulous at the improve.
“They’re saying, ‘I cannot get what my neighbour obtained a thirty day period back?’”
In January, Strata recorded 380 cancelled listings in the apartment section. In June, that amount swelled to 2,822.
Listings are normally cancelled right after a property has been mentioned with an provide day but fails to promote. In other cases, a apartment languishes on the current market for months and the deal concerning the seller and the listing agent expires.
A lot of of those people homes will reappear on the market with a revised inquiring value.
If the initial inquiring cost was established under current market benefit in get to spark a bidding war, the new price tag could be higher as the seller attempts a various approach.
If the home sat at a bloated rate with out advertising, the device probably reappears with a price tag cut, states Ms. Wong.
Ms. Wong mentioned a single apartment at the commencing of Might with an inquiring price tag of $599,000 and an present day. The unit offered conditionally for $740,000 but the buyer’s funding fell by way of.
Ms. Wong relisted the unit at $740,000 with no offer you date but prospective buyers didn’t even e-book showings. Just after a couple of price tag cuts, she experimented with it at $696,200.
A customer arrived in with a lowball supply, but the seller held company. The identical customer then paid the entire inquiring rate.
“It’s outrageous how promptly the industry changed,” Ms. Wong states. “If you did a $599,000 now, no one would give you $740,000.”
Ms. Wong notes that the condo market also saw a pause for a few months for the duration of the pandemic in 2020, but profits picked up once again the moment vaccines started off to arrive.
“I assume right now it’s a little bit extra critical,” she states, pointing to climbing inflation and interest charges.
Ms. Wong says she’s recognized a chill when it arrives to properties over $1-million simply because consumers need a down payment of 20-for each-cent previously mentioned that threshold. Lots of are no extended able to qualify.
As a result, two-bed room, two-bathtub condos that employed to fetch extra than $1-million are now stated in the $850,000 to $870,000 vary.
“The 1-million mark is hard to hit now,” she states.
For one-bedroom condos devoid of parking, the entry amount has dropped to the small $500,000s, claims Ms. Wong, pointing to the 30 towers in the CityPlace local community downtown. In January, 400-square-foot studios were being likely for that amount of money, she says.
Ms. Wong also sees entrepreneurs who failed to offer leasing out their models instead mainly because the rental current market is sizzling.
Rental rental inventories in the GTA have dropped 60 for every cent from January levels, Strata’s facts crunching reveals.
One particular explanation rentals are in these desire is that some house owners are promoting their existing attributes, then renting with the hope of obtaining once again when rates have arrive down even extra.
Ms. Wong not too long ago received six offers for a just one-bed room unit with parking at 4K Spadina Ave. The unit, with an inquiring price tag of $2,190 for each thirty day period, was leased for $2,250.
“We’re in all probability heading to see a bump in rentals in September when landlords give up on marketing,” she suggests.
Ms. Wong suggests traders have been peaceful these days since – even when a unit looks like a excellent deal – they can not make the math get the job done with the increased fascination charges.
Wanting ahead, Ms. Wong states inventory may perhaps diminish and rates might strengthen just after Labour Day, but that could bring about one more swell in listings.
“If folks do perfectly in September and the neighbours see that, they’ll say ‘we’re likely to offer far too,’” she states. “All of a unexpected you have 3,000 listings versus 600.”
Your property is your most beneficial asset. We have a weekly Actual Estate e-newsletter to enable you continue to be on prime of news on the housing industry, mortgages, the newest closings and more. Indication up currently.


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Many brands are starting to see a recovery despite the challenges initially brought on by the pandemic. Some businesses, especially ones that focused efforts on expanding e-commerce ventures, have even seen profits rise even higher than before.
HYPEBEAST has rounded up the top business and crypto stories of the week so you can stay in the know about trends across industries.
1. Apple rolled out iOS 15
The latest operating system update is meant to pair with new features in Apple’s updated iPhone, iPad and Watch lineup. iOS 15 offers several key new features to enhance the iPhone user experience and widen communications capabilities across Apple devices.
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2. Microsoft held its Fall 2021 event and rolled out a new Surface lineup
The event offered a major revamp of Microsoft’s entire Surface lineup optimized for its upcoming Windows 11 operating system update. The range is designed with adaptability and functionality in mind.
3. New data reveals the countries with the fastest internet speeds
Earlier this month, web analytics service Speedtest by Ookla released their annual roundup of global internet speeds, noting improvements to both mobile and fixed broadband speeds around the world. Countries with the fastest internet speeds have remained relatively consistent over the last three years.
4. Nike reported its Q1 2022 results
The company noted Q1 revenues of $12.2 billion USD and diluted earnings per share for the quarter of $1.16 USD. However, it also cut its sales expectations and placed blame on delays due to ongoing supply chain disruptions.
5. NASA’s Artemis Rover will explore the dark side of the moon in 2023
NASA‘s first mobile robotic mission on the moon has been planned for 2023. Named VIPER, it will be sent to the moon’s Nobile Crater in 2023 with the task of discovering resources and mapping where water exists.
1. Robinhood will begin testing crypto wallets
Starting next month, the new Robinhood crypto wallets will allow users to easily move supported cryptocurrencies to and from other wallets. Security features include multi-factor authentication, and email/phone verification to keep the coins free from threats.
2. Bitcoin fell by more than $2,000 USD after China cracked down
China’s central bank announced that all transactions of cryptocurrencies are now illegal financial activities in the country. It claimed that cryptocurrency-related business “seriously endangers the safety of people’s assets.”
3. Twitter rolls out Bitcoin tipping
Twitter announced the rollout of its Tips feature and said it would soon enable Bitcoin tipping. In addition, the company said it plans to allow users to connect to their crypto wallets and verify NFT ownership.
4. Tiger Woods released several signed NFTs
The Tiger Woods NFT collection – designed with assistance from Tiger himself – will allow sports enthusiasts to bid on a selection of autographed digital memorabilia. This sequence of Woods’ signed collections is the latest addition to the Preseason Access Collection by Autograph.
5. This father-son hacking duo is helping people crack into their lost Bitcoin wallets
Chris and Charlie Brooks — self-proclaimed “ethical hackers” — are on a mission to help people who have forgotten the passwords to their Bitcoin wallets and could be sitting on a trove of missing assets waiting to be discovered. Read their interview with HYPEBEAST here.
Source: Read Full Article


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Lamborghini unveils its first plug-in hybrid concept, the Lamborghini Asterion LPI 910-4, making its world debut at the 2014 Paris Mondial de l’Automobile.
That’s correct, you’re looking at the first gasoline-electric hybrid Lamborghini.
Conceived and developed entirely in-house by Lamborghini, the Asterion LPI 910-4 takes the design and cutting-edge engineering expertise found in the current Lamborghini product range, adding innovative hybrid technology, creating thus a Lamborghini that is clearly different – with a new, unexpected and sensual design, in line with the technical characteristics of the car – but yet is still unmistakeably a Lamborghini.
“Lamborghini is always looking ahead, investing in new technologies and setting new benchmarks, delivering the unexpected,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.
As this is more of a proof of concept than anything else, there’s no word on pricing and availability, or whether more than one will even be made.
Christopher Parr, is the Editor and Chief Content Creator for Pursuitist, and a contributing writer to USA Today, Business Insider — and the on-air host of Travel Tuesday on Live at 4 CBS. He is an award-winning luxury marketing veteran, writer, a frequent speaker at luxury and interactive marketing conferences and a pioneer in web publishing. Named a "Top 10 Luxury Travel Blogger” by USA Today, Parr has also been selected as the official winner in Luxury Lifestyle Awards’ 2023 list of the “Top 50 Best Luxury Influencers and Bloggers in the World.”


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For the seventh time in the last 20 years, a new vendor will run Barron’s downtown food store.
But the chief executive officer of the newest owner, KJ’s Fresh Markets, believes his company can succeed in Barron and two other area communities, including Cornell and Chetek, even though its former owner failed.
Native North Dakotan Keith Johanneson owns and operates Johanneson’s Inc., of Bemidji, Minn.
His company includes stores in several Upper Midwestern states, and has some 1,600 full- and part-time employees.
“We have been in business 78 years,” Johanneson said shortly after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Barron store on Wednesday morning, Aug. 14, 2019.
“Our suppliers (Twin Cities-Based grocery wholesaler SpartanNash) took over these (Wisconsin) stores and they approached us to take them on.”
Johanneson said he was aware of the financial issues faced by former owner Gordy’s Market, Inc., and how the Chippewa Falls-based supermarket chain was forced into receivership by SpartanNash and other creditors.
That process led to the court-ordered breakup of the family-owned Gordy’s supermarket chain, left many creditors with unpaid or partially paid bills, and caused uncertainty among thousands of Barron area customers.
But – aside from knowing what happened – the new store owner said he didn’t want to comment further about what happened in the past.
There were opportunities and challenges faced by KJ’s Fresh Markets when the company agreed to purchase the three Wisconsin locations, Johanneson added.
The good news: “Of the three former Gordy’s stores we agreed to take on, Barron was the largest operation and was in the biggest market,” he said.
The bad news: “The physical plant here was a disaster,” Johanneson said. “We have spent a lot of money improving the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, computer operations and other fixtures.”
For passersby, there were visible signs of the financial commitment. Shortly before it reopened, KJ’s Fresh Market had its downtown Barron parking lot re-sealed and re-striped. Two weeks ago, a crane placed a large piece of equipment on the roof of the building.
“That was a condenser we had installed to run our air conditioning and refrigeration units in the store,” Johanneson said. “The old equipment was really shot.”
During a short tour of the building, the CEO pointed out new LED lighting in the store’s freezer cabinets, saying it was an energy- and money-saving effort.
“You put a light bulb in a freezer, and you wonder why it costs so much to run,” Johanneson said. “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that.”
Customers are already seeing some changes inside the store, too, he added.
“Our size, as a company, should help,” Johanneson said. “We have already dropped more than 2,400 prices in this store. I believe our produce department has improved, too.
“We’re going to be adding a pet store here,” he added. “It will be … the same kinds of products that larger pet stores sell. That should be happening in mid-September. We also plan to add a line of dollar merchandise, to offer more value to our customers.”
The new owners will continue to buy from local suppliers, Johanneson said.
“Our corn is grown locally, and we’ll continue to deal with (Turtle Lake-based) North Country Cheese,” he said.
After the company made physical improvements, its next challenge was reassuring the former Gordy’s employees about their future.
“Our first week we were here, we had a quiet introduction,” Johanneson said. “We talked about the values we have as a company, that we’re family-oriented,” he added. “It really helped to settle the employees down. They were scared.”
Later, the Barron store workers attended a presentation by the company’s human relations department.
“(We) talked about our benefit package, the medical insurance and 401(k) plan,” he said. “It really lit a fire under the employees.”
The new owners pride themselves on community involvement, according to Johanneson.
He said Thomas K. Zaucha, a longtime director of the National Grocers Association, retired seven years ago. In his honor, the Thomas Zaucha Award was created to recognize (the grocery executive who best exemplifies) marketing and community involvement.
KJ’s Fresh Market has earned that award in 2011 and again in 2017, thanks, in part, to its community-based efforts, according to Johanneson.
“We created the ‘Stuff a Truck’ campaign,” he said. “We place tote boxes at local elementary schools. The little kids receive letters that they take home to their parents (asking for donated food items). Then, just before Thanksgiving, we park a truck in our store parking lot. The donated food is packed into it. Our staff members also help out. Then, we donate it all to the local food pantry.”
There will be a Stuff A Truck campaign at the KJ’s Barron this Thanksgiving, Johanneson said.
“We also organize a motorcycle Ride for Troops as a fundraiser for the military,” he added. “The Boy Scouts are asked to help out. Over the years, we have raised $500,000, (which was) donated to veterans’ groups to spend as they see fit.”
The business also sent out $30,000 in phone cards to the National Guard, so that deployed military personnel could call home, Johanneson said.
“Our most recent ride included 500 bikes in our (Bemidji, Minn.) parking lot,” he said. “When they started, it sounded like thunder. It brings tears to your eyes to see seven miles of (motorcycles) stretched out on the road.”
KJ’s also donates Mexican food to area hospitals so they can have taco dinners as fundraisers, Johanneson added.