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Both sides in a long-running case are tasting positive notes after a federal agency ruling on how wines from West Bank settlements should be labeled.
In a statement on May 13, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said two wines made in Jewish settlements on the West Bank, both labeled as “Product of Israel” without “clarifying information,” are considered “false” under consumer protection statutes.
The parties say much hinges on the words “clarifying information” and its possible inclusion in future labeling.
Those advocating for Israel welcomed the decision, saying it means the wineries at the centre of the case may keep the “Product of Israel” label on their bottles so long as they add information indicating that the contents are produced in an area of the West Bank administered by Israel.
Those on the other side of the debate also welcomed the statement from the CFIA, saying it means that “Product of Israel” labels violate consumer protection laws. But, cautioned one, matters are far from settled.
The ruling’s references to “clarifying information” could leave the door open for labels to keep the “Made in Israel” designation in addition to other identifiers about their origin, says a lawyer for one of the wineries at the centre of the dispute.
“We are pleased that the (CFIA) has permitted our client to keep the ‘Product of Israel’ label on its wines along with clarifying information, rather than following the utterly misguided European decision to ban the ‘Israel’ label altogether,” said David Elmaleh, a Toronto-based lawyer for the Psagot winery, located in an Israeli settlement north of Jerusalem.
Elmaleh told The CJN that he and the winery’s international legal team “are examining this decision closely and look forward to incorporating additional context to ensure that Israeli businesses operating in the West Bank continue to proudly and prominently display their ‘Product of Israel’ labels.”
He said the CFIA ruling “appears to leave open the possibility” that Psagot products can be labeled, for example, as “Product of Israel: Made in the Indigenous Jewish homeland in the Israeli-administered West Bank” or “Product of Israel: Made in the Shomron on land administered by the State of Israel.’
“Psagot winery will have no trouble adding this context to its labels,” Elmaleh said.
Dimitri Lascaris, a lawyer representing the complainant in the case, wrote that he and his client were pleased with the CFIA decision that Product of Israel labels on wines made in Israel’s “illegal West Bank settlements violate Canadian consumer protection law.”
However, the decision’s wording “leaves considerable room for more chicanery,” Lascaris warned on his website on May 14.
He noted that the CFIA did not declare explicitly what label it would consider to be appropriate. Rather, it simply stated that the wines were not produced within Israel’s internationally recognized boundaries, and that there is nothing on the labels to inform a consumer that they were made in the West Bank.
“As a result of this unfortunate formulation, we can easily imagine that the producers of West Bank settlement products will now employ labels on which the phrase, ‘Product of Israel’ is prominently displayed, but which is accompanied by the phrase (in small print) ‘Territory administered by Israel,’” Lascaris wrote.
Going forward, he said these products must disclose explicitly that they were produced in an Israeli settlement that is situated on “Occupied Palestinian Territory.” The phrase “territory administered by Israel” would be “grossly inadequate,” Lascaris said.
He said this legal odyssey could continue based on the ruling’s wording or whether Psagot seeks a judicial review of it.
The wines at the centre of the case were from the Psagot and Shiloh wineries, both kosher and both manufactured in post-1967 Jewish settlements.
The CFIA stressed that its ruling relates only to these two labels and that it is not its role “to suggest accurate labels or to approve labels.”
The statement is the latest chapter in a drawn-out saga that began in 2017, when Jewish pro-Palestinian activist David Kattenburg of Winnipeg complained to Ontario’s Liquor Control Board (LCBO) that products from the two wineries originated in “unlawful” Jewish settlements on the West Bank and were mislabeled as “Product of Israel.”
Hearing nothing from the LCBO, he took the case to the CFIA, which sided with him and ordered the liquor board to remove the wines from shelves.
But when Jewish advocacy groups erupted in protest and a member of Parliament got involved, the agency abruptly reversed course and said the wines could be sold under the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement, which it had not previously considered. The CFIA said it regretted its earlier decision to pull the wines.
Kattenburg appealed to the CFIA’s Complaints and Appeals Office, which upheld the reversal.
He then sought a judicial review at the Federal Court, which reversed course in 2019, ruling that “Product of Israel” labels on wines made in settlements in the West Bank and Golan Heights were “false, misleading and deceptive” because territories conquered by Israel in 1967 are not recognized in international law, including by Canada, as part of Israel proper.
The Federal Court also ruled that identifying settlement wines “incorrectly” as produced in Israel inhibits consumers from expressing their “political views through their purchasing choices, thereby limiting their Charter-protected right to freedom of expression.”
The government appealed, and a year ago, the Federal Court of Appeal sent the case back to the CFIA, saying the agency was not bound by the lower court’s finding and may arrive at any outcome, provided it was reasonable.
In its most recent statement, the CFIA said its redetermination is not focused on whether a country of origin needs to be included on the labels in question. Rather, the agency must determine whether “Product of Israel” on the label of the two wines in question is “false, misleading or deceptive, or likely to create an erroneous impression related to its origin, given the totality of the information provided on the label.”
The CFIA said it was told by Global Affairs that Canada’s policy is that “there is no recognized country where the two wines in question were produced, although these wines were produced in an area administered by the State of Israel.”
The CFIA also found that the Charter of Rights had no application in its decision. “With respect to freedom of conscience, consumer choice in selecting a wine remains unrestricted by the government, allowing consumers to continue to act in line with their conscience,” the agency stated.
In its ruling last May, the Federal Court of Appeal asked the parties to provide written submissions to the CFIA. According to Lascaris, Kattenburg’s filing included land deeds issued by Israeli authorities showing that the Psagot winery was situated “entirely on land stolen from its Palestinian owners.”
The submission to the CFIA by Psagot was similarly blunt.
Psagot wines “are produced by Israelis under the auspices of an Israeli company in an Israeli community subject to Israeli law in Israeli territory. Put simply, Psagot Winery proudly produces wines that are products of Israel,” its brief stated.
The two wines at the centre of the dispute were available at the time of Kattenburg’s complaint. A year ago, the LCBO said the last wines from Shiloh were sold in October 2016 and February 2017 for wines from Psagot. At the time, the board also provided The CJN with a list of 56 wines and liqueurs it sells that are “sourced from Israel,” without specifying whether some are in post-1967 territories.
In late 2019, Europe’s highest court ruled in a case involving Psagot that foodstuffs originating “in territories occupied by the State of Israel must bear the indication of their territory of origin.”
While the CFIA’s decision “is not perfectly reasoned, the result puts Canada in line with almost all the nations of the world, which allow the ‘Product of Israel’ label for such goods,” said legal scholar Prof. Eugene Kontorovich, who was engaged by the U.S.-based Lawfare Project, which acted as co-counsel in the Canadian court cases, to submit an expert opinion on behalf of Psagot.
In a statement on May 16, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, which supports the international boycott campaign against Israel, hailed the CFIA ruling, saying it “deals a huge blow to those seeking to normalize Israel’s illegal settlement enterprise through trade.”
The Montreal-based group said it “insists” that future labels must identify their products’ origin in “illegal settlements, rather than use generic labels such as ‘West Bank’ or ‘Israeli-controlled territory.’”
The CFIA said that later this year, it intends to engage in a consultation process in which input will be sought from stakeholders “on policy relating to what might be acceptable origin declarations in this and similar circumstances.”
Said Elmaleh: “Our client will continue to unapologetically advocate—and if necessary, litigate—to protect and advance the truth.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) pointed out that the CFIA decision did not say that “Product of Israel” labels violate Canadian consumer protection law, or that a country-of-origin label was even necessary for the wines in question.
“Such labelling is purely voluntary,” and wines could be labelled as “Product of Israel” provided the producer added more context, Richard Marceau, CIJA’s vice-president, external affairs and general counsel, told The CJN.
As for the status of the locations in question, Marceau said the food agency’s ruling was “clear: This is not a matter to be determined by the CFIA.”
The agency’s statement that there is no recognized country where the two wines in question were produced reflects “longstanding” Canadian policy on the issue. The territories are “disputed, and that dispute can only be resolved through direct negotiations between the parties to the conflict, a position CIJA has long held,” Marceau stated.
“The complainant’s attempt to use Canada’s legal system to dictate a position on the status of the territories outside (Israel’s founding) 1948 lines has failed.”


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‘The biggest change we made was enabling essential transport on the app’: PickMe on how they’ve scaled operations
PickMe, which rose to the occasion during the first wave of Covid with the delivery of essentials and groceries, in partnership with Litro, Lanka Sathosa, Unilever, CBL, Velona Cuddles, and many others, it seems, has once again gone the extra mile to ensure the safety of Sri Lankan citizens by implementing many programmes and precautionary measures.
Throughout the first few lockdowns earlier this year which were introduced in March, PickMe was able to cater to the needs of over 400,000 households during the initial lockdown period, around the island.
PickMe Head of Marketing and Communications Gowshik Sathiyasiva, speaking to Brunch, shared some insight on how they have been faring during the pandemic.
During the last lockdown, Sathiyasiva explained that PickMe launched a special hotline service for tourists and essential services, where over 4,000 tourists were able to reach the airport to get home safely. The efforts of PickMe were welcomed by the Tourism Ministry, the Prime Minister, and many others. Currently, PickMe is working to ensure the safety of its driver-partners by helping 1,000-plus get the Covid-19 vaccine in Sri Lanka and carrying out 100-plus random PCR tests. “We even paid our driver-partners for the amount of time that they had to take off work to go and get their vaccines, so they wouldn’t face any shortcomings financially.” On top of all this, Sathiyasiva added that the company has assisted the authorities in setting up temperature-monitoring checkpoints in Colombo, Kandy, and Peradeniya.
Sathiyasiva described that they can see a good uptake in demand for the “Food”, “Flash”, and “Market” options on the app during times of travel restrictions, adding that they are honoured to have been supporting the nation to move at the time of need.
Their most recent gesture towards helping people of the country was to offer Rs. 200 off their ride to get the Covid-19 vaccine. This promotion was valid from 15-21 May, and as Sathiyasiva observed, most vaccination centres are very close to one’s home, so the ride was practically free.
Since travel restrictions are in place, while vaccination programmes are still ongoing, we asked Sathiyasiva what people who don’t have vehicles can do in order to get to their respective vaccination centres. He commented that they are still able to book a PickMe through the app, as they have instructed their drivers to have a chat with the customer about their needs. “We are in operation for emergency travel purposes even during the travel restrictions so the public can travel to hospitals and vaccination centres. We even offer transport to those who are deemed essential workers and are instructed to report to work even during restrictions.” On asking him how such an option came about, he explained that they had implemented a special hotline last lockdown that was flooded with requests from people asking for vehicles for emergency travel like going to the hospital or to work. They saw the need in the market and this time, made the option of booking a vehicle available on the app itself for the customers’ convenience. He also added that not only do they get requests from citizens in Colombo, but also people located in suburban areas like Kurunegala, Kalutara, Kandy, and many more from other areas they cater to. He stated that they have ample driver-partners who are more than willing to work during travel restrictions, so there is no shortage of vehicles.
The first lockdown hit the hardest, as no one was prepared or saw it coming; over the last few curfews and lockdowns, businesses evolved and found novel ways to cater to the people. We asked Sathiyasiva what PickMe learned from the previous lockdowns, and what changes they made accordingly, to which he responded, saying: “The biggest change we made was enabling essential transport on the app. Other than that, we also understood what groceries and essential household needs were in demand by the public, so this time, we have partnered with over 1,000 vendors, from small-scale businesses to the big names, to meet the needs of everyone.” He explained that even in terms of food, they have partnered with global chains like McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and more, and also given a market space for small-scale food businesses in order to support them through trying times, whilst also offering their customers inexpensive options.
Talking about some of the challenges they faced during the pandemic, Sathiyasiva commented that it was how they could ensure everyone’s safety. “Another problem was making sure the drivers adhered to the Covid regulations, such as the number of passengers allowed, wearing a mask at all times, and sanitising before and after a hire.” After facing a few obstacles and overcoming them, PickMe is now one of the safest options to take a ride at this time. The app supports several forms of digital payments, allowing you and your driver to minimise contact by not exchanging cash. We asked Sathiyasiva what further moves have taken place in order to ensure the safety of their customers, to which he commented that they have placed separators in over 6,000 tuks and approximately 500 tuks have been placed with hand washing units, in partnership with Keells, S-lon, and the Rotary Club of Colombo Metropolitan. “We are working with the Sri Lanka Police to ensure all of our vehicle fleets abide by the regulations put in place. We are committed to continuously communicate this to our customers and drivers regularly on digital and physical touchpoints.” He further explained that they have also launched an in-app driver verification system; if they have a temperature above 37 degree Celsius, they are immediately paused from service and are directed to the local public health inspector (PHI), so a customer would never have to come across a driver that may have Covid.
In case either a driver or a customer turns out to be Covid positive, PickMe has a natively built pioneering contact tracing technology – that has been in operation since March 2021 – to track down anyone who may have contracted the virus through the first contact. Aside from this, PickMe also implemented a mechanism that sent all their drivers a video by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Covid regulations, as soon as they logged into their app in the morning.

domain: news


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Despite the heartbreaking news of HP terminating its webOS products – not everybody’s feeling down about it. Microsoft recently took advantage about the situation and extended a hand to webOS developers by offering free phones, dev tools and training. In just 22 hours after the announcement was made, over 500 developers expressed their interest in jumping onboard the Windows Phone development team, surely with many more on the way.
While Windows Phone has already shown tremendous signs of growth in the app department, the addition of 500+ developers to its developer army would help ensure the app ecosystem reach the coveted “largest app store” status in no time (assuming it continues to grow at its breakneck speed). Either way, all’s fair in the battle for mobile operating supremacy, and nobody’s stopping the other platforms from doing the same thing. The best part about this news is that webOS-only developers won’t be out of work for long – assuming they do make the switch over to WP.
Next Story: Hulu Could Be Bought for $2B
- 2014-04-15: WP 8.1 GDR2 Update Could Support 2K Displays And Snapdragon 805 [Rumor]
- 2014-04-14: Windows Phone 8.1 Preview Version Revealed
- 2014-04-14: Windows Phone 8.1 Developer Preview Could Be Released Today [Rumor]
- 2014-04-13: Microsoft Looks Into 3D Face Scanner Using Windows Phone Handset
- 2014-04-10: Age Of Empires: World Domination Greets iOS, Android And Windows Phone Platforms This Year
- 2011-12-12: Unlocked Windows Phone devices get homebrew themes
- 2011-12-08: Nokia and T-Mobile event on December 14th
- 2011-11-30: AT&T Dell Venue Pro Mango update finally arrives
- 2011-11-29: Try Windows Phone 7 on your iOS/Android smartphone
- 2010-03-15: Windows Phone 7 SDK and tools available, for free


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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday announced that it is putting a hold on its order to ban Juul electronic cigarettes.
In June, the FDA ordered the removal of all Juul products from store shelves. The move, as reported by Rebel News, was made despite the FDA’s admission that it has not received any clinical information to suggest that the vapes pose an immediate hazard to consumers.
The agency announced on Twitter that the stay of the ban suspends the marketing denial order while it conducts a further review. Despite the announcement, the FDA says it has not rescinded the order.
“FDA administratively stayed the marketing denial order. The agency has determined that there are scientific issues unique to the JUUL application that warrant additional review,” the FDA stated.
“This administrative stay temporarily suspends the marketing denial order during the additional review but does not rescind it,” it added. “All electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS products, including those made by JUUL, are required by law to have FDA authorization to be legally marketed. The stay and the agency’s review does not constitute authorization to market, sell, or ship JUUL products.”
The initial move by the FDA to pull Juul from the marketplace was part of a massive effort by the agency to bring scientific scrutiny to the vaping industry following years of regulatory delays.
For companies like Juul and other vape manufacturers to remain on the market, producers must show that their e-cigarettes are beneficial to public health. Effectively, this means proving that adult smokers who use them will be likely to quit or reduce their consumption of cigarettes, and that teenagers will not be likely to develop an addiction to vaping.
“A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit granted Juul’s request for a hold while the court reviews the case,” the Associated Press reported.


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A 170-carat pink diamond discovered in Angola may be the largest such gemstone found in 300 years, according to Australian miner Lucapa Diamond Company.
Named the “Lulo Rose,” the diamond was found at the Lulo alluvial diamond mine in the Lunda Norte region of Angola in Africa, the company said in a statement on Wednesday, with its partners, state-run diamond miner Endiama and Rosas & Petalas, a private Angolan company.
Angola’s mines are among the world’s top ten producers of diamonds, according to the Gemological Institute of America, which researches diamond production. In alluvial diamond mining, stones are recovered from gravel and sand found on riverbeds.
Rare inlaid Stradivari violin could fetch $11 million at auction
Only one in 10,000 diamonds found are colored, according to Stephen Wetherall, managing director of the Lucapa Diamond Company.
“And only one in every 100 diamonds is greater than 10.8 carats in size, so recovering a 170-carat pink diamond means we are dealing with an extremely rare article,” Wetherall said.
“We have recovered pink diamonds before, but finding one this size is extremely rare,” he said.
The pink gemstone is expected be auctioned by the Angolan state diamond marketing company, Sodiam. Wetherall declined to give an estimate of its worth because the diamond is still being examined and valued.
The Angolan government also hailed the “historic” recovery of the gem.


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Greenwich Capital Group (“GCG”) is pleased to announce its role as the exclusive financial advisor to Great Lakes Potato Chip Company (“GLPCC” or the “Company”) on its sale to LaSalle Capital (“LaSalle”). This transaction adds to GCG’s extensive experience in the consumer-branded goods and food and beverage sector.
About the Transaction
Founded by Ed and Chris Girrbach in 2009, Great Lakes Potato Chip Company has been producing high-quality, hand-crafted kettle chips, with the skin on, that are lighter on the palate and have a great crunch and delicious flavor. The Company was founded on Midwestern principles of hard work, character, and purpose. GLPCC’s product is produced in Michigan with almost 100% Midwestern potatoes. The Company services its community by supporting local agriculture and the surrounding community.
David Murav, Partner at LaSalle Capital, said, “We could not be more excited to partner with Chris and the entire Great Lakes team. They have developed a great-tasting product and incredible brand, and we look forward to accelerating growth to new states and accounts so that more consumers have access to these fantastic chips.” Andrew Dzwonchyk, Partner at LaSalle Capital, added, “Ed and Chris built a preeminent reputation around manufacturing the highest quality kettle-cooked chips with bold flavor profiles. We are delighted to assist the Company in achieving its next level of growth.”
“Andrew and his team were simply the most efficient and comprehensive team for marketing and executing the sale of our business. Andrew and the team were punctual and diligent in keeping our team up to speed on the progression of the sale. There was no opportunity to maximize our value that was left unturned. I would highly recommend Andrew and the team at Greenwich,” said Chris Girrbach, CEO of Great Lakes Potato Chip Company.
“The shareholders’ objectives were front of mind throughout the entire process. We focused on finding a strategic partner that would see the intrinsic value the Girrbach family has built in Great Lakes over the last 11 years. In addition, we prioritized finding a partner that could bring additional resources and allow for a seamless transition for all of its suppliers, employees, and customers, which ultimately made LaSalle Capital the ideal partner,” said Andrew Dickow, Managing Director of GCG.
About Great Lakes Potato Chip Company
Great Lakes Potato Chip Company is a premier potato chip manufacturer based in Traverse City, Michigan, founded by the father and son team of Ed and Chris Girrbach. The Company is rooted in modest beginnings since its inception in 2009 when Ed and Chris pulled their Dodge pick-up truck in line at a local potato farm waiting to load what would become GLPCC’s first batch of Michigan potatoes. The Company has grown from selling to local retailers to working with leading distributors and customers across the Midwest and beyond. GLPCC produces quality products in a safe, clean, and productive environment while always striving to advance quality, and they stand by their promise of “a great tasting chip in every bag every time.”
About LaSalle Capital
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, LaSalle Capital has partnered with numerous manufacturers and service providers in the food and beverage ecosystem within the lower-middle market to drive growth and create value. LaSalle utilizes a strategic and hands-on investment approach that respects the knowledge and experience of those who built and operate the businesses with which they invest and leverages their deep industry expertise to support future growth and margin enhancement.


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US lawsuit against Google could benefit Apple and others
A landmark lawsuit by the US Justice Division against Alphabet’s Google over its dominance of promoting know-how could assist rivals and web sites that promote advert house, however leaves an unsure future for the advertisers themselves, consultants informed Reuters.
The Justice Division’s criticism against Google on Tuesday referred to as for the corporate to divest Google Advert Supervisor, a set of instruments together with one which lets web sites put advert house up for a sale and one other that served as an advert market that routinely matched advertisers with these publishers.
If the Justice Division lawsuit succeeds, “advertisers and publishers could have more leverage with more options with expanding players — and consequently more competition,” mentioned Neil Begley of Moody’s Buyers Service.
Apple Inc., which is steadily rising its nascent promoting enterprise and selling it as privacy-focused, could be a winner if Google advertisements change into much less efficient, mentioned Brian Mandelbaum, chief govt of advert tech firm Attain.
Advert business executives say Google’s enterprise in inserting advertisements on web sites it doesn’t personal offers Google useful data on an advert’s effectiveness.
Apple has “an ability to be a new dominant force,” in promoting as a result of Apple has information by its possession of telephones, its Safari internet browser and the distribution of apps by the App Retailer, he mentioned.
Google’s rivals in advert tech are more and more creating merchandise that serve each the publishers like information web sites, which promote advert house, and advertisers who purchase advertisements, like Google at present does, mentioned Paul Bannister, chief technique officer at CafeMedia, which helps small and medium-sized publishers promote advert house.
If Google is compelled to divest the instruments that serve publishers, it could benefit rivals like Xandr, which is owned by Microsoft, that can nonetheless work with either side of the ad-buying ecosystem, Mr. Bannister mentioned.
With extra choices in addition to Google, publishers may have extra transparency over how a lot they will promote advert house for, and could find yourself paying much less in charges, Mr. Mandelbaum mentioned.
If profitable, the lawsuit could be “the beginning of serious business model changes for Google,” mentioned Paul Gallant, managing director at Cowen Washington Analysis Group.
The divested property could lead to Google shedding key information that helps goal advertisements to related customers, he mentioned.
If Google loses entry to information alerts, advertisers could see their Google advertisements change into much less efficient, mentioned Nikhil Lai, senior analyst at analysis agency Forrester.
At the least twice earlier than, the federal government has filed lawsuits against dominant corporations with far-reaching outcomes. A lawsuit breaking apart AT&T, filed in 1974, resulted in an settlement in 1982 to interrupt up the corporate. That breakup has been credited with a number of improvements in telephony.
The Justice Division’s lawsuit against Microsoft, filed in 1998, reined within the firm at a time when it was in search of to increase its dominant working system to the web browser. Whereas the lawsuit settled, the battle is credited with opening the way in which for different web innovators, like Google itself. — Reuters


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Father’s Day is fast approaching, and Americans are set to dig deep for dad, with a recent survey by the National Retail Federation (NRF) indicating this year spending is set to reach $16 billion, up $700 million on last year.
So, what are likely to be the hot-ticket items when it comes to gifts for Dad this year, and how should you best protect your shop against theft?
A record high
This year the NRF survey has found Americans expect to fork out more than ever on their fathers, with 75.9 per cent of people expected to mark the occasion, spending on average $135.97 each.
The NRF notes that figure is an increase on last year when the average expenditure was $132.82. It also indicates a general trend which has seen Father’s Day spending increase each year since 2009 when average spending was $91.
“Father’s Day spending has grown 70 per cent, approximately $6.6 billion, since 2009. The biggest drivers of Father’s Day spending are growth in spending by consumers ages 35-44, and spending on clothing, special outings and gift cards,” the NRF notes.
The big-ticket items
When it comes to what people buy, special outings, gift cards, clothing and electronics are among the most popular items.
Almost half (46.8 per cent) of people will give the gift of a special outing, spending on average $29.10 per person to equal $3.3 billion in total.
Clothing follows close behind, with 46 per cent expected to purchase apparel, spending on average $21.88 each to equal $2.5 billion in total.
Gift cards are the next big-ticket item, with 43 per cent of people looking to allow dad a gift of his own choosing, spending $19.64 each to equal $2.3 billion in total.
Meanwhile, 20.4 per cent will purchase electronics, spending on average $15.80 to equal $1.8 billion in total.
Where people will shop
The NRF notes, when searching for the perfect gift, most people will look to bricks and mortar retail, but will rely on technology to assist in the purchasing journey.
“Over half (57 per cent) of smartphone/tablet owners plan to use their device to assist in Father’s Day gifting decisions, with 38 per cent using their mobile device to research products and compare prices,” the NRF says.
Their survey also found:
- 39 per cent of consumers will head to department stores
- 34 per cent will shop online
- 24 per cent will shop at a discount store
- 23 per cent at a specialty store
- 11 per cent will purchase at a specialty clothing store
- 2 per cent will shop via catalog
“More than half of those surveyed plan to buy for their fathers or stepfathers (53 percent) while others will shop for their husbands (27 per cent) or sons (9 per cent) among other dads in their lives,” the NRF says.
Protecting your store
Like Mother’s Day, the lead-up to Father’s Day will likely see an increase in foot traffic throughout stores, making theft prevention a priority for retailers looking to maximize the sales increase.
Importantly, electronics and clothing are some of the most commonly targeted items when it comes to shoplifting and, with retailers prioritizing these for display, they will need to be vigilant when it comes to security. Meanwhile, gift cards can be a prime source of consumer fraud.
Here the top tips to guard your store against theft:
Prime your staff – Staff remain a key deterrent for any retail loss, so give them a word to the wise in advance, re-instilling the need to meet and greet customers and remain vigilant about keeping a watchful eye on the floor.
Secure displays – For high value items or additional stock, secure displays, security packaging and stop locks are also widely used. These are particularly valuable for decreasing the theft of electronics and accessories.
Surveillance – CCTV surveillance is a strategy used complement vigilant staff and EAS, and can also act as a theft deterrent as well as a means to catch thieves in the act. To ward off would-be thieves, consider the placement of signage notifying them CCTV is used.
The final word
As retailers enjoy increased foot and expenditure in advance of Father’s Day on June 16, the holiday looks set to provide a major boon to their annual bottom line.
The key for retailers looking to maximize this welcome spending spike is to ensure their security is up to par and shoplifting doesn’t detract from dad’s big day.


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Lifetime of lithium-ion batteries boosted by new cathode coating
Despite seemingly-endless advances in experimental battery designs, good old lithium-ion batteries continue to be the frontrunner. There’s still plenty of room for improvement though, and now researchers have identified a new cathode coating that could make them safer and longer lasting.
Ubiquitous as they may be, lithium-ion batteries are known to have some problems. One such issue is that the cathode in these batteries can generate excess oxygen, which reacts with the electrolyte. That forms a film on the cathode surface, which reduces the amount of energy that can be passed between the two, in turn reducing the performance of the whole battery.
To counter that problem, the cathodes in most lithium-ion batteries have special coatings that reduce the effect. Unfortunately, this slows down lithium ions passing in and out, decreasing efficiency. Plus, because the coating doesn’t cover the entire surface, the degradation can still occur when the battery is operating at a higher temperature or voltage.
For the new study, researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) investigated alternative coatings, to help these batteries last longer.
The team settled on a conducting polymer called PEDOT. This stuff, they found, protected the cathode while still allowing lithium ions and electrons to pass through. And because it’s applied from a gas, using an oxidative chemical vapor deposition technique, it covers every individual particle of the cathode. That makes it far more comprehensive than the usual coatings, which are only partial.
The new coating was able to boost the operating voltage of the battery to 4.6 V, up from 4.2 V on existing lithium-ion batteries. The team says that this would reduce the cost of battery packs, and extend the battery life of devices.
“This is an incredibly exciting advancement,” says Khalil Amine, an author of the study. “This could significantly improve our experience with the devices we’ve come to rely on.”
Source: Argonne National Laboratory


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Treasury: Small Business Taxpayers Provided Tax Assistance
March 18, 2020
Penalties and Interest Waived for 30 days for Some Sales, Use and Withholding Tax Filers
Small businesses that have experienced disrupted operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic now have additional time to make their sales, use and withholding tax monthly payment, according to the Michigan Department of Treasury.
Effective immediately, small businesses scheduled to make their monthly sales, use and withholding tax payments on March 20 can postpone filing and payment requirements until April 20. The state Treasury Department will waive all penalties and interest for 30 days.
“The past week has been hard for small businesses owners across the state as we work to mitigate the spread of coronavirus,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said. “Allowing them more time to pay their monthly tax payments will help us provide some much-needed assistance. I will continue doing everything I can to ensure our small businesses have the support they need during this time. We will get through this together.”
Specific information about Treasury providing tax assistance to small businesses due to COVID-19 can be found in SUW Penalty and Interest Waiver Notice.
“Our small businesses are important drivers of Michigan’s economy,” State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks said. “This change will provide some help to businesses as they navigate their way through this state and national emergency.”
The waiver is not available for accelerated sales, use or withholding tax filers. Businesses with questions should call the Treasury Business Tax Call Center at 517-636-6925.


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Created in 2019 with the aim to bring together artists, visionary ideas, evolving technology, and the virtual world, Boredpuma reveals the upcoming launch of the Celestial Collection, the highly anticipated collaboration with Splash Fashions.
Landmark Group’s Splash stands out as the ideal collaborator in this project, fusing technology and fashion-driven art. This collection is recognised as the first-ever NFT collection and collaboration of its kind in the Middle East, signifying the future of NFTs, the metaverse, and beyond.
The groundbreaking virtual collection features concepts of sustainability and fashion with concept art created by Jong Sacil. Featuring the mask of a ‘puma’ – the artwork will signify the collaborative efforts to then develop future characters for the Metaverse. The Celestial Collection is comprised of characters whose designs represent the celestial bodies in our universe, and are inspired by the elements; the sun, moon, planets, stars, constellations, and more. Symbolizing the graphic elements and featuring a Y2K aesthetic, character designs pull inspiration from mangas and anime. The samurai sword expresses each characters’ personal identity with compelling artwork and unique designs.
Future projects within the collection will include 3D avatars, with masks acting as the symbolic trait that combines fashion with ‘Gen2’ Puma Punks. This phase will allow the collaboration to move into the Metaverse.
In purchasing from this NFT collaboration, members will gain access to benefits including a digital access card, which allows entrance into the inner circle of fashion shows, future projects, and the ability to mint and purchase during pre-sale. All NFT collection holders will be given a Discord ‘Splash’ badge and will be able to rank up by being an active member to reach the OG rank of ‘Celestial’.
The Boredpuma X Splash collaboration of the future will also include 3D card collections, game development, a fully developed and semi-dystopian storyline, “The Celestials”, as well as an immersive audio and visual experience which will feature original soundtracks and elements completely unique to the Celestial Collection. 3D environments, 3D character creation, and VR characters will all become part of this collection’s world – this is only the beginning.
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Today (October 1, 2022) marks one year since the start of Expo
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Beautyworld Middle East – the region’s largest trade fair for beauty products,


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What did Ralph’s Thriftway recommend for a Valentine’s Day well-spent? Some chocolate-covered strawberries, a bottle of red wine, a freshly baked cupcake and a bouquet of flowers.
All of these were available to customers Saturday, with the Olympia grocery store fully embracing the spirit of love. Store employee Julie Weisgerber said Ralph’s has become a one-stop shop for Valentine’s Day shoppers in recent years.
“It’s really grown since we started doing the chocolate-covered strawberries,” Weisgerber said. “People just can’t get enough of them.”
The store sells the chocolate-covered strawberries twice a year: on Valentine’s Day and on Mother’s Day. Weisberger said many customers stop by for both holidays.
Produce supervisor Ralph Conat said they dipped a grand total of 1,185 strawberries Friday, and they had sold out by 7 p.m. He expected to sell another 900 on Saturday.
“We probably won’t sell as many (Saturday) because people came in Friday on their lunch breaks and brought back strawberries to their co-workers,” Conat said.
This year, the strawberries are especially sweet even though it’s early in the season, Conat said. They’re ordered from California, where the strawberry season started about two weeks ago.
“They got a lot of sun this year, which makes them nice and sweet,” Conat said. “But even if they weren’t, they would still taste great with the chocolate.”
The Saturday customers aren’t just last-minute Valentine’s Day shoppers, Weisgerber said. Many remembered the strawberries from last year and came to Ralph’s with strawberries in mind. She said she encountered many husbands and boyfriends who were sent by partners to pick up the treat.
“We had people in here at 6 a.m. asking for them,” Weisgerber said. “We had to tell them we wouldn’t have any for a couple hours.”
Weisgerber also recommended bottles of red wine that pair perfectly with the strawberries. Her favorite is a Walter Dacon Skookum Red.
“They really taste delicious together,” Weisgerber said.


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The digital edition of the Day 3 issue of SHOT Daily is now available online. SHOT Daily is brought to you by The Bonnier Corp. and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
SHOT Show Product Spotlight visits the Schmidt & Bender booth, #15151, on Level 2 of the Sands Expo. Schmidt & Bender brought several precision quality scopes to the 2015 SHOT Show, including the new 2.5-10×50 Polar T96 high transmission hunting scope. For more, be sure to visit the Schmidt & Bender website at www.schmidtundbender.de.
Milwaukee County Sheriff, David A. Clarke Jr., discusses his experience combating the Anti-gun Lobby, and the importance of events like the SHOT Show for the preservation of our Second Amendment rights.
Eric Blanford of IraqVeteran8888 shares his highlights and plans of the 2015 Industry Day at the Range.
SHOT Show Product Spotlight visits the Streamlight booth for the latest flashlights including the brand-new Ultra Stinger, Stinger HPL, Strion HPL, TLR HPL Rail Mounted Light, a few additions to the ProTac family and more. For more on these products visit Streamlight at booth #12563 on Level 2 of the Sands Expo or go to […]
We caught up with Katie Pavlich, TownHall.com editor and Fox News contributor, to get her thoughts on this year’s SHOT Show.
The staff at NSSF was receiving such positive feedback from the media in the press room, we thought Day No. 2 of the show would be a good time to take the temperature of the show floor and see how our exhibitors were getting along. Here’s what they had to say. Cindy Daniel, Executive Vice […]
SHOT Show Product Spotlight is inside the Zenith Quest Firearms booth to talk about the latest selections of ammunition they’re bringing to the U.S. market and to check out their latest firearms being shown at the 2015 SHOT Show. You can find Zenith Quest Corporation at booth #620 and visit their website at zenithfirearms.com.
GunBroker.com, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Hunting Heritage Trust have partnered again to host the 30th annual SHOT Show Auction. This year’s auction features several one-of-a-kind items that you can bid on at GunBroker.com.
NSSF President Steve Sanetti delivered the annual State of the Industry address Tuesday night at the SHOT Show. Watch it here:


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Malware Infects Large Slice of Cicis Pizza and Mac OS.
Coppell, Texas-based pizza restaurant chain Cicis, acknowledged a possible credit card breach at more than 135 locations. At the same time, cybersecurity firm Comodo reported new dangerous malware infected Mac operating systems.
The admission by Cicis comes more than a month after KrebsOnSecurity first broke the news of the intrusion.
In a statement, Cicis said that in early March 2016, the restaurant chain received reports from several of its locations that POS systems were not operating properly. "The point-of-sale vendor immediately began an investigation to assess the problem and initiated heightened security measures," the company said in a press release. "After malware was found on some point-of-sale systems, the company began a restaurant-by-restaurant review and remediation, and retained a third-party cybersecurity firm, 403 Labs, to perform a forensic analysis."
The forensic firm reported its findings on July 19, 2016, confirming that a malicious software program, introduced by a hacker to the POS system, used by some Cicis locations in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. It also reported the elimination of the malware threat.
According to Cicis, "the vast majority of the intrusions began in March of 2016," but the company acknowledges that the breach started as early as 2015 at some locations.
Cicis said it continues to monitor and upgrade its systems. "While we believe most of the breaches were remedied within a few weeks of the intrusion, out of an abundance of caution we are not declaring some restaurants as threat-free until they were reviewed by our forensic analyst this month."
The restaurant chain advised customers who used a payment card during the timeframe at an affected restaurant to pay particular attention payment-card statements for unauthorized activity.
Meanwhile, Clifton, N.J.-based Comodo, reported in a blog the latest malware to hit Mac operating systems is the EasyDoc Converter. Cybersecurity experts discovered this dangerous Mac malware on online websites offering applications and software for the Mac OS. "If Mac users still believe that their systems cannot get infected then they better get wary now," the blog warned.
The EasyDoc Converter purports to convert files, however, the malicious EasyDoc Converter does not do any conversion or any other genuine function. It is a script that contains an embedded backdoor malware, designated as Backdoor.MAC.Eleanor. "This Mac malware allows attackers to gain complete access of the operating system, the webcam, shell execution and the file explorer."
Cybercriminals employed the tool Platypus to create the malicious app. When the malicious app runs it displays a screen typical to a drag-and-drop file converter, but it lacks any functionality. The malware installs a number of malicious components in the startup of the computer: A Tor Hidden Service, Web Service and a PasteBin Agent.
Join us in Dallas at the new Credit Union Times Fraud: Don't Let It Happen To Your Credit Union Conference, where you will find the latest tools and techniques for preventing fraud and data breaches; strategies for responding in the immediate aftermath and best practices for restoring reputation, financial stability and information security. This two-day conference is designed for credit union executives, board of directors and those responsible for your credit unions cyber security policy. Register to attend and save $150.
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This fall saw the debut of two kid-oriented cooking shows, Food Network’s Rachael Vs. Guy: Kids Cook-Off and Fox’s MasterChef Junior. (Bravo’s Top Chef Junior, first announced in 2008, has yet to materialize.) The shows differ slightly — Food Network’s angle is “Kids say the darndest things!” whereas Fox’s is “Can you believe a kid made that?!?”— but they share a common aim. The real goal of these shows isn’t creating some new form of culinary entertainment or finding a new crop of cheftestants. It’s tapping into a new advertising market.
The promotional appeal of Top Chef’s formula is straightforward: Take cooks, have them compete for a made-up title, and sprinkle product placement everywhere you can (shopping trips to Whole Foods, driving around in Lexus SUVs, challenges featuring specific products, etc.). Seven years after it debuted, rival producers are still licking the batter from Bravo’s bowl and pumping out all kinds of product-laden cooking competitions. These kids’ shows aren’t any different.
MasterChef Junior has only aired two episodes so far (and Fox won’t divulge future plans for specific product tie-ins), but it’s already clear the kids’ show takes after its adult counterpart, where marketing is seamlessly integrated into the show via in-kitchen product placement “The kitchen is absolutely identical,” producer Robin Ashbrook says of the kid version. “The show is the show. You can’t do MasterChef in a modified kitchen … You have the sharpest knives, you have the best equipment, and that’s exactly what the kids have.”
This also means kids interact with brand-name products.
On the first episode, an 8-year-old named Nathan lugs a Breville mixer across the set. Furthermore, nearly every shot of the kids in their kitchen includes the prominent Boos branding on their cutting boards, the same boards displayed in the adult version. In case you think this is simply an unavoidable coincidence, notice that grocery items are scrubbed of recognizable branding before being used in the show, evidence that those companies didn’t want to pony up for placement.
This is exactly the type of product placement that would raise flags on kids’ TV — where guidelines from the Children’s Advertising Review Unit limit in-program advertising — but on Food Network and Fox, advertisers have a slightly older audience and more leeway to expose kids (and their parents) to specific brands.
Here’s why it matters: Dr. Jennifer Harris, the director of marketing initiatives at Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, points out that the majority of our brand preferences are established before we turn 20 and that the research indicates we don’t even need to notice a product placement to be affected by it. When Nathan carries a Breville mixer on television, he’s selling that specific brand to people his age that are watching the show — even if that’s not his intention.
Food Network is even more blatant with its product integration. One episode of Kids Cook-Off featured an entire challenge based on the movie Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2. During the challenge, the trailer was spliced between shots of three of the contestants smiling and laughing, with one exclaiming, “This is so cool!” By the end of the episode, the judges and contestants say the full name of the movie seven times, a movie poster appears in the background of the set, and the kids make food that integrates concepts from the movie, all while competing for a chance to see it.
Marketers increasingly see the age demographic of the contestants on the show as a sweet spot for advertising (it’s estimated that kids make up $1 trillion in spending power). “Companies that used to target younger kids are now really going for this tween market — the 12- to 14-year-olds,” Dr. Harris says. Why? “Because there are fewer restrictions on how they can advertise to that group.” (MasterChef Junior’s contestants are all between the ages of 9 and 14.)
“One of the principles of advertising to children is that you don’t mix the advertising content with the editorial content,” Harris points out. “It’s outrageous that they would be targeting children with product placements.” She adds, “Children have a harder time recognizing advertising that’s hidden in this way than adults do. Something like Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 — that’s clearly targeted to children. I just think it’s underhanded.”
This isn’t the first time marketers have tried to widen the boundaries of the cooking world to include kids. “Every decade, a movement comes about to get kids to prepare their own meals,” says Harry Balzer, vice-president of consumer market research for NPD Group. He has been studying Americans’ eating habits for 35 years, and the thinking, according to Balzer, is “We’ve been successful in getting men to cook more meals, why not kids?” Nonetheless, he thinks the narrow appeal and novelty of kids’ cooking competitions will cause them to fizzle out. “This isn’t Breaking Bad,” he says.
Still, it’s great exposure for the products, since the kids themselves make cute, keen pitchmen: They ooh and ahh at celebrity judges; they grant interviews; they engage in social media, where for the first time they have platforms that can be used to market products. Take this example, from one Kids Cook-Off competitor’s Facebook page: “It was fun seeing my friend Cole tonight at the screening of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2.”
Kids might not always be able to identify advertising, but it’s simple to cook up a recipe where they take part.


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Easter candy is dandy. But Easter candy paired with booze? Now that’s something to put a spring in your step. And here are some of the best pairings as recommended by experts
It won’t be nearly as much fun as eating candy bars, but a big study is being launched to see if pills containing the nutrients in dark chocolate can help prevent heart attacks and strokes
Get ready for bacon like you’ve never eaten, drunk or worn it before. Bacon milkshakes. Chocolate-covered bacon shaped like roses. Bacon-flavoured toothpaste — and lip balm
Next to processed cheese food and cretons (if you happen to live in Quebec), it's the most divisive spread you can put on a table. It's Nutella, and here are the facts you need to know
Two cups of hot chocolate a day can help improve memory, a new study has found
A woman’s passion for chocolate appears to begin before she is even born, a study led by an Italian researcher suggests
Is chocolate actually good for you? You might have heard that dark chocolate isn’t so bad, but is it possible that eating chocolate could improve your health?
Passover commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. So you’ve got Moses, the parting of the Red Sea and lots and lots of unleavened recipes
The Hershey Company may have finally confirmed what Canadians have long suspected: We do have better taste in food than Americans
When it comes to portions of chocolate, a recent study says eating less of it can be more, or at least equally, satisfying to the human brain
The phone offers new ways to navigate, discover and, of course, shop — all enabled by new features from the world’s largest online retailer
Xiaomi launched its flagship Mi 4 smartphone at a glitzy event in Beijing, where the Chinese budget handset maker’s chief executive sought to challenge larger U.S. rival Apple Inc.
Apple Inc has asked suppliers to manufacture up to 80 million of its two forthcoming large-screen iPhones by the end of the year, its largest initial production run of iPhones, the Wall Street Journal reported


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Zipmex, Southeast Asia’s digital asset platform announced a major strategic partnership to take advantage of the combined strength of Zipmex and Visa’s global payments platform and network. This will allow the company to revolutionise how people spend their digital assets across its markets. Already a regional leader in digital asset payments, Zipmex plans to launch an innovative new payment product later this year.
Extending the flexibility and convenience of Zipmex’s payment program, ZipSpend, customers will soon have the option to get access to the 70 million merchants in Visa’s global network as it seeks to bridge digital assets with traditional payment infrastructure. Visa, the world’s leader in digital payments recently announced that $1billion had been spent using its crypto-supported cards in the first half of 2021.
“Visa is the perfect partner for us as we move forward with our innovative payment products,” said Zipmex CEO Marcus Lim. “Visa has proven itself over the last 10 years to be at the forefront of payment innovation, a strategy which aligns very much with our own. We thank Visa for its support and look forward to a strong and lasting relationship.”
Zipmex is the only exchange that is live and operating in four jurisdictions in a legally compliant manner, and this is a path the company will continue to follow. Through its easy-to-use mobile apps and websites, users get access to a variety of financial services, including digital payments, an exchange, and interest-bearing accounts. To date, the platform has transacted over $1billion in gross transaction volume since its launch in late 2019. In January this year, the company secured $6million in a funding round led by Jump Capital.
“The partnership between Zipmex and Visa represents a ground-breaking development for Southeast Asia which is backed by the integration of digital assets and blockchain infrastructure and the mainstream payment platform which will offer compelling opportunities to expand their use in payments and fintech applications,” added Mr. Lim. “We are glad to be the market-entry partner for Visa into markets like Thailand. Any payment product we release will have been approved by the respective regulatory bodies first. As we are in the unique position of launching the first product of this kind, we have been able to provide support and guidance to help regulators pass effective digital asset legislation. This has been one of the more fulfilling aspects of this project.”
Zipmex and Visa will work together to educate and enable Visa’s global network of global fintech partners and marketplace partners looking to benefit from the power of digital assets for worldwide payments. The innovative new payment product, a Visa-branded payment card, will give cardholders the freedom to convert their digital assets to fiat currency to spend anywhere Visa is accepted, backed by the reliability, speed, and security of the Visa network. The new payment card will be available to anyone who has passed its KYC process, subject to local compliance and regulation. Further details will be announced later this year.


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Australia's average 5G download speed is third among the leading 12 5G markets studied by analytics firm OpenSignal, with Saudi Arabia, unexpectedly, top and South Korea second.
Four years and nine releases on, the Google Pixel has yet to make an impression on the market as far as sales go; it is always buried in the category of "Others" in those lists of shipments released for various global regions by different technology analyst companies.
Technology analyst firm Gartner has forecast that global expenditure on 5G network infrastructure will almost double this year to reach US$8.1 billion (A$11.3 billion).
All mobile phone repeaters are illegal in Australia, with the exception of the celfi units, because the carriers can remotely[…]
To this day there is still some 700MHz spectrum unallocated.NO there isn't! I'm sorry but you are wrong here. The[…]
If TPG or Optus are limited in the amount of spectrum they can buy (by a cashed up telstra with[…]
All of the repeaters linked to in this article are ILLEGALThe only legal repeaters authorized for use by the ACMA[…]
Mortgage fraud where identity theft makes families homeless, is not being helped in the U.S. by private equity/lending firms, banks[…]


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Golix, Zimbabwe’s first and largest cryptocurrencies exchange has broken new ground once again by acquiring the country’s first ever Bitcoin ATM which comes loaded with hard United States dollars (USD).
The machine which was activated earlier this week – allows anyone to buy and sell bitcoin at favourable rates using the greenback.
It is the only ATM in Zimbabwe dispensing US dollars to customers selling bitcoin. Through an easy to use interface it provides tech and cryptocurrency newbies a simple way to buy bitcoin.
It has been placed in Golix’s Customer Support offices which are located along First Street Harare, one of the busiest streets in the capital city’s business centre.
Thanks to Golix’s ATM, Zimbabwe joins an elite score of less than 70 countries around the world that have introduced the machines which provide convenience to customers, especially first time users of cryptocurrencies and the unbanked without access to digital funds.
The development is not only significant for Golix but also for Zimbabwe.
Just a decade ago the Southern African country recorded the highest rates of hyperinflation in modern history, turning virtually every citizen into a trillionaire and rendering normal banking services like ATM withdrawals pointless.
The adoption of a foreign currency system in 2009 halted the effects of inflation, but in the past 2 years, the country has suffered from a new problem altogether.
A cash crisis has gripped the formal financial system, resulting in unending bank queues and leaving the country’s 472 ATMs network useless.
As such the Bitcoin ATM serves to be a financial game changer in a country that has no fiat currency of its own.
In the same way that customers insert a card into a traditional ATM, the Bitcoin ATM allows customers to insert US dollars which are converted to the volume of bitcoins that they want to buy.
The ATM then sends the bitcoins straight to the customer’s wallet.
Customers who purchase bitcoins without a bitcoin wallet have the option to generate a bitcoin address.
Golix product manager, Yeukai Kusangaya, said that the bitcoin ATM was one of the many products lined up to ensure that the public has easy access to bitcoins.
“After realising that the public is still struggling to understand or in some cases access bitcoin, we felt that the bitcoin ATM would be a huge and necessary step towards engaging people on how they can use cryptocurrencies for their daily business.
“For anyone who has used a traditional ATM, they won’t struggle to find their steps when they are using the Bitcoin ATM,” said Kusangaya.
Also weighing in, Golix CEO, Tawanda Kembo said that this is the only ATM in the country with cash.
“Gone are the days when the only means of making an international payment was first buying cash on the parallel market and then driving all the way to Zambia to pay a supplier. This Bitcoin ATM moves us one step closer to achieving our mission of giving every person in Africa financial autonomy,” said Kembo.


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GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Apr 11, CMC – A delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Poultry Association (CPA) has met with officials from the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat to discuss how they could work together so as to benefit from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The CSME allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the 15-member regional integration movement.
A CARICOM statement issued following the talks said that the CPA’s mandate is to promote the socio-economic development of the region through the development, growth and expansion of the Caribbean poultry industry and to create linkages.
“The meeting…was an opportunity for the CPA to share its vision, progress and challenges in the industry. The meeting was held at a time when the Secretariat is continuing efforts to broaden the conversation with the Region’s Private Sector to optimise the latter’s output and sustainability,” the statement noted.
It said that with much emphasis placed on food security, rural development and the reduction of the region’s four billion US dollar import bill, the meeting was timely for both parties.
“Poultry meat accounts for more than 80 per cent of meat consumed in the region. Most of the poultry meat and eggs consumed within CARICOM comes from CPA member organisations, with self-sufficiency hovering at about 67 per cent for meats and close to 100 per cent for eggs.”
The statement noted that the industry produces an estimated 243 000 metric tonnes of poultry, 122 million dozen eggs per year, accounts for the employment of more than 100,000 persons and annual sales of US$660 million.
The statement said that Monday’s meeting was attended by the CARICOM Assistant Secretary-General, Trade and Economic Development, Joseph Cox, as well as the director of the CARICOM Single Market and Sectoral Programmes, Dr. Richard Brown, while the CPA representatives included its president David Reimer,of Belize; the organisation’s executive director, Dr. Desmond A. Ali, and Christopher Levy, the executive chairman of Jamaica Broilers Limited.
The CARICOM statement noted that as the region continues to augment sanitary requirements in the industry, the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) last October approved nine of the region’s processing plants for trade within the Caribbean.
The poultry plants in Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago were cleared to sell poultry products intra-regionally after they were assessed by regional risk assessments teams and met the sanitary requirements to enter the CARICOM market


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The Lawyer Global Litigation Top 50 report is the only ranking of international law firms by litigation and arbitration revenue and is essential reading for anyone seeking to benchmark their litigation and dispute resolution practices...
This year, The Lawyer’s annual ranking of the largest UK law firms by turnover is available as an interactive, digital benchmarking tool. For the first time this will allow you to manipulate each data set against the metrics of your choice.
Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has landed the lead role on the sale of the listed German television broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1.
The Lawyer understands that the US firm has teamed up with Hogan & Hartson to advise ProSieben on the potential sale of the company to Axel Springer. Hogan is believed to be advising ProSeiben on competition and regulatory issues.
According to reports, ProSieben's majority stakeholders are poised to open negotiations on the sale of their stake. Axel Springer already holds a 12 per cent stake in the target company.
The sale is now possible because the creditors of the company's defunct former owner Kirch last week removed a lock-up clause that prevented an earlier sale.
The consortium, which bought the majority stake in ProSieben after Kirch's collapse in 2002, has agreed to pay Kirch's creditor's $15m (£7.8m) to remove the clause.
It is understood that Kirch's administrator Michael Jaffé is being advised jointly by German firms Görg and Nörr Steifenhofer Lutz.
The deal will be watched closely in the German market because, according to a source close to the deal, if negotiations kick off then it will turn into a huge media battle resulting in offers coming in from other potential bidders.


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Randy Morrissette II goes from manager to owner
Randy Morrissette II now owns the liquor store in Plaza 94 that he has managed since 2004.
Setter's Liquor is the new name for the store tucked in between Maurice's and Hudson Optical in the shopping center on Ward Avenue.
Morrissette purchased the former Northland Liquors store from SGG Corp. and opened under the new name at the end of February.
Setter's, he explained, is an old nickname of his. It also represents his father's partnership in the business. Randy Morrissette I is a retired Hudson police officer, and like his son, a life-long resident of Hudson.
"It's a local liquor store. That's what I want it to be," said the younger Morrissette. "I've got a lot of local folks who come here, and that's how I want to continue to grow the business."
Morrissette said he'll concentrate on providing competitive prices and products that customers request. He said he'll have a list at the counter that customers can use to request a beer, wine or liquor that they don't see on the shelves or in the coolers.
"If it's feasible, I'll bring it in for folks," he said. "And the nice thing is, I can do it right away. I don't have to go through three different levels of management, because I'm the owner now."
Morrissette said he's also looking for opportunities to cross-merchandise locally produced food products such as cheeses, steak sauces and beef jerky.
He plans to capitalize on the Fresh and Natural Foods store be located nearby by expanding the line of organic wines and gluten-free beers he already carries.
"I'm going to go after that customer demographic," he said.
He might have a coffee pot on, so if people want stop by and talk politics over a free cup, they can do that, he said.
The 41-year-old Morrissette has represented District 1 on the Hudson City Council since the spring of 2007.
He grew up in the same house on First Street where his parents live now. His father has lived there since he was a boy.
While his dad was a Hudson police officer for 25 years (retiring as the acting chief), his mother, Sandy, managed businesses for Erickson's Diversified Corp. The former Denim Patch in Hudson was one of the stores she ran.
"I'm kind of doing what both of my parents did," Morrissette said. "She did business management. He did community service."
Morrissette graduated from Hudson High School in 1989 and from UW-Stout in 1994 with a degree in child psychology and juvenile criminal justice. He worked as a juvenile counselor for Washington County, Minn., for a short time before going into hotel management.
He managed the Fairfield Inn in Hudson before opening the first Northland Liquors store in the Plaza 94 shopping center.
His wife, Kirsten, is the head pharmacy technician at the County Market pharmacy. They have two sons, Jacob, 14, and Mitchell, 10.
Setter's Liquor is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Three part-time employees assist Morrissette in operating the store.
A new, lighted outdoor sign is on order and should be installed in a couple of weeks. The interior of the store is freshly painted and the floor will get a polishing.
Morrissette said regular customers and some new ones have stopped in to congratulate him on purchasing the business.
"People love small businesses and Hudson has always supported them, so it's going to be nice," he said. "We're off and running."
He said it is his understanding that SSG Corp. is selling its stand-alone Northland Liquors stores, but may continue to operate those next to its Holiday gas stations. Last year, the company opened a new Northland Liquors store in a strip mall on Crest View Drive, across Interstate 94 from Plaza 94.
"Competition makes us better operators," Morrissette said, indicating that he doesn't mind having his former employer for a competitor.
He expressed gratitude to SGG Corp. Executive Vice President Gail Dahlstrom for giving him the opportunity to purchase the Plaza 94 store.


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MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company announced it has upgraded its e-business platform, myMSC, to include a new online Instant Quote function.
In a statement, MSC said customers wishing to use this feature will be able to quickly and easily get shipping rates for container bookings.
"Currently, the majority of MSC’s bookings are carried out offline, and it can take some time to complete a booking. Using Instant Quote, customers can generate an online quote in seconds, with just a few simple clicks, 24/7 online," the Swiss-Italian shipping line said.
With the new tool, MSC noted that users then have the option to instantly complete the booking with the generated quote on myMSC. Alternatively, MSC said customers can also save the quote or forward it to multiple contacts for booking at a later stage.
The automated quote generation, MSC further explained, reduces room for human error, further improving the efficiency of the process.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the trend towards digitalisation within the industry and the importance of engaging customers through multiple platforms, including through e-business. As such, this upgrade of myMSC is a clear illustration of our continuing efforts to invest in digital business transformation with the aim to improve efficiency and transparency, and to give our customers more options,” said Andre Simha, chief digital & information officer at MSC.
The launch of Instant Quote is expected to significantly boost the number of MSC’s online bookings, and further unlock the value of myMSC as an e-business platform for customers.
MSC noted that details such as the shipping window, estimated transit time, routing and the charges included in the quotation will be clearly displayed in the new function.
The new tool can be used for bookings of standard-sized (20 and 40 feet) and High Cube (40 and 45 feet) dry containers. For locations where intermodal services are available, customers can also opt for end-to-end rates from the origin to destination.
MSC said the Instant Quote function is currently only available for shipping trade routes from North America to Europe and from Asia to Europe, with plans for the addition of more trades over the course of 2020.


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The organic trend was just beginning when seven produce farmers got together to form the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool in response to the farm crisis of the 1980s. That kicked off an organic movement in southwest Wisconsin that led to Vernon County, home of now international Organic Valley, developing the highest concentration of organic farms in the nation.
Other counties in the area are close behind, helping to make Wisconsin the No. 2 state in the nation for organic farms. It’s first in dairy, beef, hogs, sheep, broilers, eggs, goats and row crops, and behind only California in vegetable production.
Headquartered in La Farge and now in its 30th year, Organic Valley is the largest farmer-owned organic cooperative in the U.S. and produces one of the world’s largest organic consumer brands. Its members produce 14% of all organic milk in the U.S. — $1.1 billion worth in 2016. Its humble beginning was as the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool, or CROPP, and its CEO still is George Siemon, the farmer who called the first meeting of prospective members.
Variety of products
Travis Forgues, vice president of farmer affairs, points to a three-tier strategy of branded, private label and bulk sales areas to “provide a lot of baskets to put eggs in for a whole lot of customers.”
“In all, there are 1,400 total items,” says Lynn Snifka, former manager of media relations. The co-op’s website lists as its products milk, cheese, butter, yogurt, snack items, single milks, eggs, whey protein shakes, produce, beef, pork, chicken and turkey. Snifka explains that the co-op works with organic processors for meat products.
“We have a lot of partnerships,” she says, including a grower pool to raise organic hay and grain for sale to members.
Organic Valley has grown to about 2,000 members in the U.S., Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. It markets in all 50 states and 25 countries, working with sister co-ops in the U.K.
Dairy is its major business, and it employs 932 workers — 400 in La Farge and hundreds more at the Cashton, Wis., distribution center, according to Forgues, plus even more at a regional milk plant in Hartland, Wis. That facility was started mostly for produce to sell locally, Snifka says, and then expanded to cheese, and then bottled milk. Now it has a wait list of prospective members.
“We do a lot and we’ve grown a lot,” she says. “Our primary purpose is to keep farmers on the land. They just want to make a living doing what they love.”
But “there’s no shortage of milk right now,” Forgues adds ruefully, so the co-op employs “a lot of supply management tools. We have a quota.”
Snifka notes these statistics about the co-op’s members: 42% are Amish or Mennonite; the average age is 46, compared with a U.S. average of 56; the average farm is 273 acres, with 72 cows and total milk production of 16.3 million cwt. Production in well-established organic operations, she says, “is pretty comparable” to conventional farms.
Organic Valley also is pursuing a lead role in renewable energy from solar, wind and geothermal.
“We will be 100% renewable-powered by 2019,” Snifka says.
Members can apply for funding assistance from the co-op to help finance community projects such as parks and baseball diamonds.
PIONEER: George Siemon is CEO of Organic Valley.
The co-op has an extensive website, which claims: “Our friends and neighbors around the Coulee region were discarded by a bankrupt agricultural system, and we were told to ‘get big, or get out!’ Industrial, chemical farming was the only existing option for survival. Never mind its effects on our health, our animals, and our environment.
“But we didn’t want to be industrial, chemical farmers. And we didn’t want to be at the mercy of corporate agriculture. We knew we had to do something. So, one farmer, George Siemon, put up posters calling us to band together. And we did. Family farmers filled the county courthouse and we all agreed: There had to be a better way — a more sustainable way — to continue farming like we always had. In a way that protects the land, animals, economy and people’s health.”
That commitment has remained even 30 years later, Siemon says. “Today we are focusing on our role as a pioneering farmer brand of the highest integrity in the organic market.”
Westby Co-op Creamery adds organic brand
Adding to the organic growth trend in southwest Wisconsin and all over the state is Westby Cooperative Creamery, also headquartered in Vernon County. Now in its 115th year, it’s one of the oldest dairy co-ops in the nation, and joined the organic movement in 2005 with just two patrons.
Last year, the Westby Organic brand was launched, offering four products: 4% and 2% small curd cottage cheese, sour cream and French onion dip. Hard cheeses, yogurts and other dairy dips have been added since.
Also last year, Gov. Scott Walker proclaimed the city of Westby the Cottage Cheese Capital of Wisconsin. The co-op, which began as a buttermaker, is the only producer of cottage cheese, both organic and conventional, in Wisconsin. Accepting milk from both organic and conventional dairy farms, all rBST-free, over half of its members are organic producers, and their cows supply nearly 60% of the co-op’s total milk intake.
Pete Kondrup, Westby Co-op’s general manager, says the Westby brand market territory is mostly Wisconsin and Minnesota, all within 30 minutes. Other brands cover most of the country.
Kondrup has been the general manager for 15 years and is credited with helping the cooperative build to where it is today. As the market expands, he’s hopeful the co-op will be able to take on additional producers. Currently there are 45 conventional patrons and 160 organic patrons.
Cottage cheese has been a co-op staple since the 1940s. Westby’s website cites Best of Class cottage cheese entries in the 2015 and 2017 U.S. Championship Cheese contests and at the 2016 World Dairy Expo competition. This year its 4% large curd earned second place at the World Championship Cheese Contest. Cottage cheese is produced 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet demand, and it’s made under the supervision of Chris Dach, a 40-year veteran cheesemaker.
There are more steps involved in cottage cheese production than in hard cheeses, Kondrup says. “It’s 12 to 13 hours. You’ve got to handle it more carefully.”
The co-op added its yogurt lines in 2005. “It was difficult to set up,” Kondrup says. “There was a lot of trial and error.”
Product samples are available at the co-op’s cheese and gift store and in grocery stores across the state, plus some in Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan, and online.


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Hard Rock Cafe and global soccer legend Lionel Messi have team up for the launch of the new Messi Burger as part of Hard Rock International’s “Live Greatness” campaign. Crafted by Messi himself, the Messi ..
Hard Rock Cafe looks to help you celebrate Super Bowl Sunday by putting together a new tailgate-themed menu for one day only on Sunday, February 13, 2022. Fans can pick anything from 2 shareables for ..
Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating Valentine’s Day with a new ‘Hearts Off the Charts’ menu starting February 8, 2022. The new love-inspired menu features an array of sweet treats and savory eats including: Lobster Flatbread: ..
The Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with the launch of its 2021 Pinktober menu to help raise funds to support breast cancer awareness and research. Hard Rock Cafe’s 2021 Pinktober menu ..
Hard Rock Cafe looks to kick start your summer with a limited-time Festival Menu at participating Cafes through June 1, 2021. As part of the 2021 Festival Menu promotion, fans can select any two of ..
Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this year by serving up flavors inspired by Ireland through March 21, 2021. The limited-time menu includes: Beginner’s Luck Baby Back Ribs: A half-rack of signature baby ..
Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating summer by offering a free Signature Ice Cream Float with any purchase of $10 or more through July 20, 2020. Hard Rock’s Signature Ice Cream Float features a combination of ..
Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating its reopening by offering frontline healthcare workers a free Legendary Steak Burger through July 31, 2020. To take advantage of the promotion, simply stop by any participating Cafe now through ..
The Hard Rock Cafe is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by bringing back a pair of fan-favorite, holiday-themed menu items through March 18, 2020. The limited-time ShamRock N’ Roll Menu includes the St. Paddy’s Shake, and ..


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August 08, 2012
White Folks Occupy Wrong Side of Digital Divide
It has become a platitude in the technology industry that the future is mobile. But as more people turn to their smartphones for email, web browsing, and social networking, one group of Americans is being left behind: white people.
Nielsen's latest Mobile Insights study shows that whites are the only group of U.S. mobile subscribers who are more likely to own an old-school "feature phone" than a smartphone like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. Two-thirds of Asian-American mobile subscribers, 57 percent of Hispanics, and 53 percent of blacks own smartphones. For non-Hispanic whites, the figure is just 45 percent.
It's a good thing this grave social injustice is confined to People of Pallor, because that means we can absolutely rule out racism as a cause. If the stats were the other way around, such a troubling statistical disparity would be considered proof positive of America's perplexing determination to view everything through the prism of race.
Posted by Cassandra at August 8, 2012 04:47 AM
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No, no, it is really a sign of privilege. People of Pallor don't need smartphones because we have MINIONS. For example, if I want to know the weather forecast for this afternoon, I simply use my simple phone to call Minion #3:
"Bumstead, get me the weather! NOW"
Bumstead races to his computer (the only IBM 1620 connected to the Internet--I don't believe in wasting new technology on minions), accesses the weather, and gives me the answer immediately.
Who needs smartphones when you have a Bumstead
Posted by: david foster at August 8, 2012 08:06 AM
I call mine Igor.
Posted by: Yu-Ain Gonnano at August 8, 2012 10:10 AM
I do have a pretty good batting average when it comes to calling the weather.
On the other hand, and as mentioned recently, I could use a little help in the wooing department.
Posted by: igor at August 8, 2012 11:45 AM
Walkin' Boss needing one to keep up with her professional responsibilities, dragged me into the smart phone age. We opted for the high zoot android version.
Yeah, they're spiffy enough, but, and this is a very large but, THE SIZE OF THE <EXPLETIVE DELETED> KEYS IN THE VIRTUAL KEYBOARD ARE TOO <EXPLETIVE DELETED> SMALL! At least for my fingers... AND IT TAKES <EXPLETIVE DELETED> FOREVER TO TYPE IN (PECK OUT) A FEW WORDS. Hence, my galaxy's I/O has a well developed O with a very atrophied I. And SMS?! I don't speak SMS.
Turns out those who present the backside of their carcass to the various technologies have been awarded their very own classification from the professional classifiers. *snort*
I suppose the thrill of high tech and always being connected is gone. Been there, done that, on call, for decades, 24x7x365...
*chills run down exoskeleton at the thought*
Posted by: bt_weBdevoin'_hun at August 8, 2012 12:26 PM
" I could use a little help in the wooing department."
*There's the wind-up aaannndddd...*
Posted by: DL Sly at August 8, 2012 12:29 PM
This is a bad indicator to be a leader in. People who do not buy the latest and greatest wait for prices to depress. Holding on to the older phone means one does not spend $100 a year on a new phone. Holding a phone for 5 years means $400 in savings.
Add in the app race, where the $.99 app of the day is in vogue and everyone has to have it. You could save another $50 a year.
Not upgrading a cell phone can save you money.
Posted by: Daniel at August 10, 2012 09:24 AM


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Soybean net sales up slightly
According to the USDA's latest U.S. Export sales report, soybean net sales of 404,400 MT for the 2011/12 marketing year were mainly reported for China (176,300 MT), Japan (70,400 MT, including 36,000 MT switched from unknown destinations and decreases of 100 MT), unknown destinations (62,000 MT), Mexico (59,600 MT), Taiwan (15,500 MT), and Malaysia (8,000 MT).
Exports of 235,300 MT were primarily reported to China (119,800 MT), Japan (45,900 MT), Mexico (31,000 MT), Taiwan (13,300 MT), and Indonesia (10,600 MT).
Soybean futures closed strongly lower on Wednesday. On Thursday, futures were called 22 to 23 cents lower as a broad based commodity sell-off is being driven by outside markets.
No matching related articles at this time.
- Granular completes nationwide beta testing; signs first customers
- Concerns grow over damage to EU wheat crop quality
- Davis Equipment is celebrating 50 years in business
- Ag futures ended the week in decidedly mixed fashion
- Pinnacle Agriculture, Tecomate Wildlife form alliance
- Ag markets remained quite mixed at noon Friday


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Apple’s Business Chat stepped out of the beta-test phase last month armed with major partners in banking, home improvement and more. But if the fashion industry chalks the service up to nuts-and-bolts retail fare, it should think again.
The new service, which brings customer service powers to Apple's iMessage chat app, may have launched with Discover, Lowe’s and The Home Depot, among others. But fashion brands have taken notice, said Rurik Bradbury, global head of conversational strategy for LivePerson. The company’s LiveEngage platform has worked with more than 18,000 partners — from Adobe to L’Oréal — and as one of Apple’s key partners, it lined up several of these major retailers for Business Chat's launch.
@serenawilliams, in @versace and a @bulgariofficial necklace, with @alexisohanian attending the #royalwedding at St. George’s Chapel. See all of the celebrities in attendance on WWD.com. #wwdeye #wwdfashion
The wait is over: Meghan Markle picks @givenchyofficial’s Clare Waight Keller for her wedding dress. Markle entered St. George’s Chapel in a Givenchy Haute Couture gown paired with Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara, loaned to her by The Queen. Read more on WWD.com - Link in bio. #wwdnews #wwdfashion #royalwedding


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Retail sales in July tumbled 2.7 per cent, the largest month-on-month fall this year, as the worsening Sydney-based outbreak ravaged the retail sector’s confidence, according to data from the Australia Bureau of Statistics.
And, predictably, online sales increased in the inverse, according to NAB, which saw e-commerce sales increase 6.4 per cent during July compare to June, while 20 per cent higher than a year prior.
“Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders in many parts of Australia continued to impact retail trade in July, with many non-essential retail businesses closing their physical stores,” ABS director of the quarterly economy-wide surveys, Ben James, said.
“In particular, the first full month of lockdown in New South Wales, following the Delta outbreak in June, saw retail turnover in the state fall 8.9 per cent. This was the largest fall of any state and territory since August 2020.”
The largest falls were seen in cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services (12.3 per cent down), clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing (15.4 per cent down), and department stores (11.4 per cent).
Conversely, online growth was seen largely across all categories, but was particularly strong in grocery and liquor, personal and recreational goods, and, once again, department stores.
“In year-on-year terms, the [online] growth in department stores has been so rapid that the spend share has boosted its place to second largest in the index, behind homewares and appliances, and just ahead of grocery and liquor, which has also grown rapidly,” NAB chief economist, Alan Oster, said.
“Metro NSW had a marked contribution to overall growth this month, with an increase of nearly 28 per cent on June, and up nearly 60 per cent on last July.”
This story first appeared on our sister publication Inside Retail


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Mexico’s cartels are known for their violence and ruthlessness, the control they exert over the drug trade and for Hollywood-esque escapes from so-called high-security prisons. But not much is known or even acknowledged outside the country about another network exerting significant power and doing its own damage to the country: an economic cartel that enjoys market domination in major sectors of the economy, beneficial treatment from the authorities and whose fortunes have skyrocketed at the expense of ordinary Mexicans.
A new bi-annual report by Coneval, a Mexican government agency evaluating social policies, should raise the alarm. It showed that Mexico’s overall poverty rate rose in 2014 to an embarrassingly high 46.2 percent, representing 55.3 million people, up from 44.3 percent in 2008. Nonetheless, from 2008 to 2014, economic growth averaged 1.9 percent, based on figures from the World Bank. The fact that overall poverty is on the rise again not only represents a major failure in Mexico’s economic policy and federal social assistance programs, it also puzzles economists who have repeatedly praised Mexico’s macroeconomic management and openness. Why is poverty growing in a country with sound economic indicators and stable, albeit mediocre, growth? What malfunctions in the Mexican economy prevent it from joining the developed countries’ club? And most importantly, is there a way out of the poverty trap?
Until the 1970s, Mexico was a semi-socialist country, where most industries were state monopolies, and high tariffs were imposed on foreign goods under an import-substitution scheme. But with debt crises in the 1980s and 1990s, a wave of industries were privatized and the economy gradually opened. Government industries were sold to a handful of affluent Mexican families and were soon turned into oligopolies that dominated the market in most sectors of the economy. Although Mexico’s entry into NAFTA in 1994 and the World Trade Organization in 1995 allowed for the entry of more goods and competition, the government shielded and barred competition in key sectors, notably telecommunications and energy. In other sectors, the control of established Mexican companies was, and remains, so outright that national and foreign competitors have struggled to keep their businesses afloat.


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Villa Italian Kitchen announced a new partnership with Como, the global leader in data-driven customer engagement, to roll out a customer loyalty and engagement program and advanced mobile app across more than 200 locations nationwide.
Bringing Como’s key product, Como Sense, on board across its U.S. locations will enable the company to provide guests with an enhanced customer experience offering that is powered by a new loyalty program and mobile app.
With Como Sense’s POS-integrated CRM platform, Villa Italian Kitchen will be able to collect and analyze all transactional data from its point-of-sale system, mobile app, and online ordering. The restaurant can then use this data to extract actionable insights and offer its clients a personalized customer experience and relevant rewards to grow visits and spend.
Villa Italian Kitchen selected Como because of the product’s integration into its point-of-sale system, Como’s global experience, and its proven ability to drive positive ROI. Villa Italian Kitchen also views Como’s advanced data-driven engagement solutions as a means of developing long-term loyalty among its guests across all business channels including malls, airports, and casinos.
Villa Italian Kitchen’s PR efforts have helped to generate international brand buzz, with its out-of-the-box promotions running the gamut from a bikini made out of pizza to a pumpkin spice topped pizza. In addition to driving traffic to Villa Italian Kitchen’s brick-and-mortar locations nationwide, these creative activations have also helped the brand increase their social media engagement and national presence, boost their website traffic and online review generation – raising their overall star ratings score – and generate catering and HR inquiries.
“The digital marketing landscape had changed over the last years thanks to innovation and technology,” says Mimi Wunderlich, Director of Communications & Digital Marketing Strategy at Villa Italian Kitchen. “To keep our guests engaged and loyal, we decided to team up with Como in order to truly understand our customers and interact with them in a smarter and much more personalized way. We look forward to launching our data-driven loyalty program and mobile app in the next couple of months in order to make our offerings more relevant and more valuable to our guests.”
Yair Holtzer, president of Como America, adds, “In the last 54 years, Villa Italian Kitchen has become one of America's favorite quick-service pizza brands. We’re excited to partner with the company and provide them with data-driven capabilities that will help the restaurant keep its competitive edge for years to come.”


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- Articles tagged "amd 890fx"
Along with the launch of its first 6-core desktop processor last month, AMD also refreshed its high-end enthusiast class 890FX chipset. We got four vendors, ASUS, Biostar, Gigabyte and MSI to send us their representatives for this 890FX roundup of the top boards in the market.
As motherboard vendors prepare to launch updated chipsets like the 890FX and 880G from AMD at the end of the month, we managed to snag a couple of ASUS' upcoming models for this sneak preview.
The AMD 890GX chipset launched in March is just the first of AMD's chipset refresh for the year. Next up, expect the enthusiast class 890FX and the more mainstream 880G. Here's a quick preview of what's coming from Gigabyte.
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- The Nexus 7 (2013) is no longer available for purchase on the Google Play Store
- Caldigit releases Tuff external portable hard disk drive with USB-C and T4 Nano PCIe SSD RAID drive
- Sony adds two new Zeiss Lenses to the A-mount line-up.
- HTC One M9 availability and pricing finally revealed (updated)


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One of the leading manufacturers of Bitcoin mining hardware has announced a new product aiming to bring Bitcoin mining to people’s homes. Canaan Creative is working to promote greater Bitcoin network decentralization with the launch of a 4k television set with mining capabilities.
This leaves people wondering will Bitcoin Miner’s Inside a TV Help to further Decentralize Bitcoin?
The television set announced today contains an Avalon Miner Inside. According to the rumors It possesses a reasonable hash rate of 2.8 TH/s. To put this into perspective, the current most powerful piece of mining hardware (Avalon 841) made by Canaan Creative is capable of performing 13.6 trillion hashes each second.
The Avalon Miner Inside is powered by artificial intelligence and according to a report in the South China Morning Post, also has voice activated functions. In addition, the television set has a built-in mining profitability calculator powered by an Android operating system (Unconfirmed rumor) to help users determine how well the device is hashing.
The Bitcoin mined by the Avalon Miner Inside will be able to be spent on various items in a designated store platform provided by Canaan Creative. These will include entertainment packages and physical gifts.
Canaan Creative’s newest product will be distributed to retail businesses who will supply the product to customers. The company also have plans to launch additional blockchain-related appliances in the future.
The Original post can be found here