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CNN — The Chinese economy got off to a good start to the year, posting growth in the first quarter that exceeded expectations. But a recent plunge in consumer spending and rising unemployment suggest much tougher months ahead with dozens of cities still under Covid lockdown.
China’s gross domestic product rose 4.8% in the three months to March 31, compared with the same period last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics on Monday. That was faster than the 4% increase recorded by the world’s second-largest economy in the previous quarter.
Growth was supported by surprisingly strong economic performance in January and February, with several indicators for those two months beating analysts’ forecasts.
But Beijing’s efforts to curb its worst Covid outbreak in two years have dealt a major blow to activity since March, including in the country’s financial and manufacturing hub – Shanghai. Many companies have been forced to suspend operations, including automakers Volkswagen and Tesla and iPhone assembler Pegatron.
Retail sales fell 3.5% in March from a year ago, the first decline since July 2020. Industrial production rose 5% in March, down from 7.5% in the first two months of the year.
“Economic development is currently facing many difficulties and challenges,” NBS spokesman Fu Linghui said Monday at a press conference in Beijing.
Covid outbreaks in March disrupted production in some regions and hurt consumption, Fu said. In particular, catering, tourism and transport services have been hit hard.
As a result of the “Covid shock”, unemployment rose, he said.
Unemployment in 31 major cities jumped to 6% in March, a record. Among 16 to 24 year olds, unemployment reached 16%, its highest level in eight months.
The growth target seems ambitious
The Chinese government has set a growth target for this year of around 5.5%, the lowest in three decades. But the Covid outbreak, combined with the war in Ukraine – which has driven up oil and commodity prices – has already made that seem out of reach for many economists.
“April economic data is expected to deteriorate further,” Larry Hu, chief economist for Greater China at Macquarie Group, wrote on Monday. He expects growth for the year to be around 5%.
Some analysts are even talking about the risk of a downturn in the economy in the current quarter, as the lingering Chinese real estate crisis exerts even more pressure.
“Activity data is set to fall in April as second-quarter recession risks rise,” analysts at Japanese investment bank Nomura wrote on Monday.
“Beijing’s GDP growth target is [about] 5.5% this year is getting harder and harder, and we now see significant downside risks to our annual GDP growth forecast of 4.3%,” they added.
Containment leaves the economy “in distress”
Shanghai is the epicenter of the current Covid outbreak, but it’s not the only one – Nomura estimates full or partial shutdowns are in place in 45 Chinese cities, affecting a quarter of the country’s population and around 40% economy.
In a bid to ease the disruption, the Chinese government on Friday released a “white list” of 666 companies that will be allowed to resume production. Nearly 40% are car manufacturers or companies involved in supplying the automotive industry. It is unclear when these companies will be able to resume production.
China’s zero Covid strategy remains the main risk to its economic outlook.
“In reality, the economy is in trouble,” Societe Generale analysts said on Monday. “The problem, as we have repeatedly pointed out, is the lockdowns – still in place and still spreading.”
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang repeatedly warned last week of the threat the upsurge in Covid cases poses to growth and jobs. Last Wednesday, he promised more interest rate cuts to stimulate the economy. Two days later, the People’s Bank of China announced a reduction in the reserve requirement ratio – which dictates how much cash banks must hold in their reserves – a move intended to boost lending.
— CNN’s Beijing bureau contributed to this report.
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia company. All rights reserved.


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NEWS / SMARTPHONES
iPhone 5S to include fingerprint scanner: WSJ
While we count down the hours to the much-awaited launch of Apple’s newest iPhones, more leaks and confirmations are coming in hard and fast regarding the specifications. The biggest feature of the anticipated launch has been the fingerprint scanner and it looks like the more expensive of the two handsets slated to be launched tonight will be home to it.
Rumours about the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5S have been doing the rounds of the tech circles for quite some time now, but The Wall Street Journal, ahead of the Tuesday event has more or less confirmed the feature. According to the report, the fancy feature will be a part of only the iPhone 5S and not the rumoured low-end iPhone 5C.
A fingerprint scanner just for the iPhone 5S
The report is backed up with references to hardware of this sort that had been found in the beta version of iOS 7. A leak by developer Hamza Sood contained codes of a setup process that made a reference to a biometric scanner located within iPhone’s home button. The description of the sensor showed users placing their fingers on the iPhone’s Home button and seeing an image of a thumbprint in changing colours.
While the technology of fingerprint recognition has been an often visited one by tech companies in order to avoid the need to remember passwords, it hasn’t quite been done right yet. The report by WSJ now notes that newer technology allows for devices to take multiple scans with the finger held in one place, thereby increasing reliability of the readings compared to older technology.
The Cupertino based company will be adding the fingerprint scanner on the more expensive of the two devices, the iPhone 5S, which will by far be the most high-profile consumer electronic device to be home to a fingerprint scanner. The key to widespread public adoption is touted to be the technology’s reliability and ease of use.
Apple’s event is all set to be held tonight at its Cupertino headquarters and will see the launch of the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C.
, iPhone 5S
, iPhone 5S Fingerprint Scanner
, Fingerprint Scanner
, iPhone 5C
, iPhone event
, Hamza Sood
, iOS 7

domain: news


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The closing of the exhibition TransRussia\TransLogistica 2017 2020 april 2017
The significance of the events of such level it is difficult to overestimate — this year the exhibition has declared itself 100 new companies, just as there were 330 participants from 25 countries. The event organizers and the participants themselves powerfully started, the rapidly gaining momentum, presenting its capabilities. More than 20 years, the exhibition TransRussia/TransLogistica remains the largest industry platform for a wide range of representatives of the transport and logistics market, whose task is to find the highest quality services and products, as well as searching for new reliable business partners. According to experts forecasts to 2017. associated with positive phenomena in macroeconomics — growth of oil prices and the strengthening of the ruble, such optimistic forecasts can’t give confidence to market players.
Company Multimodal complex Ust-Luga thanked the guests and participants for the great interest, which shown to our stand and project. We hope that the business agreements reached during the exhibition, will serve as only the first step on the path to a long and mutually beneficial cooperation.


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SVG Europe Sit-Down: NewTek’s director of sales east, EMEA, Chris Waddington, and product marketing associate Jason Pruett
The portability-boosting 3PlayMini lightweight sports production suite was among NewTek’s headline-making developments at this year’s NAB Show. Once again, the company underlined the extent to which consistent creativity and an eye on emerging requirements have kept it at the cutting edge of sports production technology year in, year out.
During this year’s show and immediately afterwards, SVG Europe spoke to director of sales east, EMEA, Chris Waddington and product marketing associate Jason Pruett for a comprehensive update…
NAB 2015 witnessed the launch of TriCaster Advanced Edition, an option available for TriCaster Mini through TriCaster 8000 that is said to be capable of ‘elevating productions to new heights of connectivity, creativity and efficiency.’ What has been the response?
PRUETT: We have seen a fantastic reception to Advanced Edition. NewTek makes tools that allow people to tell a story through video, and we have customers everywhere doing all sorts of things with our innovative tools. With Advanced Edition, we have a whole other package that allows customers to do automation and [which takes account of the fact that] the operator may or may not be a professional. With regard to new features, one I would zero-in on is fully composited outputs – something that had been requested by customers.
Can you offer a general comment on NewTek’s progress in sports – and particular within the European market?
WADDINGTON: Since the introduction of 3Play in 2009, NewTek has seen a considerable increase in the demand for high quality sports production systems, which go far beyond conventional replay capabilities. In the last six months alone, we have seen a healthy growth in European markets. From established broadcasters looking to replace ageing technology and augment existing workflows, to emerging sports which a few years ago could have only dreamt of affording a replay system, NewTek is fundamentally changing the way sports productions are produced and delivered.
Whether it’s engaging with fans in the stadiums or delivering that winning goal instantly via social media, NewTek is changing the game. We are extremely proud to be playing such an important role, helping create and shape new opportunities, deliver new workflows, and assisting productions teams both large and small, deliver their sports vision. For many, NewTek is the number one choice, for others, their best kept secret!
PRUETT: 3Play is continuing to gain traction throughout the EMEA market. Many sports producers are looking at the system; even if they are working with traditional methods, they still want to do experimentation, and 3Play is a really great opportunity for that.
With regard to specific European markets, we have had some uptick in the UK and Scandinavian markets, as well as some successes in the Eastern bloc.
What is your perspective on current developments such as 4K and IP-based production?
PRUETT: We don’t really talk about future developments, [but what I can say is that] we can innovate at a very fast rate. When customers need 4K and require it to be there for their distribution path, I am confident we can have an answer.
With regards to IP and transfer and bringing more production into IP, NewTek does now have a hybrid option that means we can bring in RTSP feeds, etc, along with traditional baseband video.
As a company, we remain committed to providing tools that make customers’ lives easier and more productive. It really is ‘pedal to the metal’ when it comes to innovation.


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LAHORE: “Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation (I&I) has recovered Indian cosmetic goods worth Rs 322 million and its ancillary items”. Director I&I Syed Asad Raza Rizvi said this while addressing a press conference on Monday morning at the Directorate. He said the Directorate had received credible information that huge cache of cosmetic goods and its ancillary imported items are being smuggled across the city, evading huge amount of duty and taxes.
Accordingly, he said, the anti-smuggling squads pursued the vehicle loaded with contraband and smuggled imported goods and nabbed the vehicle near Bhati Chowk (Data Darbar) and recovered the smuggled goods from India. He said the Directorate had also raided a godown situated across the western end of the River Ravi and took over the godown, replete with abundant storage of cosmetics and its related products in enormous quantity after a brief resistance from the inmates of that godown. It was revealed that the godwon is owned by notorious smuggler namely Wahed Ullah, who belongs to Peshawar.
He said the FIR has been registered against Wahed Ullah and further investigation has been initiated to find out abettors of this racket. While pointing out the performance of the Directorate during the outgoing year, he said, the Directorate has collected unprecedented revenue of Rs 5536 million and registered 277 cases throughout the financial year 2020-21. No other Directorate in Pakistan has performed in a way like the Lahore Directorate, he added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021


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These days, it seems every glossy magazine is trying to imitate the top-selling In Style, a Time Inc. mag that gives readers the illusion of proximity to celebrities. In Style creates the
illusion in many ways, ranging from photos and fawning profiles to instructions
on how to buy celebrity products. But
selling glitz is no longer the exclusive purview of supermarket mags— The New York Times has apparently decided it can play that game, too.
For proof, one need look no farther than the Times‘s SundayStyles, the section that features “trend” reporting, profiles
of social register types, and engagement announcements. As a rule, subjects of
profiles in that section are never roasted on a hot skewer, but rather lavished with
the kind of sympathetic treatment known in the trade as a puff piece. In the words
of one reader, “The Styles section is about rich people and how they live. It’s a
view of this world that’s romanticized
and artificial, and designed to make you feel insecure.”
Case in point: a June 20 story on the front page of Styles by Alex Kuczynski, who covers the magazine beat for the Business section. The peg for the story was a Vanity Fair party at the Four Seasons; the story itself was a chronicle of anecdotes about the celebrities who flock there daily, as told by the maitre d’, who likes to get mischievous with the seating arrangement. It was a fun read, vintage Kuczynski, capped off by the bawdy tale of four society ladies who got drunk and went skinny-dipping in the Pool Room after lunch.
But some Kuczynski fans felt the story lacked irony and distance. Did she really mean it when she called the Four Seasons a place where “everyone is well known, wealthy, powerful, politically connected, supernaturally beautiful or just lucky to be there”? Or when she likened it to “New York’s ultimate grown-up version of the high school cafeteria, except every table is the cool table”?
One Kuczynski fan said, “If [New York Observer writer] George Gurley had written that piece, it would have been funnier and more pathetic. It would have challenged the assumption that we should be impressed with this and would have done a better job of pointing out the absurdity of it all.” Another fan said, “She needs a little more Lynn Hirschberg in her,” referring to the Times Sunday magazine writer who is famous for her ability to turn the tables at the right moment.
Kuczynski previously worked for The New York Observer, where she mastered that paper’s snarky tone. Then a few years
ago, she got hired to write for Styles. Since
being assigned to the magazine business beat, she has been prolific and ubiquitous, displaying good news instinct and turning out pithy dispatches on short notice. There’s no reason why a stylist of her
caliber shouldn’t branch out; indeed,
she has lately completed pieces for the Times book review (on a book by Lewis Lapham) and the Times magazine (on Condé Nast editorial director James Truman, as yet unpublished).
But the Four Seasons story was no throwaway assignment. It was pegged to a huge party hosted by Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter and Seagram president Edgar Bronfman Jr.— captains of industry with so many mutual agendas it boggles the mind. To begin with, the Seagram Company owns the Four Seasons, which caters to the Condé Nast empire, of which Carter is a prince. That much you could glean from the Times piece. What Kuczynski didn’t let on is that Seagram’s Absolut is a major source of advertising for Vanity Fair, or that V.F. featured Bronfman in
a photo spread in 1994 when he was angling to buy Universal Pictures, which
he now owns, or that V.F. is publishing a history of the Four Seasons by Mimi Sheraton in its August issue.
That’s not to suggest that there’s anything wrong with the Carter-Bronfman
alliance— they are, after all, both Canadian. But the story behind the party would have been more interesting. Times business reporters typically write this kind of piece, pointing out the cozy behind-the-scenes relationships between magazines and the people with whom they do business. And Kuczynski is no stranger to the trope:
In a March 15 story about V.F.‘s imminent Oscar bash, she described the magazine’s habit of hosting parties for advertisers and then running photos of VIPs associated with the product on editorial pages, a
practice she called “shameless back-
scratching.” In a May 31 story, she described a potential conflict of interest between a V.F. writer and her subject.
But this piece seemed to signal a shift from writing about the marketing aspect
of the magazine business to becoming
part of the marketing process itself. For example, just as In Style informs readers
they can buy the same clothes as their favorite movie stars, Kuczynski told readers
they can eat lunch next to their favorite publishing nobs. Indeed, she quotes food critic Alan Richman calling the Four Seasons a “democratic” institution where “You’ll see S.I. Newhouse sitting next to a tourist from Cleveland.”
But that’s a fiction, and a convenient one that conceals the hierarchy of the seating arrangement in the restaurant’s exclusive Grill Room. As another food critic points out, “They definitely have a Siberia in the Grill Room. It’s the balcony.” While all the regulars know the balcony is reserved for tourists, Kuczynski called it Edgar Bronfman’s “usual aerie.”
Is it okay for the Times to gild the lily like this? Steve Brill, editor of Brill’s Content, said, “I love the Four Seasons and
I think Alex wrote a lively, interesting piece.” But, he said, the piece had a “kind of puffiness that is not the New York Times‘s standard.” Brill said that a newspaper should apply the same reporting standards in all sections. Columbia Journalism School dean Tom Goldstein
disagreed, saying the Styles section is
“different from the rest of the paper” and that readers should not bring the same expectations to it.
Carol Felsenthal, a biographer of S.I. Newhouse, was less diplomatic. “Alex is an energetic and frisky kind of reporter,” she said, “but at the Times in general, there’s just not a person who writes critically about the magazine business or the book business. I think the tabloids do a far better job on a daily basis.”
And as for Kuczynski? Maybe she’s just gotten bored writing about the dream fac-
tory, and wants to start working for it.
In the wake of Salon‘s respectable, if not spectacular, IPO last week, a handful of investors are talking about possible synergies between Nerve and Salon.
Like Salon, Nerve.com is a content-based e-zine aimed at the “cyber-literati.” But Nerve is devoted to smut, offering not just original artistic content such as fiction and a photo gallery, but also a page of sex-related links that can take you in nanoseconds from nude shots of Laetitia Casta to gossip about the Marquis de Sade. Nerve is sexy, but not hardcore, and that is precisely what has attracted both viewers and Wall Street investors, who boast that it passes the “wife test.” She likes it!
Like Salon, Nerve is free, although the latter’s owners claim to have lost “less than a few hundred thousand” dollars last year, before breaking even in December. Nerve raised $1.5 million this spring in a round of financing and is gearing up to raise $10 million more. Nerve claims more than 14 million page views per month. This spring, around the time Salon bought the online community the Well, Nerve bought Bianca, a sexually
permissive chat room that has added an-
other 50 millionplus viewers, bringing Nerve‘s total viewers to 70 million, about five times those claimed by Salon.
One of Nerve‘s new investors, David Chazen, managing director of Chazen Capital Partners, is also a stockholder in Salon, which he called the “gold standard of online magazines.” Other investors include Mit-chell Kapor, a founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Louis Rossetto, a co-founder of Wired, and Steven Johnson, a co-founder of Feed.
This summer “is a totally extraordinary period,” says Nerve co-founder and CEO Rufus Griscom. The German version of the site is up and running, managed by Bertelsmann-owned Stern magazine. In mid May, Nerve signed the agency 24/7 Media Europe to sell ad space across the continent. Spanish and French sites are being launched this summer, with a Japanese site to follow in the fall. The company just moved into a Soho loft space, hired executive editor Susan Dominus, and is gearing up to launch an online “NerveCenter” in July and a print magazine later on. Thanks to a combined revenue stream from foreign licensing, advertising, and paid personals, the company expects to bring in more than $1 million by year’s end.
Nerve‘s chief financial officer Louis Kanganis says talk of an IPO is premature, but “we are absolutely not ruling it out. We have a strong brand in Germany, and there is a possibility we could list over there, where there is less resistance to our content.” Griscom says an IPO is “definitely one of the exit strategies,” although they would consider selling the company to a media conglomerate or another portal.
Patrick Keane, a senior analyst at Jupiter Communications, says of Nerve, “Their biggest problem is they have absolutely zero brand. Even for an upscale, slightly pornographic content consumer, they’re fighting a lot of noise. They need to spend a lot of
money” to market the brand.
Which they plan to do. Chazen calls Nerve a “real sleeper” that will attract not
only high traffic and ad sales, but maybe even a little Nerve–Salon synergy. “Pre-IPO,” he says, “Salon wouldn’t go into this kind of content. But at Salon, they like Nerve a lot. They like Rufus. They’d make a nice fit.”


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Apple Builds 18-20 MW of Solar in Nevada
Apple announced plans to build a solar farm with Nevada utility NV Energy Inc to power to its new data center in Reno, in a big push towards its goal of running facilities entirely off of renewable energy. The installation will have an 18 to 20 MW capacity, Cnet reports.
The new solar farm will provide power to Sierra Pacific Power Company’s electric grid, which serves Apple’s data center. When completed, the farm will generate about 43.5 million kWh of clean energy a year, Apple said in a statement, according to Reuters.
This will be the third solar farm to support Apple’s operations. The tech major ‘s largest data center in the US, in Maiden, N.C., has a 100-acre, 20 MW solar farm with an annual production capacity of 42 million kWh, and 10 MW of fuel cells that produce over 83 million kWh a year. Once it completes a second 20 MW solar project on nearby land, Apple says it will be produce 167 million kWh a year at the Maiden center.
In March, Apple announced that its data centers run on 100 percent renewable energy, as do its facilities in Austin, Texas; Cork, Ireland; Munich, Germany and its Infinite Loop campus in Cupertino, Calif., according to its environmental progress report.
Aside from solar, the company also taps wind energy for its facilities. At the beginning of this year Apple said it plans to develop a wind turbine that generates electricity from stored wind energy, according to AppleInsider.
Technology companies like Apple, Amazon and Microsoft that develop and operate computer server farms have been criticized for using too much energy. Their consumption has increased in response to a rise in internet traffic, along with mobile device use and corporate hosting services, Reuters says.
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Once upon a time, Propellerhead ran an ad showing a bunch of hardware synths in a trash bin to make a point. This time, we get the opposite – a KORG Polysix for Reason running back in hardware. By now, these arguments about analog versus digital, software versus hardware are all surely irrelevant to music […]Read more
Propellerhead has unveiled a modular instrument add-on for Reason, Complex-1. It puts a patchable, West Coast-inspired synth inside the already patchable Reason environment – and it sounds fabulous.
VST brings more choice to Reason, but more support demands, too. Here’s an update on how Propellerhead are optimizing Reason to bring plug-in performance in line with what users expect.
brings together the latest breaking news on music, technology, gear, and live visuals. Got a project, found a news tip, or want to share your product? Submit to us directly.


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The Finger Lakes Tourism Alliance, a cornerstone in promoting tourism since 1919, has launched a new branding initiative, “Explore Finger Lakes.” This campaign, developed in collaboration with Crafting A Brand Co., a Mendon-based design firm, aims to enhance the region’s appeal to travelers. Over seven months, the team worked to create a brand that encapsulates the essence of the Finger Lakes, known for its attractions, natural beauty, lodging, wine and craft beverage culture, and dining experiences.
The rebranding is set to reach nearly 2 million people worldwide annually through the alliance’s website, FingerLakes.org, and its extensive range of print publications. This effort supports over 540 businesses reliant on tourism and hospitality within the region. “Explore Finger Lakes” is positioned as a gateway for visitors to discover the myriad offerings of the Finger Lakes.
Visitors interested in the Finger Lakes experience can now access a new guide at the updated website, where “Explore Finger Lakes” serves as both an invitation and a portal to the region’s treasures. This move marks a significant milestone in the alliance’s long history of promoting tourism and is expected to attract more visitors to the scenic upstate New York area.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].


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December 11, 2019
The food blockchain: transforming food safety and traceability
By Laura Bardot
As consumers become increasingly disconnected from farming, they are seeking an entirely new experience with the food they eat. Annual research from the Centre for Food Integrity indicates that while consumers are weary about offering their trust to larger corporations, they do trust farmers and producers. That’s why more and more food products are claiming to be from a “family farm” or “locally-grown,” “certified humane” and “all-natural”. But what if there was a label telling the entire story of their food, documenting every step of the way from pasture to plate? Blockchain can do just that.
Making the connection
Blockchain is basically a digital database that uses cryptography to link data points. Each data point, or block, is encoded with data from the previous block and then adds on more data to the chain. It is designed to be smarter and safer than most modern databases. The end result is a digital ledger that captures every point along the life cycle of a product, whether that’s corn, wheat or eggs.
And how does this tie into food and agriculture? Major companies and food brands are embracing this technology to track food from farm to fork. In 2018, Walmart announced more than 100 farms will use IBM Food Trust to track its leafy green supply. The focus is on leafy greens because of foodborne illnesses often linked to spinach and lettuce. By adding in this extra tracking, the retailer will be able to know exactly which field and farm the implicated produce came from, which washing and cutting facilities it came through and what warehouse it was stored in before coming to the store.
IBM says their blockchain technology will help simplify supply chain efficiencies by decreasing bottlenecking, increasing brand trust with consumers, and helping ensure food’s regulatory compliance. It sounds like a win-win for consumers and farmers alike, and adoption of precision agriculture platforms that support this digital X-ray view of the farm operation have been growing steadily.
Through blockchain technology and traceability, growers are better able to “show” what they do in order to increase consumers’ trust in their food. Establishing that foundation of exactly where food comes from, including how it is grown and harvested, allows farmers and ranchers to gain credibility in the eyes of customers. At the same time, the ability to more immediately pinpoint issues along the supply chain will only continue to increase safety, quality and yes, trust.
For more information on how farmers are putting blockchain to work for them, check out this story by AdFarm’s Chris Forrest.
Laura Bardot is a PR and Content Specialist for AdFarm. She is a fifth-generation farm kid with a profound enthusiasm for the Midwest, cattle and Texas Red Dirt music.


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Consumer rights group Foodwatch has named and shamed seven food companies and grocers it alleges are misleading French consumers with products providing too much packaging and too little content.
The Berlin-based organisation, which says it “fights for safe, healthy and affordable food for all,” has highlighted food products from Barilla, Sojasun and Léa Nature as well as own-brand products from retailers Monoprix, Carrefour and E. Leclerc. It says manufacturers are selling “empty products” and has also pinpointed a tea product sold by Unilever-owned Lipton.
The non-profit organisation says it is responding to complaints from consumers and has launched a petition to “put an end to this abuse”.
Foodwatch said: “In the organisation’s mailbox, there were quite a few pictures and exasperated messages showing tiny amounts of food packed in disproportionately large packages, all filled with ‘voids’.
“The Foodwatch team went to supermarkets to check and, above all, to compare the products with each other. Many brands competing with those pinned today quite manage to fill the packaging to the top or almost. Those who abuse and mislead consumers therefore seem to have no excuse.”
Foodwatch said the alleged practices give the consumer “the unpleasant feeling of being had and of being an aberration for the environment”.
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Amongst the products the campaigners highlighted for being over-packaged and underfilled are a Barilla’s quinoa product, Léa Nature’s organic tabbouleh and Sojasun’s soy steak.
Camille Dorioz, Foodwatch campaign manager, said: “Consumers are tired of being fooled and, in addition, very logically want to reduce their waste. It is an environmental concern but also a financial one. Because the products are relatively expensive if we look at their price per kilo.”
Dorioz described packs that are “barely filled, revealing the rather ridiculous amount of product” and added “offering unnecessarily large packaging is not illegal, but it is time to put an end to these abusive practices”.
Foodwatch has contacted the companies concerned asking them to commit to reducing the use and size of packaging for their products to the strict minimum.
In the event a significant ‘void’ is necessary, perhaps for reasons of food protection, Foodwatch is calling for a “clear and transparent justification for the actual quantities of product sold”.
just-food has asked the food companies singled out to respond to Foodwatch’s criticism.
A spokesperson for Barilla said: “The Barilla Group has committed to a vast programme to reduce its environmental impact, which also aims to reduce the size and weight of its packaging. As such, in 2020, 99,7% of the Group’s packaging is 100% designed to recycle (100% in 2021). In addition, 100% of the paper and cardboard used to package Barilla products is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) and SFI (Sustainable Forestry Initiative) certified.
“The size of the packaging of our Cereali & Quinoa is directly linked to securing the quality of the product and can mostly be explained by technical elements linked to the physical characteristics of the cereals and their sensitivity to oxidation, the volatility of the grains, which can bounce a lot during packaging, and the necessity to guarantee the freshness of the product, which is packed in a protective atmosphere. This necessitates inflating the bag in which the grains are packed, and thus a bigger carton pack.”


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Walgreens had October sales of $6.80 billion, an increase of 6.9 percent from $6.36 billion for the same month in fiscal 2014.
Total front-end sales increased 2.7 percent in October compared with the same month in fiscal 2014, while comparable store front-end sales increased 2.0 percent. Customer traffic in comparable stores decreased 1.9 percent while basket size increased 3.9 percent.
Prescriptions filled at comparable stores increased by 3.6 percent in October and increased 4.1 percent on a calendar day-shift adjusted basis. October 2014 had one additional Friday and one fewer Tuesday compared with October 2013. These calendar shifts negatively impacted prescriptions filled at comparable stores by 0.5 percentage point. Prescriptions filled at comparable stores were positively impacted by 0.7 percentage point due to more flu shots versus last year.
October pharmacy sales increased by 9.9 percent. Comparable store pharmacy sales increased 7.5 percent and increased by a calendar day-shift adjusted 8.0 percent. Calendar day shifts negatively impacted pharmacy sales in comparable stores by 0.5 percentage point. Calendar day-shift adjusted comparable store pharmacy sales were negatively impacted by 1.9 percentage points due to generic drug introductions in the last 12 months, and were positively impacted by 0.4 percentage point due to more flu shots versus last year. Pharmacy sales accounted for 67.3 percent of total sales for the month.
Flu shots administered at pharmacies and clinics season to date were more than 5.7 million versus approximately 4.9 million last year.
Sales in comparable stores increased by 5.6 percent in October. Calendar day shifts negatively impacted total comparable sales by 0.3 percentage point, while more flu shots versus last year positively impacted total comparable sales by 0.3 percentage point. Generic drug introductions in the last 12 months negatively impacted total comparable sales by 1.3 percentage points.
Calendar 2014 year-to-date sales for the first 10 months were $64.15 billion, an increase of 6.1 percent from $60.47 billion in 2013.
Fiscal 2015 year-to-date sales for the first two months were $13.22 billion, up 7.7 percent from $12.28 billion in the comparable period in fiscal 2014.
Walgreens opened 16 stores during October, including four relocations, and closed one.
On Oct. 31, Walgreens operated 8,319 locations with a presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. That includes 8,218 drugstores, 87 more than a year ago, including 70 net stores acquired over the last 12 months. The company also operates infusion and respiratory services facilities, specialty pharmacies and mail service facilities. Walgreens digital business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com, SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400 Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.


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While online retailers may offer cheaper prices for shoppers, brick-and-mortar businesses can provide something they can't: instant gratification.
A new study from the Columbia Business School warns that the positive feelings consumers experience when receiving a discounted price fades dramatically if the consumer is then forced to wait for the product.
Columbia Business School's Leonard Lee said this might spell trouble for online retailers that offer discounted items and then force consumers to wait for the product. He said their research shows that even if the wait is relatively short — as little as 15 minutes — the consumer's enjoyment of the product decreases dramatically.
"Keeping in mind that instant gratification has become a hallmark of society, brick-and-mortar businesses can add value to their bottom lines by offering in-store promotions on the products they know people want to experience immediately rather than waiting for delivery," Lee said. "This is a key competitive advantage they could have over online retailers and one that might secure their long-term survival in an expanding online marketplace."
As part of the study, Lee, along with Rotman School of Management's associate professor of marketing Claire Tsai, conducted four experiments across a variety of products to explore the consumer's relationship between consumption and enjoyment. They found that the shopping high one feels for a product after they have received a discount only happens when the product is consumed immediately after it is paid for.
In one experiment, researchers had participants purchase orange juice, half of whom received a 50 percent discount. Then, half of the participants — regardless of whether they received a discount or not — drank the juice as soon as it was paid for, while the other half waited 15 minutes to consume the juice.
The researchers found that when participants who had received a discount consumed the juice immediately, the experience was significantly amplified. However, when participants who had received a discount were forced to wait 15 minutes or longer, reviews of the juice were far less favorable. Additionally, when asked if they would purchase the juice in the future, those who waited said they would be less likely to buy it again.
Similar discoveries occurred when consumers were shopping for music in a separate experiment. Researchers found that consumers who had to wait to download their discounted music enjoyed the music less than those who were able to download the music immediately.
Lee and Tsai said if you consider the consumer relationship from a long-term standpoint, in terms of customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, brick-and-mortar marketers might want to pay more attention to the instant gratification factor because this is something no online retailer can provide at this time.
The study, "How Price Promotions Influence Post-Purchase Consumption Experience Over Time," was recently published in the Journal of Consumer Research.
Originally published on BusinessNewsDaily.


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NEW YORK (AP) - A last-minute surge in spending saved the holiday shopping season.
PLEASANTON (AP) - Discount clothing retailer Ross Stores Inc. said Thursday that a key revenue indicator climbed 6 percent in December and raised its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings guidance, sending the company's shares higher.
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Think your high-definition TV is hot stuff - as sharp as it gets? At the biggest trade show in the Americas, which kicks off next week in Las Vegas, TV makers will be doing their best to convince you that HDTVs are old hat, and should make room for "Ultra HDTV."
Top-selling cars and trucks in the US in 2012
WASHINGTON (AP) - Tucked into the "fiscal cliff" tax package approved by Congress are billions of dollars in tax breaks that should make the new year a lot happier for businesses of many stripes, including film producers, race track owners and the makers of electric motorcycles.
NEW YORK (AP) - A two-day rally in the stock market came to an end Thursday afternoon when an account of the Federal Reserve's last meeting revealed a split between bank officials over how long the Fed should keep buying bonds to support the economy.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google has settled a U.S. government probe into its business practices without making any major concessions on how the company runs its Internet search engine, the world's most influential gateway to digital information and commerce.
NEW YORK (AP) - Hormel Foods apparently has a hankering for a peanut butter and bacon sandwich. The company primarily known for Spam and other cured, smoked and deli meats said Thursday that it's buying Skippy, the country's No. 2 peanut butter brand, in its biggest-ever acquisition.
DETROIT (AP) - It's not quite boom times for the U.S. auto industry. But it's getting there.
NEW YORK (AP) - The "fiscal cliff" compromise, even with all its chaos, controversy and unresolved questions, was enough to ignite the stock market on Wednesday, the first trading day of the new year.
NEW YORK (AP) - Wendy's no longer thinks a hamburger has to be 99 cents to be a deal.
NEW YORK (AP) - Starbucks Corp. is rolling out a $1 reusable plastic cup at its cafes starting Thursday.
NEW YORK (AP) - Avis is leaping into the car-sharing service business by buying Zipcar for $491.2 million, aiming to capture a new type of customer and technology that will vastly expand its car rental options.
DETROIT (AP) - A healthier economy and more model introductions should push U.S. auto sales above the 15 million mark this year, predicts an auto industry research firm.
NEW YORK (AP) - A new Pew study reports that around 13 percent of Americans aged 16 and older used a mobile device to visit a library website during the past year.
NEW YORIK (AP) - Uninsured Americans face an important deadline at the end of this month, and many don't realize it.
DENVER (AP) - Colorado made roughly $2 million in marijuana taxes in January, state revenue officials reported Monday in the world's first accounting of the recreational pot business.
NEW YORK (AP) - On the edge of the SoHo neighborhood downtown, The Henley Vaporium is an intimate hipster hangout with overstuffed chairs, exposed brick, friendly counter help - but no booze.
ATLANTA (AP) - It's not just grandma with a new hip and your uncle with a new knee. More than 2 of every 100 Americans now have an artificial joint, doctors are reporting.
SAN JOSE (AP) - Arwin Buditom guards some of the most successful high-tech firms in America. Joseph Farfan keeps their heat, air and electric systems humming. But these workers and tens of thousands like them who help fuel the Silicon Valley's tech boom can't even make ends meet anymore. Buditom rooms with his sister an hour's drive from work. Farfan gets his groceries at a food pantry.
CUPERTINO (AP) - Apple is accelerating the race to make smartphone applications easier and safer to use in cars.
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Dish Network and Disney have reached a landmark deal that envisions the day when Dish will offer a Netflix-like TV service to people who'd rather stream TV over the Internet than put a satellite receiver on their roof.
NEW YORK (AP) - Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is once again the world's richest person.
TOKYO (AP) - The sudden disappearance of one of the largest bitcoin exchanges only adds to the mystery and mistrust surrounding the virtual currency, which was just beginning to gain legitimacy beyond the technology enthusiasts and adventurous investors who created it.
DETROIT (AP) - The Tesla Model S electric sedan is Consumer Reports' top pick in this year's automotive rankings.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Billions of dollars in U.S. taxes are going unpaid because Americans are exploiting Swiss bank accounts, and the U.S. government has failed to aggressively pursue Switzerland's second-largest bank, a Senate investigation has found.
WASHINGTON (AP) - It's not just about what America's kids are getting in the lunch line.
NEW YORK (AP) - Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. surged 16 percent Tuesday after a Wall Street analyst told investors that Tesla could shake up the electric utility sector as well as the auto industry.
LONDON (AP) - Early Tuesday, the world's most established exchange for bitcoin disappeared from the Internet, sending the price of the virtual currency tumbling and prompting fears that the world's biggest experiment in electronic cash could soon be strangled by fraud or regulation.
NEW YORK (AP) - Egg McMuffin, meet the Waffle Taco.


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According to Hoshiboy, Azuki’s project’s co-founder, the Twitter account for the non-fungible token (NFT) collection Azuki was hacked on Friday afternoon.
The collection’s native metaverse platform, The Garden, was the subject of a fraudulent link that the account tweeted encouraging followers to “claim land”.
Azuki is in touch with Twitter to address the attack, according to Hoshiboy. Community manager for Azuki Emily Rose tweeted about the hack and cautioned followers not to open any links in current tweets.
As of Friday afternoon, the tweets were removed from Azuki’s Twitter account. However, Discord moderators continued to advise members not to click on the link in Azuki’s bio since it still takes them to a malicious website.
NFT collection Azuki’s previous hacks
The Garden has just been made available to owners of the popular anime-inspired profile picture (PFP) collection as a meeting venue. Azuki’s current floor price is 14.76 ETH, or around $23,600, and the project has generated 274,510 ETH, or about $4.4 million, in total transactions since its January 2022 start, according to data from the secondary market OpenSea.
Hackers have previously exploited the Azuki name and branding to deceive unsuspecting Twitter users. Azuki NFT fakes were airdropped last April after a hacker took control of the India University Grant Commission’s official Twitter account. Authorities soon recovered the account.
Hilumia recently debuted its virtual city with a fully functional toy store and arcade to mark Azuki’s one-year anniversary. Even at the interactive “Love Island” romance tournament, participants can put their love to the test! Unsurprisingly, trading activity for Hilumia increased by 86% on the day of the announcement alone, according to NFT data tracker CryptoSlam.


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Greggs has finally put an end to months of speculation by confirming the drop of its Vegan Steak Bake which hits shops today.
The leading food-on-the-go retailer has been tantalising Greggs fans in the build up to the vegan friendly launch, including a short video on its social media channels in December which read; “Believe the hype…Greggs x Vegan…dropping January 2020.”
The new Vegan Steak Bake means that the UK’s vegans, flexitarians and Meat-Free Monday advocates can enjoy an alternative to one of Greggs’ iconic menu items. The Vegan Steak Bake has been created to mirror some of the original Steak Bake’s classic features, including 96 layers of light and crisp puff pastry, but instead is made with Quorn pieces, diced onions and a gravy filling.
Greggs’ Vegan Sausage Roll launched in January 2019 to critical acclaim - becoming one of its fastest selling products of the last 6 years.
The Greggs product development team has been working for months on the Vegan Steak Bake recipe, recruiting a whole panel of vegan and non-vegan taste testers to ensure its flavours hit the spot.
The Greggs Vegan Steak Bake will be available from £1.55, initially across 1,300 shops from 2 January and rolling out to a further 700 shops on 16 January. Find it in Kingston at the Greggs brances on Castle Street and Market Place.


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Cellphone Recycling: Getting the Most Out of Smartphones
What happens to your old phone when you buy a new one? As smartphone features and technology advance, consumers are quickly switching to newer, better, faster phones. Old cellphones are now one of the fastest-growing types of garbage in the United States.
Worldwide smartphone sales are on track to top 467 million units this year alone, according to research firm Gartner. Two years ago, smartphone sales rang in at 172 million units.
This year, more than 140 million cell phones (that’s four cellphones per second) will end up in landfills, releasing 40 tons of lead into the earth because of improper disposal methods.
Nearly 80 percent of the materials in a typical cellphone can be recycled, according to the GSM Association, a worldwide mobile communications industry organization. In spite of this clear bonanza, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, only 10 percent of all unused cellphones were recycled in 2007. For some creative companies, however, recycling and repurposing phones provides a great economic — and environmental — incentive.


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Chamillionaire Speaks Out – Tells Google’s Design Lead That All Android Devices “Suck”
by Chris Chavez on July 29th, 2011 at 10:29 pm
TechCrunch was holding one of their tech conferences today called Mobile First Crunch Up. During one of the closing panels, Google’s design lead Matias Duarte was there representing Android, at one point saying the choice between Android and iOS is nothing more than preference (I would 100% agree).
Well, during the Q&A session, rapper extraordinaire, Chamillionaire took to the mic and let Duarte know exactly how he felt about Android saying, “I’ve used all these different devices, they suck.” Apparently, Mr. Illionaire feels like there still hasn’t been a single Android device released that can compare to his iPhone. This obviously drew a big reaction from the crowd and murmurs of, “Oh no he di’int!” could be heard across audience.
But Duarte didn’t let it phase him, he then explained to Chamillionaire that everyone has different tastes and that his competitors also make great products as well. Did that stop Chamillionaire? Not a chance. He demanded answers. He wanted to know which device he should use next. Duarte responded with, “I’m hoping that pretty soon we’re gonna have an android phone you’re gonna love," Clearly hinting at Google’s upcoming Nexus Prime (Using my psychic powers passed onto to me at birth, I will add what else he was thinking, “and it will melt the grill right off your face.”)
When TechCrunch asked Duarte which device he was using at the moment, he said it was the Nexus S and Chamillionaire agreed to drop a couple bills on it. We’ll have to wait and here his thoughts at a later time (need to charge my psychic powers). But what do you guys think of Chamillionaire’s statement? Would you even want a phone that Chamillionaire would deem worthy of his iced out hands? Maybe he needs Android to provide a native police scanner app so the po-po’s don’t catch him ridin’ dirty…


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AN independent digital company has been unveiled as the operator that will run the much-anticipated nine-screen cinema at Bolton’s Market Place.
The Light Cinemas were today announced as the official partner alongside the shopping centre’s new owners Moorgarth, who bought the complex for £24 million in November.
It follows hard on the heels of a successful planning application for the nine-screen cinema, which will be built effectively on top of the Market Place.
The current car park will be reconfigured as a result of the £15 million development.
Moorgarth’s UK chief executive Tim Vaughan said the South African-based group was “thrilled” to get the go-ahead to begin work on the “state-of-the-art” cinema.
Phil Dove, head of UK operations for The Light Cinemas, said: “This is a great opportunity for us to create a cinema that is unique to Bolton.”
The news has also been welcomed by the leader of Bolton Council, Cllr Cliff Morris.
He added: “We are delighted that The Light Cinema Experience is to be the operator for our new town centre cinema.”
- Lightning hits Bolton and blows up television set
- Have you fallen victim to the latest phone scam? You might not even know
- NO GO: Council rejects plans for No Exit escape rooms game in town centre
- Is this the craziest weather EVER? Town wakes up to snow two days short of May
- GALLERY: Your snow photos - April 29, 2016


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“For a significant change in direction we are looking at 2022 or 2023, but I do think we will see a flattening out in the second half of 2020 and a slight adjustment upwards in 2021,” Daniel Jimenez, managing partner at iLiMarkets said during the panel discussion.
In a poll of webinar attendees, 42% said lithium prices would start to change direction in 2021, and 38% said in 2022. The remaining responses were split over a turnaround in the second half of 2020, 2023 or even later.
“I think prices will flatten out in the second half of 2020, lift a bit off the low in 2021, but be capped by high stocks,” Will Adams, Fastmarkets’ head of battery raw materials research said.
Lithium carbonate 99.5% Li2CO3 min, battery grade, spot prices cif China, Japan & Korea were at $6.50-8.50 per kg on June 25, as per Fastmarkets’ latest assessment....


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A new report shows that Babies”R”Us is lagging behind boutique competitor buybuy BABY when it comes to keeping toxic chemicals off the shelves.
Wait –Toxic chemicals on the shelves of baby retailers? Toxic chemicals in strollers, rattles, onesies, toys, high chairs, and stuffed animals? Really?
You bet. And not just baby retailers, either. All retailers.
Glaring inadequacies in federal law mean that synthetic chemicals can be formulated into everyday consumer products without being tested for health effects. With tens of thousand of untested chemicals in commerce, that makes for a huge array of potential exposures with unknown health effects.
And babies are among the most vulnerable to these potential health effects. Some of the chemicals of concern include:
- Formaldehyde, the preservative familiar from high school dissection lab, a human carcinogen found in particle board, wood products, and wrinkle free fabrics;
- Flame retardants in foam products, nominally intended to curb the spread of house fires; their efficacy is uncertain. Meanwhile, these chemicals may increase the risk of cancer and reproductive damage. They can be found in nursing pillows, changing pads, crib inserts, high chairs, children’s reading chairs, and other foam-containing products.
- Triclosan, an antimicrobial and anti-fungal agent that can disrupt the hormone system, commonly added to plastic toys for its antimicrobial properties; it can also be found in some toothpaste, laundry products, and clothing.
Americans spend $23 billion each year on baby products. Major baby retailers have the power to guide the baby industry toward safer products.
After all, baby products should be the last place we allow toxic chemicals. They should be our bright line in the sand. They should be safe.
Some moms are painfully, acutely, OCD-triggeringly aware of the ubiquity of toxic chemicals in consumer products. (Heck, this mom has been called “hysterical” and a “weirdo” for her concern over these issues. Sigh.) It’s one thing to know that chemicals aren’t tested before they hit the consumer market in everyday products; in theory, adults can do their own research and make their own choices. But it’s quite another to think about the hundreds of untested synthetic chemicals found in the body of a brand spanking newborn baby. That’s the kind of thing that makes moms mad.
Shouldn’t someone be doing something about this?
Because of lax federal laws, toxic chemicals are used widely in consumer products and end up in our schools, homes, couches, mattresses, food, and, eventually, in our bodies. We’ve known that for a long time. We’re not happy about it. We’ve watched over the years as Congress has failed to make good on passing a health protective chemicals law. It might be easy to blame lack of progress on a famously paralyzed Congress. But that’s not our style. We don’t dwell. Instead, we find a way to make change happen through another avenue.
Because our laws aren’t working, we have asked major retailers to “Mind the Store.” We have also joined the Getting Ready for Baby campaign, to formally call on top baby retailers to adopt policies that require product makers to know and disclose the chemicals and materials they use, and to phase out the use of any chemical found on the “Hazardous 100+” list.
The new report compares the corporate approach to chemicals of buybuy BABY, owned by Bed Bath &Beyond, with Babies”R”Us, a subsidiary of Toys”R”Us. What it finds is that Babies”R”Us, with 250 stores across the country, falls far short of what it could – and should – be doing.
According to the report,
“buybuy BABY has taken a series of steps to address toxic chemicals, and earlier this year, it issued a Restricted Substances List of chemicals it asked all vendors to eliminate in all products they sell…
“Babies”R”Us, by contrast, has chemical-specific restrictions, including limits on bisphenol A (BPA), some phthalates, lead, and cadmium. Its parent company, Toys”R”Us, has taken no new actions on chemicals since 2011.”
Everyone, regardless of their budget, and regardless of their knowledge about toxic chemicals, should be able to shop at the nation’s leading baby retailer confident that the products for sale will not pose threats to their child’s health.
It’s time Babies”R”Us takes the health of its target demographic seriously.


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It seems that in addition to fast food, the beer market in Africa is also on the rise, according to Canadean’s Global Beer Trends Report. Canadean predicts an average growth rate of five percent from 2015 to 2020, surpassing Asia, which is expected to grow at an average rate of three percent in comparison, reports Beverage Daily.
Piyumika Jayasena, an analyst at Canadean, says, “This notable growth will be fostered by the flourishing economic parameters such as increasing GDP growth rates, fast growing urbanization and above all the rising population with a working age demographic set to surpass that of China and India.”
Also notable is a shift away from traditional homebrews towards commercially brewed beers and subsequently towards premium brands, which are perceived to be more safe and reliable. Jayasena tells Beverage Daily, “Africa is known for local unregulated ‘homebrews’ and due to its associated health risks, major international brewers are now actively engaged in producing similar products that could compete with the unregulated alcohol market.”
Despite expected growth, challenges exist for the African beer market from lack of infrastructure, political unrest, epidemic outbreaks, and heavy excise duties. It is also important to note that though Africa is predicted to have the largest growth, Asia maintains its status as the highest consumer of beer by volume, with predictions of 900,000 hectoliters in 2020 in comparison to 164,000 hectoliters in Africa.


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Barista Nation Sacramento, taking place Thursday, September 24, will be an awesome day, filled with coffee education specifically geared toward Northern California retailers and baristas, speeches by industry luminaries, great workshops on coffee prep, and of course, an amazing party!
One of the many reasons that we at Barista Magazine love being involved with the unique and creative coffee educational event, Barista Nation, is that is takes place in different cities all around the world. Barista Nations have been held from Minneapolis to Los Angeles, Boston to Seattle, Tokyo to Paris. And this week, Barista Nation will take place in Sacramento, Calif. for the very first time.
Sacramento is an amazing coffee city to begin with. Yes, San Francisco and its awesome coffee scene is close by ”only about 80 miles away ”but the success of Sacramento’s cafe culture and renowned roasters is something that has developed from the ground up, year by year, until now, when the state capital is considered one of the strongest coffee cities in the United States.
This Barista Nation will be structurally different from past Barista Nation events in a few ways: For example, organizer Brian Cornelsen of Unic has created content that addresses the specific needs of and issues facing California coffee retailers, such as the first morning session, “California Water Sources, Changes, and Filtering Technology.”
We’re also stoked about the people Brian has involved with the event: None other than Lorenzo Perkins, who is the Chair of the Barista Guild of America‘s Executive Council (not to mention a super fun guy) will be speaking at Barista Nation and generally entrenched in all the activities. We’re excited to hear that Bay Area coffee veteran Andy Newbom will be a speaker, as well as Eton Tsuno of Temple Coffee, and others in the second morning session, “The Coffee Supply Chain.”
After a lunch break (which will feature some yummo food from Brunch Boys and Chandos Tacos), Lorenzo will lead a Spro Down, which will be totally rad and fun. After this, we’ll head into a panel discussion to be moderated by Barista Mag’s own Sarah Allen, and which will feature leaders from Sacramento’s specialty-coffee community, Jason Griest of Old Soul, Sean Kohmescher of Temple Coffee, Gene Lemos of Vaneli’s, Edie Baker of Chocolate Fish Coffee, and Mike Drake from Insight Coffee.
Another new feature of Barista Nation will be a consulting table, where attendees can sit down with a variety of experts in different areas of coffee ”from social media marketing to green buying ”and get advice.
Of course, no Barista Nation would be complete without an amazing party in the evening, so reserve your babysitters, tell your roommates you’ll be busy, and get your shift covered, because this one’s going to be not-to-miss! Not only will there be great food and plenty of beer, but the Sacramento Public Latte Art Tournament ”known as S.P.L.A.T. ”will be taking place during the festivities!
There’s still time to register for Barista Nation Sacramento ”just go HERE and get it done!
Looking forward to seeing everyone in Sacramento next week ”it’s gonna be killer!


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The new location, which an employee at the Tysons location (1635 Boro Place) said opened today, is the sixth one all located within Whole Foods stores for Chef Spike Mendelsohn.
Mendelsohn, the D.C.-area restaurateur who competed during the fourth season of “Top Chef,” opened the first PLNT Burger in September 2019 in Silver Spring, Md. Mendelsohn also operates several other D.C. eateries, including Good Stuff Eatery; We, The Pizza; Béarnaise; and Santa Rosa Taqueria.
The employee said that the PLNT Burger location in Tysons is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.
Hat tip Vernon Miles
Photo via PLNT Burger/Facebook
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PM gives go-ahead for Brent shops, beer gardens and hairdressers to reopen on April 12
- Credit: Brent Council
High-street traders in Brent were given a boost as prime minister Boris Johnson confirmed non-essential shops and outdoor hospitality would reopen on April 12.
He held a press conference on bank holiday Monday as his lockdown easing roadmap remained on track following the Covid pandemic.
The announcement came with a reminder for residents to Shop Safe, Shop Local – the name of the Brent Council campaign to reawaken the high street.
Throughout the Covid pandemic the Brent & Kilburn Times has also been campaigning and appealing for residents to Shop Local and support traders whether visiting the shops or buying from local businesses online during shop and business closures.
Brent-based businesses are encouraging clients to get in touch ahead of the national “step 2” reopening date of April 12.
Christine Harvey, who runs Through the Looking Glass hair salon in Watford Road, Sudbury, said she was inundated with messages and phone calls as soon as the roadmap announcement was made.
“I took everyone’s details and sat down with a spreadsheet like a jigsaw and plotted when they could all come in,” Christine said.
“I could work seven days a week but I think it would probably kill me after being off for so long. I’m fully booked until the middle of May, but people can still get in touch, either by Facebook or phone, if they want an appointment.”
- 1 Jailed: 9 north London offenders put behind bars in June
- 2 Wanted: Man sought after aggravated burglaries, failing to appear in court
- 3 Covid: North London hospital admissions rising amid national surge
- 4 Neasden pub refused late licence amid fears around crime
- 5 Man arrested after woman's rape allegation in Neasden
- 6 School turns itself around after 'sexual bullying' reports
- 7 Rogue Wembley HGV trainer sentenced after selling non-existent training
- 8 DVLA issues urgent warning to drivers in UK
- 9 Hundreds of young musicians to gather in Wembley for concert
- 10 Most wanted: 6 people sought in connection with 10 robberies across London
Mal Preedy, the landlord of The Greenman Pub and Hotel, is also looking forward to reopening and is taking bookings for tables in the garden at the top of Wembley Hill in Wembley.
“We are getting quite a lot of bookings, especially for the first week,” Mal said. “We have run out of money and need to reopen.”
The Greenman Pub and Hotel has a large outdoor area, and Mal is confident that they won’t run out of space. “We have got plenty of room outside,” he said. “Because we are shut, I have changed the phone number on the website to my number so people can call me directly and make a booking.”
Across the country businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic and those in Brent are no exception.
Now is the time to show your support for your local businesses, secure your bookings, and save money, in advance of national restrictions easing on April 12.
We want to give our town centres, high streets, retailers, small businesses and markets across the borough the best chance possible of bouncing back as the lockdown restrictions are eased, but we must stay safe.
Shop Safe, Shop Local is a Brent Council campaign aimed at encouraging businesses and shoppers alike to do their bit to stop the further spread of the virus, avoid a third peak, help Brent businesses to bounce back and see life return as much as possible back to normal.
And here is all the information you need about the April 12 ‘Step 2’ phase.
Which businesses can reopen?
Retail outlets deemed "non-essential" will be allowed to reopen their doors from Monday, April 12.
Personal care businesses such as hairdressers, barbers, beauty and nail salons will also be able to welcome customers once again.
And indoor gyms and spas can open, though saunas and steam rooms will have to wait at least another five weeks.
Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers outside where possible. This time there is no requirement for a "substantial" meal to be served alongside alcohol and no curfew, though people will need to be seated while eating or drinking.
Other outdoor attractions can begin operating again, such as zoos, theme parks, drive-in cinemas and other drive-in performances.
All of these premises must continue to ensure social distancing is adhered to. Indoor settings must only be visited alone or with household groups, while outdoor settings remain limited to six people or two households.
What else is changing?
Overnight stays away from home in England will be allowed, while self-contained holiday lets and accommodation can reopen. They must only be used by members of the same household or bubble, however.
Residents in care homes can now have two different visitors, where they had previously been limited to just one.
Indoor parent and child groups of up to 15 people – not including children under five – can restart.
Up to 30 people will be able to attend funerals to say a final goodbye to loved ones, while other commemorative events like weddings, outdoor receptions and wakes can have up to 15 people.
And a Covid-status certification system will be developed over the next few months, which the government says will allow higher-risk settings to reopen more safely and with more people.
It will take into account vaccination, a recent negative test or natural immunity (based on a positive test in the last six months). Pilots will take place from the middle of this month.
What's still to come?
Changes to social contact will still have to wait until at least May 17, when the government says it will look at easing limits on seeing and interacting with friends and family.
It is at this point when the rule of six may be extended to indoor settings.
Pubs and restaurants will have to wait at least another five weeks until they can welcome customers indoors again. It is hoped most other indoor businesses will be able to reopen by the middle of May.
May 17 is also when the rest of the accommodation sector, such as hotels and B&Bs, may be able to reopen.
This is also the mooted date for the resumption of indoor performances – to a socially-distanced crowd – while large outdoor arenas may be able to welcome a crowd up to a quarter of its capacity.
By June 21, it is hoped all legal limits on social contact will be removed, while remaining businesses such as nightclubs might finally be able to welcome customers once again.


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Wealth management projects are growing around the world, but they can take some time to go live, which costs time and money. OneVest shortens the process with its own wealth management delivery platform, ensuring companies get to market as quickly as possible. To learn more about OneVest and what it does for companies in the wealth management industry, check out the article below.
OneVest wants to make it easier for banks and FinTech startups alike to roll out digital wealth management experiences and services.
In an interview with BetaKit, OneVest co-founder and CEO Amar Ahluwalia said that launching an investing app or product independently can be a time-consuming process. Between hiring the team, building the tech, and gaining regulatory licensing, Ahluwalia says it can take “upwards of about a year, if not more.”
Calgary and Toronto-based OneVest wants to change that. Through its newly launched, turn-key “wealth-as-a-service” platform, Ahluwalia claims that OneVest’s financial services industry customers can bring digital investing experiences to consumers “in a matter of weeks.”
The startup has nabbed $5 million CAD in seed funding and the support of FinTech-focused investors like Luge Capital and National Bank’s NAventures to accelerate the growth of its wealth management offering.
“We want to build the most comprehensive embedded wealth management platform and infrastructure in the industry,” said Ahluwalia. “What Stripe has done for payments, we’re doing for wealth.”
According to Ahluwalia, OneVest offers “the first” platform of its kind in Canada. “The mission for us is really to be able to provide more access to investing experiences to everybody, but really, available anytime, anywhere, through any channel of their choice.”
OneVest caters to a range of different customers, including consumer FinTech companies, credit unions, traditional banks, and wealth management firms. The startup’s end-to-end platform can be embedded in consumer-facing products via APIs. Fellow Calgary-based FinTech startup Neo Financial recently became the first company to launch an investment service, Neo Invest, using OneVest’s platform.
OneVest’s all-equity, all-primary seed financing closed earlier this month, and was led by Toronto-based Luge. The round saw participation from NAventures, National Bank of Canada’s corporate VC arm, Toronto’s OMERS Ventures, Montréal-based Panache Ventures, Washington’s AAF Management, New York-based FJ Labs, Canaccord Genuity Chairman David Kassie, Shutterstock founder Jon Oringer’s Pareto Holdings, and Vancouver’s Conconi Growth Partners.
The seed raise brings OneVest’s total funding to $7.1 million CAD. This amount includes a $2.1 million, previously unannounced Harvest Venture Partners-led pre-seed financing that closed in mid-2021.
“The oligopoly that exists in Canada has limited innovation in the wealth management sector over the last few decades and there’s no doubt the core infrastructure is ripe for disruption,” OMERS Ventures Partner Laura Lenz told BetaKit.
As part of the startup’s seed round, Karim Gillani, former PayPal executive and current general partner of Luge Capital, is joining OneVest’s board of directors. OneVest has also announced that former Vanguard Canada CEO Atul Tiwari will become a strategic advisor to the company.
“In less than a year, the OneVest founders assembled an exceptional team, built the entire technology stack, became licensed under several regulatory regimes, and delivered great early traction,” Gillani told BetaKit. “You don’t see that level of performance often.”
Ahluwalia founded OneVest in early 2021 alongside COO Jakob Pizzera—a Shopify, Element AI, and Ritual alum—and CTO Nathan Di Lucca, who previously spent time at Kudos and Donesafe, where he served as country manager for Canada. Combined, the trio has spent over 30 years building and working in the financial services and tech sectors.
“We see that there’s a vast opportunity [to offer] better investment experiences for all Canadians,” said Ahluwalia, who highlighted that COVID-19 has “accelerated” demand for digital investing.
“Wealth management is a $4.5 trillion industry in Canada alone, and the retail portion is about $1.5 trillion,” said Gillani. “COVID has been a big accelerant of digital wealth management, as more people discovered retail investing for the first time. We believe that digital wealth is the future, because more consumers are demanding better user experiences.”
Amid an increasingly competitive Canadian wealth management and investing tech sector, which features big banks as well as startup players like Wealthsimple, Questrade, Mogo, and Neo Financial, Ahluwalia thinks of OneVest as an “enabler to the system.” Rather than compete against them, OneVest has built its platform to serve incumbents and challengers alike.
According to Ahluwalia, a key part of OneVest’s appeal is the speed to market it offers. Part of this is due to OneVest’s API-based approach, while part is due to the fact that OneVest is “the licensed and regulated entity in these types of relationships.”
OneVest is a registered portfolio manager in each province and territory of Canada, and a registered investment fund manager in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, and Québec. Assets in OneVest accounts are held with CI Investment Services, a registered investment dealer in each Canadian province.
OneVest is part of a growing list of FinTech firms looking to make it easier for other financial services and FinTech firms to launch financial products. This group includes Synctera and Cybrid. In Canada, D1g1t also sells wealth management software to enterprise clients, while Mako Fintech aims to help wealth management professionals digitize their workflows. However, neither offer an embedded wealth management platform like OneVest.
Lenz said “there is little direct competition” for OneVest in the country, adding that competition “mainly comes from robo platforms where the incumbent wealth tech stack has lagged other industries in the adoption of cloud software.”
“Many of these platforms have had to rebuild the stack from the ground up while investing heavily in direct-to-consumer customer acquisition, diverting cash away from new product development in financial planning or alternative assets,” said Lenz. “So we feel Onevest has a sizeable head start in this market.”
Ahluwalia acknowledged that there are more competitors in the wealth-as-a-service sector in other geographic markets, but claimed that OneVest is “one of the more advanced players in this space.”
Going forward, OneVest plans to use the seed capital to double its headcount, grow its sales, and support its product development plans. The startup currently has about 25 full-time employees, and intends to reach 50 over the next year by adding developer, engineering, finance, investment, business development, and marketing staff.
The original article can be found on BetaKit.


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“Fig Food is about making a difference” by giving consumers heart healthy, plant-based foods that are in demand, on trend and convenient, but also in packaging that is more sustainable than cartons and cans, said Joel Henry, owner of the company, which currently is raising funds on the crowd-funding website CircleUp.
He explained that he wanted to use the most sustainable packaging that was light weight to minimize emissions during transportation and also produced the least waste. At the time Fig Food launched, Tetra Recart cartons were the best option available, but within a few years of launching, Henry realized the cartons were not the ultimate package for the company.
Fig Food switched to BPA-free pounces because it discovered that they were less wasteful than cartons and cans and, therefore, better aligned with the company’s mission as a B Corp dedicated to be the most sustainable, Earth-friendly company it could be, Henry said.
The switch to pouches cut in half the weight of the product and lowered the package to be only 2% of the total product that consumers took home, which reduces transportation emissions and end-waste, Henry said.
The pouches also were easier for consumers to open without spilling than the cartons and because the material is more conductive than the Tetra Recart carton paper, consumers can reheat the product more easily in the pouch and not dirty an extra dish, Henry said.
“Printing on the pouches also is a superior process to what you can do on the cartons” so the end-product looks more appealing to consumers, Henry said.
Retailers also like how the pouches do not dent or break when dropped like cartons or cans, which can be difficult to sell if they appear damaged, Henry said.
“If the pouch drops, it will smoosh, but you can still straighten it out and sell it. So, there is less shrinkage from falls,” and therefore, less lost sales, he added.
Switching to the pouch also made business sense because there are more providers and companies that make the filling machines than the Tetra Recart packages.
“At the time when we used Tetra Recart there was only one plant making the cartons and that was a big risk” because if something happened and supply could not be met then Fig Food would not be able to fill its orders, Henry said.
Challenges posed by pouches
The pouches are not perfect though, Henry admits.
“My only dissatisfaction with the pouch is that it is not recyclable” in the U.S., he said. However, he takes satisfaction in knowing that the waste created from throwing away the pouches is less than that of recyclable containers that enter the waste stream instead of recycling centers as intended.
Plus, he emphasized again, the pouches are lighter than cans and cartons and therefore produce fewer emissions during transportation.
Another downside to the pouches is that while they are eye-catchingly different from cans and cartons, they often are not shelved in retail stores at eye-level, which hinders sales, Henry said.
He explained that the pouches appear bigger than the more traditional cans and cartons so many retailers place them on the top shelf where there is more space. But “being on the top shelf is problematic because our primary consumers are women and the average height of women is 5’3”, so if the pouch is on the top shelf they can’t reach it,” Henry said.
Fig Food extensively researched the minimum heights of stores shelves, soup cans and cartons to design its pouch to fit where the cartons are stocked. This meant filling its pouches as much as 40% more than pouches with the same amount of soup from other companies in order to keep the height down, Henry said.
Fig Food also designed the cartons in which the pouches are shipped to double as merchandising cases to help retailers better display the soups and beans, Henry said. He explained the company worked closely with several retailers to ensure the cartons are easy to open and use. In addition, the cartons, like the pouches, use only as much material as needed to minimize waste and increase sustainability, he added.
Consumer confusion remains an issue
While the pouches successfully catch consumers’ attention because they appear unfamiliar, they also confuse consumers, Henry acknowledged.
“Since we eat, drink and sleep these pouches at Fig Food, we don’t think about them as being new, but they are to a lot of consumers,” who might not understand how to use them, said Henry, adding “there is still a learning curve at the consumer level.”
For example, he said, consumers often think they need to refrigerate the unopened pouches or that they are not as long lasting as cans and cartons.
Henry said he is working to educate consumers but that it would be easier if other companies that also use pouches could unite to create a council – similar to the Carton Council – that could educate consumers and address recycling concerns in the U.S.
Despite these challenges, Henry said the pouch “has a strong future” and is, in his view, the best option for the earth and his business.


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Last November 30, Wikileaks announced through Twitter that it was experiencing a massive distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack amounting to 10 Gigabits a second. DDOS attacks attempt to overwhelm network servers, with the goal of making the websites they support unavailable to web surfers.
Wikileaks is a whistleblower site that has once again made headlines for its leak of over a quarter million of sensitive American diplomatic cables. The website, ostensibly to protect itself from the DDOS, started transferring its operations from Swedish host PRQ to Amazon’s servers as early as last Sunday, November 28. While well-known for its online retail store, Amazon also leases out its own dedicated servers to other companies, under the Amazon Web Services (AWS) brand.
However, it was announced yesterday that Amazon has kicked Wikileaks off its servers. According to Mashable: “The move by Amazon comes after questioning from U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, the chairman of the House Security Committee.” Lierberman himself characterized Amazon’s decision as “right” and “a standard for other companies Wikileaks is using to distribute its illegally seized material.”
Reports indicate that Amazon may have been worried its own servers from suffering from the effects of Wikileaks-related DDOS attacks. Yet Mashable has speculated that the action resulted from pressure applied by the US government. A sexual assault warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was issued yesterday.


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Organizers of the 2015 Independent Games Festival China are very pleased to announce the winners of this year’s prestigious pan-Pacific competition!
Submissions for this year’s eventwere received from across China, as well as from many other nations across the pan-Pacific region. The finalists were invited to demonstrate their games in the IGF Pavilion at GDC China last week, and the winners were announced at the IGF China Awards ceremony.
Each of these winners will receive a cash prize and two free passes to attend the upcoming GDC 2016 in San Francisco.
IGF China 2015 Main Competition winners:
- Best Game: Revolver 360 RE: Actor from Active Gaming Media (Japan)
- Excellence in Visual Arts: Dynasty Fighter from Cap Hong Team (China)
- Excellence in Design: Kill the Plumber from Keybol (The Phillippines)
- Excellence in Audio: Lithium City from Nico Tuason (The Phillippines)
- Excellence in Technology: Thumper from Drool (Korea)
- Best Mobile Game: The Swords from Sunhead Games (Taiwan)
IGF China 2015 Student Competition winners:
- Best Student Game: Dungeon Delvers from Cristian Astudillo, DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore (Singapore)
- Student Excellence: Original Journey from Linan Tan, China Academy of Art (China)
- Student Excellence: Wind Owes 7$ from Menglong Yang, Zhejiang University of Media and Communications (China)


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Ariana Grande’s dress was a fire hazard on ‘Don’t Look Up’ set
Producers on the set of Don’t Look Up were worried Ariana Grande’s Valentino haute couture dress would catch fire during her duet performance with Kid Cudi.
Grande plays pop diva Riley Bina in the film, who raises awareness about the world’s impending doom by hosting a concert with her on-again, off-again boyfriend DJ Chello, played by Cudi. For her performance, costume designer Susan Matheson chose a white dress with plumes of feathered embellishments. Unfortunately, this choice came with some safety hazards.
“The producers had the effects people running over to me to say they’ve got fireworks going off next to Ariana who was suspended in the ceiling,” Matheson said in an interview for Vogue. “They’re telling me that we have to fireproof the feathers, and I had to go, ‘Do you know what happens to feathers when they’re wet?’ Plus, I couldn’t let them touch it or get firework sparks anywhere near Ariana.”
Matheson got her way in the end, and the fireworks were moved away from Grande and the designer dress. “We had to figure out ways to do everything safely,” says Matheson. “I may have yelled, but that’s a museum piece; I felt incredibly protective.”
This wasn’t Matheson’s only challenge when building the look for Grande’s character. One of the main difficulties was finding outfits recognizably different from the pop star’s real-life image. “I knew I had to do something that was contrary to how Ariana looks in real life,” Matheson said. “I went through everything she’d ever worn in a music video or was photographed in during an event. I wanted to do something much edgier than what we’re used to seeing her in.”
Matheson did an incredible job designing Grande’s unique look for Don’t Look Up, and the fire hazard dress was well worth the risk. Matheson achieved a unique look for the rest of the characters, and she hilariously revealed Timothée Chalamet’s mullet was inspired by Tiger King.


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Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 4-H Livestock Auction will look different this year. This Friday, July 17th buyers are welcome to participate in the auction either online or at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds.
The Big Sky Country State Fair reports that over 40,000 people attended this year's fair. That's a 17% increase in attendance from 2015-2019. Other interesting notes about this years Big Sky Country State Fair:


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Business News›r c bhargava
R C BHARGAVA
Rural growth has been faster than urban in 2023: Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava
"Rural demand in the car segment has not depressed. The rural growth is slightly higher than urban", said Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava while talking to ET NOW.Rural growth has been faster than urban in 2023: Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava
De-growth in small cars to stagnate the overall market next fiscal: RC Bhargava
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd anticipates a stagnant domestic car market in the upcoming fiscal year due to a lack of revival in the small car segment, which is essential for growth, and this stagnation is expected to persist for the next two to three years. R.C. Bhargava, the Chairman of Maruti Suzuki India, expressed the industry's pessimism regarding industry's overall growth, primarily attributing it to the decline in the small car segment.
India's small car sales may rebound in 2-3 years, says Maruti Suzuki Chairman Bhargava
"Without growth at the entry level and the small car market in a market like India, sustained high levels of growth in the car industry are very unlikely," Maruti Chairman R.C. Bhargava said in a post-earnings media call. Small car sales in India used to comprise 85% of overall passenger vehicle sales in fiscal 2019, but a COVID-triggered supply chain crunch and regulatory changes ramped up input costs, making these models unaffordable.
Indian industry needs to match what government has done in last 9 year: R C Bhargava
R C Bhargava said, "I think Indian industry now needs to recognise that it cannot always keep blaming the government for this inability to grow faster and become globally competitive. Indian industry also has to look at itself and see what it can do to improve its overall efficiency, productivity and cost control."
India raised stature of G20, gave recognition to its ability to influence people in the world: RC Bhargava
India has successfully showcased its development and raised its profile through its presidency of the G20, according to R C Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki India. He praised India for taking the lead in addressing global problems such as the Ukraine-Russia war, inflation, global warming, and carbon footprint.
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Maruti Suzuki to scale up capital expenditure to record Rs 8,000 crore in current FYThe company - which missed the two million units annual sales mark by a mere 34,000 units last fiscal – is confident of outpacing industry growth this fiscal and is upping investments to meet growing consumer demand for its products.
Government must review tax structure to keep auto industry on fast lane, says R C BhargavaWhile the industry has grown in strong double-digits this year, demand is coming from the more premium end of the market, indicating stress on affordability at the entry-level, head of the country’s largest carmaker pointed out.
Suzuki Motor raises sales forecast on India boostThe parent company of market leader Maruti Suzuki expects to close the fiscal with sales of 3.04 million vehicles, compared to the previous projection of 2.91 million units. Sales in India are expected to grow by 21% in this period.
Maruti Suzuki scales up capex by 40% to zoom past its peersThe country's largest carmaker, which has stepped up its product offensive in the fast-growing sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment to claw back its lost market share, is now set to invest more on physical assets in FY23 than its peers Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) that have announced capex of ₹6,000 crore each for the fiscal.
India’s passenger vehicle market is expected to grow by 8% next year, Maruti's Chairman BhargavaMaruti Suzuki itself is expected to close the year with sales at similar levels as FY19. Bhargava informed, “The industry will breach FY19 levels. Our sales will be in the same order as FY19. That is because the small car segment has declined the last few years. Major demand is coming in for SUVs. We have (also) started growing in that segment.”
Maruti Chairman R C Bhargava calls public sector companies inefficient, says govt should not be running businesses"The fact of the matter is that companies run by the government are not efficient. They don't have productivity. They don't generate profit. They don't generate resources. They don't grow. They need government support all the time to grow," he added.
Maruti Suzuki may make potential organizational changesIn the first in-person meeting after a gap of two years, Chairman R C Bhargava referred to the statement of SMC President Toshihiro Suzuki, who earlier this week said that of the 2.8 million units made worldwide by the company, the Indian operations accounted for about 60% of the volumes.
Maruti Suzuki will fight to regain 50% market share: Company Chairman"We will fight to get back to our 50 per cent market share. How much we succeed only time will tell but we certainly don't intend to walk away and say no we don't want to fight for it. We will fight for our market share," said Chairman R C Bhargava.
Maruti, India's top carmaker, open to partnerships to secure supply chainPartnering with suppliers in its early years contributed significantly to Maruti's success in India, where it has 43% share of the car market, and also helped establish a supply chain for combustion engine cars, R C Bhargava told Reuters. With growing demand for more technology in cars and a shift to 'greener' powertrains like electric and hybrid, automotive supply chains globally are changing and need large investments to keep pace.
Understanding customers, overcoming odds key to Maruti's 40-year successful journey: R C BhargavaHowever, he pointed out that the journey for Maruti was not a smooth one and was full of challenges. "We know how Maruti started and why it started. It was an accident. It was not a planned move on the part of the government that we need to develop a car industry in India that would be good for the economy, good for jobs, nothing of the kind," Bhargava recollected.
Why Maruti Suzuki might discontinue small cars like Wagon R, Alto in IndiaFrom 1st October, it will be mandatory for automakers in India to install six airbags in all of their new passenger vehicles.
Maruti Suzuki readies big CNG strategy for FY23 amid high & rising cost of fuelThe company has firmed up plans to produce 600,000 CNG vehicles in FY23 – which is more than half of a million CNG vehicles it has sold in the local market cumulatively in the last two decades. The company clocked the milestone of registering cumulative sales of 1 million CNG vehicles Tuesday.
Revenue secretary wants to know the reason for auto sector's troublesAddressing the SIAM annual conference, Bajaj said there are contradictions in 'economic terms' in the SUV sales going up by a higher percentage, compared to smaller cars, and questioned whether it is the overall economy, the COVID and other things that have disturbed the functioning of the auto sector and not the existing tax rates.
Maruti Suzuki India Chairman R C Bhargava calls on managements to cut expenditure on themselves amid pandemic"Management themselves need, I think, to curtail the kind of expenditures on themselves personally. Recent shareholder action seems to suggest why a section of shareholders share this view and are voting on these lines and I think that's a good development for the whole of industry," Bhargava said without elaborating.
CAFE norms: Not a right time to implement next stage of emission norms, says Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava"Over the years, the price of the cars have been going up. Now the price has gone up so much that people are not able to afford cars, so the growth of the industry has come down to zero. To further increase the cost, especially when the income of people has not grown during the COVID period, the industry will further go down," Maruti Suzuki chairman RC Bhargava stated.
Maruti Suzuki Chairman RC Bhargava: Car sales can grow significantly if third wave can be avertedWith the government developing the infrastructure for CNG distribution, consumers already seem to be showing an increased preference for vehicles powered by the fuel. In the last financial year itself, while overall sales of Maruti Suzuki declined 8%, sales of CNG vehicles rose 50%.
Maruti Suzuki plans to invest up to Rs 18,000 crore for 10 lakh unit plantThe company has decided to shift its Gurugram plant, spread over 300 acres, because of space constraints. Since the premises falls around residential areas, the locals face lot of hardships due to the movement of trucks.
India’s top carmaker Maruti Suzuki slices production as lockdowns hit salesMaruti isn’t the only carmaker feeling the pain. Hero MotoCorp Ltd., the world’s largest producer of two-wheelers, halted operations temporarily at all of its manufacturing facilities in response to a surge in Covid cases last month, while Ashok Leyland Ltd. scaled down the operations of some of its plants, which are only expected to work for seven to 15 days in May.
Demand for personal mobility to strengthen post second wave, says R C Bhargava, Chairman Maruti SuzukiDespite a rising number of covid cases in the country, the largest carmaker is going ahead with its investment plans for FY-22 of Rs 4000 to Rs 4500 crore and expects the demand momentum to remain strong, with a caveat that ‘the economy’ does not slip into the negative terrain. He however reiterated that the level of uncertainty still remains high.
If we want to Make in India, we must be competitive on the global stage, says R C Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki IndiaIn a discussion on this issue at the ET India Inc Boardroom, R.C. Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, said the biggest hurdle for manufacturing in India is high costs.
Coronavirus pushing people to take radical steps to boost manufacturing, economy: R C Bhargava"In the last 5-6 years, many changes have been made by the government in policies, which are making conditions much more conducive to competitive manufacturing.
Suzuki defers production at new Maruti plantMaruti’s parent Suzuki has decided to defer the start of production from a new car plant in Gujarat — being built with an investment of Rs 3,800 crore — till next year as a slowdown in demand due to the coronavirus is likely to keep buyer sentiment low.Load More
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text: Minor movement for traditional materials / Only PMMA trending up / Buyers and producers agree on truce until year´s end / Suppliers preparing for a January offensiveAfter all efforts launched by engineering thermoplastics producers to improve their margins had failed in October, November 2016 turned out to be a typical interim month, offering them time to lick their wounds and come up with new strategies. In the end, the price of most of the traditional engineering thermoplastics rolled over. The only exception was PMMA, where European demand is slowly but surely being confronted by a general structural undersupply. While small application fields have been growing for months, producers have not shown any willingness to invest. The commodity-related ABS and PP compounds have followed the rise in their respective value chains.