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To honor the key contributions of women in society and history, WSFS and the Philadelphia Union partnered again this March on a variety of initiatives for Women’s History Month.
On March 7, Team WSFS Associates joined with Philadelphia Union volunteers to pack baskets of essential items, including toiletries, cleaning supplies and more, and delivered them to CityTeam Chester’s women’s shelter.
WSFS and the Union also teamed up throughout the month to honor and support woman-owned small businesses through social media posts recognizing ANEU Kitchens and GRIT AND GRACE KMACE, which will also be recognized as a WSFS Bank Small Business of the Match at a Union home game this season.
On March 26, WSFS served as the presenting sponsor of the ‘She Means Business’ panel discussion and networking event hosted at Subaru Park. The panel featured WSFS’ Candice Caruso, SVP, Chief Consumer Lending Officer, as well as Amy Fadool, Sports Anchor and Reporter at NBC Sports Philadelphia, Jade Henderson, Director of Content & Brand Strategy at the Marie Henderson Team, Jeannine Cook, Owner and Shopkeeper at Our Sister Booksups, Harriet’s, Ida’s and Josephine’s, and Kate Marlys, Owner of Philly PR Girl LLC.
More than 100 people were in attendance for the event, which featured discussions about the panelists’ career paths and success in business as well as an opportunity for attendees to network with other female leaders over breakfast.
“We are thrilled to have been able to partner with WSFS Bank during Women’s History Month to give back to those in need as well as to recognize female trailblazers in our community,” said Michelle Rosar, Vice President Partnership Marketing, Philadelphia Union. “The initiatives not only strive to honor those who’ve paved the way but continue to empower the present and shape the future of women making a difference.”
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WH Smith reassures investors it is still raking in profits despite a fall in Christmas sales
WH Smith reported a 'good profit performance' in the Christmas trading period, although its festive sales declined for the tenth year in a row.
Shares in the retailer rose 2 per cent following the update, as the City showed approval of its strategy of improving profit margins and tightly controlling costs rather than trying to boost sales.
The chain has weathered challenging conditions in the retail sector with the help of 'impulse' offers such as a free bottle of water with the Telegraph newspaper, while shifting its focus away from lower-margin CDs and DVDs towards books and stationery.
Expansion plan: WHS Smith is opening more outlets in travel hubs like railway stations and airports
Like-for-like sales were down 4 per cent for the 20 weeks to January 18, after falling consistently during this period of the year since 2005.
Its 615 High Street stores saw a sales fall of 6 per cent, but WH Smith said there was good profit margin improvement and costs were tightly managed.
In the retailer's travel division, which has 673 units at airports, railway stations and motorway services, like-for-like sales were down 1 per cent, again with margin improvement, while a store opening programme is progressing well.
The group said it had identified further opportunities for growth in both the UK and abroad.
It also began to deliver on its pledge of returning £50million of cash to investors, buying 1.6million shares at an average price of £9.57, after last year reporting annual profits up 6 per cent to £108million.
Chief executive Stephen Clarke said: 'Looking ahead, we continue to plan cautiously and manage the business tightly while investing in new opportunities for future growth. We are confident in making further progress in the year.'
WH Smith slashed £18million of costs from its High Street network during 2012/13 and has said it is targeting a further £22million savings over the following three years.
Shares were up 20.5p at 1,036.50p in early trading.
Income shares watch: WH Smith hiked its total annual dividend by 14 per cent to 30.7p when it announced year-end results last October. The shares yield 3.03 per cent.
View from the City
'Consistency is the hallmark of WH Smith and management has again delivered,' said Kate Calvert, analyst at Investec.
'There was a better-than-expected travel [division] performance. The improving trend seems to confirm the long awaited cyclical recovery in UK air is starting to come through.'
Stock watch: WH Smith's relentless focus on improving profitability and controlling costs has met with approval from shareholders
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Benoit Jacob, the i8’s designer, has been joined by Dirk Adenbroth, Henrik Wenders and Carsten Breitfeld - all key figures in the development of BMW’s electric vehicles.
While Tencent Holdings and Foxconn have no experience in cars, let alone electric cars, a third partner, China Harmony New Energy Auto Holding Ltd., is a well established luxury car dealer across China.
It’s an ambitious move by the Chinese start-up and an indication of China’s seriousness about tackling some of the worst air pollution in the world. China’s government sees electric cars as playing a major role in reducing the problem.
It’s also a move that could prove disruptive to BMW and other electric vehicle makers if the Chinese company’s deep pockets lure other key experts from Germany and elsewhere. BMW is considered a leader in electric vehicles among Germany’s carmakers, a position that might now be under threat. It was already struggling against its American competitor Tesla. BMW is remaining tight-lipped about the defection of its core personnel.
China is one of the world’s biggest markets for electric vehicles with sales of 250,000 vehicles in 2015 – that’s an increase of 450% over the previous year.
BMW’s electric vehicle sales, by contrast, have not been so stellar. Last year they sold 24,057 i3 models, and 5,456 i8 models - a 66% increase in BMW electric division sales. While BMW’s electric vehicles seem destined for a niche market, Tesla, Nissan (with its Leaf) and the fledgling Chinese start-up have their eyes firmly on the prize of the mass-market.


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Though tourism and hospitality have been essentially on hold since March, many hotels, resorts, attractions and destinations are finally entering their first reopening phases as lockdowns ease and elements of normal life resume. Still, there’s no denying that the resumption of business and the guest experience is going to look somewhat different than it did before the pandemic struck.
To really offer a sense of how things are progressing in the travel sector post-COVID-19, hospitality titan Apple Leisure Group Vacations (ALGV) hosted a virtual conference, which brought together executives representing some of the world’s leading leisure brands to share their firsthand experiences and share some strategies for navigating within an unprecedented consumer landscape.
“These resort companies are investing a tremendous amount of money and limiting the revenue that they’re taking in just to make sure that we’re safe and just to make sure that we’re doing this the right way,” Ray Snisky, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, ALGV, affirmed. “I think that’s one of the things we’re seeing from customers very quickly is, it’s not the same focus of finding the greatest deal, it’s finding someplace with a trusted brand that I know is going to put my health and safety first. And so, more and more, all of us are teaming up to do that.”
Despite extensive, new health and safety protocols that are being implemented by each brand when reopening their properties, which many may have thought would be offputting, the initial consumer feedback seems to have been overwhelmingly positive.
For instance, this past week, Universal Orlando Resort reopened six hotels and all of its theme parks, at limited capacities and with modified regulations. Eric Marshall, Senior Vice President Park Sales, Universal Orlando Resorts, enthused: “It was so exciting to see people enjoying our hotels and our parks again, to feel the excitement, to get the feedback we got in terms of what we put in place in terms of spacing and sanitization and screening.”
He continued, “And, one thing that I didn’t fully expect, which was really exciting, was that our team members were so excited to serve guests again and it really did wonders for the energy in our first week.” The phenomenal service and enthusiasm seen coming from employees upon hospitality properties’ reopening turned out to be common theme reported among members of ALGV’s Executive Supplier Panel, which included representatives from AIC Hotel Group, AMResorts, Blue Diamond Resorts, Iberostar, Marriott, MGM Resorts, RIU and Universal Orlando Resort.
Ash Tembe, Vice President North American Sales, AIC Hotel Group, said of the first wave of reopenings: “Our staff was so excited to have people come to the hotel and they’re giving them unbelievable service, and just so appreciative to all the guests that are coming in…it’s what they do for a living, so they’re really showing that love.” Armin Kaestner, Vice President of Sales, Contracting and Business Development, RIU Hotels & Resorts, reported similar scenes from hotel reopenings, with employees applauding as clients arrived.
Despite the new social distancing and hygiene measures that have gone into effect, the first guests arriving at these hotels and resorts seem to be loving the atmosphere, largely because of the capacity restrictions. “It’s almost like they have the run of the hotel, they’re treated like kings and queens because of the smaller number of people there,” Snisky remarked.
RIU’s Kaestner reflected that, in contrast to pre-pandemic expectations, “We’d be happy to get 20- to 30-percent occupancies in the coming weeks. Imagine how those guests are getting treated!” AIC’s Tembe also echoed the observation, “They’ve just really been getting the pampering they’ve been waiting for all this time.”
As brands continue to move forward with their strategies, in order to really revive the tourism industry collectively, “The reality is that we have to strike a balance between safety and maintaining the freedom to have the full vacation that they had previously,” Snisky said.
With a global presence, Marriott has been among the first brands to reopen its hotels after shutting down a large percentage of properties when the pandemic hit. Marian McLain, Vice President Global Sales – Intermediary Retail Leisure, Marriott International, said that just over 1,400 of the brand’s properties remain shuttered, 760 of those being in the Americas. Yet, that represents only thirteen percent of inventory in the Americas, which is an improvement over March and April.
In fact, McLain said, Marriott hotels are already starting to see occupancy rates as high as 80 to 85 percent in some areas. So, it appears, summer vacations simply will not be stopped, especially if the industry can continue to instill confidence in its consumers.
MGM Resorts, which was among the first brands to reopen its properties in Las Vegas, beginning June 4, and now plans to open a few more ahead of schedule due to increased demand, also reported that its first week exceeded expectations. Demand during the first weekend came largely from locals, who were excited again enjoy the Strip, and drive-in visitors, particularly from neighboring California.
Lee Ann Benevidaz, Vice President Distribution Partnerships & Transient Sales Strategy, MGM Resorts International, attributed much of this success to the company’s incredibly thoughtful approach to its reopenings, tempering its occupancies at 30 percent and adhering to Nevada state guidelines of 50 percent maximum occupancy in all public spaces, including restaurants, pools, casino floors, lobbies, etc.
While some guests appreciate the new protocols and take comfort in the promise of protection that they offer, there are others who would prefer to proceed as though nothing had changed since the pre-pandemic era. The key to providing positive experiences on property, executives agreed, is to educate clients ahead of time and help them to form appropriate expectations so that they’ll know what they’re walking into.
This is an area where travel advisors can really shine (assuming they’ve done their homework) and help hotel brands to transition guests into the “new normal”.
“Our job now is really setting expectations and consumer education, which we certainly want the travel trade’s help in,” said Marshall of Universal Orlando Resort. “There are some things that can make the experience more seamless if you prepare them in advance, like downloading our app so that you can take advantage of mobile food-ordering and some of our virtual queues, things like that, so I think our big thing right now is guest education.”
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The tourism industry is well on its way to recovery and global business events are once again reigniting the sector. On the backdrop of the tenth edition of the Meetings Show in London, United Kingdom (UK), Minister of Tourism, Lindiwe Sisulu will over the next couple of days be engaging with key tourism industry and government stakeholders.
Launched in 2013, the Meetings Show brings together leaders in the business events sector to share insights and opportunities for doing business.
“It is critical for us to use such opportunities to ensure that we position South Africa as both a business events and leisure destination, as well as to engage key decision makers in our sources markets such as the UK,” says Minister Sisulu.
Over and above participating at the Meetings show with the aim to position South Africa’s business events brand, Minister Sisulu will use this time to obtain market intelligence from key UK stakeholders.
Part of her engagements include a meeting with the South African All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) whose purpose is to foster mutually beneficial relationships between the UK and South Africa, in particular between the two parliaments, civil society, business and commerce, and arts and culture.
“If anything, the pandemic has taught us the importance of building relationships and collaborating, in order to advance our efforts in marketing South Africa as a foremost tourism destination,” says Sisulu.
Over and above interviews with key tourism trade and mainstream media, Minister Sisulu will also be meeting with the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy to South Africa, Andrew Selous MP, in an effort to strengthen trade relations between South Africa and the UK.
“The United Kingdom has over the years remained a key market for South Africa and we are committed to investing in the market for greater partnership in the future,” concludes Sisulu.
For enquiries, please contact:
Issued by Ministry of Tourism
Steve Motale on 0837840719
MLO Mpumzi Zuzile on 0725509019 /0609559035
Thandiwe Mathibela at South African Tourism
Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0001


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The great and good of the fashion world came together yesterday for the Fashion Awards to recognise those who have excelled in their fields in 2017. It was the night that the movers and shakers in the fashion industry get together to celebrate and award talent. The event was a celebration of the achievements for the most creative talents of the industry, as Jonathan Anderson won big with twoawards as British Designer of the Year – Womenswear and Accessories Designer of the Year, and Raf Simons won the Award for Designer of the Year.
Besides the announcement of the winners in different categories, during the event some honorees were given to big personalities of the fashion industry like Donatella Versace who was honored with the award of the Fashion Icon and Christopher Bailey for Outstanding Contribution to British Fashion. Well, it is such a pity that Bailey will not be anymore the Chief Executive Officer of Burberry starting from April 2018, but we hope that we will see him as part of another big fashion house.
The event was held in partnership with Swarovski at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday night. Taking place at Royal Albert Hall, the event has been one of the biggest dates in the fashion calendar since its inception in 1986. The Fashion Awards are voted on by 2,000 members of the industry from 38 countries and serves as a fundraiser for the British Fashion Council.
Adwoa Aboah, the 25-year-old British star won the award for Model of the Year beating out fellow nominees Kaia Gerber, both Hadids, and Winnie Harlow. Last year Gigi Hadid beat sister Bella to the coveted Model of the Year title.
It’s certainly been a good year to be Kaia Gerber, Gigi and Bella Hadid, but it looks like when it comes down to the model having the best year, that honor goes to Adwoa Aboah.
Other notable wins at the 2017 Fashion Awards include Donatella Versace who received the Style Icon award, Raf Simons who was awarded Designer of the Year, and Off-White who won Urban Luxe Brand.
The list of Winners and Honorees:
Model of the Year: AdwoaAboah
Urban Luxe Brand: Virgil Abloh for Off-White
Business Leader: Marco Bizzarri for Gucci
British Emerging Talent — Menswear: Charles Jeffrey for Charles Jeffrey Loverboy
British Emerging Talent — Womenswear: Michael Halpern for Halpern
British Designer of the Year — Menswear: Craig Green for Craig Green
British Designer of the Year — Womenswear: Jonathan Anderson for JW Anderson
Accessories Designer of the Year: Jonathan Anderson for Loewe
Designer of the Year: Raf Simons for Calvin Klein
Swarovski Award for Positive Change: Maria GraziaChiuri for Dior
Isabella Blow Award for Fashion Creator: Pat McGrath
Outstanding Contribution to British Fashion Award: Christopher Bailey
Special Recognition Award for Innovation: Stella McCartney
Fashion Icon Award: Donatella Versace & House of Versace
Fashion Awards is one of the most stylish events of the year, and these celebrities didn’t disappoint on the red carpet. Let’s get to the most amusing part of the event, the Red Carpet, which was pure joy. The Red Carpet turned into a great battle of “Who wore Versace better”, so scroll down and pick your favorite style from our selection.
We have rounded our favorite looks:


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Safe-haven gold drops to 5-year low
Signals healthy economy as investors make riskier bets
The price of gold fell to five-year lows Monday as the dollar remained strong and the Federal Reserve continued to send signals that it plans to raise interest rates soon.
The precious metal fell $25.10 to close at $1,106.80, trading at its lowest price since March 2010. That's more than 40 percent below its peak price of $1,923 in August 2011.
"When it comes to gold, when you're talking about a $20 an ounce drop, it doesn't mean a lot, but when you're talking about a several hundred dollar drop, it does make a difference," said Dan Harshaw, manager of Jessup's Of Daytona in downtown Daytona Beach, which buys and sells gold and jewelry. "People are starting to buy gold jewelry again."
Case in point: An average-weight gold wedding band that might have cost $500 in 2011 now retails for about $312, said Harshaw, whose store is at the corner of Beach Street and International Speedway Boulevard.
Rob Roeck, owner of Daytona Gold at 627 Beville Road in South Daytona, said of Monday's big drop in the price of gold, "It isn't like the sky is falling." Gold has been under $1,200 an ounce for quite a while, he said.
Gold was seen as a safe investment during the financial crisis, sending its price surging higher.
The Federal Reserve's expected interest-rate boost and improved economy have led to lower prices for many commodities, but precious metals are down the most.
Credit Suisse analyst Anita Soni expects a modest recovery, however. In a note to clients last month, Soni said she expects gold prices to recover based on strong demand from Asia, reduced mining activity and increased purchases of gold by central banks. She added that the price of gold often rises in the third and fourth quarters and wrote that the same should happen in 2015. She thinks the price of gold will rise to about $1,250 an ounce.
News-Journal Business Editor Clayton Park and news intern Jewell Tomazin contributed to this Associated Press report.


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SpecialEffect's flagship fundraiser, One Special Day, is due to take place this Friday, October 7.
During that day, revenue from partner studios will be donated to the charity, with the participating games available via the One Special Day Steam Promotion or, for mobile titles, directly on the event's website.
Over 90 studios are due to participate, via the sale or other initiatives, including EA, King, PlayStation London, Sumo Group, Xbox, and more.
It's too late for companies to sign up for the Steam sale – which is going live on October 6 and will remain on until October 9 – but there is a Just Giving campaign open throughout the event.
At the time of writing, it had already raised £115,000.


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BOSTON — Positioned as the largest snack manufacturer in the world, PepsiCo, Inc. is breaking down the category and paying greater attention to the premium and value segments. At the heart of the effort is innovation and taking the snack category in new directions.
Speaking at the Barclays Back to School Conference in Boston on Sept. 5, Brian Cornell, chief executive officer of PepsiCo Americas Foods, said the salty snack category is large, continues to grow and PepsiCo sees new opportunities for growth in emerging segments within the category.
“We see opportunities to serve boomers,” he said. “We recognize that there are a number of multicultural consumers who today are looking for many of their favorite flavors. And we certainly recognize that there is a value-minded consumer who is looking for value snacking opportunities.”
Noting that PepsiCo has a leadership position in the mainstream snack category that represents almost 80% of snacking occasions, Mr. Cornell said the company is not losing sight of what is important.
“While we are excited about the growth opportunities in premium and we think we have brands and capabilities and a very focused team that can take advantage of the growth there, the key for us is staying very focused on the mainstream,” he said. “That is where the majority of the shoppers are still focused, that is where the shelf space is still focused today, and we want to make sure that we are investing in those great, iconic, mainstream brands.”
In his presentation, Mr. Cornell described the premium and value segments as “fringes” of the snack category that represent about 20% of the market.
“As we look at the premium segment, this is a rapidly growing but still relatively small part of the snack universe in the U.S.,” he said. “It does present a $2 billion opportunity for salty snacks alone.”
From an organizational perspective, Frito-Lay has created a “growth ventures model,” Mr. Cornell said, and this is essentially a “company within a company.”
“… (Growth ventures) is focused on the premium and value segment, that leverages Frito-Lay's capabilities where appropriate but has the freedom to look at unique go-to-market opportunities and leveraging other manufacturing capabilities,” he said. “Importantly, growth ventures allow the rest of the Frito-Lay organization to stay very focused on advancing and growing our position in the mainstream. We are very pleased with our performance in premium and have been outpacing the overall category growth.”
But Mr. Cornell said PepsiCo is looking to develop new forms of innovation and not just develop new products sold in the snack aisles of supermarkets and convenience stores.
“We have also brought great innovation across our food service portfolio and are really building on a great partnership that we have in food service with Taco Bell,” he said. “Together we created a delicious new product, Doritos Locos Taco. This has been an extraordinary success story.
“It is a great example of our commitment to food service and the great partnership we have with Taco Bell. Taco Bell has invested over $60 million behind this product. Together we are driving traffic, driving sales, and we have sold more than 200 million taco shells. This is a tremendous combination and a brand that has still upside potential.”


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Salty snacks — a tasty opportunity
The salty snacks category is where private brands go to differentiate. Retailers and manufacturers have discovered that salty snacks provide them a canvas to capitalize on consumers’ ever-evolving palates to try new flavors and ingredients.
Consider Spud Crunchies Potato Snacks, a recent introduction from Monrovia, Calif.-based Trader Joe’s, which the retailer describes as “salty, crunchy, shelf-stable French fries made from just three ingredients: U.S.-grown Russet potatoes, expeller pressed canola oil and salt.” And then there’s The Kroger Co.’s new Nashville Style Kettle Cooked Hot Chicken Potato Chips, sold under Kroger’s mainstream store brand tier. As far as capturing the taste of all-the-rage Nashville-style chicken, these chips are spot-on.
Batavia, Ill.-based Aldi is also differentiating in the salty snack category with products like its Sweet Chili Brown Rice Crisps, which are sold under its LiveGfree store brand. So is Seattle-based online grocer Amazon, which offers roasted and salted plantain chips under its Wickedly Prime brand.
Pete Pyeatt, director of product development for DairiConcepts, a Springfield, Mo.-based provider of ingredients for salty snacks and other foods, says many private brands have moved beyond just copying what a lot of national brands are doing in the salty snack category.
“It is wide open; there’s no ceiling on it,” Pyeatt says of potential innovation in the category, which generated more than $27.5 billion in retail sales from February 2016 through February 2017, according to market researcher Nielsen. “There’s an endless combination of the types of flavors [for private brands] to come up with.”
Barbara Moreno, director of marketing for City of Industry, Calif.-based Snak King, which manufactures salty snacks for private brands, says retailers are looking to differentiate with private-branded salty snacks made with unique ingredients and innovative, on-trend flavors.
“We monitor the pulse of the industry to help our partners be first to market with new concepts,” Moreno adds.
Jeff Sutton, business unit director of center store for Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Topco Associates, which provides innovation and knowledge management solutions for its food industry members including grocery retailers, says, “If you can differentiate and hit the trend, you’ve got something shoppers can’t get anywhere else.”
Potatoes and corn have been salty snack pillars for years and will continue to be so, but the category is adding new base ingredients to give salty snacks a healthier image, Pyeatt says.
A recent report from market researcher Packaged Facts states that salty snacks are benefiting from an influx of health formulations that better fit the nutrition-centered lifestyles of many of today’s consumers.
“This push towards healthier snacks has created a thriving market for alternative ingredient snacks made using pulses and alternative vegetables and grains such as chickpeas, sweet potatoes, kale and spinach among other novel elements,” according to Packaged Facts, which estimates the salty snack segment carried the alternative-ingredient snack market in 2016 with growth of almost 7 percent.
Packaged Facts says that younger people are driving the alternative-ingredient salty snack market, and that there is “a very large gap in the percentage of millennials and Gen-X adults who eat these snacks compared to those who are 50 and older.”
Moreno offers a list of healthier base ingredients she expects will be popular this year and beyond such as alternative vegetables, whole and ancient grains, seaweed, pulses, peas, lentils, beans, nuts and seeds.
“Ancient grains, specifically, offer a number of essential nutrients such as fiber, protein and other important vitamins and minerals,” Moreno adds. “Additionally, as consumers look for increasing their intake of plant-based proteins and gluten-free options, the following ancient grains fit the bill: quinoa, chia, sorghum and amaranth.”
Katie Waeltz, senior director of shopper insights and analytics for Topco, says seaweed is an emerging trend in salty snacks that Topco is watching closely.
“We’ve seen a number of new seaweed snack products launched in the past year and a half,” she says. “It’s being featured as a snack itself, as a chip or crisp, in stick form and as a featured flavor.”
Because consumers are snacking more often and eating smaller meals, they want convenient, portable snacks with ingredients they can feel good about, Sutton says.
“These healthier ingredients are often combined with richer, more decadent flavors,” Sutton adds. “Many of these nutrient-rich snack ingredients are also gluten-free, which continues to be popular among consumers.”
Pyeatt expects the demand for natural and free-from salty snacks to continue, including non-GMO products.
“That is one trend I see that has been going for awhile, but it keeps getting stronger in salty snacks,” he adds.
While it is challenging to create products with fewer ingredients, Pyeatt says DairiConcepts is keeping up with demand. The challenge comes in replacing disfavored ingredients with others that might not be fully developed yet or in great supply.
“Hot is hot” in salty snacks, says Gerry Tarpey, Topco’s associate sourcing manager.
“Today’s consumers are becoming more adventurous and spicy flavor profiles — hatch chiles, jalapeño, sweet jalapeno and sriracha chile — continue to be on-trend,” he adds.
Waeltz expects sour flavors that suggest fermentation and pickling — such as dill pickle and salt and vinegar — will continue to be popular for the near term.
Millennials are looking for a flavor adventure, and Moreno expects to see continued growth from new introductions associated with ethnic and spicy flavors in 2018.
“Bland is out and bold is in,” she says, noting that market researcher Mintel recently revealed that one in four consumers are eating spicy foods more often than in the past.
Pyeatt says DairiConcepts receives many requests to create ingredients combining certain meats with other flavors. Chicken and bacon are popular meat flavors that are being combined with hot flavors like peppers and chilies. Dairy flavors such as butter and sour cream are also popular. There is also more interest in specialty cheese flavors. A combination of sweet and hot flavors also remains on-trend.
Pyeatt stresses that product developers should be careful not to mask base ingredients such as ancient grains with strong flavors that could overwhelm the taste they bring to salty snacks.
In a recent study, market researcher Nielsen took to the salty snack aisle to see which flavors have the most appeal, putting 25 new flavors into non-traditional ingredients and sweet-heat pairings, and then putting them to the test with consumers to discover which flavors have the most potential for further development.
“In terms of uniqueness, the study found that jerky chips made from meat infused with global flavors topped the charts,” according to Nielsen. “Both lamb chips with feta and goat meat chips with curry ranked significantly higher than all other flavors in uniqueness, but they didn’t score as well in terms of need and desire, suggesting that the average consumer may not be running to the store for these flavors.”
Up to the challenge
The salty-snack category is getting more challenging for product developers, who are not only faced with coming up with new base ingredients and flavors but also with replacing certain ingredients.
While challenging, Pyeatt welcomes it. He likes stretching the boundaries while searching for new base ingredients and flavors, which he also considers a learning experience.
“The new requests give us new opportunities to try different things and different ingredients,” says Pyeatt, who has worked in product development for 20 years. “We find such [undertakings] very exciting to work on.”
While Pyeatt says the salty snack category is prime for innovation, he advises product developers to not get too far off the tracks.
“You can get to a point where a flavor profile is just not going to work. Yes, the sky is the limit with innovation, but some ideas that sound good on paper just don’t translate to salty snacks,” he says.


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Written by: Roshan Dwivedi
Netflix updated its Playback Service, the internal name of Netflix’s system used to ensure quality video streaming with technology that can split up complex tasks into smaller tasks. Upgrading and ensuring a smoother streaming experience couldn’t come at a better time for Netflix, who just announced that it will be launching in Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and Luxembourg.
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Read the entire story here.


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Apple packed its latest iPhone X with augmented reality, betting the evolving technology will change the course of mobility across the globe. With the intention of bringing augmented reality technology to the masses Apple unveiled three new smartphones citing it to be the best way for consumers to interact with AR apps.
Apple continues to stay up to date with advanced technological features that draws in an increased number of iPhone users. With the latest launch of the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 plus and iPhone X, Apple aims to meet their consumer’s need for quickness and convenience.
With the A11 bionic chip enabled iPhone X, the enhanced technology of the latest iPhones increases the level of personalization for Apple consumers. With a number of features such as the Face ID, and true-depth camera, iPhone brings to their consumers augmented reality with their new ARKit platform. Using augmented reality, the realistic features of the digital images when displayed onto the physical world is elevated. The camera and the A11 chip have also been designed to increase the performance of AR apps.
Another feature of the iPhone is the Face ID where the user’s face is their authentication, as the neural engine of the A11 bionic chip analyzes their face with over 30,000 invisible dots adapting overtime. Michael Levine, VP of Marketing at Photon perceives this as Apple continuing to show the world why they are the authentication leader, “even touch biometrics seems slow these days, Apple’s new Face ID brings even greater ease of use to authentication.”
Packed with 3-D sensors, Face ID and true-depth camera, augmented reality is at the core of new flagship iPhone X. Augmented reality has enabled iPhone’s new camera and sensors to see depth while processing information. It accurately merges physical world with digital graphics, thereby changing the way human-computer interaction exists.
Augmented reality can redefine consumer experiences by providing holistic viewpoints across sectors. Invisible conversational interface is the new foundation of human-computer interactions. Apple has inevitably launched new products which will help accelerate adoption. AR is the future of conversational interface as it allows digital concepts to interact with real world personas, giving the impression that digital world and real world have come together in order to present a more immersive experience.
Augmented reality has the potential to become the next big computing platform, as we witnessed with PC and smartphone, we expect new markets to be created and existing markets to be disrupted.
The wide adoption of AR and VR, and of their respective software ecosystems, has massive implications for not just the tech sector, but nearly every other industry. In the banking and finance sector, AR allows for data visualization, virtual trading desk and virtual banking. It helps consumers across the retail industry by allowing them to virtually try on clothing, makeup or accessories and virtually placing products within their home to get an idea of how it will exist in their space before purchasing it. In addition it can also strengthen CPG brand loyalty, drive consumer engagement, create an incentive for consumers to purchase products. AR will assist surgeons during surgery and provide precise drug information where patients will be able to view how the medicine works virtually, thereby revolutionizing the face of healthcare industry.
Although Augmented reality has yet to become a widely adopted technology, we believe the time is now for companies looking to be first movers in this new emerging technology. Our Photon Labs - supported by our developers and architects - is helping clients across the globe develop innovation tracks to test and learn on new emerging technologies like AR. Reach out to us and start incorporating AR into your digital transformation journey.


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Over a third of parents in Great Britain admit their child has been sunburnt, despite the majority knowing that over-exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer.
These statistics have been released by Cancer Research UK and Boots, on the day that the charity launches its Kids Cook Quick poster, aimed at parents and carers of young children. This also marks the start of Sun Awareness Week (May 10 – 16 2004).
The poster, created for Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign, has been designed to highlight how quickly children's skin can burn in the sun. It features the slogan Kids Cook Quick along with a picture of two sunburnt children sitting on the beach.
The poster is being sent to 19,000 nurseries and all GP surgeries, as well as being displayed in Boots pharmacies nationally.
Sara Hiom, co-ordinator of Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign says, "This poster has been created to help remind parents to protect their children.
"Our survey shows that just over three-quarters of parents know that it's never OK for a child to go red in the sun, but they may not always realise that young skin can burn very quickly, in as little as ten minutes. Sometimes, even with the best intentions, we can be caught out.
"We hope the Kids Cook Quick slogan will stick in parents' minds over the summer and remind them to make sure their children are properly protected whenever they are in the sun, by following the SunSmart code.
"This means seeking shade in the middle of the day, covering up with a hat, t-shirt and sunglasses, as well as using sunscreen that is factor 15 or higher."
The national survey*, commissioned by Cancer Research UK and Boots, who are supporting the SunSmart campaign, also reveals that 41 per cent of parents like to see their children with a tan, with the vast majority of these believing that it makes them look more healthy. This is despite high-profile warnings that a suntan is a sign of UV skin damage.
Children's skin is much more delicate than adults' and research shows that sunburn in childhood can double the risk of getting skin cancer later in life.
Dr Catherine Harwood, consultant dermatologist for Cancer Research UK comments, "As children have much more opportunity to play and take part in sports and other outdoor activities, they spend far more time in the sun than adults. Babies' and toddlers' skin is particularly susceptible as their skin is thinner and produces less protective pigment.
"We get around 80% of our exposure to the sun before the age of 21. So it is vital that parents are aware of the dangers and know how to protect their children properly."
*Survey conducted by NOP World over the telephone between 23rd – 25th April 2004, amongst 228 adults aged 16+ who are parents of a child aged between 6 months and 12 years old. Weighting was applied to the data to bring it in line with national profiles.


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Hyundai Motors India Ltd is one of the largest exporters of automobiles to around 85 countries across the globe. In CY 2021, Hyundai’s Creta tops the list of exported SUVs from India with 32,799 units.
Including the other models, HMIL has exported a total of 42,238 vehicles in CY 2021.
Mr. Un Soo Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said, “In line with Government’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, HMIL is committed to ‘Make-In-India’, for the world and continue its legacy of having SUV leadership in the country.”
Since its launch, Creta has seen an unquestionable success in both domestic and global markets with its continuing high sales. Even with the introduction of a number of models in the SUV segment in recent times, Creta has managed to stay on top with its popularity among the masses.
|SUV Model||Number of Units Exported|
|Creta Grand||1741 units|
Kim also added, “With the CRETA being the most exported SUV from India, it makes Hyundai one of the most loved SUV brands within our overseas markets as well. The same is evident by the fact that HMIL is one of the leading SUV exporters in India with over 2.62 lakh units sent overseas with the CRETA contributing to over 93% of the total SUV exports, along with the VENUE.”
Hyundai currently has multiple models like Santro, Grand i10 Nios, i20, i20 N Line, Aura, Venue, Verna, Creta, Alcazar, Elantra, Tucson, and Kona Electric across various different segments. Some of these like the Creta, Verna, and Alcazar are available only in selected markets abroad. HMIL with its cutting edge technology in its manufacturing plant in Chennai remains a very important part of Hyundai’s global export division. HMIL also has a research and development facility situated in Hyderabad focussed on reaching excellence in its field.
The following table highlights Hyundai’s sales over the last couple of years and the significant increase in exports and domestic market demands.
|HMI Sales||CY 2020||CY 2021||% Change|
There is no doubt that the last year has been a difficult one for all OEMs across continents. With the semiconductor shortage still not resolved, even automobile manufacturing giants have experienced a slide in their sales despite their best efforts.
Considering all this, Hyundai seems to be one of the companies that have fared better in the last year with an impressive 31.8% increase in exports alone. Even the domestic sales of Hyundai vehicles have gone up by 19.2%.
With all this success, HMIL has introduced its vehicles in four new markets abroad including Dominica, Chad, Ghana, and Laos.


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NEW ORLEANS – Emeril Lagasse Foundation announces dates for its 2017 signature events – Boudin, Bourbon & Beer and Carnivale du Vin. Boudin, Bourbon & Beer will return to Champions Square on Friday, Nov. 3, followed by nationally recognized charity wine auction and gala Carnivale du Vin at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans on Saturday, Nov. 4.
The kick-off to the Foundation’s "two nights, one cause" fundraising weekend, Boudin, Bourbon & Beer is one of the region’s premier outdoor food and music festivals. Last year, nearly 5,000 people attended the South’s biggest boudin bash to savor creative dishes and hand-crafted spirits from more than 60 of the country’s best chefs.
Selected as a 2016 “Top 10 U.S. Charity Wine Auction” by Wine Spectator Magazine, the Foundation’s black-tie gala Carnivale du Vin will once again showcase the very best in food, wine and entertainment while raising millions for children’s charities. Last year’s fundraising weekend raised more than $3 million for the Foundation’s local and regional beneficiaries.
Information about this year’s featured chefs, entertainment lineup and sponsors will be announced in the coming months, and early-bird tickets to Boudin, Bourbon & Beer 2017 will go on sale on July 7, 2017. For more information, visit BoudinBourbonandBeer.com and CarnivaleDuVin.com.
About Emeril Lagasse Foundation:
Founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is a 501c(3) public charity headquartered in New Orleans. The Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential through culinary, nutrition and arts education with a focus on life skills development. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $7 million to several children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. To learn more about the Foundation and its beneficiaries, visit Emeril.org, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.


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What Are Genetically Engineered Foods?
It’s happening so fast that most of us can’t take it in. Familiar foods as diverse as bread. tomato puree, ham, cheese, soup and biscuits may have been altered in an invisible way using a radical new technology. Genetically engineered foods look and taste just like the foods we’ve always eaten, but have been scientifically modified for ‘improvement’.
Should we be delighted or worried? The proponents of genetically engineered food hail it as a fabulous development which could bring untold benefits. Opponents see it as an untested technology careering out of control which could have disastrous and irreversible consequences. Whom should we believe?
Simply put, genetically engineered foods are different to conventional ones because scientists have taken genetic material (DNA) from one species and transferred it into another. This enables the transfer of a desired characteristic between unrelated species, or between plants and animals. For example, an ‘antifreeze’ gene which appears naturally in Arctic fish has been introduced into tomatoes and strawberries, thus making them freezeresistant; and pigs have been genetically engineered with a human gene introduced to make them grow more effectively.
The advocates of genetic engineering say it could be a solution to the world’s most intractable food problems. Genetically modified foods will be beneficial to everyone,’ says Jackie Dowthwaite, spokeswoman for the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which represents the UK’s food processing industry. The FDF believes that by using genetic engineering, or ‘biotechnology’ as it is also known, scientists will be able to work miracles. These include making crops resistant to disease, thus helping to feed the world and reducing use of pesticides; increasing protein and vitamin levels to make food more nutritious; decreasing fat content to make food healthier, and making fruit and vegetables last longer.
Sounds fantastic. So why has every single supermarket chain decided to ban all genetically modified ingredients from their ownlabel products? ‘Consumers are being conned,’ says Iceland chairman and chief executive Malcolm Walker. ‘This is probably the most significant and potentially dangerous development in food production this century, yet the British public is largely ignorant of it, and they are likely to be eating genetically modified foods already without their knowledge.’
So what are the risks? According to the FDF, genetic engineering is only an extension of what has been taking place already. “Since history began, man has bred plants and animals to make them stronger, healthier and bigger. Genetic modification is the modern equivalent,” says Dowthwaite.
“Not a bit of it,” says molecular biologist Dr Michael Antoniou: “Genetic engineering circumvents natural species barriers. As a result, combinations of genes are produced that could never occur naturally. It bears no resemblance to traditional breeding methods.”
Opponents of genetic engineering warn that a gene inserted into a new species or organism won’t necessarily behave in the same way as it does in it’s natural one. Possible knock on effects could include the creation of new toxins such as bacteria that unexpectedly kill beneficial soil fungi or are poisonous to plants, or diseases; weakness, and allergens on the GMO. One striking example of this was a soya bean that had been genetically engineered to have a higher protein content. The company developing it had to abandon it because it caused severe allergic reactions; scientists had inserted genes from a brazil nut to raise the protein level and inadvertently transferred the allergen.
Genetic pollution is a major concern too. Danish scientists have shown that a foreign gene inserted into oilseed rape was able to spread rapidly to neighbouring weeds. This underlines how new genes introduced into plants, bacteria or animals for one purpose can trigger undesirable chain reactions in unrelated organisms, And there is always the risk of bacteria escaping through human error.
If genes can jump from oilseed rape to weeds, what about from plants to humans? Many genetically engineered foods under development are given an antibiotic resistant marker gene. Might this resistance be passed on to humans eating them, rendering that antibiotic useless for human medicine?
“The risks are even less acceptable when one takes into account the fact that, once released into the environment, genetic mistakes or pollution cannot be recalled, cleaned up or allowed to decay in the environment. They will be passed on to all future generations indefinitely,” says Dr Antoniou.
Animal welfare campaigners are also worried that genetic engineers see animals as potential ‘labs on legs’ whose genes can be plundered in the name of scientific progress.
“All too often genetic engineering inflicts serious health problems on animals . Genetically engineered pigs have suffered heart and joint disease, ulcers and inflammation of the kidneys, and sheep have got pneumonia,’ says Peter Stevenson of Compassion in World Farming.
But the FDF seem bizarrely confident about the risks:
“There are strict controls in place, and every genetically modified product is thoroughly assessed by UK committees of experts and consumer representatives as well as covered by UK and European regulations,’ says Dowthwaite.
At Greenpeace, Dr Ian Taylor insists that unpredictable mistakes with genetic engineering have already occurred, and that we should learn from that:
“The only safe way to avoid such limitless difficulties and risks is to avoid the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment or food chain altogether.”
The Consumers Association feels that ‘genetically modified foods could potentially benefit consumers’. However, it is concerned about the absence of any labeling system to enable shoppers to choose whether to buy genetically engineered foods or not. Currently labeling foods as GM or containing GM ingredients is voluntary. The European Commission is currently arguing over the extent of compulsory labeling rules, centering on whether genetically modified organisms should be identified as they leave producers, or after they have been processed.
The British government is arguing for labeling after processing. However, processing makes it impossible to detect genetically altered ingredients. UK food and drink manufacturers have agreed voluntarily to label products containing genetically engineered soya or maize protein. But “this would result in less than five per cent of processed foods being labeled,” says Iceland’s Malcolm Walker.
So where does that leave the consumer? If you tend to believe that technological breakthroughs are the same thing as ‘progress’, you may feel thrilled by the brave new world of genetically engineered foods. But, as numerous polls into attitudes to genetically engineered food have shown, you’ll be in the minority; many more people have an instinctive reaction against technological tinkering with the food chain, a reaction intensified by the BSE disaster. They feel angry that genetically foods are already out there, and that we’re invited to say what we think so late in the day.
Meanwhile, the companies who stand to make billions from genetic engineering are determined to safe guard their investment. They’re throwing all their weight into wooing us, the doubting public, hiring PR consultants and pulling out all the stops to sell the theoretical benefits of this new technology.
But don’t forget — the doubters still have a little time in which to make their views known, because it isn’t possible to genetically engineer public opinion… yet.


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Edwards Federal Credit Union converts credit & debit card portfolios to PSCU
California-based credit union upgrades member product offerings
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (September 9, 2015) — Edwards Federal Credit Union (Edwards FCU), based in Edwards, Calif., has announced plans to partner with PSCU on card processing services. Edwards FCU is $173 million credit union serving more than 16,000 members in the Antelope Valley area of California.
The move to PSCU – the nation’s leading CUSO – will give Edwards FCU cardholders access to a multitude of new features immediately, including 24/7/365 member support. According to Dave Pavone, Vice President of Information Technology at Edwards FCU, the driving force behind the initiation of a partner search was the desire to enhance Edwards FCU’s current debit and credit program.
“Our overall objective in seeking out a partner like PSCU was to revitalize our existing payment offerings to provide our members with the features and benefits large national issuers offer,” said Pavone. “Converting our debit and credit portfolios to PSCU will enable us to provide more robust, competitive offerings to members.”
Pavone’s secondary goal was to consolidate credit and debit offerings into a single vendor relationship and simplify vendor management. Ownership of Edward FCU’s card programs was previously split among several different departments. It will also make a huge operational difference as dispute and chargeback processing has previously been handled in-house, said Pavone.
Edwards FCU began the search for a vendor partner after observing the adoption of credit cards was low. There were also issues with having the credit union’s credit portfolio in-house and the debit portfolio housed elsewhere. The credit union immediately recognized the benefits of PSCU’s economy of scale in terms of negotiating for services and delivering offerings.
“Our partnership with Edwards FCU illustrates the value and the power of the cooperative model that is at the core of who PSCU is as a company,” said Chuck Fagan, President and CEO of PSCU. “By working with us, Edwards FCU will be able to offer its members around-the-clock support and more competitive product offerings, resulting in a revitalized card program and increased revenue potential.”
PSCU, the nation’s premier payments CUSO and an integrated financial technology solutions provider, supports the success of more than 2,400 financial institutions and processes nearly 7.7 billion transactions annually. Committed to service excellence and focused on continuous innovation, PSCU’s payment processing, fraud and risk management, data and analytics, digital banking, strategic consulting and real-time payments platforms, along with 24/7/365-member support via its contact centers, help deliver personalized, connected experiences. The origin of PSCU’s model is collaboration and scale, and the company has leveraged its influence on behalf of credit unions and their members for more than 45 years. Today, PSCU provides an end-to-end, competitive advantage that enables credit unions to securely grow and meet evolving consumer demands. For more information, visit pscu.com.


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Frozen strawberries have sickened over 11,200 people, sending 32 of them to the hospital. And the kicker? Most of these people were children. The contaminated strawberries were in foods served in schools and daycare centers -- where the most vulnerable to food poisoning are.
11,000! That's huge. Usually when there's a recall notice, it turns out only a handful of people, if that, have gotten sick. But this wasn't even a recall, just a horrible contamination outbreak. I'll give you one guess which country these berries came from ...
The frozen strawberries came from China, which is the world's largest exporter of strawberries. The contamination outbreak happened in Germany, so it looks like we're safe from this particular incident. But what are the chances we'll eventually get hit with contaminated strawberries here, too?
The food distributor, Sodexo, bought the contaminated strawberries from China. And Sodexo is huge here in the U.S., too -- they supply major restaurant chains and school systems. So that's scary. The berries were used for desserts, and apparently weren't heated enough when they were thawed. The noroviruses are resistant to both cold and heat. It's hard to kill off those little buggers!
What with arsenic in apple juice and melamine in baby formula, why is anyone buying food from China? Because it's cheap, that's why. And because we want to keep eating strawberries even in the middle of autumn. Sheesh! One more reason to stay local and seasonal as much as I can, especially with non-essential "fun" foods like strawberries.
Did you even know China grows and exports strawberries?
Image via Rewards4 life/Flickr


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The tourism sector has created over 107 million jobs worldwide, the equivalent of 3.6% of total employment representing 3% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), data released this week by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) shows.
These significant figures are a tangible proof that the sector is a major engine for job creation and a driving force for economic growth and development, the International Trade Organisation (ILO) said on Tuesday.
Unfortunately in Africa, many governments seem to have forsaken the tourism sector, focusing instead all their energy and resources on commodities, a ‘dumb’ strategy that has now backfired.
As the world celebrated World Tourism Day on Tuesday (September 27), ILO called on governments to make sure that the growth and development of this sector was sustainable, socially responsible and created decent work opportunities.
Tourism contributes about 8% to South Africa’s GDP.
ILO said South Africa, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico would be tamong the fastest growing tourism and travel destinations in 2016. Among the non-G20 economies, Tanzania, Vietnam and Zambia Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar are also expected to show the strongest growth.


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The FDA faces a lawsuit by Public Citizen, who says the agency has unlawfully failed to act on a 2014 petition to remove benzocaine-based teething products from the market due…
Tag Archives: Teething Gel
Hyland's has announced it is ending sales of its teething tablets and gels in the U.S. after the FDA warned that the homeopathic products may be harmful to children's health.
More Top Stories
The new federal judge overseeing all talcum powder lawsuits has called for a Science Day to educate the court ahead of planned Daubert hearings which could decide if bellwether test trials can move forward.
Plaintiffs filing Tepezza hearing loss lawsuits claim Horizon Therapeutics, the manufacturer, knew for years that the thyroid eye disease was linked to widespread reports of hearing problems.
The U.S. government has outlined requirements for qualifying for Camp Lejeune elective option settlement offers.


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Volvo Cars has announced an investment in Breathe Battery Technologies, a UK-based battery management software startup.
The move is part of Volvo’s strategy to lead the development of premium electric vehicles and transition to a fully electric carmaker by 2030.
The investment, made through the Volvo Cars Tech Fund, aims to apply Breathe’s next-generation fast charging technology to Volvo’s all-electric vehicles.
As part of the new collaboration, Volvo will integrate the battery management platform with Breathe’s patented algorithm-powered charging software.
This integration is expected to reduce the charging time of Volvo’s new generation electric vehicles by up to 30% to charge from 10% to 80%, without compromising power density, range, or battery life.
Volvo Cars Tech Fund CEO Ann-Sofie Ekberg “The investment and commercial partnership with Breathe helps us address a common pain point for electric vehicle customers and makes our charging operations even more competitive.
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“Fast charging times, in the range where customers can charge faster, represent a big step in the right direction as we continue to improve electric mobility and make it available to more people.”
Volvo Cars said it will be the first to receive the latest version of the Breathe software for a new generation of fully electric cars.
Breathe’s flexible charging software represents a departure from traditional, step-by-step charging methods that follow pre-set rules.
Instead, it uses real-time algorithms to dynamically control the battery’s charging process, improving charging speed while preventing lithium plating, a condition that can reduce battery performance and longevity.
According to Volvo Cars, the compatibility of Breathe’s software with Volvo’s electric vehicle hardware ensures durability, which may also support the expected growth of electric vehicle sales in the coming years.
Breathe chief executive Dr Ian Campbell said: “Utilizing our technology at a high level in Volvo’s next-generation EV platform opens the door to new vehicle designs and improved performance.”


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Infarm drives expansion of urban farming in Japan
Executive to lead efforts to drive key sustainability, governance and social impact goals across Infarm’s global operations
BERLIN, Germany, December 8, 2020 – Infarm, the world's fastest growing urban farming network, today announced the appointment of Sudhanshu (Suds) Sarronwala as Chief Impact officer, effective immediately. Suds joins Infarm from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Switzerland, where he served as Executive Director for communications and marketing efforts.
Suds has long been an advocate for environmental conservation, and his leadership will be critical to helping Infarm create meaningful change in the modern food system.
As the company’s first Chief Impact Officer, Suds will lead Infarm’s Impact Division which was formed to drive understanding of the tremendous health, sustainability and environmental benefits of Infarm’s urban farms and the industry at large.
Primary to the executive’s portfolio will be efforts to ensure that Infarm is meeting its commitments in key areas of sustainability, governance and social impact across the company’s global operations, with the goal of publishing the first annual Infarm Sustainability report in 2022.
With operations across 10 countries and 30 cities worldwide, Infarm harvests 500,000+ plants monthly and growing while using 99.5% less space than soil-based agriculture, 95% less water, 90% less transport and no chemical pesticides. To date as part of its operations, Infarm has saved more than 40,000,000 liters of water and 50,000 square meters of land as it creates a new standard in agriculture.
With experience well suited to his new role, Suds has spent more than 30 years in management, communications and as an internet entrepreneur. His role at WWF included brand, media, digital communications and partnership efforts to drive the WWF mission. He was also responsible for Earth Hour Global and WWF-Singapore and was a member of both boards.
Infarm was founded in Berlin in 2013 by Osnat Michaeli and the brothers Erez and Guy Galonska. Passionate to become self-sufficient and eat better, they were growing their own food, enjoying all the flavor and nutrients, without the chemical pesticides and transport kilometers. With the aim to share the goodness of own-grown produce with everyone, they developed a smart modular farming system, that allows distribution of farms throughout the urban environment, growing fresh produce in any available space and fulfilling any market demand. Today, with cutting edge R&D, patented technologies, and a leading multi-disciplinary team, Infarm is growing a worldwide farming network helping cities become self-sufficient in their food production while significantly improving the safety, quality, and environmental footprint of our food.
With a multinational team of 700 people globally, Infarm has partnered with more than 30 major food retailers including Albert Heijn, Aldi Süd, Amazon Fresh, Auchan, Casino, E.Leclerc, Edeka, Empire Company Ltd (Safeway, Sobeys, ThriftyFoods), Farmdrop, Intermarché, Irma, Kaufland, Kinokuniya, Kroger, Marks & Spencer, Metro, Migros, Selfridges, Selgros, Summit and Whole Foods Market in Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United States and Switzerland, deployed more than 1200 farms in stores and distribution centres, saved more than 40,000,000 liters of water and 50,000 square meters of land, while harvesting 500,000+ plants monthly and growing.
Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Chief Impact Officer
Sudhanshu Sarronwala is Chief Impact Officer at Infarm, the world’s fastest growing urban farming network, harvesting and distributing more than 500,000 plants each month across its network.
A long time advocate for environmental conservation, Suds leads Infarm’s Impact Division, created within the company to drive understanding of the tremendous health, sustainability and environmental benefits of Infarm’s urban farms and the industry at large. His team works with governments, NGOs, companies and other key partners to multiply Infarm’s impact and create positive change in our society.
Suds has spent more than 30 years in management, communications and as an internet entrepreneur. Prior to Infarm, Suds was Executive Director of Marketing and Communications with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), where he directed brand, media, digital communications and partnership efforts in service of the organization’s mission to help conserve natural resources; transform markets, societies and policies toward sustainability; and protect and restore species and their habitats. He was also responsible for Earth Hour Global and WWF-Singapore and was a member of both boards.
Suds, a Singapore national of Indian origin, holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Delhi University and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management. Having lived in India, Hong Kong and Singapore, he has lived in Geneva, Switzerland for the past decade with his family prior to a planned move to Berlin in 2021.


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In the Queen’s speech delivered on 10 May 2022, it was confirmed that hospitality businesses can continue to offer al fresco dining to customers all year round.
Initially a temporary measure during the pandemic, the ‘pavement licences’ will now be a permanent feature in Britain’s towns and cities. With pubs, restaurants and cafés expanding service onto the street, they can attract more customers and boost their income.
Details of the plan will be set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
Kate Nicholls, CEO of UKHospitality said: “Making pavement licences permanent is a really positive move. They were vital during the pandemic enabling businesses to trade, when they would otherwise be forced to close or restrict their opening hours.
“These outdoor spaces also benefit town and city centres, enabling them to enjoy the sort of outdoor experiences available elsewhere, and helping local economies recover faster, contributing to levelling up.”
Businesses will need to apply for permission to use public land for al fresco dining through their local authority.
Small business owners are still at breaking point
Welcome though the licensing provisions were to many in the hospitality sector, it was felt that more could have been done to assist small businesses.
Alan Thomas, UK CEO at Simply Business, commented: “With six million UK SMEs, together contributing trillions of pounds to the economy, today’s Queen’s Speech was a key opportunity to detail the bounce back needed, and left a lot to be desired".
“Making ‘pavement licenses’ permanent was a step in the right direction. These licenses allow thousands of hospitality businesses to offer al fresco dining all year round, giving them a much needed revenue boost as they continue to recover from the impact of the pandemic.
“Unfortunately there was much more to be desired for other sectors. We know small business owners are still at breaking point – feeling the crippling pressure of rising costs, energy and fuel prices. We also know the impact this is having on their mental wellbeing."
These announcements were part of 38 parliamentary bills, drafted by the government and announced in the Queen’s speech.


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General Mills introduced its 140-calorie Fiber One bars in just two flavors in 2007. Since then, the company has introduced three new flavors as well as 90-calorie versions of the bars. Last year, the company added a Fiber One brownie.
Additionally, General Mills rolled out Yoplait Greek yogurts multipacks a year ago in honey vanilla and strawberry; coconut and cherry pomegranate were added this fall. The company says the Greek yogurts have twice the amount of protein as regular yogurt and offers “a great, convenient snack to help satisfy midmorning hunger.”
And earlier this year, Quaker Oats began selling a soft-baked banana nut bar that it says combines “the taste of your favorite baked goods with healthy ingredients.” The bar has 140 calories, 5 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein.
“If you have a lull at 10 a.m., it’s going to help you get through to lunch,” says Candace Mueller Medina, a spokeswoman for Quaker Oats, which is owned by PepsiCo. “It’s a perfect midmorning snack for people who crave something sweet before lunch.”
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E-cigarettes health: For smokers of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes for short), the smoking cessation inhalers designed to mimic traditional cigarettes are “potentially carcinogenic,” says a recent study carried by UPI on Aug. 27.
France’s National Consumer Institute reported that 12 different models of e-cigarettes, both the disposable and rechargeable brands, were tested and found to contain surprisingly high amounts of toxins.
Vapor produced by the inhalers showed “carcinogenic molecules in a significant amount,” and also revealed traces of acrolein, a toxic molecule emitted in quantities “that exceeded the amount found in the smoke of some cigarettes.”
“In three cases out of 10, for products with or without nicotine, the content of formaldehyde was as much as the levels found in some conventional cigarettes,” the report said.
E-cigarettes operate by using a heating element that vaporizes a liquid solution inside of the cartridge. Some release actual nicotine, while others merely release flavored vapor. The study also cited concerns over the liquid refills not being childproof.
“Electronic cigarettes are far from the harmless gadgets that they are presented as,” wrote National Consumer Institute editor Thomas Laurenceau.
E-cigarette users and retailers are calling the study “flawed,” pointing to the fact that the test recreated unrealistic circumstances that would never be encountered by an actual e-cigarette smoker.
New York e-cigarette store owner Jordan Bork said the “new method of testing, that results in flawed results, comes from performing non-realistic tests on the e-liquid of e-cigarettes, such as heating it well over 1,700 degrees (F), far beyond the temperature any realistic e-cigarette would be capable of doing.”
Bork also said that some of the e-cigarettes tested came from China, and were inherently a “lower quality product.”
Nevertheless, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned as far back as 2009 that e-cigarettes could pose health risks, and are moving to ban online sale of the so-called “vaping” product.
According to a CDC fact sheet, tobacco use worldwide causes more than 5 million deaths per year, and current trends show that tobacco use will cause more than 8 million deaths annually by 2030.
No one smokes like the Europeans. In France, approximately one in three males smokes, while one out of every four females light up, reports theguardian.com. Over one million French use e-cigarettes.


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Nokia also reckons that telcos may not aggressively bid for the 700 Mhz band in upcoming spectrum auction due to its excessively steep pricing, compared to other markets.
3G contributes 71% of total traffic in metros as of December 2015, the company said, adding that 2G data growth was low at only 12%.
Girotra told Business Line, “The uncertainty is minimal. People have all been mapped and they know where their final destination is."
Alcatel Lucent India chief executive Srini Sundararajan will shortly relocate to the US in a global IT advisory role on conclusion of the Nokia-Alcatel global merger.
Girotra will report to Nokia’s Chief Customer Operations Officer Ashish Chowdhary.
Telecom gear maker has won 30 deals in H1, surpassing number of orders it bagged in 2014
European telecom gear maker Nokia Networks has bagged a contract from Bharti Airtel Tuesday to roll out greenfield 3G networks in five new circles and expand the Sunil Mittal-led carrier’s third generation networks in three circles.
With a workforce of 1,200, Nokia Networks' Chennai factory is one of the largest in the Indian telecom equipment manufacturing sector, and a strategic hub for Nokia's global operations.
Nokia Networks’ head of India region Sandeep Girotra said the company surpassed its nearest global rival in terms of revenues during the third quarter.
If you are a premium user, you could be getting preferential treatment. Your wait for a call centre representative could be lower and your call drops could be fewer.


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Carlo’s Bakery Coming to Mohegan Sun
December 18, 2014
UNCASVILLE, CT (December 18, 2014) – Things are getting sweeter as Buddy Valastro, the star of the hit TLC series Cake Boss and Next Great Baker, announces his ninth location, opening at Mohegan Sun’s flagship property in Connecticut in late winter 2015.
The new bakery will be the first New England location for Carlo’s Bakery, which currently has seven other active locations including its flagship bakery in Hoboken, NJ; locations in Ridgewood, NJ; Westfield, NJ; Red Bank, NJ; Morristown, NJ; Las Vegas, NV and Marlton, NJ.
“I'm thrilled to bring Carlo's Bakery to Mohegan Sun,” said Buddy Valastro, owner of Carlo’s Bakery. “This is a destination for fun and food and we can't wait to be a part of the famiglia!”
“We are excited to welcome Buddy and the whole Carlo’s Bakery team to our Mohegan Sun family,” said Bobby Soper, President and CEO for Mohegan Sun. “We have worked with Buddy a number of times at our various properties and cannot wait to have this up and running.”
The bakery will be located in the Winter section of the Casino of the Earth, be roughly 3,200 square feet and will offer all the same famous Italian pastries and specialty cakes that originated in Hoboken.


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PETALING JAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s (TNB) venture into the setting up of the electric vehicle (EV) charge point infrastructure (CPI) is set to benefit its environmental, social and governance (ESG) rating and investor perception.
The investment into the EV charging ecosystem has a lot of potential but TNB’s management has told TA Research that the CPI business is not expected to break even until EV usage gains scale in the country.
The research house stated that over the longer term, TNB would benefit via the increased utilisation of its electricity transmission and distribution network and maiden profits from EV charging stations.
“Based on TNB’s projections, the EV market will generate annual electricity revenue of RM1.25bil by 2030.
“Additionally, unit sales of electricity from EV charging stations are expected to reach 15% of TNB’s revenues by 2040,” TA Research said in a report yesterday.
TNB’s role within the EV ecosystem will be confined to providing the CPI, supported by its mobile app platform.
Data by the Road Transport Department showed that there are more than 10,000 EVs registered in Malaysia in addition to 80,000 petrol-electric hybrid vehicles and some 2,700 diesel-electric hybrids.
The high price point for fully imported EV cars remains inhibitive with the cheapest priced at above RM140,000.
National car makers are expected to start making EVs by 2026 and hit the market by 2027 in the price range of about RM80,000.
At that price level, TNB projects EV volumes to skyrocket to 524,409 by 2030.
Hence, it has a four-year period to develop the CPI for the EV ecosystem.
In the meantime, TA Research stated TNB’s management believes heavy commercial vehicles used for logistics and e-bikes could significantly boost EV volumes in the country.
TNB expects to install 3,300 CPI by 2025 and raise that to 18,000 by 2030.
From 2022 to 2024, it plans to invest RM90mil to deploy nine electron hubs (costing RM83mil), 25 standalone direct current fast chargers (costing RM6.25mil) and 72 destination chargers (RM750,000).
The company will likely face some competition from other charge point operators like Gentari and ChargEV.
But for now, they are no preceived as competitors, but rather as enablers of the EV ecosystem.
“We believe an early start will enable TNB lead time to establish itself as a market pioneer and carve market share.
Moreover, it is envisaged that consumption of electricity from EVs will eventually increase.
“This is in anticipation that EVs will ultimately edge out market share owned by internal combustion vehicles in the future,” the research house said.
TA Research also maintained a “hold” call on TNB with a target price of RM9.60 a share, based on a discounted cash flow valuation method.


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Amazon is cracking down on third-party merchants for selling coronavirus-related products at inflated prices. The company says it has recently blocked or removed tens of thousands of listings for such products, like face masks and hand sanitizer.
“There is no place for price gouging on Amazon,” the company said in a statement.
On Amazon, some third-party sellers have been charging hundreds of dollars for a couple small bottles of hand sanitizer or a box of protective face masks.
Dana Radcliffe, who teaches business ethics at Cornell, said Amazon was smart to ban these listings — because customers do not like price gouging.
“People have a very strong reaction to it,” he said. “They feel that they’re being taken unfair advantage of. So that’s going to reflect upon the platform.”
Many economists, however, say it’s a bad idea to set rules around price gouging, like limiting price hikes during a public health crisis or a hurricane.
That’s because when prices are low it’s easier for people to hoard.
“You’ll see people loading up their carts with far more than they would if the price were higher, and the consequence […] is that people [who] get to the store later aren’t able to buy anything,” said Michael Salinger, a professor of economics at the Boston University Questrom School of Business.
It is hard to say exactly what qualifies as price gouging, versus simple supply and demand. And it’s hard for companies like Amazon to draw the line.
COVID-19 Economy FAQs
What’s the latest on the extra COVID-19 unemployment benefits?
As of now, those $600-a-week payments will stop at the end of July. For many, unemployment payments have been a lifeline, but one that is about to end, if nothing changes. The debate over whether or not to extend these benefits continues among lawmakers.
With a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, are restaurants and bars shutting back down?
The latest jobs report shows that 4.8 million Americans went back to work in June. More than 30% of those job gains were from bars and restaurants. But those industries are in trouble again. For example, because of the steep rise in COVID-19 cases in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, increased restrictions on restaurant capacities and closed bars. It’s created a logistical nightmare.
Which businesses got Paycheck Protection Program loans?
The numbers are in — well, at least in part. The federal government has released the names of companies that received loans of $150,000 or more through the Paycheck Protection Program.
Some of the companies people are surprised got loans include Kanye West’s fashion line, Yeezy, TGI Fridays and P.F. Chang’s. The companies you might not recognize, particularly some smaller businesses, were able to hire back staff or partially reopen thanks to the loans.
You can find answers to more questions on unemployment benefits and COVID-19 here.
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You have to admire Apple. They know how to get attention. When other electronics companies launch new products, they announce them a few months in advance, then by the time they trickle into stores everyone's forgotten about them.
Not Apple. Apple take down their online store, alerting everyone in a frenzy to new products without having to actually tellanyone. Then, an hour or so later, up pops the new site, packed full of details of sexy new kit. And everyone goes mental, at least for a while.
So it was yesterday, when the Apple store site was unavailable for an hour or so. When it returned it contained... new everything!
OK, not everything. But this was a pretty broad 'refresh', as we nerds say. The iMac has been upgraded with new, more powerful multi-core processors (dual core, you say? HA! So 2008). The Mac Pro has also been upgraded, apparently so you can essentially make them more powerful than God.
For those happy with their computer, there's a new 27-inch Cinema Display to replace the old 24in and 30in editions. It brings the same comedically high resolution of 2560x1440 (for an in-no-way ridiculous price of $999).
Perhaps most interestingly, though, there's the Magic Trackpad. Building on last year's Magic Mouse, which was a mouse that also let you use multi-touch gestures, this is, er, a multi-touch pad that doubles as a mouse. (Seriously. The whole thing clicks up and down, like a mouse button. Weird.)
It's being touted as an extra right now, and new iMacs still come with the Magic Mouse as standard. But we reckon it's only a matter of time before you're offered a choice of Trackpad or Mouse when you buy... and we reckon lots of people might choose the Trackpad.
Could this be the beginning of the end for the humble mouse? We'll see. (We were going to make a joke that compared Steve Jobs to Tom from Tom & Jerry then, but we couldn't think of one.)