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The UK Gambling Commission’s Programme Director for Consumer Protection & Empowerment, Ian Angus, has recently made a speech in which he called for “a proper and constructive debate about gambling marketing and advertising, including sponsorship arrangements in sport”.
His speech included the following stark message to holders of operating licences granted by the Commission: “My advice to you is this: a storm is gathering, but it can be avoided. Learn from the mistakes of the past – listen to what the public is saying and put responsible advertising standards at the very heart of your business. Don’t wait for the storm clouds to burst and precautionary measures to be triggered. Step up now and own this.”
There will undoubtedly be readers of this article who will take the view that the majority of gambling operators comply with the applicable advertising codes and conduct their marketing activities in a socially responsible manner that fully complies with all legal and regulatory requirements. I agree with that.
There will be some who additionally take the view that Ian Angus’s comments represent a considerable over-statement of the severity of the position. I don’t agree with that. Such a view ignores public sentiment that has become ever more negative over the last year. The easy response is to blame sensationalist adverse media reports, but that ignores how bombarded with, and pestered by, gambling advertisements – particularly for football betting – many people feel.
Again to quote Ian Angus: “At a time when consumer trust in gambling is at an all-time low, it would be unwise for the industry to ignore the hardening public and political mood around advertising. For some, it’s a moral reaction; for others, it’s an irritant – “stop bombarding me with gambling ads!” – but for many, including a growing number of researchers and academics, it reflects a genuine concern about the unknown impacts of children’s exposure to gambling advertising and sports sponsorship”.
A quick bit of legislative history
Once upon a time, as a matter of UK government policy, the advertising of gambling products was tightly restricted as part of an overall desire not to stimulate demand and different rules applied to different sectors of the gambling industry. For example, betting shops were only allowed to advertise in “material form” (such as newspapers, journals and posters etc.) and were banned from advertising on radio or television. That was a long time ago now. The legislation in place at that time was not designed for online advertising, let alone online gambling.
A quick bit of current law
The Gambling Act 2005 provides a very broad definition of “advertising”, covering anything that is done to encourage or facilitate people to take advantage of (or intending to increase the use of) facilities for gambling, including entering sponsorship or brand-sharing agreements.
Gambling advertising issues in the last 12 months
I set out below a summary of what has happened on the gambling advertising front within the last year or so alone, most of which featured in Ian Angus’s speech:
- Setting the scene for a lot of what was to follow, a House of Lords debate expressed considerable concern about the effect of gambling advertisements on children
- Sky Betting & Gaming set the trend by becoming the first operator to announce the closure of its affiliate marketing programme, citing“growing regulatory requirements”, a move followed subsequently by others
- At the same time, the Advertising Standards Authority (“ASA”) upheld complaints against four online gambling companies for shockingly irresponsible adverts published by an affiliate suggesting that gambling could provide an escape from personal problems such as cancer-related depression and that it could be a solution to financial concerns
- Not surprisingly, just a few months later, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) reported that a global intelligence-gathering operation found that the affiliate marketing industry generally has significant compliance issues to overcome
- National newspaper allegations were made that cartoon characters are exposing children to online gambling, resulting in unprecedented joint action by regulators (and the Remote Gambling Association) to prevent gambling ads appealing to children
- This was followed with yet further adverse media publicity on the promotion of gambling to children and young persons, a subject that hit the headlines again in May with adverse ASA rulings
- The Gambling Commission imposed a penalty package of £100,000 on Broadway Gaming Limited for failing to include significant terms linked to promotional advertisements on five of its gambling websites
- This was followed by new Committee of Advertising Practice standards on ‘free’ bets and bonuses introduced with immediate effect in February, coinciding with the Competition and Markets Authority ordering online gambling operators to stop unfair bonus promotions
- One month later, Sky Betting & Gaming was required to pay over £1million for social responsibility failings, that included about 50,000 self-excluded customers receiving marketing material by email, mobile text or a push notification within a mobile app
- This was followed by tougher standards on gambling advertising coming into effect on 2 April 2018, restricting ads that create an inappropriate sense of urgency like those including“Bet Now!” offers during live events
- The Gambling Commission’s GDPR Information Note published that same month referred to its, and the ICO’s, concern about the volume of unsolicited direct e-marketing received by consumers (predominantly via email and SMS) for gambling products
- In May, LeoVegas incurred a £627,000 penalty package for issuing 41 misleading advertisements and for self-exclusion failings, that included sending marketing material to 1,894 people who had previously self-excluded
- The Gambling Commission warned of a ‘relentless escalation’ in financial penalties for compliance failings shortly after publishing its enforcement report for 2017-18, listing marketing and advertising by gambling operators in its top six regulatory concerns
- Nevertheless, the passing months saw a mounting number of adverse ASA rulings against gambling operators
- In September, BBC’s ‘5 Live investigates’ transmitted a radio programme entitled “Children Targeted by Gambling Ads” after its researchers discovered that 15 football clubs in the Premier League, the Championship, League One and the Scottish Professional Football League were in breach of the advertising rules by promoting gambling ads on the junior pages of their club websites
- Little surprise that, at about the same time, the Gambling Commission published its advertising and sponsorship rules reminder ahead of the imminent changes to its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice that mean that, with effect from 31 October, gambling operators who breach advertising rules or consumer law will face tougher enforcement action
- Also last month, the Labour Party announced its plans for a radical overhaul of gambling regulation and advertising, plans that seem to be attracting support in sections of the Conservative Party too
- In the last few days, penalty packages totalling nearly £2.8million have been incurred by the Rank Group, independent bookmaker Mark Jarvis and Paddy Power Betfair for, amongst other things, customer interaction failings, that sends a clear message to the gambling industry that the Gambling Commission will continue to come down hard on operators who do not take the required steps to stop harmful gambling by customers to whom they market their services.
So what should be discussed as part of the debate about gambling marketing and advertising, including sponsorship arrangements in sport? I list below some suggestions:
- In Australia, bans on gambling advertising during broadcasts and online streaming of live sport between 5 am and 8.30 pm have been introduced. Is this, or an alternative pre-watershed ban, a model that should be followed in the UK?
- It has been reported that the Spanish government’s 2019 budget announcement is expected to include advertising restrictions for licensed gambling. Will they follow Italy’s blanket ban on gambling advertising across all media platforms (including sponsorship of sports clubs by gambling operators), due to take effect from 1 January 2019? Is the situation so dire in the UK that a similar ban should be imposed here?
- In light of the above, is the Labour Party’s proposed “whistle-to-whistle” ban on gambling adverts being shown during a specified time before, during and after a live sporting event an acceptable compromise?
- Alternatively, can all sectors of the UK’s gambling industry come together sufficiently quickly to agree an even tighter Gambling Industry Code for Socially Responsible Gambling before much harsher mandatory restrictions are imposed on them?
- Should such a revised code include the prohibition of gambling advertising within sports grounds (pitch-side and otherwise) and in their immediate vicinity?
- Should the fact that betting is regarded as merely part of the normal enjoyment of sport override concerns that betting advertising normalises gambling for children?
- To what extent can gambling advertising overcome the “normalisation” criticism, taking into account the very recently published CAP/BCAP explanatory document on that subject?
- Are there any acceptable compromises to avoid a potential complete ban on British sports clubs’ shirt sponsorship by gambling companies including, for example, prohibiting their logos or other promotional material from appearing on any commercial merchandising, rather than merely on replica kits and other merchandise that is designed for use by children?
- Is it already too late now for an affiliates’ trade association to be set up requiring compliance with a minimum set of advertising and marketing standards for membership, although, of itself, that would not absolve gambling operators from liability for their affiliates’ failings (and would it make any difference anyway)?
- Is it only tougher penalties for breaching the UK Advertising Codes, the GDPR rules on marketing consent or consumer law that will bring about the change in approach gambling advertising the Gambling Commission is calling for?
- Should any further action await further research on the effects of gambling marketing and advertising on children, young people and vulnerable adults?
- Should the UK gambling industry “swallow the bullet” (mixing of metaphors intended) and voluntarily accept the Labour Party’s proposal fora compulsory levy on gambling operators of 1% of gross gambling yield and, if so, should it be on condition that it has a greater say in what research, education and treatment of problem gambling takes place?
These are not proposals. They are merely ideas and, with Responsible Gambling Week almost upon us, what better time to start the debate?
On that front, I will leave the final words to Ian Angus, again from his recent speech: “Advertising is the lens through which consumers and the wider public judge you, your brand and the wider industry. It’s the first thing they see or hear; and first impressions matter. The decline in public trust and confidence reflects badly on us all – and it needs to be reversed”.
David Clifton – Director – Clifton Davies Consultancy Limited


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No figures have been disclosed as part of the announcement, but speaking to FoodNavigator-USA last summer, Sweet Earth co-founder Kelly Swette said the brand was on course to generate revenues of $20m in 2016, just five years after Swette and her husband Brian acquired the trademark and set about building a healthy food empire targeting mainstream consumers.
Under the deal, the Swettes will continue to run the business with support from Nestlé USA’s Food Division, said Nestlé USA chairman and CEO Paul Grimwood: “In the United States, we’re experiencing a consumer shift toward plant-based proteins. In fact, as many as 50% of consumers now are seeking more plant-based foods in their diet and 40% are open to reducing their traditional meat consumption.
“One of Nestlé’s strategic priorities is to build out our portfolio of vegetarian and flexitarian choices in line with modern health trends. With unique and nutritious food for all times of the day, Sweet Earth gives Nestlé a leading position in this emerging space.”
While some fans of the brand expressed their disappointment that the founders were getting into bed with a multinational, Sweet Earth CEO Kelly Swette said the brand would "continue to lead and operate independently out of our facility in Moss Landing," and said teaming up with Nestlé "will allow us to accelerate and intensify our goals and reach a more sustainable future."
Asked about manufacturing going forward, a Nestlé USA spokeswoman told FoodNavigator-USA: "Production will be retained at the Moss Landing site. As the business grows, we may use existing Nestlé USA facilities to make certain Sweet Earth products."
She added: "As part of Nestlé, Sweet Earth will gain scale in distribution and sales execution, as well as manufacturing and purchasing; they’ll also gain access to Nestlé’s recently developed technologies for plant-based protein taste and texture."
"I think there’s something wrong with a system that thinks it’s great for technology companies to invest in companies that want to change the food system, but somehow it’s not right for big food companies to invest in them..."
Kelly Swette, co-founder and CEO, Sweet Earth (read what Swette says about the deal HERE)
'Creating a little niche called ‘meat-alternatives’ is not helpful and it’s not progressive ...'
Sweet Earth frozen meals, burritos, breakfast sandwiches, and chilled plant-based burgers and proteins - manufactured in a 40,000 sq ft facility in Moss Landing, CA – are sold in more than 10,000 stores, including independent natural grocers, Whole Foods, Target, Kroger and Walmart.
While its products are made with a variety of plant-based proteins from soy and seitan (wheat-based protein) to beans and peas, Sweet Earth is not a ‘meat-alternative’ brand targeting vegans and vegetarians, Kelly Swette told FoodNavigator-USA last year.
“A lot of our fans are often surprised when they find out that none of our products contain meat. They buy them because they love the products. Millennials want flavor-forward food that is fun and functional, so we want to take them on a culinary adventure.”
She added: “I don’t see our brand as a ‘meat-alternative’ brand. We’re just selling delicious food that happens to contain no meat.
“We’re seeing a fundamental shift towards more plant-based foods, so creating a little niche called meat-alternatives is not helpful and it’s not progressive. At Target, they’ve gotten rid of the label ‘meat-alternatives’ and they talk about plant-based foods.”
While many legacy brands in the frozen case have ‘cleaned up’ their labels by ousting artificial colors, flavors and preservatives, they are struggling to engage Millennial shoppers, who are buying brands such as EVOL, Saffron Road, Amy’s and Sweet Earth in part because they are seen as smaller, sexier brands, but in part because they are selling “more flavorful, more diverse, more globally-inspired, more interesting products,” said Swette.
What these big brands have missed is that the consumer has moved on
“What these big brands have missed is that the consumer has moved on. Millennials want variety and adventure, food that’s better or more interesting than what you make at home.
“It’s not just about calories and clean labels, it’s about nutrient dense, flavorful and colorful foods,” added Swette, whose resumé features stints as global VP of marketing at Calvin Klein and director of national sales at the Pepsi/Lipton tea joint venture.
And retailers, said Swette, are devoting more space to brands that will bring younger shoppers to the frozen case, a part of the store that market researchers say many consumers are simply walking past as they focus on the store perimeter.
“This sense of holistic wellness, functional, healthy, flavorful food, wasn’t really something that people were talking about in frozen when we started, but that’s changing. The market is there, and retailers need to see that the market isn’t just about ‘vegan’ or ‘vegetarian food’.
“I don’t see our brand as a ‘meat-alternative’ brand. We’re just selling delicious food that happens to contain no meat."
Kelly Swette, CEO, Sweet Earth
Sweet Earth is based in Moss Landing, California, and manufactures its products in-house at a 40,000sq ft facility it took over in 2012 (a year after co-founders Brian and Kelly Swette acquired the trademark from the former brand owner).
Its product range includes burritos, entrees, breakfast sandwiches and meats, veggie burgers, seitan (a wheat-protein-based food with a chewy texture similar to meat), and savory grounds.
It is run by husband and wife team and CPG veterans Brian and Kelly Swette (Brian's resume includes stints as CMO at PepsiCo, COO at eBay, board member at Burger King and director at Jamba Juice and Shutterfly; while Kelly's previous roles include global VP of marketing at Calvin Klein and director of national sales at the Pepsi/Lipton tea joint venture.
The Swette family owned more than half of the business, with other investors including Stonyfield Farms founder Gary Hirshberg and CPG veteran Tyler Ricks (Plum Organics, Peet's, Bear Naked).

domain: news


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Verizon Wireless today denied blocking Google Wallet from its devices, after a report surfaced that the carrier would not allow Wallet on the Samsung Galaxy Nexus.
Google told Computerworld blogger JR Raphael late Monday that Verizon would not include Google Wallet on the Galaxy Nexus. A day later, a spokesman for Verizon denied the claims, stating that a "new, secure, and proprietary hardware element" needed to be added to the phones.
"Recent reports that Verizon is blocking Google Wallet on our devices are false," the Verizon spokesman said in an emailed statement. "Verizon does not block applications."
"Google Wallet is different from other widely available m-commerce services," the Verizon spokesman added. "Google Wallet does not simply access the operating system and basic hardware of our phones like thousands of other applications. Instead, in order to work as architected by Google, Google Wallet needs to be integrated into a new, secure and proprietary hardware element in our phones.
"We are continuing our commercial discussions with Google on this issue," the Verizon spokesman added.
Although a new Android superphone seems to appear every other week, the Galaxy Nexus will be the first to launch the new Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, also known as Android 4.0. According to PCMag.com mobile analyst Sascha Segan, however, Ice Cream Sandwich will be a game-changer for the Android market, and deserving of the hype, he wrote in a November hands on with the Galaxy Nexus.
A spokesman for Google declined comment when reached Tuesday. The Verizon spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for followup comment.
Google Wallet uses an NFC antenna and a hardware encryption token to secure a transaction; Google calls the encryption chip a "Secure Element." Funds are stored in the secure element via either a Citibank Mastercard or a Google branded electronic debit card, then passed to the wireless payment terminal after the Wallet is unlocked with a four-digit PIN. The Secure Element has apparently been cleared by Sprint, the carrier that provides the Nexus S 4G (Sprint), the only phone so far to use Wallet.
It's unclear why Verizon hasn't completed its "commercial discussions" to use Wallet, while Sprint has. PCMag's Segan said he believed the differences were more political than technical, noting that Verizon was a member of a consortium called Isis, made up of Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.
For more from Mark, follow him on Twitter @MarkHachman.


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This press release can be read online or downloaded here
as an Adobe PDF file (164kb).
22nd July 2009
‘HANDS OFF OUR BEER KEGS' WARN UK BREWERS
The British Beer & Pub Association has issued a firm “hands off “ warning to beer keg thieves after 12 men were committed to the Crown Court by West Bromwich Magistrates yesterday (July 21) in connection with offences associated with a £9 million conspiracy to steal metal beer kegs belonging to five national brewers. The charges relate to the theft and destruction of stainless steel and aluminium kegs by companies and individuals engaged in the scrap metal industry in the West Midlands .
The investigation which led to the arrests and subsequent charges originates from a protracted enquiry undertaken by West Midlands Police under the operational name of Operation Steel
Detective Chief Inspector Danny Long, the West Midlands police officer who led Operation Steel, said: “The allegations relate to the theft of steel and other high value metal products. West Midlands Police was the first force in the UK to introduce an operation focused specifically on this burgeoning criminal activity. Metal beer kegs have been seen as an easy target for too long and we are working closely with UK brewers and pubs to address a problem that is costing the industry millions of pounds every year.“
Mark Hastings, Communications Director at the British Beer & Pub Association, said: “Operation Steel is a fine example of the industry's co-ordinated approach to the problem of keg theft and the excellent working partnership that we have forged with police authorities to combat this costly crime. In parallel with the ongoing criminal prosecution S&N UK, Carlsberg, Diageo UK , Molson Coors and Inbev UK have served civil claims and have obtained civil injunctions against the defendants and their associated companies and will seek to recover financial losses from both the companies and the individuals involved in the case.
“The systematic theft of beer kegs uncovered in this police operation is a crime that ultimately has a cost impact for every part of the beer supply chain from breweries, wholesalers and pubs down to price of a pint at the bar. Hopefully, Operation Steel will send out a clear message that the British beer and pub industry is united in its efforts to work with police authorities to successfully prosecute keg thieves and that brewers will not hesitate to pursue civil claims against offenders to recover damages in respect of keg losses.”
For more information about the UK brewing industry's campaign to combat beer keg theft visit www.kegwatch.co.uk
Further information can be found by contacting
Keg Watch Limited either by telephoning 0808 100 1945
or by visiting the web site www.kegwatch.co.uk.


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An alternative to polystyrene
A brother-sister duo from Mumbai have developed biodegradable disposable plates
Craving chhole bhature, your favourite winter snack? Or organizing a party at home and couldn’t be hassled with cleaning greasy plates? Maybe you are thinking of using tableware made of polystyrene? The deceptively clean white material has crept up on us everywhere—from the local chaat stall to fast-food restaurants serving juicy burgers. Polystyrene is now so commonly used in India, especially in the takeaway food industry, that people assume it is 100% safe. And yet this week, the mayor of New York has taken the bold step of eliminating polystyrene completely from the city, giving businesses six months to phase out the white hazard. Of course, the move will impact businesses, but the administration decided to give precedence to people’s health over money. It is estimated that the ban in New York City in July will put an end to 28,000 tonnes of non-biodegradable waste a year. India should be considering a similar move as well.
Polystyrene is basically a petroleum-based plastic. The product gained popularity because it is lightweight, offers good insulation that keeps products cold or hot, and keeps things safe during shipping without adding much weight. But chronic exposure to high levels of styrene can cause adverse health effects such as liver and nerve tissue damage. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It was way back in 1986 that EPA reported the polystyrene manufacturing process as the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste. Even the process of making polystyrene pollutes the air and creates large amounts of liquid and solid waste. Toxic chemicals leach out of these products into the food that they contain, especially when heated in a microwave oven.
Besides health issues, polystyrene is also a direct threat to our environment. Plastics are made of petroleum, a non-renewable resource that requires new fossil reserves to be extracted all the time. The unused polystyrene ends up as debris in our waterways, choking marine life in all its forms. While banning a product is easy, what are the solutions? Yash and Sachi Maniar, a brother-sister duo based in Mumbai, have come up with a green, clean start-up that sells 100% compostable tableware made from bagasse, a biodegradable sugar cane by-product. The idea for their start-up Shunya popped up in their heads at their favourite doughnut joint when eating out of a polystyrene plate that they realized would end up in the waste bin 5 minutes later.
The mission of Shunya, they say, is simply this: “Using a product for 5 minutes and trashing it for 500 years doesn’t make sense to us.” And so Yash and Sachi came up with a range of products—disposable salad plates, compartment plates, bowls, dishes, meal trays and takeaway containers in various shapes and sizes. Their product line includes disposable birch wood cutlery and reusable bamboo straws. Besides being 100% biodegradable and compostable, products in the tableware range are also microwaveable, freezer-friendly, water-resistant and grease-proof. Shunya’s products can currently be bought online. For the retail market, the enterprise offers dinnerware in minimum packs of 50 while for wholesale buyers, the numbers vary from 500 to 2,000 depending on product size. While Shunya’s sugar cane products are machine-made, the bamboo straws are handcrafted by artisans from northern India and are ethically sourced.
“Sugar cane dinnerware is not only environment-safe, but also a health-safe option,” says Yash Maniar. “We have seen flimsy polystyrene products that bend or crack while using. Sugar cane products are extremely sturdy to use.”
So how easy is it to run a green start-up, especially given the low levels of awareness in India so far about the hazards of polystyrene?
“The response has been amazing so far. We have been successful with spreading awareness regarding the hazards of polystyrene products, and take orders from hotels, institutions and individuals. I wouldn’t categorize as easy or hard, but it certainly is exciting to be a green start-up. You get to do good and do what you like. We definitely have to be careful as to what we are promoting, what we are using and how we are impacting the earth,” says Yash. It was his sister Sachi who designed the bamboo straws. She came up with the idea while travelling to Sikkim. The straws are handcrafted, reusable and 100% natural.
The duo is now looking to hone their entrepreneurial skills by being mentored by organizations like the Pollination Project and the DO School in order to run a self-sustaining business. As Yash and Sachi look at new ways to promote their green products, maybe the mayor of New York should pay them a visit. And India could do well by phasing out this white poison from its food markets.
Bahar Dutt is a conservation biologist and author of the book Green Wars.
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Marin Magazine – April 2009 Write up on CelebriDucks.com – Click here for tear sheet
San Rafael is known for great weather, famous musician residents and now celebriducks – a line of celebrity rubber ducks bearing the likeness of Elvis, Bill Clinton, James Dean and over 200 more options. Look out for the conpany’s line of Barack Obama ducks, which just hit stores. www.marinmagazine.com
- April 2009 News
- Welcome to CelebriDucks, the offical home of the world’s first ever celebrity rubber ducks.


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As more people take out and deliver goods in order to avoid public places during the coronavirus outbreak, cash-strapped restaurant owners are forced to chase funds in novel ways, including testing new concepts or cutting operating costs through ghost kitchens. Such a facility can be an urban warehouse containing multiple small kitchens rented by restaurants or restaurant subcontractors for delivery only, thereby eliminating the need for high-quality locations and high-end buildings. Orders are usually delivered by “third-party aggregators” such as DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub.
Curt Garner, Chipotle’s chief technology officer, said in a statement: “The digital kitchen incorporates innovative features that will complement our rapidly growing digital business while providing our guests with a convenient, frictionless experience.” Quarterly digital sales have tripled year-on-year, and consumers are demanding more digital access than ever before.”
The company stated that Chipotle’s new method transforms the hiss, smell and sense of steel in the Chipotle dining room into a “hall, designed to contain all the sounds, smells and kitchen landscape of a traditional Chipotle restaurant”. Dedicated storage and pickup space will be provided for large catering orders. Guests must order in advance through the Chipotle website, Chipotle app or a third-party delivery partner.
Prior to the pandemic, deliveries were already on the rise, but in the era of production shutdowns and social distancing, it has become a rare growth path that is otherwise insignificant. A study by the NPD Group found that despite a 22% drop in restaurant traffic, delivery orders in March increased by 67%. According to a report from Restaurant Dive, there are approximately 1,500 ghost kitchens in the United States, but this number is expected to soar. A Euromonitor report predicts that by 2030, the value of the ghost kitchen market will reach $1 trillion. According to Statista, by 2023, overall food delivery revenue will reach US$24 billion.
As the United States continues to break records of new coronavirus infections and threaten the chance of reopening, the hit restaurant industry is operating under the shadow of another round of possible closure. On Wednesday, New York imposed a 10 p.m. curfew, banned restaurants and bars, and prohibited gatherings of more than 10 people in private residences.
A survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association in September found that about 100,000 U.S. restaurants have been closed for long or permanently six months after the first wave of business closures. By the end of 2020, the industry’s sales will lose 240 billion U.S. dollars, and 3 million workers will be unemployed.
Independent businesses have been hit particularly hard: Technomic, a catering consulting firm, estimates that 20% to 25% of independently owned restaurants will never reopen.
Chipotle has felt rapid delivery in recent months, with digital sales in the last quarter increasing by more than 200% year-on-year to more than $776 million, accounting for almost half of the company’s total sales in the third quarter. On the earnings call last month, CEO Brian Niccol predicted that if digital sales remain stable, digital sales this year will exceed $2.5 billion.
Chipotle has more than 2,700 locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. It has more than 94,000 employees. In midday trading on Wednesday, its stock price rose more than 4.3%.


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Less than a week after reports circulated that Walmart was in preliminary talks to acquire health insurance company Humana, the retail giant is making progress toward possibly buying another health care company. Walmart is in talks to acquire PillPack, an online pharmacy startup, for “under $1 billion,” according to CNBC.
The deal could still fall apart, but discussions between the two companies have been ongoing for months, the report said.
While a Humana deal would likely drive more members into Walmart pharmacies and help the retailer gain deeper membership data, the PillPack deal would help boost the retailer’s online traffic. Walmart has been on an e-Commerce tear ever since acquiring Jet.com in 2016 for $3.3 billion. The retailer plans to unveil a new web site, including a new home destination, as it pushes to provide a more upscale online destination for fashion and apparel. It’s clear that e-Commerce will be important for every category within Walmart — including pharmacy.
PillPack also would complement Humana well in that both companies are looking for ways to serve vulnerable seniors with one or more medical conditions. Humana is the second-largest provider of the Medicare plans known as Medicare Advantage, while PillPack manages prescription medications, many of which are fore patients with multiple chronic conditions. Having both companies under its belt would enable Walmart to further cater to this growing demographic, while staving off competition from a rapidlyconsolidatingretail-pharmacy industry.
PillPack has raised $118 million in venture funding, according to its web site. The company is designed to serve people who manage multiple medications, pre-sorting individual doses of medications into time-stamped packets and shipping them monthly. Customers also receive a convenient dispenser along with any other medications that cannot be placed into packets, such as liquids and inhalers. Each shipment includes a medication label that has a picture of each pill and notes on how it should be taken.
In 2017, the online pharmacy generated revenue of more than $100 million and unveiled a prescription management software, PharmacyOS, a backend pharmacy system designed specifically for customers with complex medication regimes. The software helps coordinate refills, ensures on-time shipments and provides an online dashboard for patients.


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Today: Home from Vegas, Apple earnings, Microsoft’s Novell patent purchase somewhat detuned, Google Toolbar 7 for IE, Amazon announces Kindle library lending, and Portal 2 ships….
Back home after a red-eye flight last night. Today is basically a lost day. (A couple of Vegas shots at the bottom of the post….)
Apple reported some stellar earnings but iPad (and, less surprising, iPod) sales fell short by a wide margin. I’ll have a news write-up in the morning after I have a chance to go over the post-earnings conference call.
Microsoft has agreed to some DOJ changes in its deal to purchase Novell patents.
Google today released Google Toolbar 7 for Internet Explorer. It appears to be cleaner by default (i.e. les tools loaded) and you can enable Google Instant for searches. Oh, and it does have a spell checker too. Download it now.
Amazon announced plans to bring Kindle lending from libraries, which should cut off one of the Nook’s few current advantages.
Portal 2 shipped this week. I’ve played through the first two parts so far. Awesome.
Some pictures from Vegas…


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Without a doubt, God of War was one of the biggest game launches this year. In fact, it even tied with Red Dead Redemption 2 in total nominations for the forthcoming Game Awards ceremony including, but not limited to, Game of the Year, Best Narrative, and Best Action-Adventure game.
Despite all of this acclaim, its possible some do not yet own the iconic action-adventure game. Given the number of on-going Black Friday deals at various retailers, now is the best time for those who don’t own God of War to pick it up. Of course, these deals are only available as supplies last and end at varying times, but PS4 owners should seriously consider the investment.
Building on that, we’ve located the best locations to buy God of War during this year’s Black Friday holiday event, with each having their own pros and cons yet massive savings. After all, who could argue with picking up a Game of the Year contender for as low as $17? Check out the best deals and locations below:
GameStop – $17.00
PlayStation Store – $21.99
Walmart – $25.00
Since the average retail price for God of War is around $40, this means that gamers can pick the title up with savings between $15-$23. Still, there’s a lot more to go around this holiday season, as we’ve also compiled this list of the 30 best savings across games, consoles, and tech this year. These deals include Black Ops 4, new 4K TVs, phones, and more, with savings ranging well over $100.
Regardless of what the gamer chooses to pick up this year, this holiday season is always a booster for the game industry. After all, who doesn’t love a new game for Christmas? Whether it’s God of War at these great savings or the competitively priced Black Friday deals for Spider-Man, it’s a good year to be a gamer – that’s for sure.
God of War is available now exclusively for the PlayStation 4.


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Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.
Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook dominated the news this week, but Friday night Sega took the spotlight with a few announcements of its own. Plus, the other shoe drops on Billy Mitchell's high scores.
It's real.Sega Japan reveals the 'MegaDrive Mini'
It looks like all the hype around Nintendo's classic console releases has nudged Sega back into making hardware. During its Sega Fest event, the company showed off a "MegaDrive Mini" that it says will come out later this year packed with classic games. While others have made licensed retro Sega consoles before, this 30th Anniversary Edition could give some old games the shine they deserve. The only problem? We haven't heard about any plans for a release outside of Japan.
A slight upgrade while we wait for the Zen 2 platform next year.AMD unveils its second-generation Ryzen CPUs
The second-generation Ryzen chips are a bit faster and more efficient than their predecessors, with the flagship eight-core Ryzen 7 2700X model leading the way. And, due to fan demand, AMD is also throwing in free "Wraith" coolers with every CPU.
Time to refresh your memory before the crowdfunded third game arrives.'Shenmue' I & II return on PS4, Xbox One and PC this year
The other big news from Sega Fest is word of a refreshed release of both Shenmue games on PS4, Xbox One and PC. There's a trailer showing early versions of the remastered games, which will go on sale later this year.
Depends on what you're looking for.Is Apple's HomePod failing?
Is the first smart speaker with Siri already a failure, or does the HomePod simply need time to find its place? Editors Daniel Cooper and Mat Smith go a few rounds on whether or not the $350 item measures up.
In fact, they're not organs at all.Two newly discovered human organs aren't what they seem
For a minute there, 2018 was shaping up to be a year of new-organ discoveries. In January, Dr. J. Calvin Coffey, foundation chair of surgery at the University of Limerick, declared that he had "discovered" a new organ, dubbed the mesentery. Then, in March, fledgling science journal Scientific Reports declared the interstitium, a fluid-filled membrane that surrounds the lungs, digestive tracts and arteries, an organ as well. If verified by the rest of the medical community, these findings could potentially revolutionize our understanding of the human body. There's only one problem with that: These biological structures aren't actually organs. Let Senior Editor Andrew Tarantola explain.
The enemy of my enemy is my new bundled offer.Comcast is bundling Netflix into cable packages
Yeah, you read that right.
No Rose or RED here.The FCC leaked pictures of a gold iPhone X
As spotted by 9to5Mac, a gold iPhone X appears to have arrived at the FCC offices, which is surprising considering Apple hasn't made an official announcement about the new color on its flagship smartphone.
But wait, there's more...
- Guinness strips Billy 'King of Kong' Mitchell's world records
- Wireless Android Auto is available for Google phones
- Police across the US are buying an affordable 'GrayKey' iPhone cracker
- A look at the ad-targeting tools AggregateIQ left exposed online
- How to check if Cambridge Analytica may have snagged your Facebook data
- The Zuckerberg hearings were a wasted opportunity
- Leaked Apple memo reveals 12 people were arrested for leaking last year
- You won't have to sign for credit card purchases much longer
The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't Subscribe.
Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? Send us a note.
- This article originally appeared on Engadget.


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- Hong Kong’s future is pre-ordained June 13, 2019
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Category Archives: Media
Following is an article from last week’s Wall Street Journal that I found extremely interesting as it relates to the ‘faditzation’ of mobile games. (I have edited it only slightly.) ‘Last week on October 16 Japan’s Softbank Corp. agreed to … Continue reading
It’s been a little over a year (almost 14 months) since Chinese owned Wanda Group purchased AMC Cinemas in one of the biggest deals of 2012. While I have posited on why people still go to the movies in a … Continue reading
I have a great deal of respect for Google as a company. Their platforms work well for users and have shown the world how cloud computing can be a part of everyday life. As a marketing services company Google AdWords … Continue reading
The trend of releasing ads early that will run on the upcoming Super Bowl began a few years ago. Already this week I’ve seen people commenting on the previews of some of the ads that have been released. Already one … Continue reading


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Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) investors sent shares vaulting 13% on Friday after the online auction and e-commerce leader handily trounced expectations across the board in its first quarter having acquired Whole Foods.
GBH Insights analyst Daniel Ives is out declaring from a bullish platform that any Whole Foods-tinted apprehensions circling margin performance or outlook have been revealed in the light of day to be specters at most. Some investors also had eyes on the company’s meaningful short-term investment picture between Amazon Web Services (AWS), fulfillment initiatives, international gains, among assorted fresh growth initiatives, writes Ives. In fact, with an EBITDA outclass in tow and a fourth quarter guide that likewise was more impressive than anticipated, all worries should be calmed in the short-term.
Commending the e-commerce king’s core retail strength and prime growth for what landed a “Picasso-like quarter” in stellar earnings, the analyst reiterates a Highly Attractive rating on AMZN stock with a valuation target of $1,185, which implies a close to 8% upside from where the shares last closed. (To watch Ives’ track record, click here)
Between retail and AWS, the analyst underscores “the major fuel in the engine for Amazon yet again this quarter,” attributing these segments as the reason for the outperformance against the Street, bringing roughly 30% organic growth to the table. Notably, this marks “an acceleration of growth despite any lingering distractions from the Whole Foods integration with the deal closing in late August,” asserts Ives, continuing: “Importantly, AWS also beat expectations in 3Q as the secular shift to cloud among enterprises is disproportionably benefiting Amazon as well as its Seattle brethren Microsoft in the field as evidenced again this quarter.”
Overall, the analyst concludes on a confident note for the company that reigns the top of the e-commerce leaderboard: “We also believe potentially aggressively betting on other consumer areas such as healthcare with the pharmacy segment front and center is a smart strategic bet as Amazon looks to further spread its tentacles across the consumer landscape globally. In sum, last night’s quarter, underlying retail strength, smooth signs around the Whole Foods acquisition, AWS momentum, and a healthy outlook heading into holiday season is another feather in Bezos cap that should be bullish for shares this morning.”
Ives is not the only voice on the Street enthusiastic on Amazon’s prospects, considering TipRanks analytics exhibit AMZN as a Strong Buy. Based on 34 analysts polled by TipRanks in the last 3 months, 33 rate a Buy on Amazon stock while 1 maintains a Hold. The 12-month average price target stands at $1,235.20, marking a 12% upside from where the stock is currently trading.


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After Neuro, which manufactures natural caffeine-infused gum and mints, rebranded in February, it was gearing up to double down on retail, including at CVS pharmacies, GNC stores and Barnes & Noble locations on college campuses.
Best-laid plans. COVID-19 hit the United States hard in early March.
But co-founders Ryan Chen and Kent Yoshimura, who met as undergrads at UC San Diego and have degrees in chemistry and neuroscience respectively, are chill dudes from LA, and they’re rolling with the situation.
“With unemployment the way it is and the economy faltering, consumers are looking for essentials,” said Yoshimura, who started the company with Chen in 2015. “We’re hoping people think of an energy product as essential, but the reality is we know there are more important things than us out there right now.”
Gum is often an impulse buy at checkout, rather than part of a larger online order, which is translating to softer sales in the category as people shelter at home. During its Q1 earnings call, for example, Mondelēz said its gum brands were “severely impacted” due to the ongoing pandemic.
Neuro is somewhat insulated from these challenges, in part because it’s a specialty product, and because most of its sales today still come from ecommerce, despite its retail aspirations.
Amazon sales have been steady during lockdown, Yoshimura said.
Even so, physical events are a linchpin of Neuro’s marketing. The brand has seen particular success handing out samples at CrossFit events and partnering with CrossFit influencers. Neuro sponsors two of the top female CrossFit athletes in the United States.
Spreading awareness IRL is on hold for the duration, of course, Chen said. But there are other things Neuro can do to stay top of mind with consumers. Neuro is partnering, for example, with fitness professionals to create exercise content and diet plans for people stuck at home.
“It’s an opportunity to provide content that could be helpful rather than something that’s purely marketing,” Yoshimura said.
Neuro is also giving away free products to frontline hospital workers and EMTs who message its support email.
“It’s a small way we can help, because the place they usually buy their energy drinks might be closed,” Yoshimura said. “We’re just trying to figure this out day by day and working with our marketing team to take advantage of media opportunities to bring us more awareness.”
The single biggest media opportunity Neuro snagged recently was a spot on “Shark Tank.” The episode, which aired April 10 on ABC, was in the can long before COVID-19 existed, but was broadcast into a world under quarantine. Last year, “Shark Tank” had started to drop in the ratings. The April 10 episode drew nearly 5 million viewers.
Although Chen and Yoshimura didn’t end up doing a deal, within 24 hours of their appearance on the show, Neuro did six figures in sales.
“It was a very big deal for us,” Yoshimura said. “Although I have to say that one of the main things I remember from filming is … how much makeup they put on our faces.”


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New York--These days, it’s not often that the gem and jewelry world is treated to a new stone discovery.
But just 47 years ago, which is practically yesterday in the long history of gemstones, tanzanite was first spotted and brought to the market. Even though this gemstone is young in terms of being on the market, it’s grown in popularity quickly, now showing up in the creations of more designers and brands.
A Masai tribesman first found the gemstone in Tanzania in 1967. Once the industry realized that it was not, in fact, sapphire like many thought, Tiffany & Co. quickly made a deal to become its exclusive distributor.
The company gave it a name inspired by its country of origin and began marketing it with a major push in 1968. The stone increased in popularity almost immediately due to its high clarity, vivid color that can range from blue to violet to bluish-purple, and its potential for large cuts of stone.
Tanzanite became so popular, in fact, that in 2002 it became the first stone to be added to the birthstone list by the American Gem Trade Association since the list’s creation in 1912.
Now, in addition to its popularity in the U.S. market, Europe and Asia also are proving to be strong markets for the gemstone.
A limited supply
Tanzanite has only one source: it’s mined in the hills of Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, on a strip of land that’s only about 4.5 miles long. Tanzanite One owns the largest and most advanced mine at the site.
“Geologists have said that at the current rate of mining, there will be no more tanzanite in the next 20 to 25 years,” said Hayley Henning of the Tanzanite Foundation, the nonprofit dedicated to promoting the gemstone.
Tanzanite, with its rich colors that can vary from pure blue to a bluish-purple or violet blue, has been picking up a lot of steam as of late. And the stone still has plenty of room to grow, especially given the fact that, due to a number of factors that include the politics of the region, the price of tanzanite has managed to stay relatively low.
“There are a lot of people who still don’t know what tanzanite is, and there’s still work to be done in terms of education. I think that our industry is working to do that,” Henning said. “It’s a process that will take place over time.”
In recent years, tanzanite has benefitted greatly from the marketing and education efforts of the Tanzanite Foundation.
Established in 2003 by Tanzanite One, the organization has not only provided education about the stone but also has helped the lives of many people in Tanzania through its community outreach, including through the Masai Ladies’ Jewellery Project, a local orphanage, a primary school and a medical center.
The organization also created the internationally recognized system for grading tanzanite called the Tanzanite Quality Scale so that retailers would be able to help their customers choose the stone that’s best for them, based on the 4Cs criteria.
However, Henning announced in recent weeks that the Tanzanite Foundation, the first marketing agency of its kind in the colored gemstone world to provide support for one specific stone, would close its U.S. office effective at the end of August.
Henning wouldn’t give much information on the reasons behind the decision, other than to say that it was financial. She did note, however, that the move would not affect supply of the stone, only the marketing efforts.


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After nearly two years of upheaval, New Look has found itself a chief executive with strong credentials. Ruth Faulkner considers the challenges ahead for Anders Kristiansen.
Mention Bestseller to those outside of the fashion industry and you are likely to receive some fairly blank stares. If however, you were to name any of its staple of brands including Very, Vero Moda and Only, the reaction would most probably be quite different.
Bestseller is not only responsible for some of Europe’s best-known brands, it also owns a 20% stake in etail giant Asos.
With fashion credentials like that, there are few who could argue that its deputy chief executive Anders Kristiansen seems like a natural choice to take the reins at New Look.
Not only does Kristiansen bring with him a wealth of international retail and brand experience, he graduated from Harvard Business School, something which is sure to prove beneficial in a business with a financial structure as complicated as New Look’s.
Without detailing the various resignations and returns to the business, it would be fair to say that New Look’s recent past has seen quite some change when it comes to the management team. All eyes are now on Kristiansen to bring some stability back to the company.
However, this is not to say though that the retailer hasn’t enjoyed some noteable achievements during this time.
New Look launched a branded offer online back in autumn 11 and by all accounts this is proving to be a successful venture. The retailer has also unveiled a new store format, culminating in the relaunch of its flagship Marble Arch store a few weeks ago.
Kristiansen enters a business, which has improved its product offer immeasurably over the last two seasons but clearly still has some big challenges ahead.
Having been the deputy chief executive of one of the most succesful brand houses of recent years, Kristiansen has the credentials to suggest he can take the business forward. He will have his work cut out for him, but the task should be within his grasp.


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Lots of football made a lot of noise thanks to the new policy of Electronic Arts. In 2017, the gaming community rebelled against microtransactions in Battlefront II, but in vain.
EA Executive Director Andrew Wilson spoke about the company's plans for microtransactions in games. In the future, electronics will promote lootboxes and fight public criticism.
"As you can see, we work with all industry associations around the world, regulators in different jurisdictions and territories. We work with many for a long time and found that programs such as FIFA Ultimate Team are not gambling games, "Wilson said in response to a question about possible changes in the microtransactions of the FIFA Ultimate Team.
The director explained that in each FUT the pack contains a certain number of items. In addition, there is no way to exchange virtual money or items in real money. Given the legality of the system, EA will "continue to promote" microtransactions in games.
"We always think about our players. We always think about ways of delivering such experience in an understandable, cheerful, honest and balanced way for our players, "he added.
We do not care
Electronic Arts can continue to be justified, but the process is launched at the legal level. The Belgian Gambling Commission acknowledged that Lutboks in Fifa 18 violated the country's laws on gambling. Ironically, Battlefront II operates within the law. The Netherlands also stood up against microtransactions. The government threatened dishonest publishers with the application of measures if they see violations.
Source: PC Gamer


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It's been a long road for Steve Gontram. The former owner and chef of Harvest (1059 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights; 314-645-3522) has been pining for years to open a St. Louis outpost of 5 Star Burgers (8125 Maryland Avenue, Clayton; 314-720-4350), a business that he and his father founded in 2008 in New Mexico.
"The idea was that I was going to start this company with him, and we were going to, right off the bat, build in two different states," he recalls. "It just took me four years longer than anticipated because I was trying to sell Harvest restaurant at the time, and it took a lot longer to sell it than I thought. So here I am...finally."
Despite being far apart geographically and palette-wise, the main similarity between the New Mexico and St. Louis locations (there is also a location in Colorado) is the green-chile cheeseburger.
"[The New Mexico location was] written up for as one of the best burgers in the states," Gontram says, referring to a recent USA Today poll. "We have copied that burger to a tee, and it's amazing. Hatch chiles, green-chile mayonnaise, pepper jack cheese. It's really, really good."
Since it's the house specialty, Gut Check tried the green-chile cheeseburger during our visit. Grilled medium-rare, the burger was very juicy and had a nice slow burn throughout thanks to the green chiles, which come straight from New Mexico.


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Google Slashes Play Store Fees For Developers On First $1 Million In Revenue
Starting on July 1st, "99% of developers globally that sell digital goods and services with Play will see a 50% reduction in fees," said Sameer Samat, Google VP for Product Management. "These are funds that can help developers scale up at a critical phase of their growth by hiring more engineers, adding to their marketing staff, increasing server capacity, and more."
According to Google, this fee reduction to 15 percent is available to "every Play developer, regardless of size" on their first $1 million in annual revenue. "As a platform we do not succeed unless our partners succeed," Samat added. "We look forward to seeing more businesses scale to new heights on Android, and to further discussions with our developer community to find new ways to support them technically and economically as they build their businesses."
The fee reduction is big news for all developers because if you're an indie dev scraping by in your free time or a massive outfit like Electronic Arts, you'll still see at least some benefit. However, once you cross that $1 million threshold, you'll still be subject to the old 30 percent cut that Google has reserved for years on that additional revenue.
While this is good news for developers, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney is looking at the move with a skeptical eye, as witnessed by the tweets below.
Regardless of Apple and Google's motives, we likely wouldn't be at this point if Sweeney hadn't decided to take on the two giants in such a public way last year. It remains to be seen if Epic Games will emerge victorious in its courtroom right with Apple -- which will take place this Spring -- but things at least appear to be moving in the right direction for developers that have lambasted the Apple and Google "app tax."


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Reported front-runners for a takeover of luxury fashion brand Roberto Cavalli, Damac Properties are remaining tight-lipped over the potential move.
In a statement to Arabian Business, PR representatives speaking on behalf of the Dubai property developer said they were not able to comment. But in a separate statement to Dubai Financial Market (DFM), Adil Taqi, Group CEO, denied a news report from Reuters, which suggested Damac was in ‘pole position’ to acquire the brand.
Roberto Cavalli is up for sale, with five different offers reportedly put forward. The other firms reportedly interested are include Italy’s Diesel-owner OTB and US brand management company Bluestar Alliance.
Damac is a partner with the Italian fashion house for their Just Cavalli Villas in Dubailand. While it was announced in October last year that Aykon Hotels by Damac Properties will feature luxury interiors by Roberto Cavalli.
Cavalli held a board meeting on Wednesday to examine the bids, though the final decision rests with the bankruptcy court which granted creditor protection to the brand in April.


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To date, there are already more than 10 million EMUI 10 users globally – covering more than 33 smartphone models. This number will continue to grow exponentially as Huawei continues to expand the list of EMUI 10-supported smartphones this year.
To kick start the year 2020, Huawei has announced another 7 Huawei and Honor smartphones which are eligible for EMUI 10 update later this year.
The internal beta testings for these devices will be carried out in two phases as follow:
It’s worth nothing that the aforementioned smartphones were not included in the initial EMUI 10 update roadmap that was released in September last year.
Sad to say, some of the prominent smartphones including Honor Play has yet to be included in the latest EMUI 10 update roadmap.


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Morning Brew: Ford blasts 911 operators, remembering the Mad Hatter, the biggest diamond in Canada to be sold at the ROM, what has the city done for Casa Loma since taking it over and Bob Barker is happy with Toronto's elephant decision
Well, Rob Ford's run-in with Mary Walsh and the "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" crew on Monday just keeps on getting better. Just yesterday Walsh said there were no children in sight (contradicting Ford's claim that his daughter was scared) and now come reports that Ford was rude to the 911 operators he called in the midst of the "ambush." After he called for police assistance the first time, the mayor grew impatient, so Ford called a second time and allegedly said to the dispatchers: "You ... bitches! Don't you f--king know? I'm Rob f--king Ford, the mayor of this city!" Now imagine the wait time if police officers were getting laid off?
The Grid's story on the old Mad Hatter is a great trip (pun intended) down memory lane for those of us who grew up in the '80s and were lucky (or unlucky) enough to have gone to a birthday or two at the "Studio 54 for kids" that included pillow and whipped cream fights and shopping cart bumper cars.
Bling just went to a whole other level with the 50 carat diamond that will be auctioned off at the ROM next month. Though the rock is a bit smaller than a loonie in width, it's the the largest diamond to be sold in Canada. It was appraised at $10-million, but it's likely not to sell for that much so there's, like, a chance for us regular folk.
Did you know that the Centre for Justice Leadership at Humber College used to be an old car dealership? Well, it was before Gow Hastings Architects transformed it and now the building's won a Zerofootprint Re-Skinning Award, which honours building projects that update older structures and improve their environmental performance.
Photo by The Nexus in the blogTO Flickr pool
Join the conversation Load comments


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Apple has pulled the “Jew or not Jew” app from its app stores worldwide following a lawsuit from French anti-racism groups, reports the Register.
The app allowed users to measure “how Jewish they were” by cataloguing Jewish personality traits according to how genetically Jewish users considered themselves to be.
No ad to show here.
“Listed for you, thousands of Jewish personalities (through their mother), ‘half-Jewish’ (through their father), or converts,” the app’s inventor Johann Levy promised potential buyers on the French Apple Store.
The app was pulled from the French app store in September and Europe in October, but was only pulled globally this week.
Groups including the French Jewish Students Union, SOS Racisme and the Movement Against Racism and for Friendship Between People had brought a suit against Apple in Paris demanding it withdraw the app worldwide — calling it anti-Semitic.
However rights groups dropped their case after the withdrawal of the application from every country in the world, which “satisfies our demand,” the groups’ lawyer Stephane Lilti said in court.
“I’m satisfied that Mr Levy has belatedly repented and taken the wise decision to withdraw the application,” Lilti said, speaking on behalf of four rights groups.
The International League Against Racism and anti-Semitism (LICRA) has also dropped its demand that Apple uninstall the app from all devices where it has already been installed.
“Where is the anti-Semitism in this case?,” Apple’s lawyer, Catherine Muyl, said during a hearing for the LICRA case on November 17, insisting that “this is not a discrimination case.”
“When Johann Levy conceived the application, he was actually worried that it would be perceived as too ‘pro-Jewish’,” Muyl explained.
Prior to its removal from the store the “Jew or not Jew” app listed 3 500 Jewish personality traits.


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According to a report released by Statistics Korea this week, South Korea’s factory output has dropped a disappointing 2.8 percent from a year earlier in April – worse than the estimated 1.3 percent decline that had been predicted by economists.
The figure is released as the South Korean won posted its worst monthly decline since July 2015. Production of electronic components fell 12.7 percent from a year ago, while output of cars and machinery dropped 8.7 percent and 9.5 percent, respectively. “The negative factory output data trend shows that the foundations of growth are weak,” says Suh Dae Il, an economist at Mirae Asset Daewoo Securities.
An inventory-to-shipment ratio of 124.2% is a concerning sign of weak export demand, as manufacturers stockpile unsold goods at warehouses. Worryingly, exports have been in continual decline for the last 16 months. Weak demand has left factory activity low across Asia, as the region’s export-driven businesses struggle for new orders in a slow global economy. It is expected that corporate restructuring of South Korean shipbuilders and shipping companies will further continue to hurt domestic demand and contribute to low business confidence.
Despite the gloomy data, the Bank of Korea maintains that domestic demand is in good form, and will support growth. Also on the positive side, shipments in the first twenty days of May have risen by 2.7% on an annualized basis, this better-than-expected data offering some hope of an end to the trend of declining exports.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Ministry of Strategy and Finance has said in a release that “The government will put more policy efforts into expanding recovering momentum in the latter half of the year”. The Ministry also says that it is strengthening its monitoring of the global financial and foreign currency markets in order to stave off any fallout of external risks.
- Korea prepares itself for Big Data-driven 4th Industrial Revolution: Korean Data Protection Laws Revised
- Minimum Wage Increased in South Korea for 2021: Employment Law Update
- Data Protection in Korea is set to take on new importance in 2021
- South Korea to Impose Taxes on Cryptocurrency in 2022
- Global Innovation Index: Korea Scores 14th in World
- Korea Needs a Rugby Team: Sports as a Driving Force for Economic Growth in Advanced Economies like Korea by Daniel Gardner
- Sean Hayes Invited to Chair Panel for Horasis Foundation
- South Korean Act on International Judicial Mutual Assistance in Civil Matters: Obtaining Evidence via Korean Courts and the Korean Government for use in Proceedings Abroad
- Migrant Worker Labor Union Denied Registration in Korea
- Korea Strengthens Data Protection Law


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Accelerade, the sports drink brand produced by PacificHealth
Laboratories, has become the official sponsor of The Hoop Group, an
organisation which runs basketball training camps for would-be
A report from the Japan Canners' Association puts last year's
output of canned and bottled goods at 4,551,015 tonnes, down 6.4
per cent from year 2000. However, recent reports show that food and
beverage sales are at last...
Leading Brands, the Canadian beverage manufacturer and distributor,
has begun shipments of its new "optimised performance
beverage" TREK after an extremely positive reaction from
distributors involved in earlier trials.
In an interview with French daily Les Echos on Tuesday,
Franck Riboud, CEO of Groupe Danone, quickly denied accusations
that developments with Coca-Cola were a sign of Danone's defeat in
the US water market.
Bottling and can packaging providers should take note: three of the
five fastest growing food and beverage categories in the global
marketplace were beverages in 2001, led overwhelmingly by prepared
alcoholic beverages according to...
Neverfail Springwater, the Australian bottled water company, has
reduced costs and increased productivity after installing equipment
from CapSnap Water Group, part of USA-based Portola Packaging to
maintain its supplies.
The Dominion Bond Rating Service recently published a report about
future prospects for the US-based Pepsi Bottling Group. The report
outlines that recent acquisitions have put the Group in a strong
position and that it is destined...
VantagePoint Systems, a Canada-based developer of business
management software for the corrugated packaging industry, has
entered into an agreement to acquire Avalon Printing Software of
Graham Packaging Company, a global designer and manufacturer of
customised blow-moulded plastic containers, is using its newly
developed proprietary Active Cage technology to produce two new PET
plastic (polyethylene terephthalate)...
Rexam, the global food and beverage packaging manufacturer, has
boosted longer-term confidence within its sector after chairman,
Jeremy Lancaster, made positive comments about its outlook for
future trading during the annual general...
British company Thermotic Developments (TDL) looks set to trigger a
burgeoning market for self-heating cans. Co-developed over a period
of five years using the scientific resources of the University of
Southampton, the can was recently...
Canadian brewer Molson has announced plans to invest $34.8 million
(€24.6 million) in upgrades at its Toronto brewery as the first
installment in a $100 million plan to increase the facility's
production and efficiency.
Gatorade, the sports drink brand owned by PepsiCo, has confirmed
that it will not renew its sponsorship of the US-based NASCAR car
racing event, and that it will focus instead on stock car racing
drivers and races.
Foster's Group, the Australian beer, wine and leisure company, has
said that its Carlton & United Breweries subsidiary has
purchased a 65 per cent stake in BCB Beverages Australia for A$7.2
million (€4.3m), including debt.
The US-based Ball Corporation has reported that its first quarter
profits for the group's packaging segment are up nearly $4 million
(€4.4 million), while sales had only risen marginally.Earnings in
the segment were $55.8 million...
US industrial packaging company Greif Bros. said this week a new
range of water bottles, manufactured in the United Kingdom, should
help spring water producers to more effectively transport filled
containers and offer better protection...
Mitsubishi Polyester Film (Americas) has announced plans for a
capital investment that will convert one of the existing PET film
lines into the production of PET shrink films, widely used in the
food packaging industry.
French wines and spirits maker Remy Cointreau has reported revenue
growth of 10 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March. The
company added that a 21 per cent surge in the final quarter
indicated that the company has ridden out...
Soft drink giant Coca-Cola, facing a stiff challenge from archrival
PepsiCo in the crucial North American market, on Monday unveiled a
new vanilla-flavoured version of its flagship Coke brand, reports


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SPX Process Equipment has opened a Waukesha Cherry-Burrell PD Pump Remanufacturing Center at the Lightnin operation in Rochester, NY.
In concert with its West Coast remanufacturing center in Modesto, CA, the new center allows the company to better service customers regardless of geographic location. The new center will result in reduced cross-country freight costs and quicker turnaround time for the company’s East Coast customers.
SPX Opens New Waukesha Cherry-Burrell Center
Published October 21, 2005
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In this Oct 25, 2019 photo, Mark Zuckerberg speaks at the Paley Center in New York. (PHOTO / AP)
NEW YORK - Meta Platforms said on Tuesday that it would provide researchers with access to components of a new "human-like" artificial intelligence model that it said can analyze and complete unfinished images more accurately than existing models.
Meta is also starting to incorporate generative AI features into its consumer products, like ad tools that can create image backgrounds and an Instagram product that can modify user photos, both based on text prompts
The model, I-JEPA, uses background knowledge about the world to fill in missing pieces of images, rather than looking only at nearby pixels like other generative AI models, the company said.
That approach incorporates the kind of human-like reasoning advocated by Meta's top AI scientist Yann LeCun and helps the technology to avoid errors that are common to AI-generated images, like hands with extra fingers, it said.
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, is a prolific publisher of open-sourced AI research via its in-house research lab. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has said that sharing models developed by Meta's researchers can help the company by spurring innovation, spotting safety gaps and lowering costs.
"For us, it's way better if the industry standardizes on the basic tools that we're using and therefore we can benefit from the improvements that others make," he told investors in April.
The company's executives have dismissed warnings from others in the industry about the potential dangers of the technology, declining to sign a statement last month backed by top executives from OpenAI, DeepMind, Microsoft and Google that equated its risks with pandemics and wars.
Lecun, considered one of the "godfathers of AI," has railed against "AI doomerism" and argued in favor of building safety checks into AI systems.
Meta is also starting to incorporate generative AI features into its consumer products, like ad tools that can create image backgrounds and an Instagram product that can modify user photos, both based on text prompts.


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Roku recorded a strong year of growth in 2017, but its shareprice dropped in after hours trading following a weaker than expected revenue outlook for the current quarter.
Announcing its full year and fourth quarter 2017 results, Roku said that Q4 net revenue grew 28% year-on-year to US$188.3 million, driven by platform growth of 129% YoY to US$85.4 million. Gross profit for Q4 grew 64% year-on-year to US$73.5 million.
The company said that it enters 2018 with strong momentum and is “very encouraged” by the trends it is seeing in its platform segment. However, its Q1 net revenue outlook of US$120 million to US$130 million missed analyst projections of US$132 million, according to Bloomberg stats.
Roku described 2017 as a “milestone year” with revenue growing 29% year-on-year to US$513 million. This compares to revenue growth of 25% in 2016.
A key driver for growth was the company’s platform segment. Here revenues were up 115% year-over-year to a record $225 million, driven by strength across Roku’s advertising and content distribution services.
Full year gross profit grew 65% to US$200 million, streaming hours were up 59% year-on-year to 14.8 billion hours, while active Roku accounts stood at 19.3 million at the end of Q4 – up 44% compared to a year earlier.
Trailing twelve-month ARPU in the fourth quarter was a record US$13.78, up 48% year-over-year.
“The tectonic shifts we are seeing in the media and entertainment industries continue to strengthen our streaming opportunity, creating new paths for Roku to pursue and deliver rapid revenue and gross profit growth,” said Roku CEO Anthony Wood, and CFO Steve Louden, in a statement.
“The fourth quarter of 2017 was a fantastic quarter for Roku, reinforcing our leading position in smart TVs, streaming players, OTT advertising and content distribution. We have never been more excited about the future of our business.”
RT @broadpeak: 🎉 Congratulations 👏
03 December 2021 @ 13:35:33 UTC


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Jaxsta Ltd (ASX: JXT) is a music company, serving customers in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The company intends to track people behind the music, comprising of artists, video directors, roadies, photographers, and producers. The group is headquartered in NSW, Australia. The company’s core platform, Jaxsta.com, is expected to launch in late 2019.
On 8th May 2019, the company announced the issue of 13.22 million fully paid ordinary shares at $0.25 per share. This represented a 9% discount to the closing stock price of the company on 3rd May 2019. The placement was made pursuant to Jaxsta’s 15% placement capacity. $3.3 million gross proceeds are expected to be raised after this placement. Bell Potter acted as a Lead Manager to the Placement and was supported by the company’s existing institutional shareholders.
The net proceeds of this issue will serve to the use of the below-mentioned purposes:
- As part of the company’s long-term business plan, the proceeds would pace up the launch of the Jaxsta Pro subscription service and Jaxsta API.
- Sales, marketing and other promotional events supporting the launch of Jaxsta.
- Systems and platform development of Jaxsta Pro.
- New API platform development.
- Towards the working capital.
The settlement is scheduled for Tuesday, 14th May 2019. The new shares are expected to be issued and commence trading on Wednesday, 15th May 2019. The new shares would be treated equally in every way as the company’s existing fully paid ordinary shares.
After the announcement of the issue of new shares, the suspension of trading of the securities was lifted.
The company has notified and invited its shareholders to the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). The EGM is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 13th June 2019 in Sydney.
As announced on 15th March this year, the company has entered into a digital product agreement with Universal Music Group and a commercial data access agreement with Warner Music Inc. JXT has identified potential future revenue opportunities via various platforms like website advertisement, sales of industry specific-reports and third-party affiliate sales. These revenues and other future revenues earned outside the company’s commercial API platform would be confirmed, forecasted and included under the Universal and Warner agreements.
According to the company’s quarterly report published on 26th April 2019 for the quarter ending 31 March 2019, net cash used in operating activities amounted to A$3,039k. The net cash used in investing activities was $22k; while the net cash used in financing activities amounted to $464k. The cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter were $1,710k. Total estimated cash outflows for the next quarter is A$2,111k.
As of 31st March 2019, JXT held 28 licensing data agreements and has reached a mass covering approximately 80% of the popular music industry. The group has been part of major conferences and award events.
Stock Price Information:
At market close on 8th May 2019, the stock of the company was trading flat at $0.275, with a market cap of $59.98 million. The six-month yield stands at 44.74%.
This website is a service of Kalkine Media Pty. Ltd. A.C.N. 629 651 672. The website has been prepared for informational purposes only and is not intended to be used as a complete source of information on any particular company. Kalkine Media does not in any way endorse or recommend individuals, products or services that may be discussed on this site. Our publications are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold. We are neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice.


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Nordic parcels and mail firm Bring and Posten is trialling Volta Trucks’ electric HGV – the Volta Zero. This is the first pilot trial of the vehicle and will see it support Bring and Posten’s inner-city mail and parcel deliveries. The move marks another step forward for Volta which will shortly be launching in the UK. The zero emission 16-tonne Volta Zero is designed for inner-city freight deliveries and has an operating pure-electric range of between 150km and 200km. The […]
London courier Absolutely has launched its fourth location, a zero emission ‘Eco Hub’ in Holborn.
The world’s largest biomethane refueling station will open in Bristol this year, allowing operators in the south west to run their vehicles on the renewable and sustainable gas, according to CNG Fuels.
Yorkshire duo Magtec and Paneltex are now ready to put their 7.5-tonne electric truck into series production.


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Electricians in the UK that are using social media have experienced a boost to their business, but there’s a serious lack of social media knowledge in the industry.
New research from IronmongeryDirect looked at the various trades in the UK and explored how each one used social media to boost their bottom line. It found that 45% of electricians using social media had found work through it, although a whopping 81% of electricians had no idea how to use social media to help their business.
It’s unsurprising to see a lack of social media knowledge in the UK electrical industry, as the industry tilts towards the older, more traditional side. It’s not the only industry to suffer this problem, however, nearly all tradespeople in the UK admitted to not maximise social media potential, including builders, bricklayers, plumbers and joiners.
It’s hard to underestimate how big of an opportunity social media provides companies of all shapes and sizes in the UK. An example of the success social media can bring comes from The Brighton Loft Co, a loft conversion company in East Sussex.
Gilles Buxton, the company’s director, commented, “When the pandemic hit this year, we started sharing our projects on social media and since we’ve started doing that, we’ve seen an increase in business and enquiries.
“In 2019, we had 40 enquiries, but we’ve already had 72 this year – so we are already up 80% year-on-year, which is fantastic news.”
It’s not just social media
On average, female tradespeople dedicate the most time to social media promotion, with 51% pursuing leads online, compared to just 41% of men. They are also more likely to ask customers to leave reviews online (28% vs 23%) and such digital feedback is growing in significance.
Over 20 million business reviews are posted on Google every day and they can have a huge impact on a company’s performance. A recent study found that businesses with positive scores on review sites can earn up to 58% more revenue.
Overall, just 25% of trade businesses ask for reviews and 26% believe that positive comments can directly lead to more custom. However, 21% of tradespeople worry about receiving negative reviews and the impact that might have.
Take it from this editor, I do my research before letting anyone into my home to do work. That research includes reviews and too few reviews or no reviews is often a red flag – even if you’re the cheapest around. It’s also important that you have a web presence, and that often includes social media – that way I can get a feel for the company.
Charlie Carlton, head of digital at IronmongeryDirect, noted social media’s importance, “Whether you’re a start-up looking to increase brand awareness, or a larger firm trying to expand, most trade businesses can benefit from being on social media, so it’s definitely worth creating accounts if you don’t already have some.
“For those who already have social channels, our research has shown that the majority aren’t currently getting the most out of them. However, it doesn’t take that much time or effort to create a basic profile that can start to pick up work.”


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WATERTOWN, MA --- A 50-percent jump in the shares of lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems on the company's first day of trading last week provided a big boost for the clean-tech market.
Reuters reported that when the market closed Sept. 24 after the initial public offering of 28,180,501 shares of A123 Systems' common stock, the company was worth over $1.9 billion. That's a noteworthy number since the company hasn't yet turned a profit and still needs large-scale commercialization. The stock's first-day jump is the second-best performance for a debut stock in 2009.
A123 Systems develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion batteries and battery systems for transportation, electric grid services and consumer markets. Last month, the company announced it had been awarded a $249 million grant from the Department of Energy's Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative.


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Shopping Centres Embark on Cautious Return to Normalcy India’s shopping centre industry is making a positive return to new-normalcy. Malls are fi nally open, and customers sentiment is looking up as well. For shopping centres in North and East India, the lockdown was for a shorter period and malls resumed operations partially from June, but for West and South, the period was a prolonged and painful one.
Malls in Maharashtra finally got the green signal to open, after a long period of 4 months and therefore this time the approach is a very cautious one. No one is in a hurry to celebrate and neither have they let their guard down. The industry has been enduring unprecedented pressures since April 2020, and with the threat of a third wave looming, malls are preparing themselves to face a new set of challenges, trends and consumer behaviour.
The August edition of Shopping Centre News talks about how shopping malls are analysing and preparing new strategies. Malls are pushing for the vaccination drives and are encouraging the visitors along with their staff and employees to get vaccinated. Adding more to this, centres are also conducting robust digital campaigns/ sales/ services to reach out to their consumers in large numbers.
Author : Images Group
© 2023 Dharya Information Private Limited


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To be the premier chemical company providing humanity with solutions for a better future,
through continuous innovation and new value creation.
KPAC supplies optimized products for main parts with excellent properties and create the clean future of the environment and human beings
Engineering plastics of KPAC have widely been used as the high-performance parts of audio, OA equipment and various IT products.
Engineering plastics of KPAC have widely been applied to many different products encountered in everyday life such as stationery, toys and zippers
Engineering plastics of KPAC have been used as the parts of various home appliances in everyday life
Listen to customer inquiries and comments.view more
Korea Polyacetal Co., Ltd. (KPAC) announced that the first shipment has successfully departed. KPAC has taken its first step as a sales company specializing in engineering plastics. Korea engineering plastics Co., Ltd. (KEP) has finished restructuring earlier this year. KEP will now focus solely on manufacturing and supplying high quality products to KPAC. Customers can now be supplied with KEP products including KEPITAL®, KEPAMID®..2022-06-01
Dear Valued KEP Customers, Korea Engineering Plastics Co., Ltd. (KEP) would like to provide final notice of the restructuring efforts to transform the Company. Celanese, MGC and KEP announced the completion of the restructuring transaction on April 1, 2022. As previously announced, KEP will now focus solely on manufacturing and supplying high quality products to its shareholders, who will independently market them globally and without c..2022-04-04
The creation of new values with KPAC


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Articles about olive oil testing
Designing Sensors to Mimic Human Sensory Analysis of Olive Oil
Researchers are working on designing sensors to mimic the role of human sensory perceptions in the evaluation of olive oil.
After Bruising Season, Italy Combats Fraud and Invests in its Future
The minister of agriculture organized a meeting with stakeholders to "relaunch" a core sector of the Italian economy.
Researchers Extract Olive Oil Pigments to Detect Frauds
A faster and cheaper method to detect olive oil fraud has been devised by Italian researchers at Pisa University.
Students Design Device to Detect Indicators of Rancidity
A simple device developed by students at UC Davis can help monitor the quality of olive oil along the supply chain.
Chinese Search Giant Unveils Chopsticks to Detect Olive Oil Quality
Baidu says its chopsticks can detect adulteration in olive oil and other foods.
IOC Seeks New Method to Measure EVOO Phenolics
The IOC's tender to define new testing methods for phenolic compounds for nutritional labeling claims is a watershed moment for olive oil quality.
Most EVOOs Score Well in New Test for Phenolic Compounds
Half of the EVOOs bought at supermarkets and local stores have an excellent phenolic profile, according to a test using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance.
Rural Payments Agency Trials UK Oil Testing
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has commenced with a trial olive oil inspection at the largest bottler in the UK, as part of preparations for enforcing new EU-wide regulations.
Greece Flip-Flops on EVOO Labeling
A late decision will allow producers to use oleocanthal and oleacein levels to justify health benefit claims of olive oil polyphenols.
Olive Council Decision-Makers Meeting This Week in Madrid
The future of the International Olive Council is among key topics to be discussed at the annual session in Madrid this week.
U.K. Readies for European Ramp Up of Olive Oil Testing
One company controls 95 percent of olive oil bottling in the United Kingdom -- a fact that may simplify compliance with a new European Union olive oil testing regime.
Scientists Pool Expertise in Fight Against Fake Olive Oils
More than twenty of the world’s experts on olive oil verification met in Madrid to discuss olive oil fraud and possible solutions.
Madrid Workshop Defines International Study on Olive Oil Fraud Detection
An international research project on olive oil authentication will be funded by the European Union.


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Dairy Cooperatives in Chitwan venture into fodder productionThe factory can produce one tonne of fodder per hour.
The dairy farms of Chitwan have begun operating a fodder factory at Bhandara in eastern Chitwan in a bid to provide livestock feed to farmers at lower prices.
The factory has been set up by six cooperative farms, which produce and collect milk, at a cost of Rs19 million with Rs9 million in grants from the provincial agriculture ministry.
“There are 4,500 farmers associated with the milk cooperatives in Rapti municipality and they produce 30,000 litres of milk daily,” informed Dilli Prasad Thapaliya, chairperson of Bhandara Dairy Cooperative. “The cooperatives have come together to produce livestock feed to make it available to farmers at reasonable prices.”
According to Thapaliya, the factory can produce one tonne of fodder per hour.
Farmers in the municipality purchase 60 tonnes of fodder from the cooperatives each month. After operating the mill, the cooperatives have also set their sights on selling livestock feed to farmers in neighbouring municipalities.
“I sell 15 litres of milk to a cooperative every day and use three sacks of fodder to feed my cows and buffalos in a month,” said Ambar Bahadur Paudel, a dairy farmer. “Each sack costs around Rs900.”
According to farmers, the fodder produced by the factory should be not more than the current price level.
“We aim to produce high-quality fodder and the best available feed in the market is being traded at Rs45 per kilogram in the market,” said Rameshwar Singh Oli, a cooperative farm operator. “The factory will produce the same standard of feed but will sell it to farmers at a discounted rate of Rs 40 per kilogram.
Rapti Municipality has provided raw materials worth Rs1.8 million to the cooperatives for kick-starting production of livestock feed.
And the factory operators also plan to procure maize, a raw material for producing livestock feed, from the farmers who are associated with the cooperatives.
“We have to buy maize at expensive rates and as a cost-effective measure we plan to purchase it from local farmers,” said Oli.


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Let's hope Aston's gamble pays off.
Aston Martin had a record sales year in 2017, earning $1.2 billion and ending the year with a net profit. Sales continued to increase through 2018 as well, though the company still ended the year in the hole. The UK automaker is rumored to be in talks with outside investors, which could improve its financial position. Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer has denied these claims and in a recent interview with Automotive News Europe, he talked about how the DBX SUV could be the vehicle to finally make the company profitable.
"Every car we launch is important because of the way the business runs. But in terms of changing the company so that we address each of the luxury clusters, this is really important. So far, we have replaced the core GT and sports cars - our historical ground. This is the first model that expands the portfolio," Palmer said when asked how important the DBX is to the Aston Martin brand.
Palmer believes the DBX will sell "about 4,000 a year with a peak of 5,000," which is significant for Aston's yearly sales volume. "I can't give forward-looking data but we are about 6,000 to 6,500 units this year," Palmer said. "We will not have a full year of DBX but we've more sports cars coming: the Vantage roadster arrives next year, and the mid-engine car [the Vanquish comes in 2021]. The DBX will represent the largest-single volume."
Adding in around 4,000 to 5,000 DBX sales to Aston's yearly volume would put the company between around 10,000 to 11,500 yearly sales. In other words, nearly double what it sold in 2018. If doubling sales doesn't do the trick for Aston Martin to turn a profit, we don't know what will.
When asked where he thought DBX customers would come from, Palmer responded with a clear answer. "Today more than 70 percent of Aston Martin customers have an SUV in the garage, so the hard work is already done. We just need to convert those people from their daily driver into an Aston Martin SUV," he explained. "They are coming out of Porsche Cayennes and Range Rovers. What we are looking to do is cream off the top of that premium SUV sector. The Cayenne has been an important benchmark in the development of the car. Our cars don't compete directly, but they [Porsche] are a very credible source when it comes to ride and handling, and build quality."
Palmer was also asked his thoughts of the Aston Martin stock, which is down 80 percent since the IPO.
"There's no point in looking backward. The share price is obviously a disappointment and I have to acknowledge my role in that, he said. "But we have to get on and improve it. I think the importance of the DBX, and whether we can deliver it efficiently, will also affect the share price."


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- Tesla plans to temporarily reduce employees' salaries and furlough nonessential workers.
- The company made the announcement in an email sent to employees by the company's head of North American human resources on Tuesday, CNBC reported.
- According to the email, Tesla plans to begin implementing certain cost-cutting measures starting April 13 and plans to resume normal production at its US facilities on May 4.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
Tesla announced to employees on Tuesday morning that it planned to temporarily reduce salaries and furlough nonessential workers while curbing its production of new cars amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In an email sent to employees by the company's head of North American human resources and in-house counsel, Valerie Workman, which was published by CNBC, Tesla told employees that some jobs would be affected as it continued to keep "only minimum critical operations running."
"While we are continuing to keep only minimum critical operations running, we expect to resume normal production at our US facilities on May 4, barring any significant changes," the email said. "Until that time, it is important we take action to ensure we remain on track to achieve our long-term plans."
According to the email, the company plans to begin implementing certain cost-cutting measures starting April 13. These measures include temporarily reducing pay for salaried employees and placing employees who cannot work from home and have not been designated "critical work onsite" on furlough.
"For US employees, these reductions are 30% for Vice Presidents and above, 20% for Directors and above, and 10% for everyone else," the email said regarding pay cuts, which are expected to remain in place until the end of the second quarter.
"For non-U.S. employees, there will also be comparable reductions, of which the specifics will be communicated by the local leadership team in accordance with local laws and works-councils," the email continued.
Employees placed on furlough will maintain their healthcare benefits and will be eligible for unemployment benefits through their state agencies.
The email added that during this period, salary and hourly rate adjustments, as well as equity grants, would be put on hold. Tesla offered employees the opportunity to take a voluntary leave of absence.
"We continue to monitor the situation closely, and our top priority is to ensure the safety of our employees," the email added. "As usual, for those who are onsite, if you are sick or are uncomfortable coming to work, please contact your manager and stay at home."
Representatives for Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.
Tesla temporarily closed its Fremont, California, factory on March 23 after a shelter-in-place order was put out in the San Francisco Bay Area to try to curb the coronavirus' spread. Tesla also suspended most of its operations at its solar-panel factory in Buffalo, New York.
A Tesla Gigafactory outside Reno, Nevada, remains open, even though a worker there tested positive for COVID-19 in late March.