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From innovation in 3D printing to specialist software and bioplastic packaging, this is the place to stay up to date with what's happening in the ever-evolving cosmetics packaging sector.
Bookmark this page to keep up to speed on industry suppliers and manufacturers alike, as they all strive to become greener in their innovation and developments.
29-Jun-2016 - Cosmetics Design checked in with Terri Goldstein, CEO of brand strategy and design firm The Goldstein Group, to get this expert’s take on how to create a package that reliably...
28-Jun-2016 - Last week at New York City’s University Club, hundreds of fragrance and beauty industry leaders, student honorees, and allies gathered for the annual fund-raising celebration put on by the Pratt...
27-Jun-2016 - Two cosmetic and personal care product packages received DuPont awards this year in the global competition, which celebrates advances in user experience, efficient production, sustainability, and more.
16-Jun-2016 - The Georgia-based company announced new premium and luxury packaging solutions this week, suitable for both national and multinational beauty and fragrance brands.
15-Jun-2016 - DS Smith, a Europe-based global packaging player, has revealed the plan for its new DS Smith China venture when it launches this summer.
14-Jun-2016 - L’Oréal is making a bid to cater to a dominant consumer trend in India for smaller product sizes, especially the widespread enthusiasm for hair products in sachets.
16-May-2016 - The beauty industry forum took place in New York City last week, bringing together international buyers with packaging, contract manufacturing, and technology providers for an event fueled by Italian expertise,...
13-May-2016 - Tackling the issue of counterfeit cosmetic and fragrance products is the aim of a new film that has been developed by Dupont using 3D imaging technology.
04-May-2016 - For the first time ever, the MakeUp Paris event will have a green focus, aimed at showcasing innovations for products that are sustainable and kinder to the planet while still...
26-Apr-2016 - The inaugural event is due to take place in New York this September, and the organizer says there remain a limited number of speaker opportunities.
26-Apr-2016 - Global skin care and deodorant manufacturer Nivea is making waves with the launch of its new, body odour detecting app, NOSE.
21-Apr-2016 - Ethical food labels, such as ‘non-GMO Product Verified’ and ‘gluten-free’, are fast becoming staple features on cosmetics and personal care products too, according to new research.
06-Apr-2016 - New York-based packaging specialist Qosmedix has launched two innovative spray bottles aimed at a variety of beauty and personal care powder products.
30-Mar-2016 - The company has just hired a new business development director for the North American region, with expertise squarely in the beauty industry.
29-Mar-2016 - With so much choice in the colour cosmetics category and so many brands jostling for attention, it can be difficult to stand out. Here, market researcher Mintel has picked out...
24-Mar-2016 - The scientific theory of creative design, known as Concept-Knowledge theory (C-K theory), could provide the cosmetics industry with opportunities, possibilities, and new players that could disrupt the standard ecosystem, according...
22-Mar-2016 - The New York – based company makes plastic packaging for several markets and has recently invested in machines that will give Currier clients new options.
17-Mar-2016 - Bioplastics are in big demand as increasingly popular eco-friendly alternatives to cosmetic packaging, and the latest research in this area is pointing to eggshell as a new material.
24-Feb-2016 - The 14th annual Luxe Pack New York event will open its doors May 11 – 12 at Pier 92 in New York and will again feature a number of new...
18-Feb-2016 - This year’s Art of Packaging Awards gala will be dedicated to the honouring fragrance player Interparfums and its CEO Jean Madar.
16-Feb-2016 - Fusion Packaging says it Shine FX Laminate Tubes collection has created a new space in the crowded packaging space, thanks to innovation that includes an unprecedented number of design options.
03-Feb-2016 - With the help of a California-based tech company, the global beauty brand is making personal care product containers from captured carbon emissions.
02-Feb-2016 - AptarGroup has looked at expanding and enhancing its airless packaging solutions, particularly in beauty and personal care, with the acquisition of German firm Mega Airless for approximately €200 million.
02-Feb-2016 - February 18th is the date to note in your calendars for the 17th annual ICMAD Young Designers Awards, to be held in Newport Beach, California.
28-Jan-2016 - The sustainable packaging material is now being distributed across North America under the name Earth Pact by Veritiv in partnership with Carvajal Pulp and Paper.


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“VR is dead, long live VR! That about sums up the reality check the industry is having to spin about next-gen immersive video. The GSMA, which represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, admits that virtual reality (VR) continues to suffer from ‘post-hype realities,’ a hype that the GSMA’s annual Mobile World Congress (MWC) played a role in building. At the same time, the GSMA points to the current mobile ecosystem as a ‘laboratory’ for AI and immersive reality: ‘Whereas the smartphone wars centered on the app economy, the new battleground is in AI development and a push towards immersive reality.’”Source: streamingmedia.com
AT A GLANCE:
Virtual Reality has failed to take flight and Extended Reality, or XR, is now in vogue, according to a recent article from Streaming Media that takes a deep dive into the history and current state of VR, AR and XR, and offers predictions from industry experts about trends we can expect to see in the near future.
2017 marked the beginning of a “hype cycle” for VR and AR that was linked to 5G deployment but has yet to deliver on its promise. With the consumer market bottoming out, as evidenced by plummeting sales of VR headsets, XR — the catchall term for VR, AR, and mixed reality, or MR — is the new mantra.
“Growth in XR in the short-term will be driven by gaming and B2B, particularly in education and training,” says Futuresource Consulting’s Morris Garrard. “Improvements in productivity in the workplace will help bring XR into consumers’ homes.”
Sports leagues and broadcasters will continue to see VR as a means of boosting viewer interest, but convincing consumers to spend more will be a challenge. And while the VR/AR market is expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2030, that’s just a drop in bucket when compared to the more than $1 billion esports market or the $1.52 trillion in total global mobile revenues the GSMA anticipates by 2025.
The Apple Glass augmented reality glasses — expected to launch in 2022 or 2023 — could be another major driver of consumer XR adoption. And as a major player in the mobile XR space, Qualcomm is teaming with mobile operators to commercialize a head-worn “XR viewer” that can be connected to 5G smartphones.
Wireless network operators including China Mobile, Deutsche Telekom, EE, KDDI, Orange, SoftBank, Verizon, Vodafone, Telefónica, and NTT DOCOMO are also on board the XR bandwagon. “We believe that the next decade will see a transition into a heads up society where eventually glasses will be an alternative to smartphones,” said Sean Seaton, SVP of group partnering and devices at Deutsche Telekom.
Content creation remains one of the biggest hurdles to clear in the wider adoption of XR. To meet that challenge, Deutsche Telekom has teamed with Orange to develop consumer XR content. Their first partnership is with Montreal-based Felix & Paul Studios to provide The ISS Experience.
Both ultra-low latency in 5G and new opportunities for network slicing will present mobile networks with advanced capability for XR, according to Simon Forrest, principal analyst at Futuresource Consulting. “5G should be considered as one part of the overall solution for XR,” he said. “We’re still around five to seven years away from blanket 5G service coverage in most developed regions, and certainly, devices won’t be ubiquitously connecting at gigabit speeds, since this would necessitate a massive densification of 5G network infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, new video codecs used in tandem with 5G and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity will help reduce bandwidth needs for broadcast/push VR applications. Volumetric capture techniques, which allow video footage to be rendered in 3D, are another area of innovation that will help drive XR.
Further on the horizon are advances in spatial computing, which will allow the creation of a “next-gen” internet that will rely on human-machine interaction designed to function around voice and gesture. NVIDIA is just one of the technology developers bidding for a major portion of this online future with tools like Omniverse. Currently targeted at enterprise users, Omniverse “fuses the physical and virtual worlds to simulate reality in real time with photorealistic detail,” according to NVIDIA president and CEO Jensen Huang. “Cloud native and photoreal, with path tracing and material simulation, the Omniverse allows designers and artists and even AIs to connect in a common world. This is the beginning of the Star Trek Holodeck, realized at last.”
Head over to streamingmedia.com to read the full story.

domain: news


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PODi, the Digital Printing Initiative, announced the dates for the 2013 AppForum digital printing conference so mark your calendars for January 28-30, 2013. The event will be held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
“Our industry is going through tremendous change,” says Caslon & PODi General Manager Dave Erlandson. “This year’s AppForum will renew its focus on innovation and on emerging and future technologies. Smart companies always come to AppForum to find out where the industry is going and what the leaders are doing.”
AppForum concentrates on a rich program featuring presentations by peers and practitioners who are succeeding with relevant direct marketing strategies, integrated cross-media, collateral management services, cloud technology, digital packaging, and variable data printing.
For complete details on the conference, please visit www.AppForum.org.


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We witnessed the tens of thousands of demonstrators decrying the rapidly (and exorbitantly) rising price of corn in the "tortilla protests" in Mexico City earlier this year. The protests came about as a result of the growing demand for corn-based ethanol, the Bush administration's biofuel of choice. But now there appears to be a new dietary staple under threat from the rising demand for ethanol: German beer.
Der Spiegel Online reports that a 2006 barley shortage will raise the wholesale price of German beer this May. Many brewing industry lobbyists attribute the price rise to farmers forgoing barley for corn in order to satisfy the global demand for biofuels, especially from the United States. In the past year, the price of barley has doubled on the German market, from €200 to €400 per ton.
But it's not just Germany that is set to see soaring beer prices. The chief executive of Heineken (the Dutch brewer) warned in February that the expanding biofuel sector was starting to cause a "structural shift" in European and U.S. agricultural markets, which could precipitate a long-term upward shift in the price of beer. Already, futures prices for European malting barley have risen since last May by 85 percent to more than €230 a ton, and barley production in the United States has fallen to 180.05 million bushels (in 2006)—the lowest level since 1936. Global stockpiles of barley have shrunk by a third in the last two years. All of this augurs ill for beer drinkers, who may soon be paying significantly more for their pints.


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According to research by the British Retail Consortium and Google Retail Monitor, mobile device searches accounted for 20% of total retail searches in the month of June compared with 10% in June 2011, while Forrester expects the European mobile buying population to rise from 7.6 million in 2011 to more than 79 mill
News & Events Commerce sense
US fashion designer Tom Ford is to open a London flagship store next year which reflects a growing distribution trend among brands - one that displays the characteristics of the metailer.
At the recent Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity 2012, Nike’s vice president of digital sport Stefan Olander, stated: “When you have millions of people that come back and reconnect with your brand multiple times a week, you realise that that connection is more valuable and powerful than any traditional pushed mark
According to Home Retail Group’s interim management statement, Argos made 51% of its sales in the 13 weeks to June 2 through more than one channel.


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Spectacles were one of last winter’s hottest gifts, but apparently demand for them quickly died off and left Snap in a bad position. The Information reports that Snap expected demand for Spectacles to continue after the holidays and ordered “hundreds of thousands” of additional units. But after it opened sales to a wider audience, that didn’t happen, and those units are now reported to be sitting around in warehouses, unsold.
It’s not known exactly how many Spectacles have been sold so far, but from the sound of it, Snap may have dramatically over-ordered units of its debut hardware device. Earlier this month, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel said the company had sold “over 150,000 units,” which sounds pretty bad in the context of having hundreds of thousands sitting around waiting to be sold; although The Information says that figure includes unassembled units with parts that could potentially be used in other products.
“Hardware is going to be an important vehicle for delivering our customer experience maybe in a decade.”
Spiegel has tried to paint Spectacles as both relatively successful and merely an early start in hardware. He claims they outsold Apple’s first iPod — a comparison clearly meant to suggest they could eventually have enormous success. But Spiegel also said hardware would really only be important to Snap a decade from now.
“Our view is that hardware is going to be an important vehicle for delivering our customer experience maybe in a decade,” Spiegel said at a conference earlier this month, according to TechCrunch. “But if we believe it’s going to be important in a decade, we don’t want to be starting a decade from now.”
Snap now has a 150-person hardware team, according to The Information, though it isn’t entirely clear what the team is working on. There had been signs Snap was working on a drone, but The Information says that effort has been scrapped. There are also signs that it’s looking into augmented reality glasses, though that’d be a tough effort. It would also put Snap up against tech giants like Microsoft and Facebook, which haven’t had any luck expanding the tech outside of a gaming audience. Earlier this month, Apple said the tech to make good AR glasses “doesn’t exist” yet.


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Hong Kong-based luxury carmaker reaps dividends from launching start-ups.
28 February 2019
Hong Kong-headquartered INFINITI, the luxury-car division of Japan’s Nissan Motors, has found it is “reaping the benefits” of establishing an accelerator programme for promising start-ups in the city more than three years ago. More
An exhibition attracts a record 23,000 visitors as Hong Kong creativity goes on show.
17 January 2019
As shoppers shift from strolling high streets and malls to scrolling screens in their living rooms, many manufacturers are seizing the opportunity to move up the value chain, and turn to licensing.


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Tourism Australia has published new high-value traveller consumer fact sheets for 14 key inbound markets including India.
High-value travellers are likely to spend more, stay longer and disperse more regionally. They travel long haul (out of region) on a regular basis and have a preference for Australia as a holiday destination.
They have distinct key drivers for destination choice such as food and wine, aquatic and coastal, and nature and wildlife experiences when choosing a holiday destination.
Most importantly they represent high value with above average trip expenditure.
Overall, arrivals from India to Australia grew by 19% for the year ended September 2018 with an influx of 345,500 visitors, compared to same period last year, making India the 8th largest inbound market for Australia.
In another development, ace Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan, who was part of the T20I side, was bowled over by the scenic beauty of the Australian city of Sydney as he spent some time soaking in the vibrancy of its iconic Harbour.
Commenting on the same, Nishant Kashikar, Country Manager – India and Gulf, Tourism Australia quotes, “India is currently Australia’s fastest growing inbound market for visitation, and given the enormous potential, it is being nurtured for sustained growth through focussed consumer-driven initiatives. Content related to cricket, and cricketers are very favoured by our target audiences in India, and it is great to be able to share a glimpse of Australia through one of the most popular players of the current Indian team. Shikhar is widely followed on social media and having spent personal time in Australia makes him a great advocate to share his own travels and experiences, thereby inspiring Indians to choose Australia as their next holiday destination.”


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Explore > News
November 15, 2018A Cloud’s Illusion: Implementation Project Acceleration
Cloud Technology Provides Many Obvious Benefits; Faster Implementations is not Among Them
October 17, 2018An Interview with Dr. Marcell Vollmer
For Enterprise Africa Summit 2019 session 2.5 “Digital Transformation: Making it So” distinguished thought leader, Marcell Vollmer
An Interview with Tom Raftery
For Enterprise Africa Summit 2019 session 1.6 “Tom Raftery’s Guided Tour of the Digital Universe”
An Interview with Antonio Grasso
For Enterprise Africa Summit 2019 session 1.2, “Antonio Grasso and the Internet of EveryThing: A Business View of the Digital Revolution”.
September 27, 2018South Africa Will Host First Enterprise Africa Summit in 2019
Africa’s enterprise applications leaders will gather in Cape Town for the Enterprise Africa Summit.
July 12, 2018Amazon Web Services establishes in South Africa
Amazon Web Services has launched its first physical location in South Africa.
May 28, 2018Accelerate Your African Digital Sunrise
The theme for Enterprise Alliance’s inaugural event, the Enterprise Africa Summit 2019.
May 2, 2018Accelerating the African Digital Sunrise: Our 2019 Theme
Enterprise Alliance hosts its first ever Enterprise Africa Summit in January 2019.
April 25, 20184Sight buys AccTech, Dynamics Africa
4Sight Holdings Group acquired AccTech Systems and Dynamics Africa Services.
March 13, 2018SAP Names First Female Managing Director for Africa
SAP appoints Cathy Smith as Managing Director to oversee Africa.
February 28, 2018IDC: 2018 a ‘Breakout Year’ for Internet of Things in Africa
Connected devices are about to take off in Africa.


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HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) — While many will still pick up the traditional bouquet of flowers or a box of candy this Valentine's Day to give to their loved ones, others will choose to splurge on concerts or spa days.
Dr. Janna Parker, a marketing professor at James Madison University, said "gifts of experience" are becoming much more sought after — especially among millennials. Indeed, the National Retail Federation found more than 40 percent of consumers preferred receiving this type of gift in 2018.
"Those memories tend to last a little bit longer, or for a lifetime, as opposed to if you ask somebody, 'What did you get for a gift this Valentine's Day 10 years ago,' they're not going to remember," said Dr. Parker.
The NRF also reported in 2019, a little more than 50 percent of adults between the ages of 18 and 34 planned on celebrating the holiday, compared to 72 percent a decade ago. But more than a third who say they do not plan to celebrate say they still have plans to buy something for themselves or spend time with other single friends.


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RBA bemoans cautious homeowners
The Reserve Bank’s efforts to boost the economy through interest rate cuts is being undermined by “cautious homeowners afraid to reduce their monthly repayments”.
- Lower interest rates are also aimed at reducing the cost of borrowing for the business sector
- The RBA is depending on rate cuts flowing through businesses and households into the broader economy
- But households have a “reduced appetite for debt” and are more likely to leave their repayments unchanged, even in the face of lower interest rates


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Today Pladigious has announced that the strategy game Northgard will be heading for iOS and Android at some stage. The game previously released on Steam and consoles and now it'll be making its way to mobile with Playdigious set to unveil more details in the next few weeks.
Following years of tirelessly exploring the world, a group of brave Vikings have discovered a new land - the titular Northgard - that promises plenty of riches but is also filled with mystery and danger. The most courageous Northmen have set out to explore these new lands to conquer it and bring fame to their Clan.
It won't be easy, however, as Northgard is littered with dire wolves and Undead Warriors who won't take kindly to their lands being invaded. However, the Vikings might be able to strike up a friendship with the Giants if they play their cards right, or otherwise have to face them in battle too.
The game itself will see players building their settlements in this newly discovered land before assigning their Vikings to different roles. This includes different occupations such as farmer, warrior, sailor or even loremaster.
They'll also need to manage their resources carefully, Northgard has harsh winter and even tougher foes, so making sure you have enough supplies will be integral to survival. Once established in Northgard players will then look to expand their territory and look to claim victory through either conquest, fame, lore or trading.
Northgard will be heading to the App Store and Google Play at some stage. There's no set release date just yet nor any information on pricing but we'll be sure to update you as and when we learn more.Looking for some stellar strategy games to play on your phone? Here are 25 of the best available for iOS and Android
Want more? Check out our growing collection of Northgard news stories!


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A small executive team will be the only ones remaining at the embattled TV-streaming startup, after a Supreme Court ban on its service scared off potential investors.
Hate blinding other drivers at night, but wish you could see more than you do with your low-beams? Mazda has a solution for you.
Officially unveiled at IFA in Berlin, the new AX900 series promises "the company's best picture performance" rivalling the TV tech for which Panasonic is best-known: plasma. Also announced was an 85-inch 4K TV and a step-down series of 4K sets.
If you like the lights down low, but lack a dimmer, then you might like this bulb's clever trick.
This odd-looking light has a few tricks up its sleeve.
Theres a lot to like about this LED - especially if you like the lights down low.
Owners of the Echo smart speaker can now turn their Wink-compatible lighting products on and off simply by asking "Alexa"
The Worldwide Developers Conference is all about software, software and more software. You'll have to wait for more devices -- including Apple TV.
Originally priced at $20, Cree's newly improved BR30-shaped bulb now costs just $10.
Samsung has launched "SUHD" TVs, but despite the new term they're based on good old LCD technology. Here's what you need to know.


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The American love affair with cars may possibly however be intact but that unique, 100-12 months-outdated marriage has under no circumstances faced much more adjustments and worries at a single time than it is suitable now.
Customers are not only holding their vehicles longer with the regular motor vehicle age mounting about 12 several years, but they’re also dealing with history gas costs and rampant inflation, all as the country and vehicle marketplace continues its continuous transition to electric powered motor vehicles.
Nevertheless in the face of these headwinds, two of the nation’s premier vehicle pieces merchants stated Tuesday (May 24) that when client driving and procuring behaviors have been evidently transforming, they weren’t drying up, a growth that has place a quality on innovation and observational insight.
“We are seriously observing our shoppers staying resilient,” Progress Auto Sections CEO Tom Greco advised analysts on the company’s Q1 earnings call Tuesday. “We ended up nervous in February about the inflation of gasoline and the affect that could have on miles-driven, but we really haven’t observed an impact still,” he included, noting that men and women continue on to want to get out and do the factors they did prior to COVID.
Change and Trade
As much as modifications in patterns, these as the trade-down to shop brands documented previous week by stores these kinds of as Walmart and Goal, Greco explained individuals changes experienced nonetheless to materialize for the Raleigh-dependent operator of 4,700 retailers and a web-site.
“In conditions of trade down, we have not found that possibly. We look quite closely at this and we understood this was some thing that is critical for our traders, and we’re not looking at it,” Greco reported.
Though the retailer just scarcely saved its 8 consecutive quarter streak of comparable store gross sales development alive with a .6% increase for the 3 months finished April 23, the enterprise mentioned it planned to continue to devote in increasing the high-quality of its very own models to capture a consumer desire for benefit, but reported that shift was not component of a “formal trade down” or embrace of a tiered process of “good, better, best” components.
Going the Further Mile
For its element, market heavyweight AutoZone also noted its fiscal Q3 earnings Tuesday in which the operator of 6,100 U.S. spots, as well as yet another 700 in Mexico and Brazil, credited its 6% major-line development to its capacity to “go the excess mile.”
In the retailer’s a few-pronged development target on U.S. retail and the Do it yourself customer, worldwide growth and its industrial DIFM (do it for me) small business, the 26% maximize in sales at the latter device stood out amongst other effects, with industrial sales topping a $1 Billion for the quarter and amounting roughly one-quarter of whole revenue.
“During these distinctive and complicated instances, we try to deliver exceptional client services although focusing on our growth initiatives,” AutoZone Chairman, President and CEO Invoice Rhodes reported of the 3-thirty day period period ending May well 7, adding that the retailer “will acquire almost nothing for granted” as it moves ahead with ongoing financial commitment and specific retail store enlargement in the U.S. and abroad.
A 5x Increase in EVs
Yet another wave of transform sweeping through the car business is the continued rise in electric cars (EVs) and hybrids, which Advance assignments will develop from 8.4 million right now to 45 million by 2030.
Whilst Greco reported there are nevertheless a long time of development forward for sections and applications for traditional interior combustion engines, desire for hybrid and EV pieces from each skilled and Diy prospects is established to soar, particularly in specific regions of the region.
To that place, Progress mentioned it now stocks tens of thousands of EV elements and also unveiled the industry’s very first aftermarket EV battery to faucet this increasing subset of need.
“It’s not greatly recognized by buyers that each and every solitary just one of these [electric] automobiles requires a 12-volt battery,” Greco stated, citing business investigation that exhibits existing batteries are not long lasting as long as individuals hope.
When cognizant of the external economic headwinds that inflation and fuel charges are obtaining, Greco remained self-assured in the industry’s underlying demand from customers and improving miles driven at a time when purchaser expending has skewed absent from discretionary buys and towards necessities like car areas.


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With a plethora of cannabidiol (CBD) beverages in the marketplace, it surprises some to learn they are technically illegal. It is not a gray area, nor is it something some states allow. They are illegal, but they are out there. In fact, the CBD drink category had more new product introductions than any other no-alcohol, ready-to-drink beverage category in the first quarter of 2020, according to Beverage Marketing Corp.
Derived from hemp or marijuana, both part of the herbaceous flowering plant known as Cannabis sativa, CBD is a non-psychoactive compound known for its health and wellness properties. Consumption is associated with relaxation, pain relief, improved sleep, positive mood, better memory and stress response. It is not to be confused with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound responsible for the feeling commonly referred to as “stoned.”
In the United States, as of Dec. 20, 2018, hemp-derived cannabis ingredients with less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis of THC may be sold in commercial consumer products such as tinctures or extracts. The US Food and Drug Administration does not recognize CBD as a food or beverage ingredient nor as a dietary supplement; however, the agency is currently not stopping its use in most cases, and innovators are taking their chances.
“The CBD-infused beverage market is currently in limbo as the federal government has yet to issue final guidelines on whether CBD is permissible in food and drink, and, if so, at what dosages,” says Gary Hemphill, managing director of research at Beverage Marketing Corp. “Initial hearings were held in spring 2019, but there still has been no guidance, hampered not only by the inherent slowness of government but also other issues taking obvious priority.
“A recent FDA report seemed to splash further cold water on the segment, claiming that about half of products contain more than 0.3% THC by dry weight, but are not identified as containing THC on labels, and that a majority of the products it tested contained either 20% less or 20% more CBD than what is stated on labels.”
The FDA has provided no guidance other than declaring illegal any products that are explicitly marketed as CBD or make benefit claims, Hemphill says.
“This has driven many hemp marketers to remove CBD from labels and call their products full-spectrum hemp and indicate on label that the product contains cannabinoids,” he says.
The Beverage Marketing Corp. valued the CBD beverage category at about $160 million in 2019 and expects it to double this year. The category is predicted to reach more than $1 billion in 2023.
“Although the legal and regulatory uncertainty has blunted the trajectory of cannabis-infused beverages, the segment has still grown rapidly, albeit from a small base,” Hemphill says. “This may provide a benefit to entrepreneurs to gain a first-mover advantage in the segment while the big strategics sit on the sidelines.”
Most players in the space are startups, with a few exceptions. Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. has launched CarryOn CBD sparkling waters. It comes in two blends, Elevate and Descend, each containing vitamins C and E, no added sugar and 10 calories per 11.5-oz can. Elevate is a sparkling grapefruit flavor that blends choline for energy and focus with 10 mg of CBD. Descend, a sparkling blueberry flavor was formulated for relaxation. It contains L-theanine for calmness and 20 mg of CBD.
“We believe mental well-being should be as second nature as physical fitness, and so we set out to create a CBD beverage that provides real functional benefits like focus and relaxation,” says Josh Wiesman, co-developer of CarryOn. “We understood there was a gap in the market for a trustworthy CBD beverage that tastes good and also helps calm the mind without unwanted side effects.”
More than half of Americans reported negative effects on their mental well-being from the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, according to a July 2020 KFF Health Tracking Poll. This figure was up from about 40% in May.
Beverages as carrier
“Beverages are easy to add to your daily routine,” says Michelle Sundquist, director of product development, Sorse Technology. “But remember, all CBD products are not created equal.”
Josh Snyder, chief executive officer and founder, The Niva Labs, says, “But beverages are also one of the more challenging products to add CBD to because you are adding oil to water. It is necessary to work with a CBD emulsion.”
Emulsion technology converts the thick, oily raw material extracted from the cannabis plant into a water-soluble format. The oil contains odorous terpenes, which suppliers of CBD isolate and remove.
Snyder says one of the biggest issues in beverage is separation. The CBD also may breakdown or interfere with other ingredients, such as colors and flavors, causing them to disintegrate.
“You cannot assume any given emulsion is compatible with any base,” he says. “Another consideration is the package. With cans, the CBD emulsion may be absorbed by the liner of the can. If the package is glass, the bottle should have an amber tint, as cannabinoids are light sensitive. Every beverage is unique.”
Users are unique, too. Consumers vary in the reason why they may select a CBD beverage.
“You need to select your target audience, both retailer and consumer,” Sundquist says. “This influences the product formulation and the CBD ingredient.
“If the beverage is to have a clean, specific flavor profile, then use a CBD isolate. Some consumers want the beverage to have cannabis flavor. They want to taste the terpenes. In that case, choose either a full or broad spectrum CBD. Broad spectrum typically has the strongest flavor as it contains some plant material, which contributes earthy, botanical notes.”
When choosing an emulsion, a formulator wants to ensure it distributes uniformly throughout the final product and stays in solution. It should be stable and bioavailable throughout shelf life to deliver the claimed dosage, with the full effect kicking in about 10 to 20 minutes after consumption.
“There’s a wide range of dosing in the beverage marketplace,” Sundquist says. “That’s why it’s so important to know your audience. You need to know what kind of experience they hope to have from the beverage.”
She said the average recovery drink typically contains about 25 mg of CBD. A relaxation beverage such as an herbal tea will contain less, more like 10 to 15 mg. Sparkling waters range from 15 to 30 mg.
“Dosage control is a challenge,” Sundquist says. “You don’t know how many beverages or how often they will be consumed. The experience should be reliable and repeatable.”
That experience, however, cannot be claimed on the product label. That is usually the reason the FDA sends a warning letter.
“Structure-function claims on CBD are illegal,” Sundquist says. “Any claims made should only be about the other ingredients in the beverage.”
A rapidly expanding marketplace
The addition of functional ingredients is how Chicago-based Tempo communicates the benefits of its products. The beverage brand uses formulations that build on select cannabinoid extracts with unique blends of herbs designed to help customers stay balanced and focused throughout the day.
The CBD-infused (25 mg) sparkling teas made their debut in matcha, green tea and hibiscus tea varieties. Two new flavors — green tea with ginger and turmeric, and hibiscus tea with blackberry and lemon — will soon be added to the lineup.
“Our new line of CBD-infused sparkling teas was created to help people rebalance and ‘set their own tempo’ during the day,” says Ryan Crane, CEO. “Whether it’s when you wake up, before you go to bed, while you’re working during the day or as a substitute for an afternoon coffee or alcoholic nightcap, Tempo is designed to give you an uplifting boost that doesn’t fall short on flavor.”
All of Tempo’s beverages are analyzed by a third-party lab to confirm CBD content before they reach store shelves. Each can contains a QR code that links directly to an updated list of the lab results, providing transparency that allows customers to feel confident in the quality, authenticity and reliability.
Lifeaid Beverage Co. is using a THC-free broad-spectrum hemp blend made through a patented nano-encapsulation process, which makes it faster absorbing, more bioavailable and water soluble, according to the company. Produced using certified organic, regeneratively grown plants, the CBD is free of synthetic or synthetically modified compounds and is third-party batch tested for volatile organic compounds, pesticides, herbicides, microbes, terpenes and cannabinoids.
One 12-oz can contains 40 calories and other functional ingredients. Lemon, for example, includes lemon balm and rosemary.
“The addition of high-quality CBD in beverages has potential benefits when consumed before, during and after exercise or intense physical activity,” says Aaron Hinde, co-founder of Lifeaid Beverage. “As formulators and marketers of recovery drinks we are only beginning to tap into that potential.”
Kleer Water LLC uses a CBD emulsion to enhance its sparkling waters, delivering 25 mg per 12-oz can. The company says drinking Kleer is best described as gently relaxing. The effect is subtle and mellowing. The sparkling water helps relax muscles and “kleers” out symptoms related to anxiety, stress and mental fatigue, according to the company.


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If you’re counting the days until the release of the Android-based Ouya gaming console, you’ll be adding several more weeks to the countdown. Initially, the Ouya was supposed to release to the public on June 4, 2013. However, a few minor problems have resulted in the company delaying the release by three weeks. The delay isn’t anything consumers should be concerned with. The company simply wants to make the release as smooth as possible for excited fans.
* The delay means consumers won’t see Ouya online or in stores until June 25, 2013. The delay is far shorter than most gaming release delays.
* Julie Uhrman, the Ouya CEO, told CNET the delay is in part due to high retail demand. Retail partners are eager to make room for the new gaming console. The demand is much higher than originally expected. To prevent an immediate shortage, the release has been pushed back to ensure demand can be met.
* On June 25th, consumers from the US, UK and Canada will have access to the Ouya. Major retailers such as Amazon, GAME, Target, Best Buy, GameStop and Ouya’s site are slated to have the console in stock immediately upon release.
* The console was originally funded through Kickstarter. These lucky early adopters already have an Ouya. However, the company has had to gather additional funds since then to meet the production costs of the increasing demand.
* While demand is obviously an exciting prospect for the company, the delay isn’t just about needing more units. Upon testing the Ouya’s controller, it was discovered the buttons sometimes stick under the faceplate. To prevent problems while gaming, the company has fixed the problem and is quickly producing new controllers.
* For Kickstarter owners, the new controllers are already being shipped out to replace the original defect. The solution was to simply create larger button holes, which means the entire process was fairly easy to implement.
* Uhrman claims the delay isn’t due to the controller defect, but many in the gaming and tech communities are speculating that the two are connected. The CEO is focusing more on the high demand issue than any technical problems.
* The second round of funding netted the company approximately $15 million, which should be enough to meet the demand of open-source gamers eager to try out the newest console.
Considering the delay is a mere 21 days, gamers won’t have to wait much longer. Until the end of June, your only hope of seeing the small, but powerful Ouya gaming console is to try to make friends with those Kickstarters who eagerly reached out to make the Android-based, open-source console a reality.


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Cadillac’s lineup of crossovers is thin compared to its competitors – especially the Germans. Cadillac began its crossover revolution with the XT5 replacing the antiquated SRX. The Detroit luxury automaker followed with the smaller 2019 XT4 that debuted earlier this year at the New York Auto Show. Now, Cadillac is going big with the XT6 – a three-row crossover that will be more XT5 than Escalade.
New spy photos of the XT6 crossover don’t show much at all. Exterior design details are well hidden under the camouflage. The headlights and taillights aren’t even real – they’re stand-ins for now. Expect the large mesh grille and Cadillac emblem up front surrounded by swooping lighting elements. Out back, there should be large taillight components. The overall design should fall within the design constraints set by the Traverse – the XT6’s platform mate.
The Cadillac XT6 will be a companion to the CT6 sedan, which will share some serious technology with its new crossover sibling. That means the new crossover will receive Cadillac’s Super Cruise hands-free driver assist package, latest Cue infotainment interface with a 10-inch screen, and a video rear-view mirror.
Under the hood, you’ll likely find a 310-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 from the GM part’s bin. It should pair with a nine-speed automatic and include automatic stop/start as standard equipment. There’s also a possibility for a biturbo powertrain producing around 400 hp for the top-level trim.
We’re still a long way away from seeing the final XT6. It’s expected to debut later this year at the L.A. Auto Show before it goes on sale sometime in spring 2019 – think April or May. When it does go on sale as a 2020 model, it will help Cadillac compete against a slew of three-row competitors from both sides of the pond such as the Acura MDX, Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, and Volvo XC90. Pricing will be competitive.
Source : Motor1


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Gulf Capital, a leading private equity firm investing from the GCC to Asia, has successfully exited its investment in iSON Xperiences, a tech-enabled emerging markets customer experience and delivery partner that offers Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services across India and Africa.
The exit comes after a five-year investment period, during which Gulf Capital supported iSON’s growth and expansion through bolt-on acquisitions in Egypt and South Africa.
As a result of this acquisition, iSON was able to expand its customer base and industry exposure, while also enhancing its capabilities and product offering.
Christopher Foll, Senior Managing Director at Gulf Capital, noted that the investment in iSON Xperiences had delivered risk-adjusted returns to Gulf Capital’s investors, while also allowing them to diversify their exposure to the BPO industry.
Pravin Kumar, Global CEO of iSON Xperiences, expressed his gratitude to Gulf Capital for their partnership and support in helping the company achieve its growth and revenue targets.
iSON Xperiences has a market leading position in the telecoms industry across sub-Saharan Africa and has a workforce of over 15,000 employees handling customer transactions in over 30 languages.
The company’s cashflow profile and management team have demonstrated resilience in an ever-changing industry, with iSON Xperiences inorganically expanding its service offerings and risk profile.
The success story of iSON Xperiences is a resounding endorsement of the potential for developing economies to create world-class management teams and institutions that can attract institutional investors and drive the next phase of growth.
ISON Xperiences: A Success Story
ISON Xperiences is a leading tech-enabled emerging markets customer experience and delivery partner that offers Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services across India and Africa. Gulf Capital invested in the company in 2018, and after five years, has successfully completed its exit from iSON Xperiences, delivering risk-adjusted returns to its investors.
Under the leadership of Pravin Kumar, Global CEO, and Christopher Foll, Senior Managing Director, ISON Xperiences has inorganically expanded its service offerings and capabilities through bolt-on acquisitions in Egypt and South Africa. The company has a market-leading position in the telecoms industry in sub-Saharan Africa and has a customer base that includes some of the largest telecom operators in the region.
With a workforce of over 18,000 employees, ISON Xperiences has processed over 150 million customer transactions to date, demonstrating its industry exposure and customer-centric approach. The company’s financial and cashflow profile, as well as its resilience in an ever-changing industry, have been a resounding endorsement of its single-country, single-sector value proposition.
ISON Xperiences’ success story is a result of the commitment and world-class management team that has developed the company’s offerings and presence in the emerging markets. The company’s data-driven solutions and customer-centric approach have enabled it to diversify its product offering and geographic coverage, providing growth capital and operational expertise to market-leading global businesses in healthcare, assets, technology, fintech, business services, consumer, sustainability, aviation, retail, e-commerce, BFSI, and energy sectors.
As ISON Xperiences enters the next phase of growth, its success story is a resounding endorsement of the potential of developing economies and the lives of thousands of families that can be positively impacted by world-class management and institutional investors. The lessons learned and experiences shared by the management team and shareholders are a testament to the resilience and cashflow profile of a company that has successfully navigated an ever-changing industry.
ISON Xperiences’ success story is a source of excitement and gratitude for its shareholders and management team, who have demonstrated a sense of achievement and a commitment to delivering value to their customers and investors.


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On Wednesday, the consumer price index clocked year-over-year inflation in at 7% — the fastest pace since 1982.
That number compares December 2020 to December 2021, but the month-to-month numbers aren’t as scary. Prices rose 0.5% in December, which was better than November, which was better than October.
Are we finally at the inflationary peak?
There are reasons to think monthly inflation may have already maxed out.
“We are seeing some deceleration,” said Alan Detmeister, a senior economist with UBS.
Deceleration, as in prices are still rising, just not as fast as they were. Flight and lodging prices might come down, briefly, because of omicron dragging down demand. Car prices, economists say, are set to come off their highs as production starts to come back. Other goods seem to be cooling off, too.
“You know, energy, food prices, future prices are suggesting oil has kind of reached its peak,” Detmeister said.
But, Detmeister said core inflation — basically everything else — is not slowing down yet.
There will probably be another few months of eye-popping 7% annual inflation before it does come down, according to Larry Summers, former U.S Treasury secretary and current Harvard economist.
“I don’t see anything that changes the basic fact that we have an increasingly entrenched inflation problem,” he said.
Basically, all the transitory drivers of inflation may be falling away, leaving us with bigger problems.
“The most fundamental factors driving what we’re seeing are pervasive labor shortages, pushing up wages, which are the most fundamental labor cost, and that’s what’s happening in the housing market,” Summers said.
But economists disagree on how persistent all these drivers will be.
“The optimistic view is that omicron will tear through the population very quickly, it will be mild, and we will come out in a better place as far as the pandemic goes by March,” said Joe Gagnon, a fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “And people might actually be more willing to go back into the labor force,”
And that might keep labor costs under control. Of course, it also will trim wage growth.
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Known for his unconventional roles and stellar performances both in India as well as abroad, Irrfan Khan has indeed come a long way. The actor, has been steadily expanding his endorsement portfolio and reports suggest that he has now been approached by a popular Swiss watch brand to be their brand ambassador. It is said that the talented actor will be the face of the brand for the Asian sub-continent thanks to his increasing popularity in the region.
The new has been confirmed by Khan’s spokesperson, who told Hindustan Times, “The team is in talks with the Swiss brand, and they’re about to finalise the deal. Hopefully, they will shoot the first ad by the end of the year.”
The actor is currently shooting for the film adaptation of Dan Brown’s popular book ‘Inferno’. The film, which also stars Tom Hanks, will release in India on 14th October, two weeks before it releases in the USA.


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Each year, the consumer electronics show, or CES, presents new technology developments across many industries.
The event is going on this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a chance for companies to launch their latest products aimed at making life easier, more productive and fun.
Here is a list of some of the most interesting products introduced at CES 2020.
The show is always a favorite place for companies to release their latest televisions (TVs). This year was no different. Several manufactures released large models with 8K, which is considered the highest quality standard. Samsung showed off a new 8K version that brings the picture right to the edge of the TV.
A TV that acts like a phone
Samsung also introduced a TV that can be used to watch video designed for a smartphone. The Sero TV does this by turning itself from the normal TV position to an upright position that looks like the shape of a phone. The TV can connect to mobile devices to play video directly from the phone.
三星还推出了可用于观看针对智能手机设计的视频的电视。 Sero TV通过将自身从正常的电视位置转到看起来像手机形状的直立位置来实现此目的。电视可以连接到移动设备，以直接从手机播放视频。
The TV is already for sale in South Korea for about $1,600. The company says it is designed to appeal to "the mobile generation." Samsung says it plans to expand Sero's availability "to several global markets in 2020."
Smart waste can
A company called TOWNEW presented a waste can designed for the home that does a lot of the dirty work on its own. When the can is full, the user touches a button to activate the machine's smart abilities. The device then completely seals the waste bag inside and puts a new one in place, all by itself. The can then raises its top so the user can pick up and throw away the bag.
Snore stopping pillow
People who snore when they sleep might be helped by the "Motion Pillow." This smart pillow is designed to collect information about the sleeper's head position and breathing during the night. The system then uses this data to change the shape of the pillow, with the help of built-in air bags. The idea is that by changing the pillow, the sleeper's head will move just enough to improve airflow through the nose and reduce snoring.
A sitting Segway
Segway people movers have been around for years, but the company used CES to announce its new S-Pod model. The new transporting "pod" looks like a small chair with wheels. The company says its new model is designed to be used in enclosed areas such as airports, amusement parks and shopping malls.
Phone charger and car battery saver
Mophie announced a new charging device that can wirelessly charge smartphones, and also be used to start a car with a dead battery. The Powerstation Go comes with two USB openings for device charging, as well as car battery connectors and a powerful light.
Mophie宣布了一种新的充电设备，该设备可以为智能手机进行无线充电，也可以用于启动电池耗尽的汽车。 Powerstation Go带有两个用于设备充电的USB开口，以及汽车电池连接器和强大的照明灯。
AI to block the sun
Technology company Bosch introduced several new products at CES, including its new Virtual Visor for cars. The Virtual Visor is designed to replace the traditional vehicle sun visor. The company says the system uses artificial intelligence to find the exact position of the driver's eyes. It then darkens only a small part of the car's windshield through which the sun could affect the driver's sight.
Invisible car hood
Automobile industry company Continental showed off a new technology that seems to make the front end of a vehicle disappear. Continental says the technology, called "Transparent Hood," aims to make driving safer and easier. Cameras provide video of the area underneath the vehicle, permitting the driver to see objects and road conditions that might present danger.
Samsung provided a first look at a technology that can turn just about any surface into a device keyboard. The virtual keyboard is called "SelfieType." The system uses a device's camera to analyze finger movements as they "type" on a flat surface and shows the results on the phone. Samsung says the virtual keyboard does not require any other equipment besides a mobile device. The technology is still being tested.
Wearable air purifier
A company called Aō Air introduced a wearable air purifier. The device is designed to be a high-tech face covering to block pollution. The purifier pulls air through a filtration system and then uses fans to create a small area of clean air at the front of the device. The company says the design permits the air to be purified -- without the need for a solid seal.
Toilet paper robot
And finally, personal products company Procter & Gamble presented a robot that can serve people as they use the toilet. The RollBot was described by the company's Charmin division as a "first-of-its-kind" invention. The small, self-balancing robot can be controlled by a smartphone to bring bathroom users a fresh roll of paper without ever having to leave the toilet seat.
Words in This Story：
standard – n. an idea or thing used as a measure, norm or model for comparative purposes
seal – v. close off
snore – v. to breathe in a noisy way while sleeping
pillow – n. a soft object used to rest the head during sleep
amusement park – n. a large park with rides
battery – n. an object that provides electricity for things
visor – n. something used to block sunlight from the eyes
windshield – n. the window at the front of a vehicle
virtual – adj. something used or stored by means of a computer
analyze – v. to examine details of something carefully
type – v. to write something by using a keyboard
filtration – n. the process of using a filter to remove solids from liquids or gasses
toilet – n. a bowl that you sit on or stand near when you get rid of waste substances from your body


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WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Trend Micro, Inc. (TYO:4704; TSE:4704), a global cloud security leader, today announced that it will help to formally establish a “global cyber nation” to coordinate the international fight against cybercrime, at a government-supported round-table event to be held in Washington D.C., on 29th November 2011.The event follows the London Conference on Cyberspace and the recent FBI GhostClick operation, which saw international agencies working together to bring down the biggest cybercrime operation in history.
Trend Micro is one of the principal sponsors and founding members of the ICSPA (International Cyber Security Protection Alliance), which is leading the event. ICSPA is chaired by the Rt Hon David Blunkett, M.P. and was established with the support of the UK government to work alongside other governments and law enforcement organisations worldwide, to exchange expertise in the fight against cyber-threats. At the time of its launch in July 2011, it was described by British Prime Minister David Cameron as “a network powerful enough and wide enough to face down cybercrime.”
In line with Cameron’s comments, the central theme of the Washington event is that the range of cyber-threats that now exist, and the breadth of targets they seek (banks, pharmaceutical, aerospace and defence industries, intellectual property, citizen data, and financial data), is simply too extensive to be managed using country-specific defences. Instead, what is required is outreach and engagement to involve all friendly countries in a truly internationalised, federated defence of cyberspace.
John Lyons, CEO, ICSPA, said “We have called the round table Nation Building in Cyberspace, because if we’re all just ‘independent republics of’ then our defences are like a bunker – isolated, unconnected, useless against something like GhostClick, for example. The protection of the global cyber nation needs to look a lot more like the cloud computing model – interconnected at every level, cross-boundary, perimeterless. This gives each member country a powerful, broad stake in the defence of the realm as a whole.”
The event comes in the wake of the online shopping frenzy that precedes Christmas, which is once again expected to form a major focus for organised, cross-border cybercriminal activity. Figures from IDC show that there are rich pickings to be had for the malefactors; from a survey of consumers in the U.S., it was found that:
- The average online shopper spends $400 a year on goods of various kinds.
- Computers, consumer electronics, toys and apparel are the top four items bought online.
- Two of the most commonly phished sites are eBay and PayPal.
Each transaction is a potential mine of valuable personal and financial information for the cybercriminal.


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NFU Cymru members in Llanrwst want further research after the Environment Agency unveiled its £6.6m proposals for Conwy valley's flood defences. The Agency's prefers the deliberate flooding of farmland to protect homes, but this could severely affect future farm practices.
Irish race day
ANGLESEY RABI is organising a race night fundraiser on St Patrick's Day - Friday,, March 17 - at Trearddur Bay Hotel,, Trearddur Bay, 7.30pm. Entry is £2. Horses can be bought in advance for £10. Jayne Roberts, 01248 725715.
REMEDIAL farrier Geraint Hughes, visiting farrier at Liverpool University's Leahurst Veterinary College, is giving a talk at the Deganwy Castle Hotel, Deganwy, on March 14, 7.30pm. Details from Caroline Kemp, Llandudno & District Riders' Club,, 01492 875892.
Best is British
RETAIL giant Tesco needs more UK beef to meet soaring demand for its Finest and Organic ranges. The supermarket, which accounts for 14% of all UK beef sales, says its fastest-growing sector is British-sourced, premium lines.
In all fairness
A NEW ALLIANCE of UK and Irish farming organisations is looking to co-operate to enable food producers to get better prices. Fairness for Farmers in Europe, which includes the FUW, will lobby against South American beef imports.
Oh yes it is
THE final round of the Wales YFC's Welsh panto competition is at Dyfi Hall, Aberdyfi, on March 10-11, 7pm. Tickets on sale from 9am, March 3, from the Wales YFC office. Wales YFC Welsh public speaking finals are at Bro Ddyfi School, Machynlleth, on March 11, from 10am.
NFU Cymru members in Meirionnydd raised £1,265 in a charity golf tournament. The money was presented to North Wales children's hospice, Ty Gobaith.
WELSH farmers who mistakenly enter older cattle into the food chain could jeopardise beef exports, the FUW has warned.
Tir Cynnal due
THE 5,000 farmers who applied for Tir Cynnal in 2005 will be offered agreements from this month.


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Chevy Trax Running At 16 Days Supply As Of October 20220
National inventory for the Chevy Trax crossover was running at 16 days supply as of the beginning of October, GM Authority has learned from sources familiar with GM’s inventory situation. That’s up from the nine days suppy in August and 10 days supply in July. A 60-day supply is considered optimal in the U.S. auto industry.
Back in March, GM Authority exclusively reported that the automaker was dropping the current-generation Chevy Trax crossover from its lineup after the 2022 model year. However, GM subsequently confirmed it would release an all-new Chevy Trax later this year and finally debuted the next-generation 2024 Chevy Trax earlier this month as Chevy’s new entry-level crossover.
Sales of the Chevy Trax were down 47 percent during the first three quarters of the year with 21,882 deliveries. But even as the current, dated model is being phased out, it still posted a three percent share and ranked 14th among 20 entries in the crowded mainstream subcompact crossover segment.
Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - 2022 - USA
|MODEL||YTD 22 / YTD 21||YTD 22||YTD 21||YTD 22 SHARE||YTD 21 SHARE|
|TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS||*||37,521||0||6%||0%|
|BUICK ENCORE GX||-60.29%||24,296||61,179||4%||7%|
|MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT||-57.12%||12,317||28,722||2%||3%|
Outside, the all-new 2024 Chevy Trax incorporates the Bow Tie brand’s latest ICE-based design language, taking after the Chevy Blazer crossover. The latest Trax boasts new exterior dimensions that are longer, lower, and wider than the preceding model. Up front is a set of LED headlamps, while the five trim levels on offer – LS, 1RS, LT, 2RS, and Activ – each include their own unique styling bits, from wheels to grille treatments.
Inside, the new 2024 Trax is roomier than the preceding model, and offers more safety features and tech, including six advanced safety and driver awareness technologies via Chevy Safety Assist, and a standard 8-inch diagonal infotainment screen. LT, 2RS, and Activ trims get an 11-inch screen. Further onboard tech includes Active Noise Cancelation and cruise control, while Adaptive Cruise Control is offered on most trims.
As for the power spec, the 2024 Trax is motivated by the turbocharged 1.2L I3 LIH gasoline engine, the same powerplant found in the Chevy Trailblazer LS and LT trim levels. Output is rated at 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque and paired to the GM six-speed automatic transmission. Only front-wheel drive is available while the outgoing model offers an all-wheel-drive option.
Pricing for the 2024 Chevy Trax starts at $21,495 for the base-level LS, rising as high as $24,995 for the 2RS and Activ trim levels, destination freight charge included. Notably, the new 2023 Trax costs less than the current, outgoing 2022 model.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevy Trax news, Chevy news, GM business news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.


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The winner of the LeCoqSportif kit design competition for the 2023 Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana kits has been announced.
According to iDiski times, the kit manufacturer for South Africa’s national team jerseys had asked for local designers to submit their designs, which were then presented to Bafana and Banyana players to vote for their top designs.
ALSO READ | STUART BAXTER FINDS A NEW JOB
Out of over 50 different design entries, five made the initial short-list, which was later cut down to just three.
On Wednesday, LeCoqSportif announced the winning design by FreewayartsD.
“FreewayartsD will be working closely with SAFA and Lecoqsportifza to deliver a kit that is FIFA approved and World Cup ready,” they further stated.
ALSO READ | FOUR PLAYERS LINKED WITH KAIZER CHIEFS
“We know you love the alternate kit as an ode to the ‘96 #AFCON winning team. However, with a little bit of tweaking by FreewayartsD and #Lecoqsportif we’ll look to add elements of Banyana_Banyana and their #WAFCON success this year, in an all time, all inclusive legacy kit.”


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So, unless you have been living under a rock. You probably already know that Instagram took the decision of hiding the like count from its platform. Evidently, there are tons of countries where the number of likes on a post can still be seen. The vast majority actually. But, there are other countries where this is no longer possible.
Canada, for example, is one of the countries where users have been affected by this new update. And can you guess what influencers are saying about this all? Well, today we are going to talk about it.
What influencers have to say
So, in general, influencers are not happy with Instagram’s latest decision. The fact of the matter is that many influencers rely on likes for brands to even consider hiring them. So, to lose something as valuable as that can definitely make you mad.
Evidently, there are other ways to measure the engagement an influencer has with their audience. But, the main tool that allows a person to see that, is that of the likes. In fact, an anonymous Australian influencer called into a live Australian radio show and complained about the like count ban saying the following.
“I used to work on Instagram six hours a day, but now I’m working eight hours a day because the likes are going down!”
But, that’s not all. She also explained that while she has a full-time job, she used to make a significant amount of money from influencing people. And that likes were a huge part of that. Unfortunately, with Instagram’s latest update, that changed.
“I even make money off the airlines too. That’s how you get sponsored and get free flights too. Every thousand likes we get, we probably get around AU$1,000. It all depends on the brand and how popular they are and how many likes and followers we get.” She said.
The Influencer Meltdown
Finally, things went a little further when influencer Mikaela Testa posted a video crying about Instagram’s problems. Of course, the media being as it is, the video went viral and all news outlets started covering the story.
But, here’s the thing. Unfortunately, many media sites (even big ones) tend to take things out of context. And apparently, that’s what happened with this story. You see, Testa had uploaded a video of herself crying and telling people that she would leave Instagram for a couple of weeks.
But, that same video was reposted on different sites, and oh surprise! Taken out of context. As a matter of fact, if you type the name Mikaela Testa on Google, you will find that every single article there is, talks about how she was crying because Instagram got rid of the like count.
However, they couldn’t be more wrong. First of all, there is not a single part in the video where the influencer addresses the like count problem. Instead, she talks about wanting to take a break because of things that have been happening on Instagram.
Later, she uploaded a video to YouTube to clarify what she was actually talking about. You see, Testa had been receiving a lot of negative comments and had also been bullied by tons of people. Evidently, this was the thing that caused the influencer to burst into tears.
In a nutshell, Mikaela Testa felt like taking a break from social media to stay away from negative people.
There’s not really much to say at this point. Influencers are also people who deserve respect. And sure, many of them mess up, as we all do at some point in our lives. However, we need to understand that that doesn’t give us the right to bully someone and to be malicious.
Also, don’t just react based on one story. Remember that the media always tend to exaggerate things. After all, morbid sells.
[…] Influencer Suffered A Meltdown – Why? -MIKAELA TESTA […]


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UDairy Creamery the best ice cream shop in Delaware?
Editor's note: This story has been updated to make clear that while the creamery's ice cream base is processed in New Jersey, the ice cream itself is made locally.
"We are very proud of the fact that we use our own milk to make the ice cream produced in our store and want to be sure our customers understand that while the ice cream base is currently processed off-site, we are using our own milk. And that all the freezing and flavoring takes place on-site in our store," UDair'ys operations manager Jennifer Rodammer said.
The general-interest family magazine doesn't say how it came to that conclusion but lists the "best" ice cream shop in all 50 states.
This is what it has to say about the creamery:
"Managed by three and run by more than 50 University of Delaware students, the UDairy Creamery attracts students and visitors alike. The ice cream base is processed in New Jersey and made with the milk from the University of Delaware cows. The base is then shipped back and flavored, frozen, and packaged by UD students at the creamery's storefront location in Newark. Some flavors brim with school pride like Blue Hen Tracks (vanilla ice cream with mini peanut butter cups, fudge swirl, and blue and yellow sprinkles) while others are a little more out of the box, like Zest Fest (orange zest infused ice cream with cashews and chocolate chunks)."
Other hit ice cream shops include The Charmery, within walking distance of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland; Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor in Pittsburgh, Maryland; and Van Dyk's Homemade Ice Cream in Ridgewood, New Jersey.
UDairy Creamery's flagship store in Newark has been open to the public since April 2011 and serves over 34 rotating ice cream flavors year-round, "from the cow to the cone." The shop in Wilmington also offers a rotating assortment of flavors, as well as hamburgers, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, salads and fresh produce.
To find out more, visit http://canr.udel.edu/udairycreamery/.
Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.


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Cannabis products and brand company Origin House, the registered business name for Canada-based CannaRoyalty Corp.
announced Tuesday a deal to buy certain business assets of California-based cannabis cultivator Cub City LLC for $7.03 million. As part of the deal, Origin House will acquire a craft cultivation facility with production capacity of 1,400 kilograms of flower a year, implying a purchase price of $5 per gram of funded capacity. The facility is currently undergoing construction, which is expected to be completed in March 2019. "Access to bespoke third-party cultivation is critical for new flower brands that want an authentic brand promise from seed to consumption," said Origin House President Afzal Hasan. Origin House's U.S.-listed shares have rallied 18% over the past three months, while the ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF


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Fifty-two McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives per second are eaten in the UK each year – that’s around 71 million packs or £78m worth – with £8m of those sales through convenience and impulse outlets (figures from AC Nielsen data).
McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives fall into the “everyday treats” segment of the biscuit category, and the very reason these biscuits are deemed “everyday treats” is because they are low cost. As a result, the McVitie’s Chocolate Digestive price-marked pack is the number one selling price-marked biscuit pack in convenience and impulse outlets.
On-the-go snacking is another trend and manufacturers have responded with alternatives to chocolate bars. McVitie’s Medley is now a £12m brand with year-to-date sales up 69%. The range has recently been extended to include a new indulgent variant – Double Chocolate, which includes a mix of HobNobs biscuit chunks combined with cereals, dark chocolate chips and milk chocolate underneath. It is available as a 40g single bar or in a multipack of six 30g bars.
Healthy eating and healthier alternatives continue to present significant sales opportunities for wholesalers and manufacturers, such as UB, have invested significantly to improve the nutritional content of products by reducing saturated fat or removing artificial colours or MSG.
Between 2005 and 2011 the average saturated fat content of UB’s snacks range dropped from 14% to 4% – highlighting its commitment to providing consumers with an extensive range of “healthier” products.
Healthier biscuit brand Go Ahead!’s latest NPD comes in the form of Chocolate Thins – a selection of light, crispy biscuit slices, covered in milk chocolate. Orange, Strawberry and Cherry variants come in a five x 35.5g multipack, as well as an Orange handy-pack, with a choice of either price-marked or non-price-marked packs.
A £3m marketing campaign supports the launch, including a TV campaign, social media and a summer sampling programme.
The past year has also seen a resurgence in the popularity of savoury biscuits. Classic brands such as Jacob’s Cream Crackers are showing particularly strong growth rates (+8%), which UB says is outstanding for such a mature brand.
“Savoury biscuits are recognised as being extremely versatile across different meal and eating occasions and the number of these occasions has now increased to include snacking,” says Adrian Green, biscuits shopper marketing controller for UBUK.
Bahlsen is another brand finding that wholesale customers are increasingly turning to price-marked packs (PMPs). Best sellers in wholesale are Hit Choco price-marked at 99p, as well as the three Hit flavours (Vanilla, Coconut and Hazelnut) also in PMPs at 99p and recently relaunched in convenient trays of six to allow retailers to buy a variety of flavours with a minimal outlay.
Hit is currently backed by a “Get a Hit of Happiness campaign”, which includes advertising across the UK’s most popular online parenting sites such as Mumsnet and NetMums. It is also supported by a print advertising campaign.
Four of Bahlsen’s premium continental biscuits have recently been introduced in £1 PMPs – exclusive to the wholesale trade. They are Cookies, Deloba, Delice and Messino.
Julien Lacrampe, trade marketing manager at Bahlsen, says they are flying off the shelves: “We have seen a five-fold increase in sales in the limited time that these packs have been available.” He adds that his company is improving supplier and wholesale partnerships to add value on both sides.
“We have been working on key areas such as forecasting and lead times, along with more effective promotions, which has led to the development of specific packs and specific promotions for the channel. This has allowed our field sales teams to build relationships and drive distribution on key products.”
David Costello, Burton’s Biscuit Co’s category and activation controller, is another fan of PMPs. He says: “They are one of the biggest success stories in the impulse biscuit category in recent years and independent research confirms their appeal. They are seen by consumers as an assurance of value for money, with 44% of consumers saying they are more likely to buy an item on impulse when it’s price-marked (HIM research).”
On wider category trends, Costello says there are two main factors driving growth. “Generally, shoppers are trading down to more everyday biscuit barrel products. They are also spending more time at home, to save money, where they are treating themselves, their families and friends to more indulgent products.”
Burton’s has two of the top three best-performing new products in the treat segment of the impulse sector – Maryland Big amp; Chunky Cookies White Chocolate Brownie (200g) and Milk Choc Chunk amp; Hazelnut (220g), both launched in PMPs last June (Litmus data).
Costello’s final tip for the depots is this: “Wholesalers need to remember that 45%
of the impulse biscuit market is made up of everyday treats, special treats and children’s biscuits. There’s a danger in thinking that the lowest cost, everyday biscuits will lead to the highest demand, but that will alienate
shoppers looking for biscuits they can enjoy as a treat.”