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London, United Kingdom (PressExposure) February 17, 2009 -- Visit Britain has suggested that 2009 is a great year to think about holidaying in the UK as travelling abroad is more expensive and damaging to the environment. The tourist board pointed out that the UK has many excellent holiday destinations such as Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Lake District that can help holidaymakers have fun and reduce their carbon emissions and expenditure. Those who choose to drive to one of these destinations rather than fly abroad can reduce their carbon footprint even further by paying to offset their carbon emissions. VisitBritain press and PR manager Elliot Frisby explained that the recession and credit crunch also means that people are looking to avoid costly trips. `2009 offers a great deal of potential for encouraging more Britons to holiday at home,` he said. `Given the current exchange rates, they will find that many of their favourite overseas destinations in Europe and the USA are more expensive than last year. `In spite of the fact that 90 per cent of the population admit to cutting back on spending, only 45 per cent intend to do so on holidays.
Holiday in the UK To Cut Spending And Carbon Footprint
Carbon Advice Group Plc
Berkeley Square House
London W1J 6BD
Press Release Source: http://PressExposure.com/PR/Carbon_Advice_Group.html
Press Release Submitted On: February 16, 2009 at 10:58 pm
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(WTVR) - If you're like most cell phone users, you check your phone even when it isn't ringing or buzzing. But do you think you check your phone 150 times a day?
According to the Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers' annual Internet Trends report, 150 times is the average amount of times people check their phones daily.
Specifically the study found cell phone users checked their phones:
- 23 times a day for messaging
- 22 times for a voice call
- 18 times to check the time
On top of that, the report said that more than half a billion photos are shared every day and the report expects that number could double by next year.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are the most popular networks for photo sharing. But photo destroying application Snapchat, has about 150 million photos shared daily.
You can read through the report on mobile phone and internet use by clicking here.

domain: news


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Article updated 12th Jan: The price drop has also been carried out by Lidl in Denmark which states, “With the campaign ‘The choice is yours’, Lidl will focus on the vegan range in all Lidl stores in the coming months. Lidl will price-match the prices of vegan private-label products under the Vemondo brand with comparable animal products.”
The trend of retailers dropping prices of plant-based products, to reach parity or lower than their animal equivalents, continues in Europe, with Lidl Hungary and Denmark’s Salling Group this week joining the list of retailers helping to promote the adoption of plant-based diets.
Last October, Lidl Germany announced a 20% drop in price for its Vemondo plant-based range to reach piece parity with similar animal products. The move was followed by various supermarket chains in mainland Europe, including Kaufland, Aldi Süd, Penny, BILLA, and Jumbo. So far, to our understanding, UK and North American retailers have yet to join this forward-thinking initiative that benefits both businesses and consumers.
Lidl Hungary – same price as animal products
Lidl Hungary has announced that it is dropping the prices of some of the products of its Vemondo range to offer consumers affordable, sustainable choices starting this month.
According to the retailer, some plant-based alternatives will have the same price as animal products. The reduced-price products include pizza, sandwich toppings, organic oat drinks, vegan yogurt, and vegan sausages.
Lidl launched its vegan brand, Vemondo, back in 2020 to offer a wider alternative for vegan, vegetarian, and plant-based consumers. The brand is a three-time winner at the International V-Label Awards, in various categories.
In addition, last February, Lidl revealed plans to pursue a more sustainable business strategy for 2025, focusing on reducing the number of animal-based products in its offering and increasing its range of vegetable proteins.
“From January, you will find some of our Vemondo products on our shelves at the same price as their animal counterparts! Vegetable proteins and products are an important part of a conscious diet. In this context, from January […] vegan products and their animal equivalents will be available at the same price!” says Lidl Hungary on its website.
Salling Group – discount on 100 products
Meanwhile, the Salling Group, Denmark’s largest retailer (market share around 34%), has announced that its chain stores Netto, Føtex, and Bilka are reducing the price, at least 10 percent, of 100 different plant-based products — all alternatives to animal foods.
“…we have a desire to inspire customers even more to try alternatives to meat dishes”
The move is part of the Group’s 18% price reduction in over 100 everyday items to help consumers fight inflation. However, it now targets plant-based foods. Salling Group also announced plans to increase the number of plant-based products, aiming to double its turnover by the end of 2025.
According to the Salling Group, Bilka won the Vegetarian Society of Denmark’s award as the Year’s Plant-Based Supermarket for five consecutive years for offering the market’s largest selection, while Netto and Føtex have won awards for selection, growth, and price.
“As part of our climate ambition, we aim to give customers the opportunity to reduce their climate footprint, and we can do this by ensuring a large supply of plant-based goods and by lowering prices. In addition, we have a desire to inspire customers even more to try alternatives to meat dishes,” says Henrik Vinther Olesen, Communications and Sustainability Director at Salling Group.


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The town of Frisco's sustainable business program is now accepting a limited number of business. Go to www.highcountryconservation.org/FriscoCleanTracks.htm to sign up. Businesses receive a $200 cash stipend toward a green project, a free energy audit and free sustainability audit. This program is designed to support and recognize businesses that are doing good things for the environment.
- Breckenridge, Vail Resorts reach agreement on lift-ticket tax
- Breckenridge, Vail Resorts kick in funds to fast-track Highway 9 realignment
- USA Pro Challenge receives mixed reviews from Breckenridge business owners
- Breckenridge, Vail Resorts lift-ticket tax agreement a study in compromise
- Alleged machete attack victim testifies at trial


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What is the RTPA, and why does NetChoice oppose it?
The internet has truly changed how we buy and sell products and services. Many businesses have no physical stores, yet consumers anywhere can find these businesses online. The impact of e-commerce has been truly revolutionary for buyers and sellers alike. At the same time, states have grown increasingly concerned about one aspect of e-commerce — collection of sales taxes.
Under current law — and just as a matter of common sense — businesses are not forced to collect sales tax for states where they have no physical presence. The supreme court has held that it is unreasonable to expect that a small business must follow rules and file returns in all 46 states according to different tax rates among 12,000 local jurisdictions. That leaves each consumer responsible to remit “use tax” to their home state on those purchases, an obligation that is politically and practically difficult for states to enforce against citizens.
As a result, states want to foist new tax sales burdens on any business anywhere in America. It’s no surprise that ‘big box’ stores support these new tax burdens, since they must already collect sales tax for all states. The Remote Transaction Parity Act (RTPA) is their favored legislation, and they are pushing Congress to embed RTPA in the omnibus spending bill.
RTPA, however, would raise barriers and burdens on any American business who tries to sell online in competition with big box stores. As a result, American consumers would see fewer choices and higher prices for things they buy online today.
While RTPA starts with an exemption for the very smallest sellers, this protection completely disappears after 3 years. And from day one RTPA gives no exemption for a small business that happens to sell anything on an online marketplace.
While RTPA promises free software to facilitate tax collection, this will not cover the substantial costs of integrating “free” software into the home-grown or customized systems that sellers use for ordering and fulfillment. Nor does it cover costs to map a sellers’ sizable inventory into the different categories used by 46 states tax regimes. A study of these integration and setup costs for small and mid-sized businesses reveal initial outlays of $80,000 to $290,000, plus $48,000 to $160,000 in annual upkeep. These costs will present big problems, especially for small businesses.
While RTPA says that software vendors will absorb audit risks from 46 states, it’s the businesses who bear risks of back taxes and penalties if they make mistakes in mapping their inventory to state systems. And mistakes will be made, since many items are classified and taxed differently among the 46 states.
RTPA is far from the best way for states to collect tax on purchases their citizens make from out-of-state businesses. Congress has policy options that would avoid forcing online businesses to do what we would never demand from physical stores. We have proposed alternatives, such as requiring online retailers to do exactly what physical stores do: administer sales tax based on the seller’s home state instead of following rules and filing taxes based on where customers live.
We all want small businesses to thrive, they generate most of America’s job growth and increase consumer choice and competition. However, RTPA will just make it harder for smaller businesses to start and succeed. Those of us who oppose RTPA are willing to work on better Congressional solutions to the online sales tax issue, so that we can empower e-commerce instead of undermining America’s small businesses who sell online.


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If you visited a movie theater this past weekend, you likely found yourself lost in a sea of pink and black outfits — or maybe you even wore one yourself.
Greta Gerwig‘s Barbie, based on the iconic doll from Mattel, took the top spot at the domestic box office, where it earned an astounding $162 million, while Christopher Nolan‘s period drama Oppenheimer, about the theoretical physicist who created the atomic bomb, claimed second place with $82.4 million. Both overperformed well beyond expectations, especially Barbie, which opened to $337 million worldwide. (Read Edward Douglas‘ in-depth breakdown of last weekend’s box office here.)
While Gerwig and Nolan surely have their share of loyal fans, the viral Barbenheimer campaign that fueled both films on social media is largely to thank for their box-office success. AMC Theatres reported on July 10 that 20,000 same-day tickets were sold for the Barbenheimer double feature, and within a week, America’s largest chain reported that the number doubled to 40,000 advance ticket sales — that’s for both movies on the same day.
While studio executives no doubt deserve credit for backing Gerwig and Nolan’s creative visions, it’s the employees in their marketing divisions who went above and beyond here. Barbie had an overall budget of $145 million, while it reportedly had a budget of around $100 million for marketing alone. All of the global brand collaborations from Airbnb — which literally brought the Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse to life — to the various food and retail partnerships were apparent. But did any of those activations go viral like the first shots of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken did when they were first unveiled a year ago at CinemaCon, or the behind-the-scenes photos that leaked of the pair in neon pink and yellow outfits while filming in Los Angeles? Those were practically ubiquitous on social media.
Universal’s marketing campaign for Oppenheimer was more minimalist in comparison to Warner Bros. for Barbie — the studio utilized a billboard campaign featuring a live digital clock counting down the days before its release — but nothing moved the needle like social media did when users began pairing Oppenheimer as an ironic double feature with Barbie, though one that makes more thematic sense once you’ve seen both films. As such, Barbenheimer might’ve been the best possible thing to happen to Nolan’s film, even beyond landing stars like Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. or locking down IMAX screens ahead of Tom Cruise‘s latest Mission Impossible sequel.
Speaking of which, both Barbie and Oppenheimer performed far better than some of Hollywood’s recent franchise titles, such as Indiana Jones: The Dial of Destiny and Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, which posted underwhelming openings. Some might chalk that up to sequel fatigue, but something about Barbenheimer clearly resonated with people online — it became a pop culture event you couldn’t afford to miss out on because social media demanded that you have an opinion about it.
While the domestic box office has been slow to recover from the impact of the pandemic, and consumers are still cutting back on entertainment costs amid inflation and economic uncertainty, moviegoers will clearly still come out for movies that they really want to see. According to PostTrak research, 65 percent of Barbie‘s audience were women, while 40 percent of ticket buyers were under the age of 25. Meanwhile, Oppenheimer skewed more male, with 62 percent of men making up the audience, 65 percent of which was over 25. Meanwhile, around 32 percent of the audience for the three-hour film was between the ages of 18 and 24. Those are solid demographics any way you look at them, but let’s take a closer look at social media.
The hashtag #barbenheimer has more than 400 million views on the Gen Z-popular social media platform TikTok, which is brimming with user reviews of both movies. It wasn’t brainstormed in a conference room in Burbank, it was created by social media, which then ran with the concept — one that the studios later embraced. Many TikTokers wore themed costumes or Barbenheimer t-shirts, some of which they made themselves, though third-party sites certainly got in on the action and embraced the craze. One woman went viral over the weekend for a custom-made dress, which transformed from pink to black as she moved from Barbie to Oppenheimer, both of which were awash in online memes in the run-up to their releases.
While there hasn’t been a weekend this year with a match-up as massive as Barbie and Oppenheimer, there have been other examples of box office successes fueled by organic viral marketing driven largely by young fans on social media. Universal’s M3GAN, which took the number one spot during its debut weekend earlier this year, saw the titular doll become an internet celebrity of sorts on social media, while Paramount’s horror movie Smile also crushed expectations at the box office thanks to its creepy viral marketing that was spotted at various baseball games. There was also last year’s #gentleminions TikTok trend that saw teens donning suits and formalwear to see Minions: The Rise of Gru, which partially fueled its success at the box office.
And though it caters to a much different and more conservative audience, Angel Studios’ faith-based movie Sound of Freedom, which stars Jim Caviezel as a former government agent who goes on a mission to save hundreds of children from sex trafficking, also surpassed expectations thanks to its word-of-mouth and “pay it forward” marketing tactic in which a message at the end of the film asks viewers to buy an extra ticket “for someone who would not otherwise be able to see” it. That move has resulted in audiences buying extra tickets to give to friends and family, and to date, the film has earned a total of $124 million at the domestic box office against a budget of just $14.5 million.
It might not be easy for studios to replicate what happened with Barbeheimer in an authentic way, and given the shift in release dates on this year’s film calendar due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, Hollywood might not see a major weekend like this for a long, long time. But when, or if, business continues to run as usual in the future — whenever that may be — studios should take note of the power of social media and its ability to turn certain movies into genuine events. It has to be organic, but still, they’d be wise to invest in their social media marketing teams to help build hype around movies well-suited for success online.


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Kochi, July 31: Harrisons Malayalam Limited, a RPG Group company, on Thursday, July 31 reported a record growth its turnover by 69 per cent to Rs 70.47 crore for the quarter ended June 30, compared to the same period of the corresponding year, the company said.
This was attributed to improved realisation for tea and rubber, a company release said. A marked increase in production and better capacity utilization contributed to the top line as well as the bottom line. The quarter ended with a profit after tax(PAT) of Rs. 6.76 crore against Rs.0.48 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
The company, which is the single largest producer of natural rubber in India and the second largest producer of tea in South India, was in the process of identifying new export markets for tea and rubber, with a view to improving the overall realisation. The company had initiated steps to modernise its factories and embarked on an accelerated, replanting and infilling programme to improve productivity of land, the release added.


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Very soon, GameStop will start buying and selling classic games and hardware—Wired’s got a new interview with some specifics on the upcoming program, which will include NES, SNES, N64, Genesis, PS1, and Dreamcast games and systems.
More from Kotaku
Man, this is gonna be awesome! I just hope they keep the prices reasonable! :P


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Huawei focused on customer needs, trust 'More Important Than Ever', VP says amid UK 5G decision
Sputnik news agency and radio 11:58 GMT 14.07.2020
The high-level official for the world's largest telecoms equipment provider made the comments after the Chinese firm posted strong profits despite fresh challenges from Washington and London's decision to ban the company from supplying non-sensitive components to British networks.
A top official from Huawei Technologies said on Monday that customer needs were at the core of the company's business and that its products aimed to "build a better connected UK".
“Our business depends on delivering what our customers need. These results show that they continue to choose Huawei when they want reliability, security and value. Our priority here is to build a better connected UK where everyone can benefit from 5G and fibre broadband, no matter where they live,” Huawei vice-president Victor Zhang said in a statement.
According to Huawei, telecom companies have become a "crucial tool" for fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as an "engine for economic recovery".
The company added it would work with carriers and industry partners on network operations as well as monitor and contain local outbreaks.
Open collaboration and trust was "more important than ever", a spokesperson said, adding that Huawei would contribute to the development of the global digital economy and other technologies despite "challenges the company faces".
The come as the Chinese tech firm revealed earnings of $64.8bn in the first six months of 2020, up 13.1 percent year-on-year from 2019. The company reported the revenues amid strict US sanctions and restrictions on access to semiconductors with US technologies, as well as a potential ban on its role in building UK 5G networks.
Technologies Deployed In Fight Against COVID-19
Mr Zhang's statement comes amid multiple global partnerships with Shenzhen-based company, with numerous emerging technologies being used to track, diagnose and treat coronavirus outbreaks.
Huawei deployed numerous technologies with nationals and global partners in the fight against coronavirus with nations and global partners, namely in 5G 10 Gigabyte Passive Optical Networks (10G-PON), artificial intelligence and others.
The Chinese tech firm used 5G to deploy drones at outbreak sites to broadcast messages and information, as well as disinfect areas with unmanned vehicles, according to a company white paper.
The Shenzhen-based firm and Italy's Advanced Global Solution (AGS) also launched a joint venture in March this year on an AI-based medical imaging system to diagnose and treat patients with COVID-19.
The Atlas 800 servers and Atlas 300 interface cards performed CT image reading and identify specific pneumonia cases, among others, in roughly 2 to 3 minutes with accuracy rates of over 98 percent.
The Chinese tech giant also supplied Germany's Essen University Hospital with Dorado V6 storage systems, saving 50 percent of total cost of ownership (TCO) for the equipment, citing sharp demand for low-latency storage devices.
Downing Street To Decide On Huawei's Future In UK Networks
Meanwhile, British Culture secretary Oliver Dowden announced that the UK companies will be banned from buying Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei-produced equipment for 5G networks from the end 2020.
Huawei UK chairman of the board of directors Lord John Browne resigned ahead of the government decision after five years of service in the UK and is set to leave in September, according to a company statement.
British Telecom chief executive Philip Jansen told the BBC that it would take up to ten years to 'rip and replace' Huawei kit in UK networks, adding the process could cause internet outages across the country.
Washington has urged the UK to end its partnership with Huawei, adding it would threaten to stop sharing intelligence with London over concerns that Beijing could spy with equipment from the Chinese firm, without citing evidence.
Both Huawei and the Chinese government have slammed the accusations as groundless and urged US officials to provide evidence, with no official reports being provided by the latter to date.
Responding against a ransomware attack resulting to a data breach07 September 2021
KT Corp acquires Epsilon to expand global presence and accelerate digital transformation18 September 2021
China tightens measures to prevent online gaming addiction among minors31 August 2021
UBS warns investors against hopes of ‘Reset’ in US-China relations under Biden04 September 2021


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San Francisco - Top chipmaker Intel forecast weak current-quarter revenues, reinforcing fears that a wavering global economy and a lack of consumer interest are dampening personal computer sales.
Shaky economies in Europe and the United States and a growing consumer preference for Apple's iPad tablets have been taking a toll on the PC industry.
The company cut its 2012 revenue growth forecast to between three and five percent, down from a prior forecast of “high single-digit growth”. That put Intel's outlook in line with many investors' recently reduced expectations and helped cushion the drop in its stock.
“As macro events have transpired in the second quarter, people looked at the original high single-digit guidance as being stretched,” said Craig Ellis, an analyst at Caris & Company. “The Street would have been concerned had they stuck with that guidance - but they didn't.”
Doug Freedman, an analyst at RBC, said Intel's forecast for the current quarter was less than normal.
“Normal seasonal PC demand would show Q3 growth of at least nine to 10 percent and Intel's guidance is comfortably below that,” he said.
Intel supplies processors for 80 percent of the world's PCs but it has yet to make significant progress in fast-growing tablets or smartphones, products that use chips based on technology from British-based ARM Holdings.
The world's leading chipmaker said revenue in the second quarter was $13.5 billion, up from $13.03 billion in the year-ago period and lower than the $13.56 billion expected.
Intel said revenue in the current quarter would be $14.3 billion, plus or minus $500 million. Analysts on average had expected $14.60 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. - Reuters


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Retail and Sales
Watch breaking news videos and read news updates about Retail and Sales on Crain's Chicago Business
The $400 million question at Sears: Why are investors bailing?
Eddie Lampert's $400 million loan may have been meant to bolster confidence in Sears Holdings, but the CEO's aid seems to be having the opposite effect on investors.
That $400 million loan: Good for Lampert, bad for Sears?
Analysts say the loan suggests Sears is having a tough time finding decent prices for the business segments it's trying to sell. Others wonder if Ed Lampert is getting a sweet deal on the loan's terms.
Lampert agrees to lend Sears $400 million
Billionaire hedge-fund manager Edward Lampert's his investment company, ESL Investments, is lending the struggling retailer $400 million.
Oak Street's Moncler boutique burglarized
Patrol officers early today found the front windows shattered at the high-end Moncler store in Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood and several racks of coats stolen.
Why is it so hard to be a boutique owner in Chicago?
From winter weather to licensing requirements, "there's something always working against you," says LeDress co-owner Eva Anderson. She and other boutique owners share their retail travails.
Only two more years for Sears? Maybe. Selling off assets to keep afloat is a losing battle, as Fitch Ratings warns this week.
Who will feel pain of RadioShack closures?
One retail expert says the market could absorb shops left empty should RadioShack, which says it might file for bankruptcy protection, close its stores here.
Feeding a 'capital-starved' Golf Mill mall
Michael Horne, regional director for the Palm Beach, Florida-based Sterling Organization, aims to turn around the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles, which Sterling bought last month for $60 million.
RadioShack warns of possible Chapter 11 bankruptcy
RadioShack says it may need to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization if it can't rework its debt or find another way to ease a cash crunch.
It's handbags and hogs in fundraising for the 606
A high-end crowd gathers at the Salvatore Ferragamo boutique just a few weeks after a pig roast.
Power struggle at Walgreen as top shareholder's influence rises
Stefano Pessina, left, an Italian-born nuclear engineer turned drugstore mogul, emerges as a force within Walgreen as it evolves from a pharmacy chain to an international retailer.
Can Sears stay afloat past 2016? Fitch doubts it
The credit rater today said Sears needs to generate at least $1 billion in EBITDA each year between now and 2016 to meet expenses. Fitch, however, expects Sears to be $1 billion in the hole this year.
Walgreen: At the intersection of healthy, happy — and hypocritical
Want some smokes? You'll find them at Walgreens. What you won't find: a sensible reason why the drugstore giant continues to sell tobacco products.
Is fashion the next step in the West Loop's evolution?
In a pioneering move, Billy Reid, which sells men's and women's clothing, plans a new store at 845 W. Randolph, in a neighborhood with plenty of nightlife but no fashion to speak of.
Here comes the buyback pressure at Walgreen's
Walgreen will be pressed to boost a $3 billion share buyback that disappointed investors last month after activist hedge fund Jana Partners struck a deal yesterday on three board seats.


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AT&T is closing in on a deal to acquire advertising company AppNexus, as the operator looks to beef up its digital advertising business, and mount a challenge for revenue in the space against leaders Google and Facebook.
The US operator is currently discussing a deal worth $1.6 billion and an agreement is close to being finalised, news website Cheddar reported.
News of the potential acquisition comes just days after AT&T finalised its acquisition of Time Warner. The operator previously stated it would use inventory from the media company’s Turner division to deliver a new targeted advertising platform.
AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson this week told CNBC AT&T was planning a number of additional acquisitions as part of its advertising strategy and there could be some M&A activity around this in the coming weeks.
The Wall Street Journal reported AppNexus is backed by advertising giant WPP, investment company TVC Capital and News Corp. It had filed for an IPO in 2016, but opted to hold off because of the economic climate at the time. The company operates one of the world’s largest online ad exchanges allowing advertisers to buy space and target their respective audiences across thousands of websites.
It raised around $344 million in funding since being founded in 2007 and was valued at around $1.8 billion in 2015.
While AT&T starts to build its digital advertising business, it still has a long way to catch up to the likes of Facebook and Google, which eMarketer predicted will control 57 per cent of the US digital advertising market this year.


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Pearlfisher has revamped the graphic identities for Waitrose’s own-label gins, as the supermarket chain tilts them towards younger consumers.
Packaging for the premium and standard London Dry Gins, which launched last week, aims to convey the ‘essence of contemporary London’, says Pearlfisher creative director Shaun Bowen.
‘It builds on what we did last year with Waitrose Spirits and fits into the look that we’re aiming to create across its standard and premium offers,’ he says.
The identity for the standard gin (pictured) reinforces the product’s heritage through an interpretation of a London street sign.
‘The premium London Dry Gin design uses embellished script and silver and white colour cues to promote the product’s [purity],’ says Pearlfisher designer Natalie Chung.


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Hovis has unveiled two new ranges as it looks to catch up with its rivals in the burgeoning sandwich alternatives market.
The baker is next week rolling out white, wholemeal and Best of Both versions of sandwich thins (rsp: £1.29/six) and - in what it claims is a first for retail - flatbreads (rsp: £1.59/five). The new products will carry the Good Inside branding that made its debut with Hovis Good Inside loaves in August, and are baked in omega-3 from flaxseed oil, fibre and wheatgerm, and contain 14 ‘essential vitamins & minerals’. The products are being co-manufactured by a third party in what Hovis described as the first “significant” deal of this kind for the brand.
Hovis is backing the entire Good Inside sub-brand with a £5m push breaking on TV Monday (5 October), which will include VOD, radio, digital and in-store media.
The launch comes as sales of sliced bread are down 7.2% versus a 14.7% hike in sales of sandwich alternatives [Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 19 July 2015].
Hovis, which was split off from Premier Foods as a joint venture with US private equity firm The Gores Group 18 months ago, has until now lagged behind rivals such as Warburtons and Kingsmill in the sandwich alternatives market.
“This is the beginning of us catching up in the ‘other bakery’ category,” said Hovis CEO Martyn Wilks, who joined in May. “We are not the first in sandwich thins but we are offering the benefits of Good Inside, and I feel confident in taste-testing against any of our competitors.”
Wilks added the launch of flatbreads had been inspired by products available in the restaurant and fast food trade. “There are lots of wraps and sandwich thins out there but there aren’t flatbreads - but walk into foodservice and they are very in vogue, even in retailers’ own coffee shops.”
The new Hovis TV campaign would not look like its iconic ad depicting a boy pushing his bike up a hill, said Wilks, but would have some consistency with previous Hovis activity.
“The idea is based on a consumer insight of today’s kids - it links to the idea of bread offering goodness and the energy to get out there and have an adventure - but has a little nod back to the past that will make it quite Hovis despite being different to what we have done before.”


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Concentrated products make a difference
In the past few years we have introduced a new generation of concentrated laundry detergents, which have generated substantial environmental savings.
Highly concentrated liquid OMO and Blenda were launched in the first quarter of 2015. Anders Lillebo, Senior Product Developer, was one of the driving forces behind the concentrated products and played a pivotal role in their development.
“After an extensive development process we succeeded in concentrating liquid OMO and Blenda, which enabled us to lower the dosage from 60 to 35 ml without reducing the products’ cleaning performance,” Anders relates.
And the benefits have been numerous. According to Anders, in the two years that the products have been on the market, the use of pure chemicals has been reduced by almost 400 tonnes as a result of the lower dosage.
Moreover, the new bottles are smaller – 595 ml, as opposed to the former 1000 ml bottles. That makes them lighter to carry and easier to handle for consumers. The smaller bottles give the same number of washes as the old 1-litre bottles, and the most important benefit of all is the significant reduction in the use of plastic.
Hege Seljelid, Senior Packaging Developer, who was in charge of developing these bottles, reports that the smaller bottles have reduced use of plastic by an impressive 435 tonnes in two years.
Because the bottles are smaller, fewer trucks are needed to transport the products to stores – generating a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions.
Milo followed right behind
The third quarter of last year saw the introduction of Highly concentrated Milo as well.
“It’s been a period of intense development, and we are very pleased to be able to launch Milo, too, as a highly concentrated product. With this launch, we will achieve further environmental savings and take yet another step in a more sustainable direction,” says Kine Klæbo, Senior Product Developer.
Consumers on the same team
Consumers play an important role in realising the environmental potential in switching to highly concentrated products.
“We have focused heavily on communicating the message that “just one cap is enough” to ensure that consumers understand the concept and don’t dose as much detergent as before. The response from consumers shows that they have understood the point of reducing the dose per wash. Overdosing is very disadvantageous from both an environmental and a financial standpoint. We will therefore continue to underscore this important message in the future,” says Senior Brand Manager Ståle Riddervold.
Ståle adds that providing good information on bottle labels and through other channels to ensure that the plastic bottles are discarded as plastic waste and recycled is also very important.


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BlackBerry has finally admitted defeat for its BlackBerry 10 operating system by announcing two new phones running on the Android OS.
Initially released in 2013, the BlackBerry 10 was seen as the missing piece in the jigsaw for the Canadian manufacturer. The recent foray into touch screens made the previous versions of the BlackBerry operating system inefficient. Built ground up for a touchscreen display, the BlackBerry 10 was expected to make BlackBerry phones in line with the likes of Apple and Samsung. The struggling company bet big on this OS, but they have decided to call curtains in less than five years.
Recent setbacks came in the form of WhatsApp and Facebook announcing that they would no longer support BlackBerry 10 operating systems. The company termed this as disappointing news. Inside, though, a realization that the OS was facing a huge slide appears to have cropped up. If left in this position, more and more popular apps may withdraw their support in the future. The decision was made to go with Android on the BlackBerry Priv. This high-end device appeared to have it all – touchscreen, physical keyboard, and the Android operating system.
However, it has failed to help the company as expected since fourth-quarter revenues were extremely poor. The company sold around 600,000 units compared to the market expectations of 850,000 units. CEO John Chen admitted that Priv has failed to help in the market share since it was a high-end device out of the reach for many. The BlackBerry Priv is priced at around $700, while claimed that the market was looking forward to a $400 device from the Canadian company.
The company has now announced two new phones, which will be positioned as value offerings and they will run on the latest Android OS. Apart from helping to provide a foothold on the market, these phones may also help BlackBerry cut costs in the software department.
Chen says that support for the BlackBerry 10 OS will continue for at least another two years before the company completely switch to Android. BlackBerry will continue to offer its trademark security aspects on their devices even when they run on Android. The next releases from the company could come in the next few months – either before or after the iPhone 7 launch. BlackBerry will not want their new device to be forgotten amidst a sea of interest on the new Apple device.


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Alcohol Coming to More Big-Name Grocery Stores in Mississauga
Despite the ongoing troubles at the LCBO—some of which stem from the province's move to allow more wine, beer and cider to be sold in Ontario grocery stores—the booze roll-out is continuing (and just in time for summer).
The Ontario government recently announced that beer and cider are coming to 76 more grocery stores and will be on the shelves by Canada day.
The Mississauga stores set to carry libations?
The Pat Mart on Dundas Street East, Starsky Fine Foods at 3115 Dundas Street West and 2040 Dundas Street East, The Walmart Supercentre at Square One, and the Walmart Supercentre on Matheson.
The stores will be able to sell beer and cider starting June 30.
According to the province, the winning grocers were selected via a competitive bidding process held by the LCBO. Now, additional 11 independent grocery stores and 65 stores owned by large grocers are authorized to sell beer.
As of now, up to 130 grocery stores across Ontario can sell beer and cider (and up to 70 can sell wine).
The 76 new grocery store authorizations will bring the total to up to 206 grocery stores authorized to sell beer and cider.
"Ontarians welcome beer and cider in grocery stores, which provide greater convenience and choice for consumers," says Finance Minister Charles Sousa. "While today's announcement is good news for shoppers, it also enables breweries and cideries to introduce their products to consumers in local communities across the province."
Grocers selling beer, cider or wine must have designated sales areas and operate within standard hours of sale (so no booze for you after traditional LCBO/Beer Store operating hours), abide by limitations on package size and alcohol content, and meet staffing and social responsibility training requirements.
Ultimately, beer and cider will be available in up to 450 grocery stores, including up to 300 that will also sell wine.
- More Major Grocery Stores Now Sell Beer and Cider in Mississauga
- Even More Grocery Stores in Mississauga Could Soon Sell Beer and Cider
- Beer and Cider Coming to More Grocery Stores in Mississauga
- More Beer Could be Coming to More Mississauga Grocery Stores
- Here are All the Grocery Stores You Can Get Booze at in Mississauga
- Five-year-old child crossing road on bike in Mississauga dies after being struck by vehicle
- Mississauga woman accused of abduction
- Young child in life-threatening condition after being struck by vehicle in Mississauga
- Loblaws, No Frills employees in Mississauga test positive for COVID-19
- Single-vehicle crash in Halton Hills kills one, injures another


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Massage Envy Strengthens Leadership Team with Key New Appointments
New Leaders Bring Tech Innovation and Fresh Marketing Experience to Take Massage Envy into Next Phase of Industry Leadership
May 26, 2015 // Franchising.com // SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Massage Envy, the pioneer and national leader of professional, convenient and affordable massage and skincare services, announced today it has added two new executives to its leadership team who will be responsible for strategic growth and support areas for the company, including IT and systems compliance and marketing.
"I am thrilled to announce George Hines has joined Massage Envy as our chief information officer reporting directly to me. I am equally proud to share that Derek Detenber has recently joined the brand as our senior vice president of marketing reporting to Debbie Gonzalez, our chief brand officer," said Dave Crisalli, president and chief executive officer for Massage Envy. "Both of these extraordinary leaders share our values, our focus on innovation and will be central in delivering our brand promise."
As the new chief information officer, George Hines will oversee Massage Envy's technology platform as well as drive the brand forward with innovative technologies to better serve its franchisees' customers, therapists and employees. With more than 20 years of technology leadership, Hines has been instrumental in deploying technologies to transform the customer experience at billion dollar global organizations over the span of his career. Hines joins Massage Envy from Phoenix-based Viad Corp where he served as chief information officer and global head of innovation. Hines holds a B.S. in Management Information Systems from Millikin University and completed Executive Education at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design with particular emphasis on design thinking and innovation. Hines has also assisted in teaching the Design Thinking Innovation methodology at Cornell University's M.B.A. program.
Joining Massage Envy from The Wendy's Company, Derek Detenber will oversee advertising, media planning, public relations and loyalty programs in his role as senior vice president of marketing. Detenber has more than 15 years of experience in leading marketing and brand initiatives, including previous roles at PepsiCo's Propel and Gatorade brands, EAS and IBM. Detenber received a B.S. in Marketing from Miami University and a M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Detenber was also selected as a participant of the Kellogg School's Global CMO Training Course at Northwestern University.
About Massage Envy
Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor, and through its franchised locations, is the leading provider of therapeutic massage services in the United States. The national franchise is dedicated to providing professional and affordable therapeutic massage and skincare services to members and guests with busy lifestyles at convenient times and locations. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,000 franchise locations in 49 states and 1.5 million members. In addition, the average unit volume for a franchise location is $1.35 million. Through its national partnership with the Arthritis Foundation, Massage Envy has raised more than $3 million in four, one-day Healing Hands for Arthritis events. The company was recently ranked #1 Best Franchise with an initial investment of $500,001 and up by Forbes, #79 in Franchise Time's Top 200, #51 in Entrepreneur's 2014 Franchise 500 and #27 in its Fastest Growing Franchise rankings. Massage Envy is a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and was named a 2013 Military Friendly Franchise. For more information, visit MassageEnvy.com.
SOURCE Massage Envy
Golin for Massage Envy


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Last week, the security breach at few of the top public and private sector banks brought to light the perils of technology in Banking. What started as a series of denials by concerned Banks, ATM management services company and payment service providers turn out to be the nightmare for Indian Banking system.
Being a customer to some of these esteemed banks, I was left wondering when frequent messages for changing the password were forwarded by my banks on daily basis. A call to customer care did not leave my suspicions douse. It was only after all the hacking news came in media the real impact became visible.
Impact on Digital India Push
What started as a nimble step towards digitization in banking sector 15 years back turned a full circle to haunt stakeholders like regulators, customers, and government agencies. This is a big setback to central government’s digital India push and also brings to the forefront the misuse of technology at wrong hands. Just like the way digital India push is being advertised in media so should be the perils of ignorance and wrong use of technology.
People use all kinds of mobile apps and websites which track sensitive information like precise location, gender, preferences etc. We had seen many instances where ignorant net users were being duped to share their personal and financial information. Only social awareness and better security controls keep the hackers away.
Biometric authentication and its integration to payment systems
Aadhar card system effectively used biometrics for registration, authentication, and other purposes. A lot of investment had gone to put biometric systems in place. Similar investments in banking and payment systems may bring in a new level of security. Biometric usage may not be 100% perfect but reduces the risk to a major extent.
Tips and Conclusion
Use of common sense goes a long way in safeguarding the financial interests of customers. Never ever share the sensitive information like PIN or Date of Birth or card number to any outside personnel. Try to change the PIN on a frequent basis if you are a regular online buyer. Always use cards which have two layer authentication like One Time Password or grid matrix. Even though the impact of security hack seems to be minimal in terms of monetary loss, the system is already facing the reputation risk. Can we trust the banking transactions to be completely foolproof ? Are we going back to the cardless world of the 1990s ? Only time will tell.


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Barclaycard and Barclays are replacing their card portfolios with new contactless cards Coffee shop chain Caffè Nero has rolled out contactless payment technology across its entire branch network. ...
It was a hotly-contested year - here are the companies that made it big on the night
Former black hat hacker discusses his career hacking enterprises, and how he turned himself into a force for good (mostly)
Whether it is because of legal risks, reputational damage or concerns over business continuity, reporting cyber incidents is rare and pursuing them legally is even more so
Need board support for IT security investments? Think about who they really are first, advises Kier CIO Duncan Stott
Understanding board members can help when making IT security pitches to them, says Stott


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Thanks to a contract with the NFL, Anheuser-Busch has long been the Super Bowl’s exclusive beer advertiser. But that won’t stop Miller from trying to score some coverage before and during the game. As reported in USA Today, the thrifty brewer, known for its “pay less, get more” messaging, will poke fun at advertisers who shell out $3 million for an ad in a series of commercials that will air in the days and weeks before the game.
Miller will also air super-short one-second commercials during the game on local Super Bowl broadcasts (which apparently doesn’t violate Budweiser’s exclusive contract). The ads will reach about 60 percent of the Super Bowl TV audience. Check out the micro-ads here. Our favorite: “Action. And cut.” (Or pretty much anything from the top row.)


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Article: Money - Human milk now for sale in O.C.: "Human milk now for sale in O.C.
With help from a Southern California company, breastfeeding mothers can donate extra milk to feed premature babies.
By BLYTHE BERNHARD
The Orange County Register
A whole new market for breast milk
"Every Friday morning, Dani Dawson brings her baby boy to a Mommy and Me class along with their gift for other babies - a few extra ounces of her breast milk....Dawson donates her milk at the Birth Connection in Fullerton, which houses one of two new milk depots in Orange County. At the depots, breastfeeding moms can donate milk to feed premature or sick babies whose own mothers are unable to nurse. "It's the least I can do," said Dawson, 28, of Placentia. "I would encourage other moms to do it. Jakob can share," she says of her 2-month-old.
he milk depots, financed by Prolacta Bioscience, a Monrovia-based human-milk processing company, represent the first time human milk has been sold in Orange County...."


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Medical Device Companies Under Threat in Michigan
Friday, January 30, 2015
A new Pharmacy Control and Drug Practice law, Public Act 280, in Michigan that took effect as of September 30, 2014 threatens any medical device company licensed to sell products in Michigan.
The legislation was passed following a comprehensive review of existing state regulations and statutes in the wake of the 2012 meningitis outbreak linked to New England Compounding Center (NECC), a now-defunct Massachusetts company, which allegedly distributed tainted steroid injections to patients at clinics around the country. Michigan patients were hit hardest by the multi-state outbreak, with 264 infections and 19 deaths.
The new law requires that all manufacturers/distributors/wholesalers of pharmaceuticals and durable medical equipment must apply for a license to sell their products in Michigan. To qualify companies must have a “pharmacist-in-charge” (PIC) who is licensed and responsible for ensuring all state laws and regulations are followed to secure the entire supply chain from manufacture to patient.
Definitions of “wholesaler” and “prescription only” contained within the Act could pertain to nearly all medical devices and their method of distribution. Under the Act, medical devices companies might be considered “non-compounding distributors.” For companies that are VAWD (Verified-Accredited Wholesale Distributors) accredited, these requirements may be significant overkill and could require pharmacists being asked to take ownership of the operations of device warehousing activities, which they are not qualified to do.
The problem for medical technology companies? Simple… pharmacists have nothing to do with medical devices and it is overreaching to require a medical device company hire or subcontract one. Nevertheless, the Licensing and Regulatory Agency (LARA) and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) are intent in having the authority to go after anyone who could adulterate a product that ends up being used by a patient. Letters of non-compliance or noticing of the new law’s requirements were sent out to various device companies by the agency and that was what first brought the issue to our attention.
MichBio has led the charge, in concert with representatives from various medtech companies (J&J, BD, Boston Scientific, Stryker, Bayer, Baxter, Cardinal Health, and many others), to find permanent relief of the law’s requirements insofar as they impact device manufacturers/wholesalers/distributors. But small Michigan companies are impacted too—several manufacturers were cited for being out of compliance with the new law and requested to hire a PIC.
Following several meetings with LARA, AGO, and key state legislators (including the original sponsor, Sen. Joe Hune (R-Howell), a temporary legislative fix was passed as Public Act 449 wherein medical device manufacturers/wholesalers/distributors are exempt from the Pharmacy Control law. Furthermore, the PIC requirement was loosened to permit a designated Facility Manager instead. PA 449 takes effect as of March 1, 2015 so some question still remains as to whether LARA will enforce PA 280 in the mean time.
A permanent legislative solution is planned for early 2015. All the stakeholders plan to meet and come to an agreement that satisfies respective interests. The hope is that medical device companies will continue to be exempt from PA 280’s requirements.
Any company that has been contacted by LARA regarding non-compliance with the Pharmacy Control law and delayed in its licensure application should contact MichBio at email@example.com immediately. It is important that we share with LARA and legislators the needless impact the law is having on our companies.


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The online news site VGC was the first to report that Twitch has suffered a massive data breach. A hacker has posted a 125GB torrent link to 4chan on Wednesday 6th October 2021.
Some users have started to look at the 125GB of information that has leaked, and reports so far confirm that the information is correct about their accounts, including what they have earned down to the last penny. Fortnite streamer BBG Calc told BBC News: “The earnings list got my figure 100% correct.”
According to VGC the leaked data includes :-
- The entirety of Twitch’s source code with comment history “going back to its early beginnings”
- Creator payout reports from 2019 (3 years worth in total)
- Mobile, desktop and console Twitch clients
- Proprietary SDKs and internal AWS services used by Twitch
- “Every other property that Twitch owns” including IGDB and CurseForge
- An unreleased Steam competitor, codenamed Vapor, from Amazon Game Studios
- Twitch internal ‘red teaming’ tools (designed to improve security by having staff pretend to be hackers)
At the time of publication the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office said it had not been notified of any data breach by Twitch or Amazon.
The leak is labelled as “part one,” suggesting there could be more to come. Video Games Chronicle reports that Twitch is aware of the breach, but the company has not yet informed its userbase.
If you are a user of Twitch we recommend you change your password as soon as possible.
Twitch have now confirmed this data breach in a Tweet
We can confirm a breach has taken place. Our teams are working with urgency to understand the extent of this. We will update the community as soon as additional information is available. Thank you for bearing with us.— Twitch (@Twitch) October 6, 2021
Duncan is a technology professional with over 20 years experience of working in various IT roles. He has a interest in cyber security, and has a wide range of other skills in radio, electronics and telecommunications.


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Celebrating 100 YearsJun 20, 2012
For five generations, Ben Bridge has been committed to offering the finest jewelry and personal service to our communities. It has now been a century since Ben Bridge Jeweler first opened its doors in 1912, and we currently operate over 70 retail stores in 11 states.
This past week, Ben Bridge celebrated its 100th Anniversary at our newly remodeled flagship store in Downtown Seattle. King5 Evening Magazine was there to share all of the wonderful memories with us.


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October 2020 - HomePod tiny, the newest member of the HomePod family, was announced by Apple. It offers outstanding sound, the ability to get things done with Siri's help, and a simple smart home experience.
May 2021 - Orbita Inc., a cutting-edge provider of conversational artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for healthcare, and Royal Philips, a world leader in health technology announced a partnership agreement to jointly develop next-generation conversational virtual assistants for Philips' consumer health and patient support applications. In accordance with the joint development agreement, Orbita's technology will be implemented in digital health applications that improve patient experience and boost effectiveness across the health continuum.
Author Credits: Radhika Gupta, Shivam Bhutani
Report ID: 5276
Published Date: Sep 28, 2023
Report Format: PDF, PPT
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Increasing technological advancements in both software and hardware solutions, increasing incidences of chronic diseases and employment of IoT in healthcare.
The market size of healthcare virtual assistants is anticipated to attain a CAGR of 35% over the forecast period, i.e., 2024-2036.
The major players in the market are Tietoevry Care, Amazon.Com, Apple Inc, Orbita Inc., Royal Philips NV, Sysmex Corporation, Fujitsu Limited, NTT Corporation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd, and others.
The smart speakers segment is anticipated to garner the largest market size by the end of 2036 and display significant growth opportunities.
The market in the North America region is projected to hold the largest market share by the end of 2036 and provide more business opportunities in the future.


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Entertainment Properties Trust will become EPR Properties on Nov. 12.
The Kansas City-based real estate investment trust (NYSE: EPR) announced the pending name change in conjunction with its third-quarter earnings results.
EPT primarily has been a specialty REIT focused on entertainment-related real estate holdings such as movie theaters and retail centers, but the new name reflects a diversified portfolio.
“While our entertainment segment continues to be our largest and drives solid returns, we have also created a high-quality portfolio of education and recreation properties,” CEO David Brain said in a written statement. “We will continue to seek properties in select categories that require unique industry knowledge while offering the potential for stable and attractive returns, and this name change reflects the alignment of our brand to our proven strategy.”
In 2011, EPT owned 27 charter schools, six vineyards, 10 wineries and several ski parks.
EPT’s third-quarter revenue was $82.8 million, up 9 percent from $76 million during the same quarter last year.
Net income was $28.1 million, up more than 9 percent from $25.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Earnings amounted to 60 cents a share, up from 55 cents.


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LONDON — Fast fashion will be thrust under the spotlight in a new investigation that was revealed and launched here Friday. The U.K.’s environmental audit committee is looking to reveal the damage done by fast fashion and clean up its environmental footprint.
Investigations will be conducted on fast fashion’s impact, such as its life cycle and carbon and water footprint. It will also focus on providing solutions for waste and pollution reduction. The committee is seeking submissions and contributions to their inquiry by Sept. 3 to inform their first hearing.
“Fashion shouldn’t cost the earth, but the way we design, make and discard clothes has a huge environmental impact. Producing clothes requires toxic chemicals and climate-changing emissions,” said Mary Creagh, chairwoman of the environmental audit committee.
According to a report conducted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, by 2050 fashion will have consumed over a quarter of the world’s annual carbon budget if it continues to grow at the same rate. Fast fashion encourages a throwaway culture — mass production to capture current trends shortens the life span of clothing — and clothes that have been disposed into landfills have contributed to methane emissions.
In an interview with WWD last month, Stella McCartney said “the industry basically cuts down 150 million trees a year and every second a truck of clothes gets sent to a landfill. Doing my ad campaign at a landfill really opened my eyes to the reality of the situation,” she said.
Many other British brands have increased their commitment to sustainability. Last week, John Lewis rolled out a pilot buyback scheme, offering to buy back unwanted clothes. H&M and Zara have in-store recycling initiatives. Collection bins are placed in their retail stores to encourage shoppers to drop off old garments.
Despite growing industry efforts, fast fashion’s environmental impact may just be the tip of the iceberg. “Every time we put on a wash, thousands of plastic fibers wash down the drain and into the oceans. We don’t know where or how to recycle end-of-life clothing,” Creagh said.
“Our inquiry will look at how the fashion industry can remodel itself to be both thriving and sustainable.”


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A Gold Coast couple who took the plunge 18 months ago to buy a candy store are now enjoying sweet succes...
Jeweller Shines in Awards Victory
Written on the 3 June 2019 by Gold Coast PR Company Consulting Hall
Currumbin-headquartered YCL Jewels, which now exports to more than 90 countries, has collected a Gold Coast Business Excellence Award.
Company founder Fabienne Costa accepted the Retail, Wholesale and Distribution Award for May at a ceremony held at the City of Gold Coast council chambers. The event was attended by some of the city's most powerful business and political leaders including Mayor Tom Tate, Deputy Donna Gates, Federal-member elect Angie Bell, and State Member for Broadwater, David Crissafulli.YCL's jewellery is now popular around the world and are worn by well-known celebrities including Delta Goodrem, Jennifer Hawkins, Megan Gale and singer Lorde. Each piece of jewellery is designed by Ms Costa.
Ms Costa, who also hand-makes many of YCL's pieces, launched the company in 2013 and now employs seven people in the Currumbin-headquartered business.The winners of the other categories were:
The awards, now in their 24th year, aim to foster pride in the city's business community and highlight its important as a business hub. Some of the city's best-known companies can claim to have been winners.Monthly winners in each category then vie for the annual awards, including the coveted Gold Coast Business of the Year, to be awarded at a gala event in November.
The awards' major sponsors include Ramsden Lawyers, Study Gold Coast, City of Gold Coast, Regional Development Australia Gold Coast, Choice Homes, Westpac, Harvey Norman Commercial Queensland, Optus Business Centre Gold Coast, Griffith University, Gold Coast Airport and WeVideoPromos. The awards' media sponsors include the Gold Coast Bulletin, Nine NBN Television, 92.5 Gold FM and 90.9 Sea FM.The GCBEA's major supporters are KPMG, Document Solutions Australia, Bloomtools, Consulting Hall, The Graphic Design Company, The Star Gold Coast, Regina King Photography and Bond University.
Author:Gold Coast PR Company Consulting Hall


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We’re delighted to announce that we’ve been hired by Ready Steady Store – aka RSS – to help them get an edge in self-storage market. This is a fast-growing industry worth about £0.35bn in the UK, and it’s well commoditised and numbers-driven.
But – the quality of technology and online service provided to customers falls some way short of other sectors. It’s a niche just waiting to be sorted. Keep an eye out for updates as we work to launch and evolve something refreshing, mobile-friendly and wholly more effective.
Date posted15 January 2013
1 min read
Big data boost for the UK cycling industry
Loft is helping the Bicycle Association take its UK Cycling Market Data Service to the next level. Working on a consultancy basis with the BA and Sports Marketing Surveys, Loft is providing advice and insight…
Loft joins Vantage to support digital health startups
Loft CEO Nick Nettleton is working with the tech startup accelerator Vantage on a new series of workshops tailored for company founders in the digital health space. The inaugural MedTech Growth Series will take place…
MyEyeSite academic paper published
A research paper focusing on the MyEyeSite project has been published in the UK, which helps demonstrate how technology can be used to benefit patients, improve treatment and advance medical research. Collaborating with Moorfields Eye…
Boosting senior leadership diversity with Sapphire Partners
Loft has recently begun work on a new website for Sapphire Partners, a London-based executive search boutique that specialises in helping organisations find exceptional talent to enhance the capability and diversity of their boards and…


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Spotify’s [SPOT] share price has made Bernstein’s playlist. Analysts at the wealth manager upped their rating on Spotify to Buy and set a $280 price target after the music streaming site posted solid third quarter numbers.
What’s notable is that Spotify’s share price briefly broke past that goal last week thanks to those results, while other analysts have pinned even loftier targets for the stock.
Why Spotify’s share price bounced post-earnings
Bernstein’s revised targets came after Spotify posted revenue and user growth numbers that topped expectations in recent third quarter results, even if losses were wider than expected.
Total Monthly Active Users grew 19% year-on-year to 381 million in the quarter, up from 365 million last quarter and near the top end of Spotify’s guidance. Premium subscribers grew 19% year-on-year to come in at 165m, with the company saying that it was ‘pleased’ that the churn rate among these subscribers was down.
Revenue came in at €2.5bn, up 27% year-on-year, with ad-supported revenue notably rising 75% year-on-year to €323m.
"Our ads revenue continues to surpass even our own optimistic expectations," said Spotify CEO Daniel Ek. "This I think, clearly proves the potential for ads to be the second big revenue driver for the future of our business."
During the results Spotify upped its fourth quarter guidance for both revenue and gross margin.
"Multiplied against an increased forecast for long-term Gross Margins, supported by evidence in Q3 results, increases our probability-weighted target price to a level ($280) that is now in-line with the market price,” wrote Bernstein analyst Todd Juenger.
“Our ads revenue continues to surpass even our own optimistic expectations” - Spotify CEO Daniel Ek
Could Spotify's share price hit $385?
Spotify’s share price surged after third quarter earnings were announced, hitting $302.57 by 1 November. However, the share price hasn’t been able to sustain that blistering growth and has fallen just over 3% since then.
Spotify’s share price is down over 11% this year having closed Tuesday’s trading at around $279. February saw the stock hit a high of $365.99, but in the summer Spotify’s share price slumped, trading around the $200 level in mid-August.
Yet considering Spotify has upped its guidance for next quarter, the cool down could present a buying opportunity.
After all, the third quarter results saw other analysts up their price targets on the music streaming service. Keyblanc upped its price target to $310 from $300, Pivotal Research $385 from $300, and Barclays $310 from $300.
Pivotal Research's target for the Spotify stock
Pivotal Research’s price target would see a near 40% upside based on Tuesday’s closing price. Analyst Jeffrey Wlodarxzak raised Pivotal’s price target on Spotify off the back of third quarter results and considers the stock to be ‘very attractive’ based on the outlook for 2022.
According to data from Yahoo Finance, Spotify is looking at earnings of $0.48 for the full year 2022 up from a predicted loss of $0.98 for 2021. Revenue in 2022 is pegged at $13.33bn, up 19.7% from a predicted $11.13bn.
Barclay’s Mario Lu is similarly optimistic, maintaining his firm’s overweight rating on Spotify. The analyst says in a research note that topping expectations on monthly active users and advertising performance should help quell fears around Spotify’s longer growth.
Among the analysts tracking Spotify’s share price on Yahoo Finance, the stock carries a $320.14 price target - hitting this would see a near 15% upside on Tuesday’s close.


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Medco Health Solutions Inc. MHS first-quarter earnings rose 3.9% and beat analysts' estimates, as the volume of mail-order generic prescriptions grew.
The company also narrowed the range of its full-year earnings estimate to $4.02 to $4.12 a share from its November forecast of $3.99 to $4.12 and said it expects sequential per-share earnings growth in every quarter throughout 2011.
The nation's biggest standalone pharmacy-benefits manager has benefited of late from the wave of popular drugs going generic as patent protections expire. The company expects a benefit of 3 cents a share in December alone from the availability of generic Lipitor.
PBMs handle prescription-drug benefits and claims for employers and health-insurer clients, operate their own mail-order pharmacies, and increasingly offer services aimed at keeping patients compliant with their medications.
Medco reported a profit of $333.1 million, or 80 cents a share, up from $320.5 million, or 67 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding intangible amortization, earnings rose to 91 cents from 76 cents. Revenue jumped 4.3% to $17.02 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had most recently forecast earnings of 88 cents on revenue of $17.07 billion.
Gross margin rose to 6.3% from 6.1%.
Mail-order product revenue increased 5.2%, while retail product revenue rose 2.6%. The volume of generic mail-order prescriptions rose 9.3%, while brand mail-order prescriptions saw a 9.1% decline.
Prescription volume rose 2.1%, while the overall generic dispensing rate increased to 73.1% from 69.7%.
Shares closed Wednesday at $58.94 and were inactive premarket. The stock has fallen 2.6% over the past year.


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On a bitcoin forum, he offered 10,000 bitcoins to anybody who would buy him a pizza.The offical thread for the 10,000 bitcoin pizza offer from 2010.
The original Bitcoin-purchased pizza | WIRED
10,000 Bitcoins for a Pizza | Financial MarketsI found an interview with the guy who traded these pizzas for bitcoin.
Bit of Pizza
This episode is a big lesson and a big cautionary tale: Anyone.Bitcoin Pizza Day. 21 likes. Bitcoin Pizza Day, on May 22nd celebrates the first purchase made with Bitcoin.Oh, be cool and post pizza pictures you bought with bitcoin or eth.And thus the date is marked by bitcoin users as Bitcoin Pizza Day.
Find Restaurants that Accept Bitcoin in the United StatesBuy Love Bitcoin Pizza T-Shirt: Shop top fashion brands Novelty at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases.
Bitcoin Pizza - Home | Facebook
Shakey’s PHl to accept Bitcoin for pizza buys | BusinessMirrorA new Web site - PizzaForCoins.com - lets Americans spend bitcoins to order pizzas online.Why Bitcoin Matters. But the most remarkable thing about that transaction was the decision by the provider of the pizza,.Bitcoinker is one of the oldest and highest paying Bitcoin faucets.
Homeless, Unemployed, and Surviving on Bitcoins. Unemployed, and Surviving on Bitcoins. the giftcard app Jesse Angle and his friends use to purchase pizza.Last week Pizza Guys of Dubai became the first restaurant in Dubai to accept Bitcoin.Bitcoin was the first, and is the most famous, of a new type of digital money.Viewing 1 post (of 1 total) Author Posts August 22, 2017 at.Now ten thousand bitcoins can probably buy you a Pizza joint.This article has been reproduced in a new format and may be missing.
Find out what that means and how you can buy pizza with bitcoin.Reddit - Reddit allows users to purchase Reddit Gold using Bitcoins,.
"Have Bitcoin, Want Pizza" - Bitcoin Pizza Day 2017Bruce Fenton of the Bitcoin Association stopped in with some members.
Today, Monday 22nd May 2017 marks the 7th anniversary of the Bitcoin Pizza Day purchase.The infamous Bitcoin Pizza Day that took place six years ago on May 22, 2010.
What does bitcoin deflation have in common with zimbabwe dollar hyperinflation.
BTCC Pizza Day Promotion: Free Physical Bitcoins WorthI have been a fan of Bitcoin from the beginning, and if one can order pizza with Bitcoins, well, that changes everything.
Homeless, Unemployed, and Surviving on Bitcoins | WIREDBitcoin Pizza Day: the day Laszlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 Bitcoins.That was the first real world transaction with decentralized free market money in history, making it an event to celebrate which bitcoiners do every year on this very day.
Back in 2010, Florida programmer Laszlo Hanyecz talked someone into accepting.
Domino's Home Page - Domino's Pizza, Order Pizza OnlineInstant delivery. No fees. Choose from hundreds of retailers like Amazon, Target, Whole Foods and more.
Bitcoin to Order Pizza? – Coin Currency News
7 of the most surprising things you can buy with bitcoinTo celebrate the Bitcoin Pizza Day this year, the NY Bitcoin Group has teamed up with the nationwide pizza chain and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the.
Everyone today is meant to buy a pizza with decentralized free market money.The first transaction in bitcoin was 10,000 bitcoins for a pizza. If the US stock market goes up, more money is available to buy bitcoin.E-commerce platform provider snapCard is similarly commemorating Bitcoin Pizza Day by giving away 150 cheese pizzas.Plus, transactions are taking forever now so it no longer makes much sense.


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Teuila Festival chance for vendors to branch out
The Teuila Festival is a chance for vendors of all kinds to display their wares and make some money.
This year has proved no exception: with returning professionals, amateur enthusiasts and people with disabilities all getting involved.
Among the vendors at the Malaefou Park at Sogi are the Loto Taumafai Society for people with disabilities, teachers and students.
Time Afoa, 34 years-old teacher of Loto Taumafai, said he was pleased with the chance to display handicraft items made by school students.
“The wood handcraft, pillows and lavalava are done by the students with disabilities,” he added.
Mr. Afoa said the proceeds from their Teuila sales it will go into their savings account for them to use later on for the needs of the school.
“Loto Taumafai has been in the Teuila Festival for so long also other events,” he said
"We use this Teuila festival to showcase to the people what talent the disabilities students have and with the profit we use it to supply the materials they need."
A man from Afega, Fa'ai Fata, who is based in Las Vegas and owns a business called Polynesians R-U-S, is also enjoying the Teuila.
"My sales are doing great here at the Teuila Festival," he said. "The day started slow but it's going good for me. I hope I can make more than $500 a day."
Working for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishers (M.A.F.) inspired him to open a stall for plants at this year's Festival
Another vendor, Tommy Tuuamalii, said this year's Teuila will be the fourth he has attended.
"This kind of business is good because plants has a big value."
He said he sells plants to provide money for his family and to put his children through school.
"Well the profit goal is to earn $500 before the Teuila ends, because that is what we earn during the last few years with our sales," he added.


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NEW LENZING CEO: Rayon maker Lenzing Fibers Corp. has named Peter Landl as its new president and chief executive officer, replacing Cal Bonawitz, who retired June 15. Landl is based at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Lowland, Tenn.
Landl has been with the firm since 1992 and most recently was executive vice president and chief financial officer. In his new role, he reports to chairman Craig Baker.
Upon his retirement, Bonawitz was appointed to the Lenzing board.
GREENBLATT DEAL CLOSES: Los Angeles-based converter H. Greenblatt & Co. late last month closed on its acquisition of bankrupt Guilford Mills Inc.’s Twin Rivers printing plant in Schenectady, N.Y., as well as Guilford’s converting business, including its copyrights and artwork. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Greenblatt owner Howard Greenblatt said all of the approximately 40 plant employees will keep their jobs.
Greenblatt, who founded his converting company six years ago after a 20-year career at Guilford, said the decision to buy the factory came about after a serendipitous chain of events.
“When I saw Guilford going into its steep slide from the middle of last year, I went into negotiations to just buy the converting business, the [printing] screens and artwork,” he said. “I had no intention of buying the plant.”
He was unable to reach a deal last year to purchase the converting business, but in December agreed to become the sole agent for that operation. After inking that deal, he visited the Twin Rivers plant and was impressed by its modern equipment.
“They had invested $8 million or $9 million in that plant over the last six years,” he said.
Once he had seen the facility, he decided he was interested in buying it and entered into negotiations. A deal had almost been struck when Guilford filed its Chapter 11 petition in March. That put the sale into a long list of actions that had to be approved by the bankruptcy court.
At a time when so many textile companies are going under, Greenblatt said he believes it makes sense for a converter to buy its own printing plant because it lifts the worry that the company will be unable to fill orders if its outside printing suppliers close their doors.
While he noted that his company continues to contract out some printing, he said, “I believe there is going to be, ultimately, a shortage of good printing in this country.”
GUILFORD BOOKS LOSSES: Guilford Mills Inc. recorded $50 million in net losses on sales of $58.8 million during its first two months operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, the Greensboro, N.C.-based knitting mill disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company, which filed for bankruptcy on March 13, said it recorded a $48.2 million net loss in March, after paying $24.6 million in restructuring costs and a $1.8 million net loss in April. Since entering bankruptcy, Guilford has decided to shut mills in Altamira, Mexico, and Lumberton, N.C. The firm also shut several domestic manufacturing facilities last year. Guilford closed its last fiscal year, which ended Sept. 30, with a net loss of $160.8 million on sales of $643.5 million.
FOREIGN FIRMS HEADED TO N.Y.: The third week of July will find a slew of overseas mills and fabric vendors in Manhattan exhibiting at trade shows. The events are clustered around European Preview, which runs July 17-19 at the Metropolitan Pavilion and provides an early look at the fall 2003 collections of international fashion fabric mills that will be unveiled at Premiere Vision in Paris in September.
The Turkish Fashion Fabric Exhibition is set to run July 15-17 at Cipriani restaurant on East 42nd Street. Rayon maker Lenzing plans to sponsor an exhibit of Korean mills on July 16-18 at the Millennium Hotel. Closing the week on July 18-19 will be Pan Textiles, an exhibition of Taiwanese fabric suppliers at the Penn Plaza Hotel.
Innovation Asia, a three-day show consisting of mills from Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan, sponsored by lyocell maker Tencel, is set to run at Tonic restaurant, across the street from Metropolitan Pavilion, July 16-18.
PANTONE’S NEW PALETTE: Colors in the new Pantone Colour Planner for fall-winter 2003-2004, “represent the complexities and dichotomies in our lives,” according to Tod Sculman, director of marketing for the Pantone Textile Color System. “We are still looking to nostalgia and all things familiar for comfort.When it comes to color, the classic shades have come out in force to prove this. We are no longer seeing audacious brights in clashing combinations. The palettes for the season are tonal and monochromatic — familiar, classic and comfortable. And while we do see some bold shades here and there, they are always in combination with muted, dusty tones and neutrals.” Of the nine color groups, the most directional are Sidereal, which includes chalk blue, midnight and smoked pearl; Poetic, which includes copper, russet brown and cinnabar, and Virtual, which includes champagne, almond blossom, sulphur yellow and tea rose. Both Sidereal and Poetic evoke comfort, peace and familiarity, while Virtual falls under the groupings that connote excitement, liveliness and speed.
RADICISPANDEX FEELS THE HEAT: RadiciSpandex said it has developed a new spandex fiber, called Type 2 45, that can be used to produce deep, rich colors in a polyester-and-spandex blend fabric without disintegrating the spandex and causing streaking and spotting. Bill Girrier, vice president of marketing for the spandex maker, said: “Type S 45 is a multipurpose fiber specifically formulated to provide protection from the damaging effects of dyeing at elevated temperatures.” The first converter to adopt the new fiber is Cyberknit, a division of Paul Gottlieb & Co. Inc.


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Sonoma County grape growers overwhelmingly voted to form the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, according to results announced earlier this week. Through member self-assessment, the commission is expected to raise $1.2 million annually to promote Sonoma County as one of the world’s premier grape growing regions and to fund research and education against vineyard pests and diseases.
The 84 percent voter approval was achieved through a grassroots effort led by more than 80 grower advocates along with the Board of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association. With this vote, Sonoma County grape growers almost unanimously recognized and supported the need for increased promotion of Sonoma County’s wine and grape quality in today’s global wine marketplace.
“The grower support shown by this vote is tremendous,” said grower Duff Bevill, a key leader in the campaign. “We grow some of the best grapes in the world, and we’ll now have the resources to market and promote Sonoma County grapes and wines at a whole new level.”
Under the new Commission, all growers producing 25 tons or more of grapes will be assessed at 0.5 percent of grape sales beginning with the 2006 harvest. Participation is voluntary for growers producing less than 25 tons. With more than $1 million in new revenue, the Commission will be able to significantly increase awareness and recognition of the quality and diversity of Sonoma County’s wines and regions.
The county is unique in being able to produce all the major grape varieties in its 13 diverse American Viticultural Areas, or appellations. “We want consumers to recognize the quality of wines produced in Sonoma County,” said Nick Frey, president of the new Commission. “The cool nights along with morning fog in the cooler appellations, and the sun-drenched inland valleys and hillsides in the warmer appellations allow grape growers and winemakers to produce equally wonderful classic cool-requiring Pinot Noir and warm-loving Cabernet Sauvignon or Zinfandel.”
The new Winegrape Commission will replace the current Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, which had relied on voluntary grower participation and funding. The management staff of the SCGGA will remain in place at the Winegrape Commission, with Nick Frey, executive director of the SCGGA, assuming the role of president.
The commission will take over Sonoma County Grape Growers Association programs, such as the Code of Sustainable Winegrowing, Integrated Pest Management, Employee Development, and Organic Producers. Research and education will also be a focus of the Commission, including funds allocated to current vineyard issues such as the glassy-winged sharpshooter and the vine mealybug.
“The wine quality has always been there,” said Frey. “And now with the means to promote that quality, the future has never been brighter for Sonoma County growers and winemakers.”


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UK chocolatiers mull investment in Jamaica
UK chocolate maker Charbonnel et Walker is mulling an investment in a local company, which could lead to an expansion of the Jamaican cocoa industry in the medium term.
Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke said the chocolatier has expressed significant interest in increasing its supply of Jamaican fine-flavoured chocolate by investing in production and value-added activities.
The minister said ongoing discussions are underway between the Government and Charbonnel et Walker, which has presented a proposal to purchase a Jamaican cocoa farm of 50 to 80 acres, and to rehabilitate it in order to secure its own supplies. He informed that the Agriculture Ministry has already identified a cocoa farm in St Mary and has had initial discussions with the owners.
"Over the medium term, this company further wishes to establish a fermentary on the farm or outsource their fermenting process to the Cocoa Industry Board (CIB). In the longer term, their intent is to process chocolate here in Jamaica for their markets in Europe," said Clarke at a Jamaica House press conference to provide details about investment prospects coming out of Government's recent trade mission to the UK to coincide with the London Olympic Games and the Jamaica 50 celebrations.
The delegation also had talks with an entity called Black River Chocolate, added Clarke.
"This company sources Jamaican fine-flavoured cocoa from the CIB, makes single origin luxury chocolate and distributes it to several European countries. This company is interested in securing a dedicated supply of Jamaican cocoa," he said.
He noted that Black River also expressed "significant interest" in participating in the process to divest the commercial assets of the CIB, now underway, and more importantly, to work with Jamaican farmers to increase their production so as to secure their supplies.
Minister Clarke informed that contact was also made with the membership of the "fresh produce consortium" and will collaborate with local exporters to overcome specific product challenges to leverage this association in order to increase the exports of Jamaican fresh produce to the UK.
The ministry will shortly commission a task force to address the product specific opportunities and constraints, he said.


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Cryptocurrency Adoption Trends in Europe – Bullish
Motivations for Bullish movement
A recent survey conducted by Binance Square sheds light on the increasing adoption of cryptocurrencies in Europe. The survey, conducted between Oct. 14 and Nov. 8, 2023, featured 10,498 participants from France, Italy, Spain, and Sweden which are mostly bullish. Key motivators for entering the crypto market include high returns, decentralization, and innovation, according to 20%, 18%, and 17% of respondents, respectively.
Positive Sentiment Prevails
Despite the source of the survey data, the study reveals overwhelmingly positive sentiment toward cryptocurrency adoption. A significant percentage of respondents express bullish views on the market, driven by factors such as potential high yields, decentralization benefits, and ongoing innovation.
Crypto Usage Patterns
The survey highlights that 55% of participants use cryptocurrency for everyday purchases. Additionally, 10% of respondents make weekly cryptocurrency payments, indicating a growing trend of integrating digital assets into daily financial activities.
Global Crypto User Surge
According to a report from Crypto.com, the global number of cryptocurrency users exceeded half a billion in 2023. The company estimates a further 34% increase in worldwide cryptocurrency users, reaching 580 million people in 2023, emphasizing the global nature of the crypto adoption trend.
Factors Driving Adoption Growth
Notable events, such as the Ethereum Shanghai update, have contributed to increased network activity and subsequent growth in ETH value, made people bullish. The introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to the Bitcoin blockchain with BRC-20 tokens and Bitcoin Ordinals in 2023 has further fueled demand for Bitcoin block space.
The recent approval of 11 spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Jan. 10 has added legitimacy to the cryptocurrency industry. This move instills confidence in the market, fostering an environment conducive to adoption and growth.
Positive Trajectory Amidst Regulatory Support
The regulatory landscape has played a pivotal role in shaping the positive trajectory of cryptocurrency adoption in Europe. With the recent approval of 11 spot Bitcoin ETF applications by the U.S. SEC, there’s a notable boost in confidence among investors. The regulatory clarity and legitimacy injected into the market have a ripple effect globally, influencing the positive sentiment witnessed in the survey. As regulatory frameworks continue to evolve, providing a more structured environment for crypto activities, Europe stands poised for sustained growth in cryptocurrency adoption, with users embracing the benefits of decentralization, innovation, and the potential for high returns. The survey outcomes suggest that the crypto landscape in Europe is not only robust but also anticipates continued expansion.


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Facebook user base
Its official now ! Facebook has crossed 500 Million long anticipated users base yesterday. On his blog post Mark Zuckerberg, CEO - Facebook, announced yesterday. Mark further writes "I could have never imagined all of the ways people would use Facebook when we were getting started 6 years ago. I want to thank you for being part of making Facebook what it is today and for spreading it around the world.”
Apple's firm stand has itched Facebook's co-founder Mark Zuckerberg. Much of today's internet usage has become heavily...
If there is one sector at which the pandemic really took a swing, it is the hospitality industry. But that's not the...
The number of UPI transactions has crossed 2 billion mark in a second consecutive month. With that, it's clear that the number...
In a bid to strengthen its social commerce’ arm, Facebook has recently paid top dollar for their recent acquisition.


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In a move which marks the launch of Toyota’s second-generation zero-emissions, hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 electric truck, the automaker has recently unveiled Kenworth T680 prototype truck in Traverse City, Michigan.
The introduction of the new zero-emissions Class 8 electric truck by Toyota underscores a noteworthy advance by the automaker towards the creation of a fully environmentally-friendly electric vehicle which can reduce the levels of air pollution, particularly around the ports in the US.
The second-generation version -- Version 2.0 -- of the zero-emissions Class 8 electric truck by Toyota is called ‘Beta.’ The first-generation model of the truck, which has been under testing by the automaker for over one year, is called ‘Alpha.’
With Toyota already having logged approximately 10,000 miles for the Alpha version during its testing at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the automaker is now planning to commence a similar testing of the Beta version as well, in the coming months.
According to the details shared by Toyota about the Beta version of the new zero-emissions Class 8 electric truck, the truck is equipped with two electric motors capable of delivering 675 horsepower and 1,327 pound-feet of torque. The truck boasts a 12-kilowatt-hour battery pack, along with the addition of a Kenworth T680 low-roof 40-inch sleeper cab and a redesigned hydrogen-fuel cabinet combination for increased cab space.Business: Auto SectorCompanies: ToyotaRegion: United StatesGeneral: FeaturedTNM
In a move which will enable US automaker Ford to gain a competitive edge in the newly emerging mobility industry, the automaker has recently launched a new autonomous vehicle subsidiary called Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC.
The launch of the new subsidiary will apparently give Ford the ability to emerge as a potential leader in electrified, autonomous ride services. The move underscores the automaker’s change over to a new business model, after its emphasis chiefly on trucks and SUVs, as compared to passenger cars, in the recent times.
In announcing its new Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC subsidiary to achieve its targeted 2021 launch of a self-driving car network, Ford said that it is investing $4 billion in the new unit which will oversee all its AV research. The mentioned investment will include an amount of $1 billion earmarked for Argo AI.
According to the details shared by Ford, the company’s Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC subsidiary will have several employee teams dedicated to AV research and advanced engineering as well as self-driving systems integration, AV transportation-as-a-service network development, business strategy, user experience, and business development.
The new Ford subsidiary -- which will allow the automaker to capitalize on new market opportunities and speed up its AV business -- will be spearheaded by its CEO Sherif Marakby, who is presently Ford’s Vice President of Autonomous Vehicles and Electrification.Business: Auto SectorCompanies: Ford MotorRegion: DetroitGeneral: FeaturedTNM
Japanese automaker Nissan has recently enhanced its electric vehicle (EV) line-up with the addition of a new vehicle --- the Nissan LEAF NISMO.
The sporty LEAF NISMO is a new offering from Nissan’s in-house tuning group, Nismo. The vehicle is the LEAF’s spiced-up version, with a sport-tuned suspension, 18-inch alloy wheels, Continental ContiSportcontact 5 tires, retuned ABS and traction control systems, and a notably more aggressive computer tuning which makes the vehicle a lot more exciting to drive in terms of acceleration.
However, despite the enhancements, the LEAF NISMO essentially retains all the staple features of the LEAF, including the vehicle’s ProPilot assist semiautonomous driving system as well as the e-Pedal braking system which enables drivers to use maximum regeneration on braking.
So far as the hardware is concerned, the LEAF NISMO does not unfold any substantial changes over the LEAF; with the battery pack and the motor layout of both the EVs being the same. However, there are some notable changes made to the interior of the vehicle, including the ultra-suede wrapping of the steering wheel, a change in the electronic shifter, and a more profound accent stitching.
The new Nissan LEAF NISMO is scheduled to go on sale in Japan at the end of July 2018. However, Nissan has not made any official statement about the possible availability of the vehicle in international markets.Business: Auto SectorCompanies: Nissan MotorRegion: JapanGeneral: FeaturedTNM
In a move which marks EVgo’s latest efforts to push energy storage innovations forward in the electric-vehicle (EV) space, the company has recently deployed a new energy storage system powered by “second-life” BMW i3 battery packs at its Union City, California, fast-charging station in the US.
The deployment of EVgo’s new energy storage system brings to the US the increasingly popular technology related to installation of stationary energy storage projects which draw power from ‘used’ battery packs of EVs.
The new energy storage system has been deployed by EVgo at its already-operational fast-charging station located at 3960 Smith Street in Union City. The deployment is the outcome of EVgo’s successfully completed pilot program for “second-life battery systems” at University of California San Diego (UCSD).
With EVgo already operating two 50-kilowatt (kW) DC fast chargers at its Union City site since summer 2017, the newly-deployed energy storage system comprises two “second-life” 22 kWh BMW i3 battery packs put together as a single unit. The battery packs unfold a 30 kW/44 kWh energy storage system when combined with a 30 kW inverter.
The new energy storage system deployed by EVgo is essentially capable of demand charge management at the company’s Union City site. It can reduce grid load, as well as costs, when both the fast chargers at the site are being used simultaneously.Business: Auto SectorEnergy SectorCompanies: EVgoRegion: CaliforniaGeneral: FeaturedTNM
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