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Cargill has signed an agreement with Marico Ltd. to acquire Marico's refined sunflower oil brand Sweekar in India.
The acquisition is limited to the brand only. Cargill already produces and markets sunflower oil in India under its NatureFresh and Gemini brands.
"Acquiring the Sweekar brand underscores Cargill's long-term commitment to growing our consumer food business in India," said Siraj Chaudry, chairman of Cargill India. "Sweekar is an excellent fit with our existing strong brand portfolio of health and low absorption oils."
@tnasolutions launches new #Arabic website http://t.co/PGubzaSc41
#Agriculture Ministers to strengthen #EU policies for young farmers @_CEJA_ hails the conclusions http://t.co/jO1iEBG8ex
Interview with the director of #Urschel Laboratories: The Urschel team is a very strong one http://t.co/XJDA4QNsxc


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Luxury-brand awareness is growing among China’s super rich, who recognize 20% more of the lavish brands than they did last year, according to the Hurun Report. The 2011 Best of The Best Survey, which interviewed 401 Chinese mainland millionaires, each with assets of more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million), said the super rich in [...]
From Rafael Nadal to Julianne Moore, here are five of the most anticipated fashion ad campaigns for 2011.
China’s ever increasing economic clout has again been reflected in a survey on consumer tastes in luxury goods which has shown the nation not only knows what goods it wants, it most certainly now has the means by which to buy them. A report released this week by Bain & Company has claimed China is [...]
In the market for a dazzling designer gown? Bid on a Giorgio Armani PrivÃ© evening dress or a festive Dolce & Gabbana cocktail number on charitybuzz.com. Women’s Wear Daily, the esteemed retail, beauty and fashion trade publication, is celebrating its 100th year in circulation with an online charity sale offering designer apparel, handbags and luxury [...]
The Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) in Shanghai will hold an exhibition during winter 2011 on Chanel, the iconic haute couture label. Titled Culture Chanel, it will trace the many inspirations behind the designs of the French house. It’s the latest move by a luxury label to expand its presence in the cosmopolitan Chinese city. [...]

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Recently, the augmented reality technology startup Magic Leap announced that it has raised 500 million US dollars and will release the second-generation AR headset Magic Leap 2 globally in 2022.
Magic Leap was founded in the United States in 2011, initially focusing on the research and development of consumer AR headsets, and then turning to the enterprise market. Since its inception, Magic Leap has received nearly $3 billion in financing, and its technological innovation is mainly integrated in micro products. In 2015, Magic Leap released a whale video that caused a sensation in the industry, but a year later it was proved to have misleading propaganda, making the company even more mixed.
From last year to the beginning of this year, as the AR and VR markets did not improve, the popular AR star company also reported negative news such as layoffs of thousands of employees, runaway executives, and the abolition of consumer businesses, which was embarrassing. However, in recent months, the concept of “meta universe” has brought new enthusiasm to the VR and AR industries. Now Magic Leap is also ushering in the double good news of capital and product business after the new CEO.
Magic Leap CEO Peggy Johnson was full of praise when talking about the company’s latest products, saying that Magic Leap 2 is the smallest and lightest device in the industry.
01 Raising US$500 million to support the implementation of second-generation AR products
By 2020, Magic Leap has laid off 1,000 employees, accounting for about half of its employees, and it is reported that the company is abandoning its consumer business. Co-founder and CEO Rony Abovitz left the company in July 2020 and Peggy Johnson took over as CEO.
Johnson resigned from Microsoft during the new crown pneumonia outbreak and joined Magic Leap as CEO. She sees the huge development potential of AR technology, and believes that Magic Leap has a diversified, high-performance team and a powerful technology platform, and is one of the most robust intellectual property portfolios among companies of the same size.
According to Johnson’s statement issued on October 11, Magic Leap is currently adjusting its organizational structure to focus more on providing services to enterprise-level customers, helping new customers achieve industry-leading goals, and laying a solid foundation for the company’s capital and technology. Magic Leap has seen significant development in the past year, but 2022 will be equally important.
Johnson said that the completion of Magic Leap’s financing gives it greater financial and resource flexibility, which can help maintain Magic Leap’s continued development of industry-leading AR technology growth momentum.
Talking about the new generation of AR products, Johnson stated as early as April this year that the limited Magic Leap 2 headset is 20% lighter than the first generation, and the field of view is doubled. He believes that the product will be the industry’s so far The smallest and lightest device manufactured by the enterprise is designed to increase the enterprise application of AR technology.
02 Enterprise-level demand is strong, and the consumer market has not completely given up
Johnson said in his post that the outbreak of the new crown epidemic has changed the way consumers work and has become a major catalyst for the adoption of AR technology across industries. The demand for advanced remote work technology has increased sharply. Due to restrictions on travel and interpersonal communication, the new crown epidemic has stimulated the demand for innovative technologies such as AR in training, manufacturing, healthcare, national defense and security, and the public sector.
Citing research by Internet Data Center (IDC), she said that by the end of 2024, the AR/VR market is expected to grow to nearly 140 billion U.S. dollars. Magic Leap has been in the field of artificial intelligence for more than ten years, and has invested billions of dollars in the development of industry-leading technology.
Johnson maintains communication with the founders and managers of many industries in the industry and understands that they face the ever-changing situation in their daily work and need to find new ways to improve performance and collaboration.
For example: the person in charge of the medical industry wants to find new ways to train hospital networks with complex procedures; the CEO of a high-tech manufacturer wants to improve training methods and empower front-line employees; the person in charge of a financial company wants to improve the market Leading text legibility technology to promote screen replacement and enhance AR data visualization; CTOs are also looking for ways to relieve the fatigue of video conferencing.
Even though Magic Leap’s core business goal is focused on enterprise solutions, the application of Magic Leap technology in the consumer sector has a high degree of attention. In fact, Magic Leap has received multiple technology license requests and is actively seeking opportunities to enhance the company’s position and innovation capabilities in the entire market.
03 Focus on the enterprise market, Ericsson and Heru Ophthalmology are the customers
Speaking of market conditions, Johnson pointed out that as the team introduced new technologies into the enterprise-level market, many companies showed great excitement. In the past year, the company has reached cooperation with a number of corporate customers.
Magic Leap cooperated with Ericsson to use AR technology to improve the workflow on the factory floor, increase efficiency and collaboration; the ophthalmologist of AR vision inspection company Heru used Magic Leap technology to develop an AR solution for eye examinations, which is more affordable The visual diagnostic tool replaces expensive and cumbersome diagnostic machines; Farmers Insurance recently used Magic Leap to remotely train newly hired claims adjusters during the global pandemic, thereby eliminating the need for travel to tax the environment.
In addition, Magic Leap recently announced the establishment of partnerships with Google Cloud, PTC, NVIDIA, and VMWare to introduce its market-leading applications and technologies to the Magic Leap platform, which can further provide enterprises with the necessary tools to further strengthen Magic Leap’s commitment to various companies. Support from companies of all sizes.
Johnson said that enterprise applications are no longer abstract concepts. Magic Leap is promoting the application of its advanced technology in important industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and the public sector.
04With optimized structure and abundant funds, Magic Leap will usher in its second spring?
After CEO Peggy Johnson took office, he focused on strengthening team building, strengthening the strategic focus on the corporate market, further promoting Magic Leap technology, and having more customers.
To achieve the above goals, Magic Leap established a new leadership team to promote the development of the next generation of Magic Leap, and appointed new chief software and cloud service officers, chief financial officers, chief legal officers, chief commercial officers, chief marketing officers, and The Chief Transformation and Human Resources Officer has strengthened the team and expanded the number of world-class talents the company has.
Magic Leap’s recent $500 million financing strengthened the company’s financial foundation, and the new valuation of approximately $2 billion reflects the company’s significant progress and confidence in the future. Johnson said that at present, Magic Leap is working hard to increase its share of overall market opportunities and gradually strengthen its current listing capabilities to provide augmented reality solutions and upgrade business transformation results for corporate customers.
Johnson said that the most important thing at present is that Magic Leap has been working hard to bring the second-generation product Magic Leap 2 to the market, and it is expected to be on the market in 2022.
05 Conclusion: Key financing for Magic Leap blood transfusion
As a benchmark augmented reality technology start-up company, Magic Leap has once again raised large sums of funds after going through a series of layoffs and coaching changes, and plans to launch the second generation of AR headsets. This is not only for its own It is good news, and it also reflects the trend of the entire enterprise AR industry showing new appeal to capital.
AR technology is entering medical, industrial and other industries, and it is still in its infancy. Whether Magic Leap can make the enterprise-level market business prosperous, we need to find the answer from its subsequent landing cases and revenue results. AR and VR technologies are expected to completely subvert the business mode of operation, thereby greatly improving efficiency. We look forward to this day soon.
This article is from the WeChat public account “Zhidxcom” (ID: zhidxcom)


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Ed Note: This (re)post from early 2015 by economist Michael Giberson, formerly at Texas Tech University, is reprinted below. While generic to pricing of any good or service in any emergency, it applies to Joe Biden’s recent concern about oil-price ‘gouging’ and calls from the Democrat leadership for FTC investigations into the same.
“Higher prices would discourage over-buying and help ensure that useful consumer goods get distributed to more households, not just the households best able to rush to the store. Consumer sentiment against higher prices during emergencies, by discouraging a price response and encouraging shortages, tends to put the burden of the shortages on those consumers least able to run to the stores in emergencies.”
When consumer demand shoots up and supplies are limited, either prices must increase or shortages will result. Consumer sentiment leans strongly against such price increases, and sometimes that sentiment is enshrined in anti-price gouging laws. It is this sentiment and such laws that unintentionally put a burden on less-able consumers.
As a heavy winter storm was projected to slam into Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states earlier this week, a familiar scenario emerged: state officials urged citizens to stay safe and to report suspected price gouging. (Examples: New York, Connecticut.) Predictably, consumers rushed to stores to discover crowded aisles, long lines, and–soon enough–outages of many consumer goods.
An economist might wonder, in the face of a sharp increase in demand, why stores do not simply raise prices. A higher price would discourage excessive buying and boost the profits of stores who had adequate supplies of useful goods.
One reason stores do not raise prices are anti-price gouging laws, in effect in most of the states affected by the storm. But many consumers react aversely to price increases in the face of an emergency, so even absent price gouging laws causing shortages retailers often choose shortages over higher prices.
But what is the cost of a preference for shortages over price increases?
One study documents what a few moments of reflection might reveal: the effects of shortages are not evenly distributed. When emergencies happen (or are first forecasted) some consumers are readily able to rush to the store, while other consumers are not so lucky. The early bird gets the bread and milk and eggs, the late arrival finds little or nothing available.
Using detailed consumer purchase histories and retailer price survey data, a trio of economists examined consumer responses to the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011. The analysis found that spending on storable foods rose dramatically right after the earthquake. Prices didn’t rise much, so the spending increase is attributed to households stocking up on storable foods. Not all households were able to get more food, however.
Households with what the researchers called a “high opportunity costs of shopping,” for example those households with infants or with both parents working full time, were more likely to miss out on the opportunity to buy foods before they ran out. It is easy to see that elderly and mobility-impaired consumers, too, would be more likely to be shut out by any sudden rush of consumers to the store after a disaster.
Higher prices would discourage over-buying and help ensure that useful consumer goods get distributed to more households, not just the households best able to rush to the store. Consumer sentiment against higher prices during emergencies, by discouraging a price response and encouraging shortages, tends to put the burden of the shortages on those consumers least able to run to the stores in emergencies.
Experimentation, Not Unintended Consequences
Laws against price gouging worsen the consequences of the consumer sentiment against higher prices. In the absence of laws, at least some retailers might test out somewhat higher prices and thereby keep some products on the shelves for slower-responding consumers. Over time consumers might begin to see the connections between higher prices and a better distribution of useful consumer goods during emergencies. Anti-price gouging laws block experimentation and learning in the market.
While higher prices reduce some of the harms of emergency-inspired panic shopping, and perhaps spread the harms a bit more evenly across consumers, high prices may be a bigger burden for at least able-bodied poor consumers. (Disabled poor consumers might actually be better off with higher prices and some items still on the shelf when they reach the store than lower prices and few goods available.) Mitigating that particular burden may be better left to the efforts of friends, families, and charities.
As Dwight Lee pointed out in The Two Moralities of Outlawing Price Gouging, market prices are the most effective way to get useful goods to consumers during emergencies. But that does not mean charitable efforts are unneeded. We need both the intention-based “magnanimous morality” – directed charity promoting personal sacrifices to address post-disaster problems – and the “mundane morality” of the market – the unintentional cooperation arising through markets that mobilize the extended social order in addressing post-disaster problems.
It is when both moralities operate within their proper spheres of human activity, Lee wrote, that they yield the most help to victims of disaster.
Laws against price gouging should be repealed – they make bad situations worse. But the broader consumer sentiment against higher prices needs to go away too. Consumers need to understand the wisdom of Lee’s two moralities so that markets and charity work can effectively work together to help victims of disaster.


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FOOD DAZE: Events to Attend |Dates to Celebrate
- National Espresso Day November 23
- Thanksgiving Day November 24
- National Parfait Day November 25
- National Cake Day November 26
- National Bavarian Cream Pie Day November 27
Food Holidays Courtesy Foodimentary.com
Chick-fil-A® has unveiled a complete relaunch of its flagship website, chick-fil-a.com. The new site will serve as the company’s storytelling and information hub. Leading the quick service restaurant industry in designing an experience informed by consumer research, the site puts customer preferences and interests front and center by providing customized content and localized information to each, individual user. An integrated e-commerce experience is planned for 2017 and already the project team is experimenting with localized content within certain markets at launch.
New research from Gimme Vending, makers of innovative vending technology that provides vending executives better sales, cash, inventory and service data, has shown that customers utilizing its Mobile App on existing machines with the same personnel is proven to reduce vending machine stock-outs while increasing top line revenue for customers. The research was conducted over a four-week period on five vending machines.
Each year, the Atlanta Mobile Awards brings brands and technology companies of all sizes together to celebrate the best in mobile marketing, products and experiences. This year, a food tech company was named among the winners. The Big ATL/Atl Only award was presented to Food Finder Georgia, developed by stable|kernel. Food Finder is a free web and mobile app that connects more than 650,000 food insecure children in Georgia to free food resources.
The University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, is now accepting registrations for the 2017 Flavor of Georgia contest. The contest, in its second decade, serves as a springboard for food entrepreneurs, assisting them in testing new products and reaching a larger audience. The competition also helps new craft brands break into new markets and expand sales. Contest finalists will participate in the final round of judging and a public tasting March 21st as part of the governor’s statewide Agricultural Awareness Week. Registration closes February 9th, but contestants can enter at an early discounted rate before January 15th.
- Hotel Online: How Effective Is Your Property’s Digital Signage?
- New York Business Journal: Why IBM and Google are obsessing over the food business
- Gather: Restaurant Technology is Transforming the Industry — Here’s How
THE CHECKOUT: Introducing the nfant Feeding Solution
Bytes is a regular feature in each issue of Hub Magazine, a publication of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).


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* Shares of Chicago-based Conagra Brands Inc. were trading up 12.75% at $25.82 at market close March 21 as its results for fiscal third quarter 2019 exceeded expectations. The packaged food producer also revised its outlook for fiscal year 2019 to adjust for the sale of its Wesson unit, which was completed Feb. 25, and now expects organic net sales growth for the full year to be about +1%, the low end of its previous estimated range of 1.0% to 2.0%, after it removed sales from Wesson for the entire fiscal year. For the quarter ended Feb. 24, consolidated net sales rose 35.7% year over year to $2.7 billion from $2 billion in the year prior. Adjusted diluted EPS for the fiscal third quarter of 2019 came in at 51 cents, down from 61 cents from the same period in fiscal 2018 and higher than the S&P Global Market Intelligence mean consensus estimate of 49 cents.
* San Francisco could pass a bill that bans cashless stores, including Amazon.com Inc.'s cashierless convenience store concept Amazon Go, over concerns that such stores "effectively discriminate" against groups that do not qualify for a bank account or credit card, CNBC reported, citing a local official. The cashier-free store automatically deducts purchases from customers' Amazon accounts. Amazon Go stores, which sell ready-to-eat food options and essentials like bread and milk, use cameras and sensors to track items that customers take and automatically charge their credit cards. Philadelphia and New Jersey recently banned stores that do not accept cash, and San Francisco could soon follow, CNBC said.
FOOD RETAIL & DISTRIBUTION
* Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd. extended its partnership with Uber Eats to offer deliveries from four more stores in Sydney — World Square, Bondi Junction, Leichhardt and North Sydney — Inside FMCG reported. Uber Technologies Inc.-owned food ordering and delivery service will offer bread, salad, fruit and cereals, as well as a selection of items from the deli, bakery, dairy and desserts segment, and the ready-to-eat and ready-to-heat ranges under the partnership.
* Better Made Snack Foods Inc. said it is recalling about 660 bags of its original potato chips as these may contain undeclared milk, posing danger to consumers with allergies. The Walmart Inc. snack supplier found sour cream and cheddar-flavored chips in the bags, which contain milk, instead of the original potato chips. The affected 10-ounce packets, which were sold in Walmart and other stores, have a use-by date of Aug. 10 and do not mention milk as an ingredient. Consumers who have purchased the chips can return them and receive a full refund.
* Australian brewer Lion-Beer Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd. has acquired a 50% stake in Victoria-based gin producer Four Pillars Gin, according to the release. The company, which made the acquisition to expand in spirits industry, did not disclose the deal's financial details.
* MillerCoors LLC filed a lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch InBev SA's unit Anheuser-Busch of designing, testing and launching false and misleading ads in order to deceive beer consumers into believing that there is corn syrup and high-fructose corn syrup in Miller Lite and Coors Light. The company also accuses Anheuser-Busch of misusing Miller Lite and Coors Light trademarks. MillerCoors is seeking an immediate halt to Anheuser-Busch's "continued false and misleading advertising claims and willful trademark dilution." The company is also asking for a trial by jury.
* Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings Co. Ltd. began exporting wines made from indigenous Japanese grapes to Europe, as conditions became favorable following a recent trade deal between Japan and the European Union, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. The brewer, which plans to start exporting Chateau Mercian to London, will make further inroads into Europe depending on its sales in the British capital. The company is starting with shipments of two labels — Fuefuki Koshu Gris de Gris and Yamanashi Koshu — priced at about US$24 and US$21, respectively, the report added.
* U.S. agribusiness group Bunge Ltd. said the strike, which halted production at its oilseed crushing factory in Brest, France, is over after it reached an agreement with employees, Reuters reported. The workers called the strike March 12 due to safety concerns regarding a fire in silo storage, local media reported, which also prompted salary demands. According to a local source, employees resumed work on Wednesday, but output recovery could take several days as Bunge will take the time to do maintenance work for the other silos at the site.
* Packaged foods giant Mondelez International Inc. said it partnered with a nonprofit food business incubator, The Hatchery Chicago, to boost its snacking business as part of its SnackFutures platform, which seeds potentially profitable startups, and to improve its current brands. With the startup incubator, Mondelez will focus on providing educational and mentorship opportunities to entrepreneurs active in Chicago's food and drink scene. The company added that it intends to scale its growth in the snacking category by collaborating with food and beverage startups in the Chicago community.
* Packaged food company Conagra Brands is rolling out zucchini noodles as it focuses on carb replacements for its recently acquired Pinnacle Foods frozen vegetable brand Birds Eye, Bloomberg News reported. Conagra CEO Sean Connolly said the business had already started to capitalize on rising consumer demand for products like cauliflower rice, but it is likely to go further in that direction. The company is making the move to replace the troubled parts of Pinnacle's business, which include Birds Eye, cake-mix maker Duncan Hines and salad-dressing brand Wish-Bone, the report added.
* Tyson Foods Inc. voluntarily recalled about 69,093 pounds of frozen, ready-to-eat chicken strip products as they are feared to contain metal fragments. The recall affects 65,313 pounds of Tyson fully cooked buffalo style chicken strips and fully cooked crispy chicken strips sold to retailers in 25-ounce bags and 3,780 pounds of Spare Time-branded fully cooked buffalo style chicken strips in 20-pound boxes. The products bear the establishment code P7221 and have a use-by date of Nov. 30. The company has asked customers to discard the products.
TOBACCO & SMOKING PRODUCTS
* Tobacco giant Philip Morris International Inc. partnered with youth-focused Vice Media LLC to promote vaping and to produce sponsored content endorsing e-cigarettes, Financial Times reported, citing two people with direct knowledge of the matter. The deal, which is surfacing amid rising anti-smoking campaigns, would cost the tobacco group £5 million and is due to start in April, one source told the newspaper. Both PMI and Vice declined the Times' request for comment.
* Darden Restaurants Inc. said it now expects fiscal 2019 diluted net EPS from continuing operations to come in the range of $5.76 to $5.80, up from the $5.60 to $5.70 range it gave in December 2018 and its third EPS outlook increase. The restaurant operator also updated its total sales forecast to a growth of approximately 5.5% year over year, from the prior forecast of a 5% to 5.5% increase. For the three months ended Feb. 24, Darden Restaurants' adjusted diluted net EPS of $1.80 grew 5.3% from $1.71 in fiscal third-quarter 2018 and exceeded the S&P Global Market Intelligence consensus normalized EPS estimate of $1.75. Total sales for the quarter also rose 5.5% to $2.25 billion from $2.13 billion in the same period a year prior.
* Malaysia and Indonesia threatened a boycott of European Union products as a retaliatory measure towards the EU's move to ban the use of palm oil in its biofuels by 2030, South China Morning Post reported. According to the newspaper, the palm oil industry watchdog says the proposed restrictions seem to be politically motivated rather than being an environmental issue. Both countries also plan to take the issue to the World Trade Organization, the report said.
Now featured on S&P Global Market Intelligence
Nonalcoholic beers face the taste test
January US foodservice sales up; menu prices rise faster than inflation
The day ahead
Early morning futures indicators pointed to a lower opening for the U.S. market.
In Asia, the Hang Seng rose 0.14% to 29,113.36, while the Nikkei 225 gained 0.09% to 21,627.34.
In Europe, around midday, the FTSE 100 was down 0.83% to 7,294.13, and the Euronext 100 fell 0.99% to 1,037.66.
On the macro front
The PMI Composite FLASH, the Existing Home Sales report, the Wholesale Trade report, the Baker-Hughes Rig Count report and the Treasury Budget are due out today.
Click here to read about today's financial markets, setting out the factors driving stocks, bonds and currencies around the world ahead of the New York open.
The Daily Dose is updated as of 8 a.m. ET. Some external links may require a subscription. Links are current as of publication time, and we are not responsible if those links are unavailable later.


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Toyota is helping new Yaris buyers offset the spiralling cost of motoring with a unique free fuel offer.
Any new Toyota Yaris ordered in April, and registered before 30 June, will get six months’ free fuel. The offer includes both diesel and petrol models: the current Yaris range includes 1.0-litre and 1.33-litre petrol engines, plus a 1.4-litre D-4D diesel.
Toyota says the offer will save buyers more than £500 at the pumps, based on today’s fuel prices.
Read our guide to finding the cheapest fuel
Toyota ‘fuel card’
Toyota Yaris buyers will pay for the fuel using a special card that comes with a unique PIN. Customers use the pre-paid card like a regular credit card, at any UK fuel retailer.
It is pre-loaded with £548.15 – this is based on 1,000 miles’ motoring a month, and on a Yaris returning 55.4mpg. The fuel cost is calculated at £1.336 per litre.
This means that if customers can return more than 55.4mpg, or the price of fuel drops below £1.336 per litre (unlikely as that may be), the savings can be stretched.
Not an offer to benefit all?
To get the full benefit of the offer, though, drivers would seem to need to cover higher mileages. The offer is based on six months’ fuel at 1,000 miles a month – but what if you don’t drive such high mileages?
No problem, said Toyota. The card is not time-limited, so will continue to give ‘free fuel’ until you have used up all of the £548 pre-loaded onto it.
High fuel prices inspired deal
‘With the highest petrol and diesel prices we’ve seen for years, it’s the perfect time for Toyota to take the initiative and give our customers a benefit that’s of real value day-to-day,’ said Toyota commercial director Matt Harrison.
He also added that as Toyota Yaris are among the most fuel-efficient superminis in the sector, ‘even when the free fuel has been used up, they will be costing their owners a lot less to run than many of their rivals’…
Get more from Which? Car
Magazine: Which? Car magazine is the UK’s only independent car guide (we don’t take ads, so our reviews are totally impartial). The Winter 2011 issue is the first of the new look Which? Car, packed with more new and used car reviews than ever before. We’ve dedicated more pages to in-depth reviews of all the major cars on sale today, helping you to make the most educated decision about buying a new or used car. It’s on sale now, priced at £4.99, available from Sainsbury’s, Tesco, WH Smith, Martin McColl and good independent newsagents.
Email: Stay in touch with all the up-to-date car news, hot deals, latest first drives and reviews posted on our website each week. Sign up to the Which? weekly email to receive our free Friday bulletin.


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The scheduled auction of many artifacts from Guy Lombardo’s life and career must be halted until the London-born music legend’s estate can sift through what’s being sold, his family says.
The man who helmed the city’s Guy Lombardo Museum until its 2009 closing plans to sell off a slew of Lombardo items at a public auction. But Gina Lombardo, the late star’s niece and keeper of his estate, wants the auction delayed amid concerns some of the items may belong to the family.
The dust-up marks the latest indignity to the largely forgotten star’s hometown legacy.
“All of the Lombardos contributed different items to the museum,” Gina Lombardo said. “Until we know what’s going on and who’s the rightful owner of this,” the online auction that starts Friday should be delayed.
“Our feeling is that the City of London is the holder here, is the one that is responsible for and has the right to utilize the memorabilia. If (city hall) wanted to auction it off, I would think they would ask our opinions.
“But I don’t think it should be the third-party volunteer (Doug Flood) doing this.”
Flood, who is selling off the items through Gardner Galleries, says he has an acquisitions book that recorded who donated each item, and none comes from the Lombardo family.
The money from the sale will go to Flood’s family estate, all of which he says will eventually be donated to University Hospital.
Asked for his thoughts on the Lombardo family’s concerns, Flood said: “Well, that’s too bad. There’s nothing that belongs to them at all.”
Flood says that when city hall shut the museum in 2009, ownership of any memorabilia left behind was transferred to him.
City hall says when it decided to permanently close the Lombardo Museum, the city took an inventory of items that had been donated and each one of historical significance was turned over to Museum London.
The city also offered some items back to original donors, said Bill Coxhead, city hall’s parks and recreation director.
The rest, Coxhead said, was either Flood’s personal collection that he’d built up or a few items that had little value.
“Whatever he is selling is his to sell,” Coxhead said.
Museum London is interested in bidding on some of the items on the auction block, executive director Brian Meehan said Friday after viewing them online.
None of the items was on the list of those donated to the city, and so were not obtained by Museum London when the Lombardo Museum closed, he said.
At least two of the items up for auction are drawing quiet objections: A painting of the big band leader, which Gina Lombardo says her family donated to the city, and a Guy Lombardo plaque from his induction into the London Music Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame’s stewards never intended it to be given to Flood and want it back.
In a December e-mail to city officials and media, Flood noted he’d been “storing” Lombardo items for seven years and appeared frustrated with city hall over the museum’s 2009 closing.
“Yes I am bitter about this matter . . .” Flood, 85, wrote.
The auction house, Gardner Galleries, is taking the position that Flood owns the items up for sale and it will proceed with the auction.
But while any ownership dispute is between Flood and the Lombardos, Gardner officials are open to hearing the family’s concerns.
“Any questions, we’d be more than happy to answer,” James Gardner said.
With files by Free Press reporter Randy Richmond
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Jan. 23 to Feb. 20: Guy Lombardo memorabilia, hundreds of prints and photo images, fur-lined overcoat, trophies, 1978 lifetime award from the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (later called the Junos), speed-boating trophies, three red suit jackets from The Royal Canadians, conductor’s baton, Victor Lombardo’s clarinet, cigar humidor.
Where: gardnergalleries.com for full details.
tap here to see other videos from our team.


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Samsung finally starts the pre-order for the new Galaxy Note 4 today. The only smartphone to beat the iPhone 6 Plus in some aspects is going on sale October 17.
Sep 19 2014, 1:10am CDT
Samsung finally revealed the sales date for the new Galaxy Note 4.
Sep 18 2014, 8:18am CDT
CES 2014 in Las Vegas Highlights: Samsung Galaxy Gear from Samsung Telecommunications America
Jan 15 2014, 11:55am CST
Samsung with the Galaxy Series inducted themselves to the Royal club of high tech smartphones, since then Samsung never look back. Now they offer the Galaxy S® 4 the latest in this series, with some revolutionary features.
Apr 18 2013, 11:27pm CDT


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Both the Yamaha FZ V3 and FZ S V3 are now available with a minimum down payment of Rs 4,999
Yamaha Motors India has recently announced festive season offers for their 150cc commuters, the FZ V3, and the FZS V3. The renowned Japanese two-wheeler manufacturer has introduced a new finance scheme which saves almost Rs 8,280 on the ex-showroom price of the motorcycles in association with their official finance partner.
Under this newly announced finance scheme, the customers can pay a minimum down payment of Rs 4,999 only. Besides the low down payment, the interest rate is also significantly lower at 6.9 percent that stands at 12 percent normally. Considering the lower interest rate the total price of the motorcycle is also divided into a monthly EMI plan of Rs 10,280 to be paid within a year.
The good news is that the customer also gets an option to choose from an interest rate of 9.8 percent, 10.5 percent, and 11.99 percent, respectively. This festive season offer is available at any authorized Yamaha dealerships across the country and will be valid till the end of October.
Yamaha launched the new generation FZ-FI and the FZS-FI ABS variants in January this year. The new generation FZ V3 and FZS V3 features a full LED headlamp, a newly designed sliding engine kill switch and new front fenders. Besides all these cosmetic updates the FZ V3 also features a new full digital LCD instrument cluster.
The motorcycle is still powered by a 149cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled, 2-valve, fuel-injected engine with BlueCore technology. The unit paired with a 5-speed gearbox produces about 13.2 PS of peak power at 8,000 rpm and 12.8 Nm of peak torque at 6,000 rpm.
The Yamaha FZ V3 and the FZ S V3 rivals directly against the likes of the TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, Honda CB Hornet 160R, and the Suzuki Gixxer. The FZ V3 and FZS V3 ABS are priced at Rs 96,180 (ex-showroom) and Rs 98,180 (ex-showroom), respectively.


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British Land announces that it has signed an agreement with Plymouth City Council to develop Drake Circus Leisure, a circa 100,000 ft² (9.290 m²) leisure scheme next to its 570,000 ft² (52.954 m²) Drake Circus Shopping Centre in Plymouth city center. The €51 million development will include a 12 screen cinema operated by Cineworld, 13 restaurant units and 450 car park spaces. The site currently houses a coach station which will be relocated.
A detailed planning application for the scheme is now being developed and will be submitted in early 2015.
The leisure development will complement Drake Circus Shopping Center, broadening its appeal, establishing it as an evening destination and extending its trading hours. Since its acquisition by British Land in 2011, Drake Circus has successfully attracted a range of brands, including Apple, Fat Face and Yo! Sushi.
David Pollock, Retail Development Director for British Land, said: “Plymouth has a very strong local catchment, and a vibrant and successful city center, which will be further enhanced by our investment. The proposed leisure scheme creates an opportunity to take Drake Circus to the next level, and with a number of new brands added, is a very strong example of our strategy to create Places People Prefer. We are delighted to be working with Plymouth City Council on this project to establish Drake Circus as the West Country’s retail and leisure destination of choice.”
Plymouth has a large and affluent catchment of 560,000 people and benefits from a thriving tourist trade which welcomes 3.4 million visitors annually.
Source: British Land


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HTC is preparing to release the Exodus, a blockchain-based smartphone. The company hopes the phone will popularize blockchain technology and revolutionize data privacy. But if the Exodus is to succeed, it will need to overcome a lot of barriers.
‘Band of Brothers’ Follow-up ‘Masters of the Air’ Is On the Way. Here’s What We Know So Far Posted in: Health & Fitness


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Valencia, Giu. 23, 2022 - Riba Mundo Tecnología SL acquires ePrice.it in synergy with Portobello S.p.A.
Pleased to receive the visit of the women’s team of Ribarroja FC. This week, the footballers and the staff of Ribarroja FC visited our new HQ and our warehouses. As this year, Riba Mundo Tecnología will be the main sponsor of Ribarroja FC again next year.
On May 12, 2022 La Razon awarded us as the greatest business success case of the Valencian Community. We're proud to share with you this amazing moment. It represents another important milestone for us. Watch the video of the award cerimonies:
The company Riba Mundo Tecnología continues to beat brands and surpass the forecasts set in its business plan. On this occasion, the tech company has advanced its results of the first quarter of 2022 in which not only exceeds the figures of Q1 2021 but the forecasts marked for the start of this year. In […]
Tomorrow 11/03/2022 Riba Mundo Tecnología will remain closed due to relocation to the new warehouse. We will resume our regular service on Monday 14/03/22. Today’s orders will be processed regularly. Some shots from the new warehouse.
Riba Mundo Tecnología officially announces that from today its e-commerce is available in 7 languages. From today our customers can buy with much more simplicity. Valencia, Feb. 28, 2022 Riba Mundo Tecnología officially announces that it has completed the translation of its e-commerce that passes from two (Spanish, English) to seven official languages (Italian, German, […]
Source: Publicaciones Alimarket S.A. La compañía tecnológica Riba Mundo Tecnología ha cerrado el pasado 2021 superando con creces las perspectivas de facturación marcadas para dicho ejercicio. Según los datos facilitados por la empresa, sólo en lo que respecta a la facturación ésta habría superado en más de 20 M€ la cifra prevista inicialmente en su […]


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Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto revealed that Toyota Motor Company will increase its investment in Indonesia by $1.80 billion. This investment is for the development of electric vehicles.
The investment commitment was conveyed by the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Toyota Motor Corporation Shigeru Hayakawa in a meeting with Airlangga in Tokyo, Japan on Tuesday (26/7/2022).
“I believe that the demand for electric vehicles, both four-wheeled and two-wheeled in Indonesia and in the ASEAN region in the future, will continue to increase. Indonesia can be used as an industrial base for electric vehicle (EV) production to be marketed in the ASEAN region and in Indonesia itself,” Airlangga said in a statement. his statement, Wednesday (27/7/2022).
Toyota can also contribute to reducing emissions and reducing imports of fossil fuels by popularizing the use of electric vehicles (EV) in Indonesia. According to Airlangga, Toyota said that plans to add several types of hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) vehicles have been included in the pipeline for the next 4 years.
Akio Toyoda, who is the President of Toyota Motor Corporation, pledged an investment commitment in Indonesia to President Joko Widodo at the Osaka Summit meeting in 2019. Within 3 years, Toyota's investment has reached $933 million.
At a meeting with the Coordinating Minister for Airlangga, Shigeru Hayakawa also stated that he would add an investment of $1.80 billion over the next 5 years.
“We hope that with this increase in investment in Indonesia, the Indonesian government will understand our seriousness towards the electrification of motorized vehicles,” said Hayakawa.
In addition to providing investment commitments, this meeting also discussed the upskilling of engineer capabilities in Indonesia. Toyota has built the xEV Center in May 2022 to improve the capabilities and expertise of local human resources (HR) related to electrification and readiness in the digitalization era.
In collaboration with Pertamina and Inalum, Toyota has been trying to build the battery industry in Indonesia by increasing the expertise of local engineers. Toyota Indonesia continues to strive to develop local human resources, including the next generation of technology for mobility, which is represented by electrification.
To prepare the future skills of the Indonesian people towards the era of electrification and digitalization, Toyota Indonesia is also developing the xEV Center as an “Electrification Learning Facility” and to support the Indonesia Digital Industry Center 4.0 (PIDI 4.0) initiated by the Ministry of Industry towards IR4.0
Toyota Indonesia together with technicians from Indonesia also developed the Kijang Innova BEV concept to study technology and conditions in order to prepare for more tangible use by people in Indonesia.
As for closing the meeting, Airlangga said that he would involve electric vehicles produced by Toyota in the G20 event in November 2022 for the delegates.


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With a share of about 13 percent, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the biggest contributor to India’s agriculture and allied sector as of 2013-14, according to a recent Assocham study.
“Agriculture and allied sector contributes just over 22 percent to UP’s gross state domestic product (GSDP) as of 2013-14,” highlighted the study titled ‘States Emergence: A comparative analysis of growth & development.
“UP has acquired 15th position amid top 20 States in India with a mere 3.2 percent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in agriculture and allied sector during the decadal period of 2004-05 and 2013-14,” noted the study prepared by the Assocham Economic Research Bureau (AERB).
“UP government needs to take corrective measures to revive agriculture production as it is majorly an agrarian State and holds tremendous potential to attract significant investments in agri-infrastructure like wholesale and retail trading, storage, distribution and irrigation sectors,” said DS Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham while releasing the findings of the chamber’s study.
In the study, Assocham has recommended to UP government to perk up State’s agriculture scenario.
Disconnect between farmers and consumers or market is a major cause of farmers not able to benefit fully from modern scientific developments in farm industry. “This disconnect should be corrected through programs like ITC E-Choupal.”
Old mandi system should be replaced with modern competitive supply chains that would synergise agriculture and farm economy.
Information related to Monsoon, agriculture price of crop should be provided to farmers as per their convenience so that it could fetch maximum benefits for them. Information through mobile and Internet should be extended in order to provide better service.
Farming should be encouraged and promoted through providing best price of crop to the farmers. Trade fairs should be organised especially in rural areas with the participation of farmers through public-private partnership (PPP) model.
New commercial crops should be sought for and promoted to break the monotonous and risky dependence on single crop in the hinterland.
Contract farming concept should be implemented on a bigger scale and large farms should be promoted either through consolidation or outright purchases.
Better seeds, top-quality farm equipment, fertilisers and others should be provided to farmers. Besides, better water conservation and proper irrigation management should be implemented by creating awareness of its respective benefits amid farmers.
Government should provide agriculture insurance schemes to farmers who are involved in large scale farming and a PPP model could be developed for providing comprehensive insurance for agri-crops in the Rabi and Kharif season especially for sugar, pulses, wheat, rice and other prominent crops.


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Analysis of beer market in China (on Russian)
Beer market of Ukraine: big three losing weightIn 2016, fast increase of excises and resulting price spike stood in the way of the beer market stabilization. Most of competition (as well as mass sorts) moved to the economy segment of the market. The biggest losses were incurred by the leading three, especially Obolon, which again experienced pressure after reallocation of Efes market share. However, one should already speak of TOP-4. Group Oasis CIS (PPB) became a strong player and competitor to transnational companies. Besides the net sales of many regional medium breweries look rather good and 16-fold cost reduction wholesale trade license for craft brewers opens up a possibility of rapid growth in 2017.
Analysis of beer market in China
China’s transition to a “new normal” reality backfired on the brewing industry unexpectedly. Stagnation and subsequent market decline resulted from dynamic social and economic changes. There has emerged a “two speed” market where the medium class significance is growing, yet the share of main beer consumers, “blue collar” is decreasing. Also the inflow of consumers is shrinking, as demographics stopped being a growth driver. Finally, beer is giving way to other alcohol drinks....
India. Liquor companies lost $4 billion last year due to prohibition and GST exclusion
Nearly a dozen listed liquor companies in India have lost almost $4 billion, or a third of their market capitalisation, over the past year as their shares fell following a consistent decline in sales growth, prohibition in few states and exclusion of the segment from the GST ambit.
The combined market value of three largest companies — United Spirits, United Breweries and Radico Khaitan — crashed 30 per cent to Rs 55,392 crore from a year ago.
During the same period, the benchmark index Sensex fell marginally by 0.6 per cent.
"Prices of liquor brands went up by over 20 per cent due to taxes since more than two years. Then there are many states that banned alcohol which is impacting the estimated growth of the industry," said Aditya Joshi, consumer analyst with Nirmal Bang.
Since last year, Kerala, Bihar &Tamil Nadu that account for 20 per cent of India's alcohol consumption, banned liquor either completely or in a phased manner.
India is the second-largest spirits-consuming country behind China. However, India's overall liquor consumption at 314 million cases grew less than a percent in 2015, compared with about 2 per cent a year ago, and more than 10 per cent between 2004 and 2014.
"We do not expect the regulatory environment to materially improve in the next two to three years and this will impede any broad improvement in operating profit margins for alcoholic beverage companies," said a report by Moody's.
While the long-term potential of India's alcoholic beverage market is backed by strong growth prospects in the economy, rising disposable incomes and an increasing social acceptance of alcohol, profitability has been a problem. Taxes on alcohol, on an average, account for about 16 per cent of the overall tax revenues of state governments. In India, states levy taxes on alcohol, while the Centre levies duties on imports.
States control manufacturing, distribution and pricing of liquor. Moreover, the liquor segment has been kept out of GST, a big concern in terms of margins, said analysts.
The industry, however, is still hopeful.
"Post GST, alcohol will be the biggest direct source of revenue to a state compared to second largest now. States have been very possessive about this stream of revenue which is best reflected in the fact that they made sure alcohol was not included in GST," said Amrit Kiran Singh, chairman at International Spirits & Wines Association of India that recently met Empowered Committee's chairman to discuss the matter.
12 Aug. 2016


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Bleak U.S. Jobs Report Sends Asian Markets Lower
Thursday's bleak announcement that U.S. jobless claims spiked by 12,000 to 500,000 last week sent shivers through markets. Many analysts expected the number of jobless claims to fall, and the sudden increase does not bode well. It could indicate that U.S. companies actually increased layoffs in the past few months. More unemployed workers mean fewer people are out shopping for Asian-made goods, including flat screen televisions, cameras and cars.
Sharp tumbled 2.7% in Tokyo after the electronics company announced it will slash production of LCDs for up to two months, reports Reuters. This includes large panels the company manufactures for television makers like Sony. U.S. stores are contending with overstocks of TVs as shoppers steer clear of larger purchases. Sony sank 2.5%, Mitsubishi Electric plummeted 5.4% and Pioneer dived 3.2%.
Among camera makers, Konica Minolta slumped 3.6%, Olympus tumbled 3.4% and Canon fell 2.2%. Fujifilm, which also makes medical equipment, dropped 1.8%.
Japanese car makers suffered today with Nissan plunging 2.4%, Toyota sliding 1.8% and Honda retreating 1.6%. Mazda, which just announced a new recall, slipped 1.5% and Isuzu was down 0.4%. According to the Financial Times, new car sales in the U.S. rose in July, hitting their highest level this year. But gloomy economic forecasts could certainly put a damper on upcoming sales.
In Hong Kong, property developers were among the worst performers. Investors are keeping a close eye on Beijing's policies designed to rein in property speculators, and so far, it doesn't look like it will be loosening up any time soon. Today China Resource Land nosedived 2.7%, China Overseas plunged 1.5%, Cheung Kong was down 1.3% and Sun Hung Kai lost 1.1%. Wharf Holdings, with its portfolio of brightly lit shoppers paradises, which are open late into the night, including the Times Square shopping center and the Harbor City mall in Kowloon, declined 1% today. The company originally owned docks in Hong Kong Harbor, and still runs the Star Ferry, which transports passengers from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon for HK$2 (25 cents).
Some stocks rose in Hong Kong, including oil explorer Cnooc, which surged 2% on increased first-half profits. ZTE, a maker of mobile communications systems and equipment rallied 5.3% and China Mobile advanced 1.3%. But Foxconn, a maker of mobile phones and computer equipment for the likes of Apple, Dell and HP, slid 0.8% on fears that a weaker U.S. economy would have a dire effect on sales.
In China, banks and real estate stocks dragged the index lower as local papers warned that inflation may be on its way. Poly Real Estate fell 2.9%, Gemdale slumped 1.8% and China Vanke dropped 1%. Shanghai Pudong Development Bank declined 1.8% and China Merchants Bank receded 0.7%.
Chinese raw materials producers also closed lower as a slowing U.S. economy would threaten demand for Chinese exports. Jiangxi Copper tumbled 4.3%, Zijin Mining skidded 3.3% and Baoshan Iron & Steel declined 2.7%. But so far, the slowdown has spurred Americans to favor cheaper Chinese-made goods over more expensive U.S.-made products, which should hearten Asian manufacturers.


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FEATURED ACTION: PROTECT OUR PUBLIC LANDS FROM FRACKING
Representative Mark Pocan (WI-2) recently introduced a bill to ban fracking on all public lands — the strongest piece of federal legislation against fracking to date. Our U.S. parks and national forests are irreplaceable. Not only do they provide beautiful recreational areas and essential wildlife habitat, they also protect critical drinking water sources. Please sign the petition asking your Representative to support a ban on fracking on public lands.
Stop Monsanto’s Bill to Kill GMO Labels
Monsanto, Nestlé, Dow and Pepsi’s industry group, the Grocery Manufacturers Association, is trying to pass a bill that would effectively take away labels for genetically engineered foods, or GMOs. We have a right to know what is in our food so that we can make educated decisions about the food we eat. Tell your legislators that their constituents are watching and demand mandatory labels for GMOs.
Keep Chicken from China Out of School Lunches
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that China has been approved to export processed poultry to the United States. China’s food safety system has been wrought with scandals and cases of unsafe food production for years. Congress should help keep our food safe by prohibiting the USDA from purchasing Chinese poultry for federal nutrition programs, including the school lunch program. Take action to make sure that these products do not end up in school lunches.


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31st May 2022
All 100 franchise brands that made the now prominent ‘Elite Franchise Top 100’ list (EF100) were eligible for the prestigious award. But judges highlighted Snap-on’s introduction of a revolutionary franchise package for the next generation, as well as its investment into infrastructure and technology which had propelled its franchisees’ businesses forwards during a period of economic uncertainty.
Andrew Brattesani, Head of UK Franchising at HSBC, said:
“This is only the second time that the Exceptional Performance Award has been presented – and the fact that it has been awarded to Snap-on on both occasions speaks volumes about the franchise. Throughout all the ongoing difficulties of the last 12 months, Snap-on has been especially impressive with its ability to pivot, grow and enhance all aspects of its entire franchise network and model. We were particularly struck by the decision to relocate franchisee training from the US to a dedicated, training facility in the UK and various innovations made which has allowed franchisees to spend less time travelling and more time with their customers. As well as designing creative solutions to never-before-seen problems, Snap-on Tools continued to look ahead and develop new facets of its franchise model to empower a new generation of franchise owners.”
Established in 2017 in association with HSBC, the EF100 recognises the very best in UK franchising. It celebrates the sector’s brightest businesses and ranks them according to a broad range of criteria; from their financial performance and heritage to their contribution to the community and the way they embrace innovation. The franchise industry contributes over £17billion to the UK economy and more than 700,000 people are employed in franchising across the country. Despite a difficult economic climate, the last 12 months has seen franchise brands like Snap-on Tools survive and thrive thanks to their robust infrastructures and proven business models.
Lisa Law, Snap-on’s National Franchise Manager, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to have been presented with this award for a second time. The last 18 months have shown us that overall our franchise family is unshakable. We innovate, we invest, we support – we are utterly dedicated to every franchisee. But none of that matters if those franchisees aren’t in love with their businesses. Ours are. And we’re so proud of how they have embraced so many challenges in these 18 months. They are a daily inspiration to us all. Thank you for the recognition – we’re excited for what the future holds.”
In a show of ongoing strength and commitment to customers, the brand launched 119 new products to market in 2021. Franchisees reaped the benefits as sales increased and a whopping 27 franchisees achieved over £10k sales every single week of 2021, earning them their place in the brand’s exclusive ‘£10k club’. A testament to both Snap-on’s and its franchisees’ ongoing commitment to the business.
5th December 2021
For the fourth consecutive year, Snap-on Tools has been named as the number one automotive franchise in the UK.
27th November 2021
Snap-on Tools adds another award to its already impressive collection. The ‘HSBC Elite Franchise Exceptional Performance Award 2021’
“I love owning my Snap-on franchise. I’ll never take it for granted that I’ve had the opportunity to join the most well-known tool brand in the world. I’ve built a business that has allowed me and my wife to enjoy our lives.Paul Bevington
I’ve always wanted two things; my own family and my own business. I’m incredibly proud that I’ve achieved both by the age of 32! My business is allowing me to build a future for my family whilst enjoying the sense of freedom and pride that comes with being your own boss. It’s win-win.David Hogg
The support you get managing your finances is second to none and, as I’d never owned my own business before, that was invaluable. They even help you fund the franchise – what more could you ask for?”Adam Trowler
Never just a ‘man in a van’ – 165 UK support team dedicated to your success
New franchisees becoming top-performers in year one!
Average franchisee sales of over £7k per week


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TrapCasino.com raises the stakes and welcomes thousands of players to new crypto casino.
Disclaimer: The text below is a press release that is not part of Cryptonews.com editorial content.
Social media star Bryce Hall was one of the first to reap the benefits of playing at TrapCasino.com, bagging himself $28,000 and introducing followers to the latest evolution of online gaming.
After companies like Stake took the gambling scene by storm, TrapCasino.com has emerged as the new kid on the block in online gambling, offering patrons various games. With a sleek and user-friendly interface, the platform promises a seamless gaming experience, attracting a significant following quickly. New crypto casino TrapCasino.com has experienced a massive influx of players in recent weeks becoming a dedicated hub for gamers, betters, entertainers, sports lovers, e-sports lovers, and crypto enthusiasts.
Recently launched by NFL superstar Antonio Brown on his Instagram, it has taken the gaming world by storm with its vast collection of casino games and betting options, attracting a massive following within a short period and cementing itself as the dominant player in the industry.
TrapCasino.com is an online casino and gaming site with a matchless edge. By offering a diverse range of games and unparalleled customer service, the platform is focused on security and user-friendliness in a way that sets it apart from the competition.
But beyond these benefits, Trapcasino.com has seen users flock to it because it has embraced the cryptocurrency world in ways that few other betting and gaming sites have. TrapCasino.com allows Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dash, Tether, and Cardano as payment methods, to name just a few. It also boasts seamless cryptocurrency transactions once again proving its commitment to providing exceptional customer service by consistently processing withdrawals for its users in 20 minutes or less, making it the go-to destination for those seeking a unified and hassle-free gaming experience.
TrapCasino.com has already attracted some big names in the social media world, with several online personalities making the site their go-to place for gaming. The site recently caught the attention of some of the biggest gambling influencers on Twitter. With an impressive portfolio of games and enticing bonuses, Trap Casino has emerged as the go-to choice for many influential personalities in the gambling industry.
Influencers like Meezy and Brodie Bets have utilized Trap Casino's remarkable offerings to give their followers a thrilling and lucrative online gambling experience. Among them is YouTube star and influencer Bryce Hall. who has a following of over 24 million on TikTok and 3 million on YouTube. Given his interest in cryptocurrency, gaming, and betting, Bryce Hall was the perfect person to test-run TrapCasino.com and get to grips with the platform’s excellent user experience and customer support.
Hall made an impressive $28,000 win while playing on TrapCasino.com from slots alone, which sparked the interest of his followers and the wider crypto-gaming community.
With 15,000 active users and growing by the day at Trap Casino, it's clear that the platform is a proven favorite among online gamers, providing an exceptional and engaging gaming experience that keeps players coming back for more.
With this latest casino, many gamers are starting to feel like they’ve found their hub.
Find out more about TrapCasino here.
Please direct all media inquiries to:
Media Contact: Sidon Farris
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (424) 303.1101


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The revolution of smartphone photography happened with the Nokia 808 PureView and its second version, Nokia Lumia 1020. Just until recently, many smartphone manufacturers tried to dethrone Nokia which was a king of smartphone photography, and in 2018 we finally got phones that have better and more competitive cameras. Huawei Mate 20 has the largest sensor in the smartphone market, but Nokia 808 and Lumia 1020 had even bigger sensors.
Big sensors aren’t crucial in achieving the best photos. Software plays a big role also. Steve Litchfield from AllAboutSymbian portal showed in a camera comparison how Pixel 3 and its camera app can beat Nokia’s great camera setup. Steve teamed up Nokia 808 PW and Lumia 1020 cameras against the latest Pixel 3 camera and showed that great camera followed with a great app can have an advantage of the great hardware.
If you check the comparison photos taken, you’ll notice that Nokia camera monsters dominated when the light conditions were great, zooming required and when Xenon flash was needed to freeze the house party moment. Macro shots and night shots were better with Pixel 3 camera, and generally where algorithms were playing an important role in creating photos.


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NTU to cultivate young entrepreneurs
By Ted Chen , The China PostTAIPEI, Taiwan -- Amid declining compensation levels in Taiwan's business sector, National Taiwan University yesterday announced its NTU Garage program, an initiative designed to promote entrepreneurship among students.
October 22, 2013, 12:06 am TWN
The program invokes the humble beginnings of numerous industry-leading companies, including Apple, Facebook, and Google.
With many graduating students facing low monthly salaries of NT$22,000 and persisting unemployment woes, the university plans to cultivate over 30 entrepreneurial endeavors a year and to help create over 1,000 new companies in the coming decade.
NTU stated that the program is designed to show graduating students entering the workforce that there are alternatives to contending for poorly paid jobs, and rather that it is possible to create jobs by starting one's own company. The program will focus on specialized knowledge and abilities in startup ventures. Rather than giving fish to students, the school would rather provide them with the tools and know-how of the trade, said NTU.
Since the program's pilot run six months ago, the university has invited numerous Silicon Valley venture capitalists, experienced entrepreneurs, and veteran teams to guide students' endeavors. Experts are drawn from the fields of technology, social sciences, liberal arts, and service industries.
NTU noted that one of the teams being cultivated had seen success in its Fersonal wardrobe consultation platforms, which offers one-on-one fashion advice for males around the age of 30. In a single month of operation, Fersonal employees earned wages of NT$30,000, a figure markedly higher than the average for fresh graduates. Employees on the team remarked that despite uncertainties, the startup environment is ideal for students to apply what they have learned in a professional setting. Working in a startup company, we feel that we are truly able to direct the path of our futures, said the students.
However, NTU stated that entering the operational stage represents the greatest challenge for entrepreneurial endeavors. NTU hopes to lead by example in encouraging universities to promote entrepreneurship among students. The long-term goal is to see Taiwan's economy shift its focus to the pursuit of efficiency and to creativity and innovation, said NTU.


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A Tribeca triplex that rented for $85,000 a month has hit the market for $30 million.
The penthouse at 1 North Moore Street comes with an outdoor pool, two outdoor grills and views of One World Trade Center, according to The Wall Street Journal. The 5,500-square-foot home has three bedrooms and three full bathrooms and a media room that can be converted into a fourth bedroom. It also has 2,200 square feet of outdoor space over two levels, including a landscaped rooftop deck with a 21-foot infinity pool and Jacuzzi, an outdoor shower and a kitchen. The primary suite has a wet bar and a suede ceiling.
The seller, Simon Posen, a 52-year-old U.K.-born investor, was an early backer of the building before buying the unit in 2012 for $8 million and spending $5 million customizing it, including with the addition of stone floors and walnut ceilings. A wine collector, Posen also built a wood-and-iron wine cellar in the basement that can hold more than 2,000 bottles. He began renting the apartment out last year after moving to Miami, the Journal reported.
The listing agent is Khashy Eyn, founder and CEO of Platinum Properties, who is marketing the property with two colleagues, Cyrus Eyn and Cash Bernard. Eyn said the unit has served as a setting for numerous TV shows and commercials.
Eyn said there’s still demand for high-end homes like the 1 North Moore penthouse despite a slowdown in the luxury market due to economic headwinds. Luxury sales in Manhattan rose 45 percent year-over-year during the first quarter, according to data from appraisal firm Miller Samuel cited by the Journal. In May, contracts for luxury condos priced at $10 million to $19.99 million dropped 41 percent from a year earlier.
[The Wall Street Journal] – Harrison Connery


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LONDON, England – The UK’s electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme has officially opened for Qatari nationals who, from today, need one to travel to the UK. This landmark opening demonstrates the UK government’s delivery in transforming and digitising the UK border, enabling an increasingly seamless customer experience in the future for the millions of legitimate visitors who come to the UK.
Qataris have been able to apply for their ETA since 25 October 2023, with most doing so using the mobile app, which allows for a simple and fast application.
Last year, the UK welcomed almost 800,000 visitors from the Gulf, 45,000 of whom came from Qatar, with this set to increase over the next few years.
His Majesty’s Ambassador to State of Qatar, Jon Wilks CMG, said:
“I am delighted to announce the official opening of the electronic travel authorisation scheme for Qatari nationals, who will be the first in the world to benefit from the scheme. This initiative not only simplifies the travel process for Qataris visiting the UK but also reflects the strength of our bilateral relationship. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from Qatar, further building the human bridge between our two countries.”
Nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan will need an ETA if they’re visiting the UK from 22 February 2024, and can apply for their ETA from 1 February 2024.
ETAs are replacing Electronic Visa Waivers (EVW) which the majority of Gulf nationals currently apply for. An ETA is an improvement from the EVW, being a third of the price at £10 and allowing unlimited visits to the UK over two years, or until the holder’s passport expires – whichever is sooner. The move to the ETA scheme means that the visa requirement will be removed for short stays to the UK for nationals from the Gulf and Jordan.
When applying for an ETA, applicants need to provide biographic and biometric information, and answer questions on suitability and criminality. The application process ensures that those who pose a danger to the UK’s security, such as criminals, are not allowed to travel here. Once individuals have successfully applied, their ETA is digitally linked to their passport.
While the standard processing time for an application is 3 working days, the majority of applications so far have been decided within hours.
VisitBritain CEO, Patricia Yates, said:
“It’s great to see the electronic travel authorisation scheme underway for Qatari visitors, making travel to the UK easier, cheaper and more flexible for them. We look forward to the scheme rolling out to more Gulf nationals from February 2024 which, combined with our strong airline connections, will further boost our competitive tourism offer and our welcome to visitors from the region.
“VisitBritain’s priority has been to rebuild visitor value and we have been competing hard in the Gulf with our multi-million pound GREAT Britain marketing campaign and working with partners in market to drive bookings. We’re also working with the travel trade across the GCC so British destinations are sold internationally. We look forward to welcoming more visitors from the Gulf to experience Britain’s vibrant and exciting tourism offer into 2024 and beyond.”
To ensure the scheme is implemented smoothly, the UK government is working closely with global airline, maritime and rail carriers, who are crucial to the successful delivery of the scheme.
In the future, the scheme will apply worldwide to those who do not currently need a visa to visit or transit through the UK or who do not hold a UK immigration status, including nationals from Europe and America. Other nationalities do not need to apply yet and timings for when the scheme opens for them will be confirmed in due course.


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Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 7.1 to developers today as a direct download and OTA update. The release comes after beta 2 was seeded in the Apple Dev Center on December 13.
Apple hasn’t said what new features are in beta 3, but rest assured that we’ll let you know. New betas for the Apple TV and Xcode were also released alongside 7.1 beta 3 today. The public release of iOS 7.1 hasn’t been revealed, but this new beta is a sign that the software is getting closer to prime time.
Alex Heath is a journalist and co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like "ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation." He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.


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The last remaining dairy farm in the Town of LaFayette is stopping milk production.
Owner Bud Nurse told NewsChannel 9 due to his health and the dairy economy, he has decided to auction off all of his equipment and cattle.
“It is mixed emotions. I mean part of me is excited to start another chapter in your life and you know?” Nurse said. “Hopefully everything will go good.”
The auction is set to take place at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday at the Ameslea Farm in Lafayette.
Nurse says when he moved to LaFayette to farm back in 1989, there were eight dairy farms. Now there won’t be any that produce milk in the town.
“Last four years has been pretty tough,” he said when asked about selling milk.
Farmers from across the state are expected to attend Tuesday’s auction.


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Inflation hits 30-year high as holiday season nears | Center Square
The prices of everyday goods are getting increasingly more expensive, new federal data confirm.
The Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday released its monthly report on the consumer price index, a key marker of inflation, which showed that consumer prices rose 0.9% in October and are currently rising at the fastest rate in decades…
Erik Randolph, director of research for the Georgia Center for Opportunity, disagrees, pointing to increased spending under the Biden administration as a cause for concern.
“Hoping that inflation is just transitory may be wishful thinking at this point,” Randolph said. “This October report is a warning bell for Congress and the Federal Reserve to focus on fiscal spending and monetary causes. As Congress proposes spending more on programs using debt, they are at risk of causing more financial woes and not the relief they seek.”


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Aspect Software News & Analysis
| Thursday Nov 21, 2013
With the holidays upon us, online and offline retailers alike are scrambling to prepare for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and all the days between now and New Year's Day. Previously, we discussed the link between customer experience and a successful holiday retail season.
To further highlight the relationship, CorvisaCloud, a cloud-based voice communication technology company, released survey findings that reveal why businesses should make customer service the priority this holiday season.
| Thursday Jul 11, 2013
In all the talk about omni-channels, interactive voice response (IVR) is rarely mentioned, yet it is the channel many customers must struggle through. Customer interaction vendor Aspect Software is fully aware of IVR’s continued importance, so much so that it announced this week an agreement to buy IVR provider Voxeo Corporation for approximately US$ 150 million.
| Tuesday Apr 9, 2013
Four out of every ten customers would rather experience a trip to their Department of Motor Vehicles than contact customer care. With all due respect to your local DMV, that’s a sobering reflection of the state of customer service, but only one of many in a new survey sponsored by Aspect Software, a customer interaction management vendor.
| Thursday Jan 24, 2013
Social media is now migrating in full force to the enterprise, with particular importance for contact centers. To find out its perspective on this aspect of business socialization, CMSWire recently talked to customer contact vendor, Aspect Software’s Chief Marketing Officer Jim Freeze.


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Cereal maker Kellogg (NYSE:K) revealed plans on Monday to slash 7% of its workforce by 2017 and downgraded its full-year forecast due amid shrinking North American sales.
Continue Reading Below
Shares of the maker of Special K and Frosted Flakes rallied 4% on the news, which also included stronger-than-anticipated third-quarter earnings and in-line sales.
Kellogg said it expects the restructuring program to cost between $1.2 billion and $1.4 billion and generate annual cash savings of $425 million to $475 million in 2018. Management expects to recognize $175 million to $200 million in charges for the full year.
The plan calls for Kellogg to cut its global workforce by about 7% and increase its investment in core markets, developing and emerging markets and global category teams.
“We are making the difficult decisions necessary to address structural cost-saving opportunities which will enable us to increase investment in our core markets and in opportunities for future growth. These actions will set a foundation for our sustainable growth operating principle,” Kellogg CEO John Bryant said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Kellogg said it earned $326 million, or 90 cents a share, last quarter, compared with a profit of $318 million, or 89 cents a share, a year earlier.
Excluding one-time items, it earned 95 cents a share, exceeding forecasts from analysts by six cents.
Revenue dipped 0.1% to $3.72 billion, essentially matching the Street’s view of $3.71 billion. Organic sales increased 0.5%.
Kellogg said North American sales fell 1.3% to $2.4 billion, while sales jumped 3.4% in Latin America and 6.4% in Europe.
Looking ahead, Kellogg now expects to post 2013 non-GAAP EPS at the lower end of its earlier view of $3.75 to $3.84. Analysts had been calling for EPS of $3.77.
Shares of Battle Creek, Mich.-based Kellogg advanced 3.53% to $64.49 Monday morning, extending its 2013 gain to more than 15%.


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Surge in container market demand and container shortages since the second half of 2020 have significantly pushed up freight rates and caused widespread congestion at major ports around the world . The container shipping market is moving toward a “new normal,” with high freight rates and cyclical upturns in the market likely to last for several years. Both shippers and logistics companies may face difficult times.
The problem of container shortage is increasingly out of the narrow industry perspective and begins to attract the attention of the mass media. The New York Times reported on this problem, which is not new in the industry, and commented that the shortage of containers has led to inflation, and consumers will be the final payers – “demand…has exceeded the supply of containers,” And the epidemic in the United States has eased, and retailers can pass on higher shipping costs to consumers without being accused of price gouging – “The cost of almost everything is rising.”
Many months after the container shortage first emerged, how serious is the problem still?
Equipment leasing companies are the most vocal entities that can answer this question. They order containers from a very small number of Chinese manufacturers and then rent these boxes. To the shipping company, the shipping company will also order directly from the factory.
Two of the top publicly traded leasing companies—Triton International (NYSE: TRTN) and CAI International (NYSE: CAI)—announced their 2021 financial results last week. Comments were made on container availability during the first quarter results.
The tighter the container capacity, the more profitable the container rental market will be. Cargo shippers will have to pay more transportation fees to liner companies, which is bad news for U.S. importers and exporters, but equipment lessors are happy that the “future” will be smooth sailing until 2022.
Tim Page, interim chief executive of CAI International, one of the two top listed leasing companies, said on a conference call with analysts: “Shipping Companies are showing no signs that the supply constraints they were looking forward to are easing. So … the outlook for us is pretty good, at least until the end of the year, and probably well beyond that.”
Container lessors: only 2-3 weeks of supply
According to US industry media reports, Three Chinese companies, CIMC, Oriental International DFIC and Xinhuachang Group Co., Ltd. CXIC, produce about 80% of the world’s containers. Production has increased recently, and it is estimated that container production capacity will increase by 6%-8% this year. But even so, the pace of container construction is still not enough to ease market tensions.
O’Callaghan, head of global marketing and operations for Triton, another top listed rental company, said on the company’s conference call that although the plant was closed late last year and stepped up container production at the beginning of this year, but the inventory of new containers is still very low. “Those big guys (containers) sitting on the ground waiting to be moved out are probably only two to three weeks’ supply.”
The price of containers is a manifestation of continued scarcity. Currently, the price of a new container is US$3,500 per cost equivalent unit (CEU, which measures the value of a container as a multiple of a 20-foot dry cargo unit), compared with US$1,800 per CEU at the beginning of 2020 and US$2,500 per CEU at the end of 2020. Over the past three months, costs have remained essentially stable at $3,500 per CEU.
Recent price increases are even more extreme in the second-hand container market. Container xChange reports that second-hand container prices in China have almost doubled, from $1,299/CEU in November to $2,521 in March.
According to Triton’s O’Callaghan, “a shortage of available sales containers is causing prices to rise week-on-week as stocks are depleted”.
Why are the new cabinets still insufficient?
This year’s production increase follows a period in which orders fell below market replacement requirements. According to Triton CEO Brian Sondey, “A lot of the container production that happened this year was, in part, to make up for the low production in 2019 and the first half of 2020.”
CAI’s Page believes that another reason why containers are not more abundant is that Chinese factories have not expanded production capacity, and “manufacturers have shown no signs that they will add more containers.” Volume.”
When asked why leasing companies were unable to gain market share and drive down prices, Page said, “If container manufacturers’ behavior doesn’t completely change – no one seems to think this is possible – they (manufacturers) would have to be willing to produce containers and fight for market share, producing far more containers than demand, to have a chance of someone (in the leasing space) having a surplus of containers and having them in the market Prices are driving the market.”
In other words, Chinese factories are controlling production to keep their new box prices low. This negates hopes on the part of shippers – the market could be flooded withA surplus of new containers, thus lowering freight rates.
When will the shortage of containers be alleviated?
Easing the scarcity of containers is not just a production issue. Many containers have been severely delayed due to problems such as port congestion and the Ever Given accident in the Suez Canal, and their turnover has failed. Only when these blockages are cleared will more containers become available.
According to Triton’s Sander, the slowdown in disrupted “container velocity” began with the COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 and then later in 2020. It started with “a flood of containers that overwhelmed the port’s ability to move containers in and out” and was followed by the ‘icing on the cake’ – the blockage of the Suez Canal.
CAI’s Page also said there is now an unusual situation occurring at ports of destination for Chinese cargo. Ships are so eager to turn around that they “are forced to return to China Leaving empty containers behind.
“Several of our major customers report that almost every ship leaving China and other export regions is fully loaded, but Due to the tight shipping schedule and the need to turn around quickly, they could not wait for all the empty containers. When they left, there were 5%-8% fewer containers in the (return) leg than in the (previous leg) leg. “
Triton’s Sander said: “What we are hearing is that most customers (liner companies) do not think these bottlenecks will evaporate quickly. But they also don’t think these bottlenecks are necessarily permanent… There’s no doubt that as bottlenecks ease, that could free up container capacity.
“So, we’re all trying to figure out what this transition process is going to look like. I haven’t seen any of our customers express confidence that they can This is a strong period right now, debottlenecking their business. Our general view is that it will probably continue until trade slows down. Who knows when exactly that will be. But I think the bets are probably on some date towards the end of this year or early next year. At this time, maybe the trade world will begin to return to normal.”
Strong demand, shortage of containers, high freight rates, congestion and delays have become the “new normal”
Lars Jensen, an analyst at Vespucci Maritime, a maritime analysis agency, said that shippers and logistics companies will face a series of difficult years, and a cyclical recovery before 2024 will be beneficial to high-end shipping companies. The stability of freight rates benefits container shipping companies.
He pointed out that the “new normal” in the container market is mainly the result of the blockage of the Suez Canal and the new coronavirus pandemic.
“Currently, it will take 4-6 months before we have a real chance of getting operations back to normal. But that requires the world to be in some sort of normalcy , and that is not the case.” Jensen said, “Container liners are in the process of digesting excess capacity at a time when demand is extremely strong. Excess capacity has long been a feature of the container market to cope with congestion.”
In the current situation, the number of ships planned to enter the market is much smaller, while demand will continue to soar. Jensen stressed that the ships currently on order to meet growing demand will not be delivered until 2024.
This also means that the container industry will face a cyclical upswing, which will benefit container liner companies and cause higher costs for customers.
This trend can be felt in logistics companies such as DSV. Anders Oldenborg, product shipping director of DSV Air & Sea, described the period of December, January and February as Described as “crazy, it’s the likes of which we’ve never experienced”. The disruption of the Suez Canal at the end of March compounded the misfortune.
He said: “Nothing is working because of the lack of capacity. There are not enough containers to meet the demand we are seeing. Carriers are fully loaded by June “As a result, DSV has begun considering chartering vessels to cope with the current market pressure,” he added. Oldenborg said: “We have no intention of operating container shipping, but at the same time, when we encounter challenges like now, we feel the need to look at available alternatives.”
Regarding DSV’s interim report for the first quarter of this year, its CEO Jens Bjørn Andersen emphasized that the current situation of high prices and low quality is unfortunate for shippers.
“This is an incredibly bad combination. Cargo transportation is more expensive than ever and the quality of shipping services is worse than ever.” Andersen said in the interim results the report said. “From what we’re seeing in the market, it’s not inconceivable that the abnormality will continue through the rest of the year. And then we’ll see what else happens.”


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The Global Department Store Summit
GDSS is the world’s leading discussion platform for department store CEOs and senior executives and their stakeholders including brands, suppliers and service companies to meet, network and exchange ideas. GDSS 2022 is organised by Nordstrom and IGDS.
• GDSS 2018 in London
During GDSS 2018, 30 industry experts, economists, department store leaders and London figureheads shared their insights and strategies on ‘The Power of Luxury Redefined’ in front of an audience of executives from around the world. Selfridges was the winner of ‘The Best Department Store in the World’ Award in 2018; ‘The World's Best Business Partner to Department Stores 2018’ Award was given to Gucci. www.gdss2018.org.
• GDSS 2016 in Zurich
At the 5th GDSS, major industry figures shared their insights and strategies on 'Delighting Global Travellers at Home & Away'. Organised by Jelmoli and IGDS, which on this occasion also celebrated its 70th anniversary, the Summit welcomed senior executives from 65 department stores. Rinascente won the envied title of 'Best Department Store in the World'; Harvey Nichols took home the 'World's Best Store Window Campaign at a Department Store' award and Selfridges won the 'World's Best Sustainability Campaign at a Department Store' award. www.gdss2016.org.
• GDSS 2014 in Singapore
The 4th GDSS was staged in Singapore, organised in collaboration with TANGS. The conference - held in Asia for the first time - was attended by retail executives and stakeholders from 46 countries, including leaders from 56 department stores. During the two-day event, top retail leaders shared their views and strategies on the theme ‘Capturing the Retail REvolution’. Selfridges was recognised as the ‘Best Department Store in the World’ for an unprecedented third time consecutively; in competition were two other world-renowned department stores: Macy’s, USA, and Breuninger, Germany. www.dssummit2014.org.
• GDSS 2012 in Paris
The 3rd GDSS was held at the iconic Centre Pompidou in Paris, organised in collaboration with Printemps. Carrying the title ‘Staying Relevant for Growth’, the Summit presented compelling presentations and great insights from 20 highly experienced retail CEOs from America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Selfridges was elected ‘Department Store of the Year 2012’ for the second time; the other finalists were Macy’s, USA, and Woolworths, South Africa. www.dssummit2012.org.
• GDSS 2010 in New York
The 2nd GDSS saw delegates from 36 countries attending the Summit in New York. Organised in collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue, this Summit carried the theme of ‘Winning in the New Retail Environment’, with fourteen CEO speakers presenting their success stories. Selfridges, UK, won the ‘Department Store of the Year 2010’ Award; the other finalists were Bloomingdales, U.S.A., and Lane Crawford, Hong Kong. www.dssummit2010.org.
• GDSS 2008 in London
The first GDSS was staged in London in May 2008, and was organised in cooperation with Selfridges. Leading executives from the global retail industry attended this successful event and benefited greatly from the dynamic presentations of fourteen highly experienced department stores CEOs on the topic of 'Growth Opportunities for Department Stores'. During the Official Dinner, the title of ‘Department Store of the Year 2008’ was awarded to Bloomingdales, USA; the other finalists were Central Department Store, Thailand, and Woolworths, South Africa. www.dssummit2008.org.


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After a busy day at work, Lou Raffel likes to retreat to his Chicago-area home for a relaxing dinner. And there's a good chance it'll be something as simple as scrambled eggs and onions."I eat a lot of eggs,
says the affable Raffel, sitting in an office filled with three dozen commemorative eggs of every color and size. "But I ate a lot of eggs before I came here. And I don't just eat them for breakfast."
As president and CEO of the American Egg Board, Raffel has guided a 26-year campaign to encourage egg consumption. And in today's produce-or-get-out business atmosphere, having the time to craft a well-thought-out effort for eggs is the type of luxury few PR people are given. And Raffel has directed his efforts at healthcare professionals, food retailers, and consumers in an ongoing campaign.
"Everyone in the eggs industry agrees that demand has increased,
says Raffel. "We believe that the change in attitude has been accomplished with PR."
The Egg Board, formed in 1976, spends about $11 million annually on advertising.
It also spends more than $1.5 million a year on PR-related activities.
"We've used PR to change attitudes,
Raffel explains, "and that was the base for the advertising.
While Egg Board ads show enticing photos of egg dishes, "the PR is giving people the permission to go ahead and do it (eat eggs)."
When the Egg Board was formed, eggs were getting a bad rap because of then-new concerns about cholesterol. Egg producers asked Congress for help, and the Egg Board was formed as a result, to "allow egg producers to fund and carry out proactive programs to increase markets for eggs," according to the organization's mission statement.
Raffel came to his post with experience in both PR and the world of commodities.
A native Chicagoan and lifelong White Sox fan, he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1955 with a degree in management. After a two-year Army stint, he thought about a career, and said, "Gee, PR sounds fun and exciting ... I should try that."
His first attempts to get into Chicago agencies failed, so he sold classified ads for a daily paper. Six months later, a local agency called, and Raffel's PR career began. After a stay at an ad agency's PR division, he became assistant director of PR at the American Meat Institute, a trade group for the meat industry - his first foray into commodities. "I learned PR there,
He next became director of PR for the National Dairy Council, and then tried the corporate world, becoming director of PR for Armour & Co., a major meat processor at the time. When Armour was bought by Greyhound, Raffel took his only professional leave from Chicago, moving to Phoenix to handle Armour's PR. He then became VP of advertising and PR for all of Greyhound, then a multi-industry holding company whose interests ranged beyond the familiar bus line.
But Raffel missed the Windy City. He also missed working for an association.
"It's a different kind of challenge,
he says. "You get a greater sense of an industry trying to pull together around common goals."
When the Egg Board opportunity arose, he jumped at the chance to get back to association work, and to his beloved Chicago White Sox.
Being an egg boaster wasn't easy. Americans were worried about cholesterol - something no one could see, but everyone was talking about. And eggs were viewed as a cholesterol culprit.
The Egg Board quickly decided that it needed to fund research on eggs and health. The studies found that there's less cholesterol in the average egg than once thought, and that eggs have a higher quality of protein than many other sources. Raffel publicized those findings and others to healthcare groups. "We need that credibility from health professionals,
In the past two years, Raffel has been stressing positive health benefits that research has turned up. Eggs are a good source of lutein, for example, something that may help fight the vision problem macular degeneration.
Raffel has worked with New York PR shop Aronow & Pollack since the late 1980s on health and nutrition PR.
On the consumer and media fronts, a man known as the Omelet King visits with food editors in New York to tout new egg dishes. "We get enormous amounts of publicity in the women's service magazines because of him," says Raffel. Other consumer-directed PR includes camera-ready stories on egg dishes for newspapers, and a wide range of recipe brochures.
Last year, 27 magazines with a combined circulation of 244 million did 103 features mentioning eggs, spurred by Egg Board PR efforts.
Raffel tries to imbue a sense of fun in the board's consumer-directed PR, noting correctly that food has to connect with consumers on a visceral, fun level. Board handouts are filled with egg puns, like its "Dinner Time Eggspress
recipe handout, or the "Eggcyclopedia
it prints for consumers (an unabridged version was made for food editors).
Raffel has definitely gotten the media's attention. Stories talking about eggs are on the uptick, says Linda Smithson, a managing partner of Foodwatch, a newsletter that monitors food publications. "Food editors are concluding that eggs have a positive place in today's diet,
says Smithson. "We attribute that to the Egg Board being out there, educating editors."
Gail Bellamy, managing editor/food editor with Restaurant Hospitality magazine, says, "I think they're very thorough. They provide lots of ideas, are responsive with material, and it's always appropriate and on time.
Bellamy sits on one of the Board's advisory panels - a device Raffel uses to reach a range of constituencies.
At a stage in life when others might think about retiring, Raffel says he has no plans to put down his eggsecutive role at the board.
"I don't have anything I'd rather do,
he says. "Age is a number. I feel good. I'm still able to manage the energy level I need.
Maybe it has something to do with all those eggs he eats.


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The two companies have reached a new agreement, however, saying they will "continue to explore opportunities to incorporate the Le app and content within the VIZIO connected CE platform." LeEco says this new agreement is "a win for both companies," and involves bringing Vizio's products to China via LeEco's content and distribution channels, as well as incorporating the Le app into Vizio's connected appliances.
This is the latest episode in LeEco's continuing saga of financial woes. Most recently, the company was said to be having trouble paying its US employees, despite having raised a $2.18 billion investment from Chinese property giant Sunac. Before that, LeEco had been sued by multiple vendors for allegedly not paying their bills for goods and/or services rendered. This series of money problems does not bode well for the rest of LeEco's businesses, which include producing phones, bicycles, TVs, cars and films.