text:
UK investors’ $2bn backing for meat giants linked to Amazon deforestation
Deforestation of the Amazon has increased sharply during the Covid-19 crisis, as Brazil’s environmental agencies struggle to operate and President Jair Bolsonaro moves to weaken safeguards on Indigenous lands.
The financial backing – which came in the form of bond purchases and underwriting – went to Minerva and Marfrig. UK-based financial institutions also held tens of millions of dollars worth of shares in JBS, the world’s biggest meat company, which has been linked to allegations of corruption and failings in food safety. All three have been linked to substantial deforestation in their supply chains, although the companies say they are working to monitor their suppliers and mitigate risks.
According to financial data from 2013 to May 2019, HSBC underwrote $1.1bn of bonds for Marfrig and $917m for Minerva. They also held nearly $3m in JBS shares. Schroders held $14m in Marfrig bonds and $12m in Minerva bonds, while Standard Life Aberdeen held $10m in Marfrig bonds and $3m in JBS shares. Prudential UK – part of M&G – had $23m in JBS shares and $5m in Minerva bonds. The dataset is not comprehensive.
Banks frequently hold bonds and shares on behalf of clients who invest through their asset management funds.
Other European-based institutions provided an additional $2.1bn of backing. Santander underwrote $1.4bn worth of bonds across the three companies. Deutsche Bank underwrote $69m worth of Marfrig bonds and loaned JBS $57m.
European institutions also held significant shares in JBS: Crédit Agricole, Deutsche Bank and Santander invested $37m, $12m and $7m respectively. All data was correct as of May 2019.
Some of the financial institutions told the Bureau that they were engaging with the three companies over deforestation and could reconsider their support if they saw insufficient progress.
British MPs said more needed to be done. Kerry McCarthy, Labour MP for Bristol East, told Unearthed: “We need far more accountability and transparency in our supply chains and in the investment activities of British companies overseas … The Environment Bill currently going through Parliament offers an ideal opportunity to put such measures in place.”
Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton Pavillion, told the Bureau: “No UK financial institution should be profiting from the destruction of rainforest or other precious habitats in Brazil or elsewhere. If the government’s claims to global leadership on climate are to have any meaning at all, it must stop turning blind eye to the links between UK banks and deforestation, by introducing strong regulation, harsh penalties and strict provisions on full public transparency of environmental and social impacts of all investment portfolios.”
SafeSubcribe/Instant Unsubscribe - One Email, Every Sunday Morning - So You Miss Nothing - That's It
The European Commission is considering new financial reporting rules in light of the coronavirus crisis that would require banks, insurance firms and listed companies to disclose their exposure to biodiversity loss and pandemic risk.
Scientists have warned that deforestation is a key factor increasing the risk of new diseases emerging. There are also increasing concerns that activity linked to deforestation is helping to spread Covid-19 to Indigenous groups.
Globally, the three meat companies were backed by $12.6bn in corporate loans, bonds and underwriting, alongside $5.5bn in shareholdings, from global banks and financial institutions between 2013 and 2019, according to data first collated from financial databases by the international NGO Global Witness and the non-profit Dutch analysts Profundo.
Shona Hawkes from Global Witness, said: “The UK finance sector’s exposure to deforestation is systemic. If the UK government is serious about being a climate leader, it must put in place laws that provide absolute clarity that UK firms, including finance, will not be complicit in fuelling the destruction of climate-critical forests or threatening forest communities’ rights.”
Amazon deforestation crisis
Amid the global outcry over last summer’s Amazon fires, investigations by the Bureau, the Guardian and Repórter Brasil revealed both JBS and Marfrig had purchased cattle from suppliers who have been accused of breaking rules around Amazon deforestation.
Research by Trase – a supply-chain initiative run by the Stockholm Environment Institute and NGO Global Canopy – found that the supply chains for exported beef from JBS, Minerva and Marfrig combined were considered to be linked to up to 500 square kilometres of deforestation in Brazil every year.
The three companies say they are confident that the farms their slaughterhouses directly purchase cattle from are not involved in deforestation, but they also accept they cannot know the origin of some animals that have passed through other farms beforehand. The companies maintained that the correlation identified by the analysis does not prove their cattle come from farms involved in deforestation. There are thousands of ranches in Brazil, many of which specialise in a different stage of the cattle-rearing process, from breeding to raising to fattening.
JBS, Minerva and Marfrig have all admitted that they cannot monitor the earlier ranches in their supply chains, otherwise known as “indirect suppliers”. Marfrig told the Bureau last November that gaps in its audit trail meant more than half of the cattle it bought could have been bred or raised elsewhere.
Last year the Bureau established that Marfrig, along with Minerva Foods and JBS and their subsidiaries, shipped at least 147,000 tonnes of beef to the UK in the past five years – enough to make 170m burgers a year.
That much meat is worth £1bn. Much of it was canned corned beef destined for supermarkets and other retailers, as well as frozen meat imported for wholesalers and manufacturers.
From there it could end up in hospital dinners, ready meals and fast food, through a chain of little-known catering and food production companies. The Bureau identified several of these chains, including one that ended with the Ministry of Defence.
The Bureau and The Guardian also established that more than a quarter of a million fire alerts were issued in the estimated cattle buying zones of JBS slaughterhouses. Its factories are known to export to Europe, including to the UK.
In addition to exporting beef to Europe and the UK, JBS also holds a controlling stake in the US poultry firm Pilgrims Pride, which in turn owns one of the UK’s largest chicken producers, Moy Park. It slaughters approximately 312 million birds a year.
As well as facing a string of allegations relating to corruption in Brazil, a Bureau, Guardian and Repórter Brasil investigation recently showed that Brazilian companies – including JBS – had supplied Europe with hundreds of consignments of chicken contaminated with salmonella over a two-year period, including the equivalent of up to a million contaminated birds to the UK.
JBS told the Bureau: “JBS takes a zero-tolerance approach to deforestation in its supply chain. We have worked for more than a decade on the frontlines to drive meaningful, responsible change in the region and have made considerable investment in education, monitoring and enforcement to drive forward industry standards … any suggestion that JBS’ supply chain has links to deforestation is irresponsible and misleading. ”
The company said it has blocked thousands of direct suppliers for breaking rules concerning deforestation and is working with the Brazilian government and industry on solutions for monitoring indirect suppliers.
In a statement, Marfrig said: “Marfrig recognizes the urgency and challenges related to global warming and is in line with the resolutions of the Paris Agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In Brazil, most of the emissions are related to land use, and livestock farming plays an important role in this issue.
“Since 2009, Marfrig has maintained a public commitment to ‘Zero Deforestation’ in the Amazon biome. As part of this undertaking, it established strategic and operational guidelines that are transformed into concrete action to strengthen control of its cattle sourcing and to mitigate any risks of sourcing cattle from critical zones associated with deforestation and improper and illegal work conditions.”
It added it was developing a tool to combat the risk of buying from indirect suppliers that it cannot monitor.
Minerva told the Bureau its direct purchases come from zero-deforestation areas in the Amazon and it privately monitors thousands of suppliers. The company said “there are no accessible and reliable data and statistics on the complete cattle traceability chain” in Brazil and it was evaluating using a new tool developed by the National Wildlife Federation and University of Wisconsin to monitor indirect suppliers.
In response to the findings, an Aberdeen Standard Investments spokesperson said: “There are definitely shortcomings in supply chain monitoring for the entire beef industry in Brazil, but these practices are improving across the industry and investor activism plays an important role in this development … At present, we remain invested but this may change depending on a number of factors.”
HSBC told the Bureau it does not comment on client relationships, but that it takes its agricultural commodities and products policies seriously and regularly assess its clients for their commitment to sustainable business practices.
Schroders said: “We are in continuous dialogue with both Minerva and Marfrig … We have pushed for and seen encouraging signs of progress on increasing visibility to indirect suppliers … If we did not see these signs of progress, we would certainly consider changing our recommendations for these companies.”
Prudential UK told the Bureau that since 2019 it has begun to actively engage with companies operating in the Amazon region to find solutions and is taking appropriate actions to manage these investments in line with its policies.
Santander said: “In Brazil, we conduct annual reviews of more than 2,000 clients, including those that are large soy producers, soy traders and meatpackers, especially about their supply chain.”
Deutsche Bank said: “[We] will not finance activities where there is clear and known evidence on clearing of primary forests, areas of high conservation value or peat lands, illegal logging or uncontrolled and/or illegal use of fire … We acknowledge that large-scale agricultural production in some cases can be linked to deforestation, poor labour conditions or conflicts with local communities.”
Crédit Agricole said: “Crédit Agricole group is a responsible player … We do not finance projects on deforested land with high biodiversity value”. The bank’s spokesperson said they had contacted JBS to obtain more information after the Bureau’s request for comment.


text:
Treasurer Joe Hockey is urging small businesses to open their wallets in order to take advantage of his government’s $20,000 asset write-off scheme before the end of the financial year. by Eloise Keating
The cross-over and linking of the tax and social security systems, while sensible from a governmental point of view, has made both systems and the laws applying to them even more complicated. by Terry Hayes
SmartCompany.com.au is Australia's leading website for SMEs featuring business news, business information and business blogs. SmartCompany's archive of news, feature articles, entrepreneur interviews and business webinars cover topics such as advertising and marketing, buying or selling a business, starting a business, growing a business, franchising, SEO, superannuation and tax.

domain: news


text:
Keyword: Costa Rica Tourism
The itineraries include stops in the Caribbean, Colombia and Panama. Get the details here.
The two new packages offer guaranteed departures in 2019 and 2020, with no minimum number of travelers. More here.
A new glitch in the 737 Max, JetBlue's plan to relocate its Houston operations and a number of new flights lead this week's air travel news. Here's what you need to know.
On November 21, American will begin daily service from JFK to Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ), and San Jose, Costa Rica (SJO). Read more.
Kinkára previously opened in September 2018 exclusively for private groups, offering a nature-infused escape. Check out more.
Set to open in mid-2021, the new Six Senses Papagayo will mark the first property in Central America for the luxury wellness brand. Here’s more on what to expect.
The experience will be aboard the line's new ship, Le Dumont-d’Urville, from January 6 -16, 2020. See more here.
The new National Decarbonization Plan outlines a road map to achieve zero carbon emissions in 31 years. Learn more here.
Travelers will be joined by expert naturalists, Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic-certified photo instructors, undersea specialists and a wellness instructor. See more.
As summer approaches, global luxury travel network Virtuoso has revealed the findings of its 2019 Virtuoso Luxe Report. Here's an inside look.


text:
Hulu is adding an LGBT category heading to facilitate navigation to the genre’s titles on Hulu and Hulu Plus, which now number more than 100. LGBT distributor Wolfe Video spearheaded the initiative, designed to better highlight and locate the content. Separately another LGBT programmer, Here! TV, announced that its shows are now available on Hulu. Episodes of classic Here! TV series, as well as new fan favorites, will be available on demand through the free advertising-supported Hulu service. Additional full-length series, movies and specials will be offered through Hulu Plus, the site’s ad-supported subscription service.
You are viewing the archive: Wolfe Releasing
Wolfe Releasing announced today that it has acquired American rights to Gayby. The film, which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival this year in Austin, will be released theatrically this year in partnership with The …
SUBSCRIBE TO DEADLINE NEWS
News/Opinion PollLoading ...
By The Numbers - FILMS/TV/CABLE
Box Office PollLoading ...
‘Fast & Furious 6′ Montage


text:
Technology Changing the Game
Industry analysts offered their thoughts on new products, vendor viability and the impact of software-as-a-service during the second day of the HR Technology Conference. Other sessions explored global implementations and solving recruiting and LMS challenges.
By Staff Writers
At this year's industry analyst panel, moderator and HR Technology Conference® co-chair Bill Kutik put the panelists on the spot with a series of "blunt statements" that he challenged them to agree or disagree with.
The first blunt statement: "Upcoming major releases from vendors will completely change the game."
Jim Holincheck, vice president of research for HR applications at Gartner, said a number of upcoming releases from vendors built on service-oriented architecture may be game changers in that it will make it easier for customers and vendors to change and update software.
"Software-as-a-service will also be part of these products, and that may be the most game-changing part," he said.
Jason Corsello, vice president of the center for excellence at Knowledge Infusion, a Minneapolis-based consulting firm, said he didn't see anything on the product horizon that he considered "game changing," but said the impact of emerging interactive technologies such as Web 2.0 will be "huge."


text:
International Women’s Day March 8 is a good time to look at the inspiring women around the world, and what better place to start than right here in London, Ont.
Global News spoke to three female entrepreneurs in the Forest City who are paving their own paths.
Angela Murphy, 34 – Grace Restaurant
“I Just wanted to create a space more in line with my food philosophy, my social ethics, my community-minded spirit, and a great place for talented young chefs to come and work,” Angela Murphy said.
Murphy, 34, is the owner and executive chef of Grace Restaurant on Dundas Street in downtown London.
The restaurant opened its doors nine months ago, serving modern Canadian cuisine utilizing the farm-to-table approach, relying on locally-sourced ingredients.
“We are working with local produce, whole products — not stuff out of a box,” she said. “Everything we do is made from scratch … we also do a good amount of stuff in-house — like we make our own ricotta and cure our own fish.”
Having worked in the food industry for many years, she talked about the importance of moving away from the ‘machismo culture’ of running a kitchen.
“Everyone should have a chance to contribute something, and develop and grow,” Murphy said. “This is an art form, it’s not a factory, so let’s not treat our staff like they are pumping out food for someone else’s benefit.”
Working with a team of 18, part of the supportive environment she tries to foster includes making sure everyone, including service staff, is paid above regular minimum wage. The majority of her staff are also employed full time.
“They feel like their ideas are heard. We’re interested in taking a few risks outside of the typical London menu,” she said. “We are willing to do other stuff, and I think it’s really catching on and that draws in a certain set of talent.”
The name Grace comes from Murphy’s grandmother, whose ‘ethics’ and ‘perspective’ are at the heart of the restaurant, Murphy says.
Murphy admits that starting a restaurant was not something she thought she would ever have the resources to do.
“The whole process was stressful, exhausting, very hard, not what I imagined, and no matter what you think you’re ready for, you’re not.”
“I wrote a business plan, I found investors, I had some of my own capital, and I made it work.”
Looking to the future, Murphy is encouraged by the number of people leaving Toronto for more affordable places to live, adding people don’t have to sacrifice culture, art, and cuisine in moving to London.
Janet Antone, 31 – Ms. Antone’s Beadwork
Janet Antone has turned what first started as a form of art therapy into a full-time job that allows her to reclaim her culture and be a voice for Indigenous women in the fashion industry.
“Beadwork has always been a part of Indigenous history,” Antone said. “For me, a big part of connecting with it is the reclamation of the beading practice.”
A member of the Oneida Nation of Thames, Antone explains that as a form of assimilation until the 1950s, First Nations people were banned from practicing cultural things like beading. She said part of why she learned is so she can pass it on to future generations.
Antone makes one of a kind beaded earrings as well as other jewelry and embroidery that she sells online and at local events. She also has jewelry making workshops where she teaches others.
She said over time, her hobby grew into what is now a profitable business, thanks to the connections she developed.
“I don’t like calling them customers. All of them end up becoming friends and familiar faces.”
Although Indigenous-made, Antone explains that she tries to keep all of her designs contemporary, so they are accessible for everyone.
“There have been a lot of native-inspired pieces that pop up, made by non-Indigenous people. So, for myself, keeping my work contemporary also helps people who want to support Indigenous businesses.”
Her jewelry typically ranges in price from $45 to $150 depending on the product and design.
The main product Antone creates are earrings, but she said she has also experimented with things like baseball caps and custom embroidered items.
“I am always experimenting.”
As well as creating, Antone explains that she also developed an Indigenous pop-up market to bring together rural and urban Indigenous communities as well as the ally community.
Nicole Baranowski, 22 – Hairstrong
Still in school, 22-year old Nicole Baranowski is already turning a profit with her startup hair scrunchies business, Hairstrong.
The idea stemmed from an entrepreneurship class at Western University, where she said students created a business plan towards a fictitious company.
Baranowski said her plan caught the attention of the University’s entrepreneurship centre that set her up with the resources she needed to turn her school assignment into a real business.
“When I was stuck at a roadblock or an obstacle they were there to guide me along the way,” Baranowski said.
Baranowski makes two adjustable hair scrunchies that she said eliminates the problem of hair ties failing out or causing damage by being too tight and pulling on hair.
She sells them at the Western Book Store, London Dance Shop, and online for $24 and $28.
Baranowski said because she uses student loans to support herself, she has been able to put all of her profits back into the company to help it grow.
“It has been a proud accomplishment to break even and not be in debt, in terms of the business,” she said.
Moving forward, Baranowski said she hopes to expand her business into more retail stores and have all athletes with long hair wearing her product.
“Since starting this business, I have met a lot of other female entrepreneurs that have been incredible and have been happy to help other women succeed, and I don’t think I would have met these women if it weren’t for this business.”
For other young entrepreneurs, she said it’s important to note that although it’s her own business, she has never been alone and is grateful for all of the people helping her get ahead.


text:
Attack transformed world growth prospects
WALL STREET reopens for business today determined to demonstrate to the world that terrorism may have destroyed the physical core of New York's financial district, but it cannot stop the wheels of capitalism turning.
The Federal Reserve (the American central bank) and the big global investment houses spent the weekend working on plans to prevent a catastrophic fall in share prices after the longest closure of the New York Stock Exchange since the First World War. In addition, the Fed and the Bank of England are injecting £61bn of extra cash into the banking system - and holding out the prospect of an early cut in interest rates.
But history shows that, while it is possible for the authorities to stabilise markets in the face of panic selling, it is rarely possible to prevent them falling. It may appear unpatriotic to sell investments at a time of national emergency, but the reality is that there is little alternative if people want to protect their savings.
The destruction of the World Trade Centre transformed the prospects for international growth as much as it changed the Manhattan skyline. The American economy was in bad shape before the attack. Now a combination of shattered consumer confidence, together with the prospects of higher oil prices, threaten to pile on the misery for the global economy.
Continental Airlines is to lay off 12,000 workers. Other airlines - including British Airways - are reviewing their staffing levels. General Motors has sent workers home and delayed production of new model ranges. And America's largest company, General Electric, has warned shareholders of a £408m profits shortfall resulting from its share of insurance losses now estimated to be the highest ever at £17-£20bn. A large chunk of the total bill will fall on Lloyd's of London.
However, the biggest threat to Wall Street and global commerce comes from the expected fall in consumer confidence. Ahead of the attack, the economies of America and the rest of the world were faltering because of the bursting of the technology bubble and the collapse in manufacturing.
But in the US and Britain, we have been saved from an all-out slump by the buoyancy of consumers. The blow to consumer confidence by the attack could be severe. Several episodes in recent times have shocked consumer confidence: President Carter's decision to impose credit controls during the Iranian Revolution of 1980, the collapse of the stock market in 1987 and the outbreak of the Gulf War in 1990.
On each occasion, confidence plunged between 15% and 20% over a three-month period. Personal consumption fell in the range 0.5% to 3.4%, and share prices plunged by 11% to 20%.
Early evidence is that America put away its credit cards as soon as the first images of destruction were seen on television last Tuesday and they have not been brought out since. The damage in New York City alone is estimated by brokers BNP Paribas at £17bn, enough to push the US into recession in the current quarter.
Extend this across the nation and the world and it could precipitate the global slump which was already threatening.
What could make matters worse is a surge in the oil price. The oil producers organisation Opec has promised to maintain supplies. Despite this, the market price for oil has moved up from £17 a barrel before the attack to nearly £20 a barrel at the end of last week. If America's retaliation throws the Middle East into turmoil, the oil price could quite easily soar to £27 a barrel, as was the case during the Gulf War.
EVERY American slowdown since the Second World War has been associated with an energy crisis - and the slowdown that began in the US a year ago was triggered partly by a surge in oil prices.
What is needed to rescue global business is firm leadership from top financial policymakers. It would appear important to press ahead with the annual meeting of the Group Of Seven richest countries, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington at the end of this month. Instead, Chancellor Gordon Brown, chairman of the IMF's most powerful committee, is under pressure - from countries such as Germany and Italy - to cancel the gathering on security grounds.
Perhaps those who want the meeting cancelled should consider that, even while the clean-up in New York continues, there are already plans to rebuild the financial district. Larry Silverstein, the self-made property billionaire who holds the lease on the World Trade Centre, said: 'It would be a tragedy of tragedies not to rebuild this part of New York. It would give the terrorists the victory they seek.'
Most watched Money videos
- New Nissan concept car uses same powertrain as family-designed SUV
- Skoda unveil fourth-generation Fabia hatchback set for spring release
- Citroen unveil doorless beach buggy designed for adventure
- A look into the extremely rare 1962 Ferrari 268 SP classic car
- Incredible Lewis Hamilton's GP winning McLaren sold at auction
- Rare 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB Competizione sold for £5.6million
- Nissan creates electric Newbird using battery from a Leaf EV
- Britishvolt gigafactory to come up in Blyth after £1.7bn funding
- Alfa Romeo reveals the ten best tunnels in the UK for acoustics
- Citroen C5 Aircross moves firmly upmarket with mature makeover
- What can investors expect from 2022?
- Renault Zoe scores zero stars in crash tests after airbag removed


text:
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An apple a day may keep the doctor away. But over 4,000 pounds of apples could go a long way to addressing hunger.
That’s what Albertsons Market, as part of The United Family supermarket chain, hopes to do with donations in New Mexico and Texas. In total, The United Family donated more than 50,000 pounds of apples across the two states. 4,640 pounds of apples went to Storehouse New Mexico.
This is the 13th year of the “Take a Bite Out of Hunger” program has been working to address hunger. And supermarket chain The United Family is happy to be a part of the program.
“The United Family feels very blessed to be in the position to be making these donations for the thirteenth year in a row,” Joseph Bunting, the produce business director for The United Family, said in a press release. “We know just how important donations of fresh produce can be for food banks and their clients. We are so thankful for this partnership with FirstFruits [the sponsor of the ‘Take a Bite Out of Hunger’ program] and the hard work of our team members across Texas and New Mexico.”


text:
A week after hackers apparently breached the websites of seven Indian embassies, one of the attackers claims to have breached an Indian consulate in the U.S. and posted data online to draw attention to vulnerabilities.
Yahoo in 2014 spotted that an attacker - later revealed to have compromised 500 million accounts - was inside its network, according to a new SEC filing. With Yahoo's $4.8 billion sale to Verizon still pending, the admission adds to the search giant's complications.
Thank Mark Zuckerberg's taped-over webcam and the Paris robbery of Kim Kardashian West for waking up the average consumer to the security risks they face from using technology and social media, social engineering expert Sharon Conheady says in this audio interview.
The websites of seven of India's embassies apparently were hacked and some data pertaining to Indian citizens leaked online by the attackers claiming responsibility. The hackers say they wanted to call attention to the sites' vulnerabilities.
The Domain Name System is crucial to the functioning of the internet, but largely taken for granted - until it breaks. In an audio interview, Cricket Liu of Infoblox discusses how DNS providers must improve security.
This year, the annual Black Hat Europe conference decamps from Amsterdam to London. What's in store? Everything from mobile ransomware and quantum-resistant crypto to "ego markets" and how to turn Belkin IoT devices into launch pads for DDoS attacks.
Yahoo is appealing to the U.S. director of national intelligence to declassify an order that allegedly required the company to install secret spying software that scanned incoming email accounts for specific content.
Russian hackers may think twice before traveling outside the country for a vacation in light of the arrest of alleged 2012 LinkedIn hacker "Yevgeniy N." by Czech police at a restaurant in Prague earlier this month.
WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange's interference in the U.S. elections has earned the Ecuadorian embassy in London's houseguest a slap on the wrist as his internet connection gets taken away. In the interim, maybe he can take up knitting?
Ongoing talks between the U.S. and India regarding cybersecurity issues have yet to result in significant action by the Indian government. When will India start making progress in developing an effective cybersecurity model?
Verizon is reportedly awaiting the full results of a digital forensic investigation into the record-setting Yahoo data breach to ascertain whether it will revise its $4.8 billion bid to buy the search firm. Did the breach have a "material impact" on Yahoo's business? That's the question.


text:
Forbes Africa has released its 2018 30 Under 30 list that features promising African entrepreneurs and leaders under 30 in three industries i.e. Business, Technology and Creative. Huston Malande 28, an Alumni from the School of Computing and informatics was listed as one of this year’s Forbes Africa most promising young entrepreneurs. He recorded the amazing recognition under the Technology category.
Read more Here.
Others from listed from Kenya include:
- Leonida Mutuku, Founder of Intelipro
- Leroy Mwasaru, founder of Greenpact
- June Syowia, Founder, Beiless Group


text:
In support of its continuing business growth in South America, materials characterisation company, Malvern Instruments, has opened a new applications and demonstration laboratory in Brazil. Located at the São Paulo facility of Malvern’s parent company, Spectris, this new laboratory will provide pre- and post-sales support to customers across all of Malvern’s technology areas, and will augment established particle characterisation demonstration labs elsewhere in Brazil.
The new laboratory will be equipped with instruments spanning Malvern’s entire range of particle characterisation, protein measurement and rheology systems and will be a highly valuable resource for the company’s dealer in the region, Altmann SA.
Latin America Sales Manager for Malvern, Edna Alvarez, said, “I am delighted that Malvern has been able to set up such an excellent laboratory facility and very much look forward to welcoming customers from Brazil and elsewhere in South America. We have long enjoyed a very successful relationship with Altmann SA, our dealer in Brazil, and I am especially pleased to be providing them with access to further local demonstration, technical and applications support.”
The establishment of this new laboratory in São Paulo follows the opening of another brand new Malvern facility in Houston, Texas in March 2012, which not only serves customers in the USA, but also supports some of Latin America’s emerging markets.
“We have a deep commitment to South America and to ensuring that all our customers there get the most out of their investment in a Malvern instrument,” said Brian Dutko, President of The Americas Operations for Malvern. “With excellent distribution partners on the ground and especially strong growth in countries like Brazil, we want to lead the market in delivering the best possible customer experience for what are world-leading materials characterisation systems.”
Adapted from press release by Jack Davidson.
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/18122012/malvern_instruments_brazil_demonstration_applications_laboratory_793/


text:
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission enforcement teams are honing in on misleading and deceptive practices, anti-competitive conduct and unfair contracts affecting small businesses in the farm sector
Japanese-owned dairy and brewing giant, Lion, is to sell its 10 per cent stake in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter
Australia’s big declines in milk production are starting to ease as the global milk tide turns and on-farm margin prospects improve
Dairy investment newcomer Blue River Group has announced a farming project showcasing Israeli agricultural technology
Anticipating consumer trends is never an exact science, but national milk processor Lion has certainly nailed at least one - Greek yoghurt
Canadian dairy giant, Saputo, has lifted its offer price for the shares it does not already own in Warrnambool Cheese and Butter
The global dairy market is still vital to Australia, despite exports taking a smaller share of production, the Australian Dairy Conference in Adelaide in February was told.
The large number of Chinese students and tourists in Australia and New Zealand presented an enormous advantage to companies from those countries looking to sell into China.
Murray Goulburn was on the right track in developing value-added brands, the former head of one of the world's largest co-operatives told the Australian Dairy Conference in Adelaide in February.


text:
For those who followed my advice last quarter and have remained invested, your paper losses are rapidly disappearing. I expect that, despite continued volatility through March, the second half of the year should see all your losses recouped and I expect further gains after that.
click for more
If Citigroup, one of the world's largest banks, is any indication, women earn 29 percent less than their male counterparts. It also revealed that only 37 percent of its managerial jobs were held by females.
click for more
While the city and state was courting Wayfair to bring some 3,300 new jobs to the state, investors felt they were being misled.
A class action lawsuit has been filed against the Boston-based company alleging that Wayfair officials failed to disclose adverse facts about the company, deceived the... click for more
Temescal Wellness will start recreational sales of marijuana on Tuesday starting at 11 a.m.
The company will be the first to sell recreational marijuana in the city and will be the second in the county. Temescal was granted its license to sell for adult use in December and is now expecting a big... click for more
If you are not living the markets every single moment, day-in, day-out, then forget about profiting from it. Most retail investors will get chopped up into little pieces and spit out by the proprietary trading desks and their quantum computers.
click for more
In this role, Reynolds will have overall responsibility for operations and management of the company and its 124-member workforce. Berkshire Gas provides natural gas service to 40,000 customers in 20 communities in the three westernmost counties of Massachusetts. click for more
The owner of the former County Wide Rental building on Dalton Avenue is trying for a third time to get a marijuana business into the property.
James Scalise of SK Design is representing Pittsfield Investment Group again in a pitch to receive permits for a marijuana business at 531 Dalton Avenue. The site was originally the first location permitted for a medical marijuana facility in 2014 but the plans fell through. In 2016, a new vendor looked at the space but that too went the same path.
The county's first recreational marijuana retailer opens its doors on Friday.
Theory Wellness will open for retail customers at 10 a.m. Friday. The company becomes the first to sell recreational in the Berkshires after being approved by the state's Cannabis Control Commission last month.
"This is the beginning of a movement in the Berkshires," CEO Brandon Pollock said.
Big Y Foods Inc., one of the largest independently owned supermarket chains in New England, will eliminate its use of the bags from all 70 of its markets, specialty stores and Big Y Express Gas and Convenience locations in 2020.
Baker toured the facility, met with the interns, heard from company officials about future plans, and highlighted it as an example of the good work his administration has done while citing the need to continue building.
The Board of Health is revisiting its body art regulations as the trend of microblading has recently arrived in the city.
Health Director Gina Armstrong said recently the department received two inquiries from people looking to open a microblading practice. Armstrong said the practice is covered by the tattoo regulations but said there is room in the regulations for further definitions and a requirement of experience.
The firm is celebrating its 20th year. It was established by David Milligan in 1998 as Colt Investment Services, and purchased the South Street location earlier this year. The firm specializes in retirement income strategies.
The Baker Hill Road District has taken a new tactic to secure back taxes from the Berkshire Mall.
On Dec. 7, the district the district filed a lawsuit in Berkshire Superior Court against Berkshire Mall Realty Holdings seeking $276,859 plus interest from the properties. The request for taxes owed to the district for the first two quarters of the fiscal year.
Kaushal is a licensed certified public accountant in the United States and Canada. He is a seasoned professional with experience in major public accounting firms and private industry including: distribution; utilities; manufacturing; and technology environments.


text:
Because the summer season inventory rally continues, automakers, clear power firms, and tech firms made up a number of the prime performers. Even legacy automakers are exhibiting their enamel within the electrical automobile house because the market recovers a number of the floor it misplaced in mid-summer slumps.
The S&P 500 has climbed about 17 p.c since lows in mid-June, and Tesla, Ford, and Netflix are among the many prime performers available in the market inside that point interval, as reported by Forbes. Because the summertime market low on June 16, Tesla’s inventory rose virtually 43 p.c, whereas Ford and Netflix have been up 45 and 41 p.c, respectively.
The information comes simply after U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Discount Act into regulation, together with a redesigned federal EV tax credit score of $7,500 for sure autos. Though Tesla is ineligible for the present EV tax credit score, because it surpassed the sale of 200,000 autos within the U.S. way back, the automaker is about to regain eligibility on January 1 when a number of the new rules take impact.
Different excessive risers since June 16 (and on the time of scripting this) included Enphase Power, which jumped 75 p.c, Etsy which rose 65 p.c, and software program firms Epam Techniques, Paycom and Arista Networks, which rose 57, 49 and 46 p.c, respectively. Beneath Tesla, Ford, and Netflix have been Chipotle and PayPal, which every rose 39 p.c, whereas Amazon and Apple rose 37 and 34 p.c, respectively.
Regardless of the rise throughout markets, many analysts are nonetheless not sure of what to anticipate from the subsequent few months. Edward Moya, senior market analyst at Oanda, predicts that the market will stay unsure till the Federal Reserve’s September price hike.
In a press release, Moya mentioned, “Shares will probably wrestle for route for the remainder of the summer season as Wall Road continues to be unsure with how aggressive the Fed will likely be in September.”
Merchants are cut up practically down the center on whether or not the Fed plans to boost charges by 75 foundation factors or if it’ll go along with a extra minor improve at 50 foundation factors. The company’s subsequent assembly is about to happen in September.
Tesla is a bellwether of retail investing, says Jim Cramer. Video: CNBC / YouTube
Tesla is about to carry its AI Day on September 30, throughout which it’ll unveil new AI progress updates from the corporate, together with its Optimus humanoid robotic. At this 12 months’s annual stockholder’s assembly, Tesla CEO Elon Musk additionally mentioned that the corporate would have a working prototype of the AI robotic on the occasion.
On the time of writing, Tesla (TSLA) is buying and selling shares at $869.89 (+$0.15) up 0.02 p.c in after-hours buying and selling. Ford (F) is buying and selling at $15.08 per share (-$0.01), down about -0.07 p.c throughout after-hours buying and selling.
Initially posted on EVANNEX. By Peter McGuthrie.
Admire CleanTechnica’s originality and cleantech information protection? Think about changing into a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician, or Ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, need to promote, or need to counsel a visitor for our CleanTech Discuss podcast? Contact us right here.


text:
THE increase in the construction materials retail price index (CMRPI) in the National Capital Region eased to 1.1 percent in August from 1.3 percent in July and 2.8 percent a year ago,
according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
“The annual rate of [the] plumbing materials index declined by 0.1 percent during the month,” PSA said in a report. “Moreover, slower annual mark-ups were noted in the indices of painting materials and related compounds at 1.2 percent, and tinsmithry materials [at] 1.5 percent.”
Month-on-month, the CMRPI in Metro Manila also decreased by 0.1 percent in August.
The indices of painting materials and related compound slid by 0.1 percent; tinsmithry materials, 0.2 percent; and miscellaneous construction materials, 0.3 percent.
“Declines in the prices of paints, cement and steel bars were noted during the period,” the agency reported. “On the contrary, prices of fabricated wire products, such as common wire nails, lumber, gravel, sand and hollow blocks, G.I. pipes and corrugated G.I. sheets were higher this month.”


text:
The brands will each take home 100,000 Australian dollars.
January 23, 2017
• Robert Williams
Back to School
NEW YORK — Shiseido is preparing to unleash Benefiance Wrinkle Lifting Concentrate, its latest product derived through a research venture involving the cosmetics company, Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital. To launch in...


text:
Aldo Madrigrano's professional life revolves around beer.
His family's long history in the beer and beverage distribution business led Madrigrano on a path to his job as president of W.O.W. Distributing Co., a Sussex distributor of products produced by Milwaukee-based Miller Brewing Co. and Coors Brewing Co., Golden, Colo., as well as various microbrewed beer. In all, W.O.W., which was founded in 1986, carries products from 35 suppliers that account for about 400 brands.
However, Madrigrano's connection to beer goes far beyond overseeing W.O.W.'s day-to-day operations.
He's also chairman of Beer Capitol Distributing Inc., a Waukesha beer distributor owned by the Madrigrano family, and serves on the distributors council for Miller and Crown Imports LLC, Chicago, whose brands include Corona Extra, Modelo and St. Pauli Girl.
In October, the National Beer Wholesalers Association, an Arlington, Va.-based lobbying organization, named Madrigrano as its chairman.
"Aldo is one of the most knowledgeable and passionate distributors in the Miller system and has built an extremely successful business," said Tom Cardella, executive vice president of sales at Miller Brewing. "He has a deep understanding of the industry at the local level as well as on a national basis and provides valuable insight to Miller as a member of our distributor council."
W.O.W.'s business has been boosted by two recent major acquisitions. In October, W.O.W. purchased Better Brands Distributing Co. of Germantown, giving W.O.W. the distribution rights in Ozaukee and Washington counties for Coors, Pabst and Milwaukee Premium brands.
In July, W.O.W. and Beer Capitol partnered to acquire Beloit Beverage Co. of Milwaukee, which owned the rights to distribute the three brands in parts of Milwaukee, Waukesha and Dodge counties.
"The acquisitions really rounded out our territories," said Madrigrano, seated at his desk in his spacious office, which is adorned with beer paraphernalia and many large, framed photos of famous Italian-Americans, including Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, Rat Packers Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra, former Major League Baseball Commissioner A. Bartlett Giamatti and former Chrysler Corp. chief executive officer Lee Iacocca.
As a result of the deals, W.O.W. is distributing both Miller and Coors brands.
Miller Brewing and Golden, Colo.-based Coors Brewing Co. will be combined under a joint venture announced Oct. 9 by SABMiller plc, London, and Denver-based Molson Coors Brewing Co., parents of the two U.S. brewers.
Madrigrano views the planned joint venture as a positive development.
"It's good for the marketplace, it's good for distributors and it's good for the consumer because there are a lot of great brands and to compete nationally against Anheuser-Busch, they needed to be together," he said.
W.O.W. will continue to look for other wholesalerships to buy, Madrigrano said.
Madrigrano declined to provide specific sales and earnings figures for W.O.W., but said he expects the company's revenue to reach a record high in 2007.
"We will have a record-breaking year this year," he said. "We've grown every year, but not at the percentage rates we will grow this year."
W.O.W. has about 150 employees at its 161,000-square-foot plant at W222 N5700 Miller Way, where the company has been located for the past five years after moving from Waukesha.
In addition to increased revenue through acquisitions, the growth in the craft beer segment also has sparked W.O.W.'s revenue growth.
"The craft beer business is booming," he said.
Craft beers distributed by W.O.W. include local beer brands produced by Lakefront Brewery, Milwaukee, Capital Brewery Co., Middleton, and Stevens Point Brewery, Stevens Point, as well as brands produced by Boston-based Boston Beer Co., which makes Sam Adams, Cleveland-based Great Lakes Brewing Co. and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, Calif.
Growth in the craft beer segment has occurred in part because 21- to 27-year-olds have shifted to beers with different flavor profiles, Madrigrano said.
"They have been drinking up from where they were," he said. "If you taste the crafts of today, they have brought some great flavors in."
Major beer brands, such as Miller Lite, also have experienced increased sales.
"Lite is growing at a banshee rate," Madrigrano said.
Overall, W.O.W.'s Miller business will grow 5 to 7 percent this year, he said.
Madrigrano said his role as chairman of the National Beer Wholesalers Association is to represent and "serve as the mouthpiece" for the 2,750 licensed independent beer distributors throughout the country.
Association president Craig Purser described Madrigrano as an "aggressive consensus builder."
"He really understands what our issues are," Purser said. "He's a good listener and a tireless worker. He's got an infectious personality, but his real strength is that he's able to bring people along."
Madrigrano has served on the association's board since 2002. Madrigrano will serve as chairman for one year before taking on the role as past chairman for a year.
Challenges facing distributors include ongoing regulatory issues, as well as rising fuel and health care costs and finding qualified employees, Madrigrano said.
President, W.O.W. Distributing Co., Sussex
other Titles: Chairman, Beer Capitol Distributing Inc., Waukesha; chairman, National Beer Wholesalers Association, an Arlington, Va.-based organization that represents 2,750 licensed independent beer distributors throughout the country
Education: Graduated from St. Joseph's High School, Kenosha, in 1981; attended Carthage College, Kenosha
Family: Wife, Dawn, works in sales for Miller Brewing Co., Milwaukee. They have been married for one year and reside in the town of Genesee in Waukesha County.
Hobbies: Flying his Beach Duke twin-engine airplane, golf, and cooking with beer
Currently reading: "Instrument Flying Update" by John Eckalbar