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Coca-Cola Co. elevated an insider to the No. 2 job amid board concern that Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent needed a powerful deputy to help manage the far-flung business empire and try to reverse flagging soda sales.
The company said it named James Quincey president and chief operating officer, a surprise move that makes the 19-year Coke veteran the leading internal candidate to eventually succeed Mr. Kent.
The board has been encouraging the 62-year-old Mr. Kent to appoint a No. 2 for some time. Discussions between the board and Mr. Kent had “gotten intense and focused” in the last six to eight months, according to lead independent director Sam Nunn.
“The board has had the view for a good while that Muhtar was stretched too thin in many respects and he needed operational assistance,” Mr. Nunn said in an interview.
Mr. Kent, who has been chief executive since 2008, is a detail-oriented executive, who is sometimes reluctant to give up the reins to other executives. In February, Mr. Kent told The Wall Street Journal that he believed Coke had “the right structure” with a chief executive and numerous executive vice presidents reporting to him—but no official chief operating officer or clear No. 2.
In announcing the change, Mr. Nunn said Mr. Quincey, who is 50 years old, “will complement Muhtar’s skills and qualities.”
Mr. Quincey joined Coke in 1996 and had held leadership positions in Latin America and Europe. He has been president of Coke’s Europe Group since 2013, overseeing 38 countries. Most recently he played a major role in forging the proposed merger of Coke’s German bottling business with European bottlers Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. and Coca-Cola Iberian Partners into a combined bottler with more than $12 billion in annual revenue.
As president of Coke’s Mexican division from 2005 to 2008, he also oversaw the acquisition of Jugos de Valle, a major juice company.
In a call after the announcement, Mr. Kent said that he will focus more on long-term strategy, talent management and innovation while Mr. Quincey will focus on driving growth and productivity throughout the company.
Mr. Kent added in a conference call with reporters that “it’s very early days’’ and “inappropriate to speculate” on CEO succession but that he looks forward to working closely with Mr. Quincey. “I have every intention and commitment to make this a great success and partnership,” he added.
Mr. Nunn said the board remains “fully confident” in Mr. Kent’s leadership and that it expects him to remain in charge for a long time.
Coke is in something of a rough patch, as it has missed its growth targets the past two years and has warned it will fall short again this year as it grapples with sales slowdowns in key markets around the globe. Weakening foreign currencies also are weighing on results.
Last October the company announced a $3 billion cost-cutting program aimed at redirecting savings toward stepped-up investments and marketing in its brands, which include Sprite and Fanta soft drinks, Minute Maid juices and Dasani water in addition to its flagship cola.
Mr. Quincey’s ascension might cause some management headaches for Mr. Kent as the new COO leapfrogs over Mr. Kent’s top three operations executives. One of them, Ahmet Bozer, 55—the head of international operations, and until now Mr. Quincey’s boss—will be retiring next March, Coke said Thursday.
It is unclear how Sandy Douglas, 54, who heads North America, is likely to react to the change. Although he sent a memo to his employees praising Mr. Quincey and saying how much he looked forward to working for him, Mr. Douglas is the one credited with the moves that have helped reverse sales declines in the U.S. recently. He is also engineering the complicated refranchising and reorganization of Coke’s North American bottling and distribution operations.
It’s also unclear how the change will affect Irial Finan, 58, who is head of bottling investments and supply chain.
Mr. Kent has called them his “three COOs” as recently as February. All three have been viewed at various times as potential succession candidates.
The role of president and chief operating officer at Coke has historically been a significant one. Not only did Mr. Kent hold it before becoming CEO, but Coke had one of the most famous and powerful president and chief operating officers ever in Donald R. Keough, who was number two to CEO Roberto C. Goizueta during the 1980s and early 1990s. Together the two men—with Mr. Keough as global salesman—presided over a period of unprecedented growth.
But Mr. Kent, himself, has often acted more like the company’s COO. He has long immersed himself in operational details, carrying a red paint chip in his wallet to ensure the packaging of his company’s namesake cola is the exact proper hue the world over. He has said he suffers “withdrawal’’ after a few days if he hasn’t walked through a store.
“There’s a lot of concern he’s too deep into the weeds,’’ said a former longtime employee.
Mr. Kent has made several moves to diversify Coke beyond soda, spearheading the company’s $4.1 billion acquisition of Energy Brands Inc., maker of Vitaminwater and Smartwater, in 2007 before becoming CEO. Since last year Coke has spent more than $4 billion to acquire minority stakes in coffee maker Keurig Green Mountain Inc. and Monster Beverage Corp., a maker of energy drinks.
But he also has doubled down on soda, spending $12 billion to acquire Coke’s biggest U.S. bottler in 2010. Soda still represents about 70% of company sales—which is a big risk when Americans are cutting back due to obesity concerns and soda sales are slowing in other parts of the world.
Mr. Quincey is familiar with the health questions attached to soda consumption. During a 2013 appearance on the BBC, host Jeremy Paxman asked if the company was doing enough to alert the public to the amount of sugar in a Coke fountain drink. Mr. Paxman poured 23 sugar packets onto a coffee table to illustrate the issue and asked if Coke’s promotion of smaller serving sizes and lower-calorie sodas was akin to tobacco companies promoting light cigarettes decades ago.
“There’s a very clear distinction between tobacco and any food and drink because in the end there’s no amount of tobacco that’s good for you,” Mr. Quincey said. “Whereas with food and drink, anything with moderation can work within your lifestyle.”
Coca-Cola shares edged down 16 cents to $41.10 in Thursday trading on the New York Stock Exchange.
By Mike Esterl


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There was a rumor going around last year that Facebook, which wasn’t yet known as Meta, was developing a wristwatch with a modular sport design to highlight health functions. In other words, it seemed like the product would compete with the Apple Watch at first appearance. Unfortunately, several setbacks the firm suffered have forced the cancellation of growth plans.
In an unexpected decision, according to Reuters, half of the 11,000 staff have been let go, along with Meta’s intentions to expand its line of smartwatches and screens. The business abruptly scrapped a potential alternative to the Apple Watch. According to Chief Technology Officer Andrew Bosworth, who runs the company’s Reality Labs branch, the wrist-mounted wearable division will now be entrusted with creating augmented reality spectacles.
It is still being determined when those glasses for augmented reality will be available, but Apple is also reported to be working on a pair that will be ready in a few years. According to the source, Meta officials are also revamping other company divisions, combining its phone and video calling teams with other messaging groups. The CEOs want to achieve this by establishing a brand-new Family Foundations subsidiary.
The employees who were let go from Meta account for 13% of the workforce. Although Apple has also implemented a hiring block because of a weakening economy, it is unknown if any skilled engineers or software developers would leave for Apple. However, the California-based company would only hire people in certain circumstances, so it won’t be shocking to learn that former Meta staffers will soon be working on Apple’s augmented reality and mixed reality products.
Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta, accepted responsibility for the layoffs and said they resulted from his bad judgments. He also ascribed part of the causes to the macroeconomic slump, greater competition, and other issues. In order for many businesses to get off the ground in the present global economic downturn, layoffs are becoming unavoidable.

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Visitors bureau launches new tourism brand
The Daily Progress Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 9:52 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello, wineries, mountains, football, fresh local food and the Dave Matthews Band are all part of a new brand identity launched Wednesday by the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The goal of the re-branding, introduced at an afternoon ceremony at The Paramount Theater, is to capture a larger local share of the approximately $20 billion that’s spent on tourism each year in Virginia.
Crutchfield Corporation has partnered with the Local Food Hub to provide a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) style local food program for it's employees. Crutchfield is covering a percentage of the cost for each employee participating in the program. We ...Vote Now


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We are living in the marijuanaissance. Thanks to CBD, cannabis is getting its glow-up, trading its stoner image for a new identity as a luxury wellness and beauty ingredient. Loosening of cannabis laws and the enthusiasm around emerging science has legitimized the medicinal claims surrounding CBD, but it’s the boutiquification of cannabis that has made everyone want to be seen with it. (For a deeper look at California weed’s luxury rebranding, check out High End, a documentary from Highsnobiety.) There are celebrity evangelists, like Olivia Wilde, Mandy Moore, and Busy Philipps, and well-designed products from chic brands such as Vertly and Lord Jones that look like they belong next to a bottle of Chanel No. 5. Not since kale have we seen so much hype around a leafy green and the number of beauty products containing the stuff is growing like a… well, you get it. By now, you’ve seen a CBD-infused version of everything from lip balm to lube, but very little to explain the basics: What does it actually do? Can it get you high? And if not, why do people care about it so much?
What is CBD?
CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of over 80 compounds called cannabinoids extracted from the cannabis sativa plant. The two most well-known of these are CBD, which does NOT get you stoned, and THC, which does. In the days of Reefer Madness, any attention weed got was focused on THC, the component that made nice girls go crazy and shack up with jazz musicians. Strains were bred to contain high THC because people buying cannabis generally wanted to get high. (Duh.) CBD didn’t pique much interest stateside until the aughts when scientists started studying the health benefits of low-THC strains.
So, can it get you high?
No, no, a thousand times, no. Which is precisely what’s making CBD so popular right now.
Why is it in everything right now?
“Honestly, people didn’t really know about how beneficial CBD can be prior to legalization,” says Claudia Mata, cofounder of infused skincare line Vertly. “It’s got anti-inflammation properties, vitamins A, D, and E, and essential fatty acids. The public is starting to view it the way we do, more like a vitamin.” Now that cannabis is legal in much of the U.S. (medical marijuana in 29 states and recreational cannabis in nine states, plus Washington D.C.), more people have had a chance to experience the plant in a way that Snoop Dogg might not. “The word of mouth on CBD has spread like wildfire,” says Cindy Capobianco, cofounder of Lord Jones, a chic brand of infused goodies so non-threatening that they’re available in Standard hotels nationwide. “The enthusiasm and education about CBD is de-stigmatizing and normalizing the cannabis plant faster than we could have ever imagined.” And of course, there’s also that teeny-tiny thrill no one talks about. Using weed-adjacent body oil feels a bit subversive. It’s like instant street cred for #coolmoms.
How does CBD work?
Our bodies actually make our own cannabis-type chemical called anandamide, also known as the bliss molecule. (Think: runner’s high.) “CBD naturally elevates the levels of your own endocannabinoid,” says Michele Ross, the founder of the IMPACT Network, a nonprofit for medical-cannabis research and education. “Increasing anandamide in your body and brain has anti-inflammatory effects, but it also has other activities at other receptors.” Exactly what all of those are is still being worked out in the lab. Most of the media attention has come from its use in controlling treatment-resistant epilepsy, and it’s been lauded as a possible answer to everything from anxiety to breast cancer.
If you ingest CBD in a supplement or edible, it enters the bloodstream like a Tylenol tablet, pinging the body’s many endocannabinoid receptors. If you slather it on the skin, it acts only on the area where it’s applied. “It’s unlikely to penetrate deep enough to get into the bloodstream, and it tends to accumulate in the upper skin layers,” says Bonni Goldstein, a physician in Los Angeles and medical advisor for Weedmaps. It’s thought that the stored CBD can provide longer-term relief.
What does the CBD in all these beauty products actually do?
Topical CBD’s most enticing attributes are its anti-inflammatory and analgesic (pain-killing) properties. Scientists are finding more evidence that it can treat skin disorders like dry skin, psoriasis, and eczema, which is why the ingredient is popping up in so many face creams, serums, and body lotions. “Inflammation is the root of all evil, whether that’s acne or the signs of aging,” says New York City dermatologist Dendy Engelman, who notes that while acne rates are increasing, there aren’t many new treatment options coming down the pike. (“Most often, they’re reformulating benzoyl peroxide, or a retinoid, or some kind of acid,” she says.) As it turns out, CBD might be the ticket to clear skin, too.
To Read The Rest Of This Article By Meirav Devash on allure
Published: June 25, 2018
Founder & Interim Editor of L.A. Cannabis News


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Midlands Trade Summit
17 March 2015 in Nottingham
The inaugural Midlands Trade Summit will bring together the medium sized businesses driving economic growth across the Midlands under the subject of international trade.
Chaired by global news correspondent Tanya Beckett, a heavy weight speaker panel will help Midlandsâ€™ business leaders to sharpen their focus on overseas sales, with an impactful agenda of plenary sessions, workshops and meetings. To be held at The Hilton at St George's Park, Burton Upon Trent


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BMW AG's (BMW.XE) total US sales dropped 5.7% on the year in August compared to the same month a year earlier, to 22,553 vehicles, which the German carmaker attributed to tight supply of new vehicles ahead of the arrival of new models.
-Sales of the BMW brand dropped 19% on the year to 16,835 vehicles.
-Mini brand sales jumped 84% on the year in August to 5,718 vehicles.
-Year-to-date, BMW group's sales are up 7.6% at 208,268.
-"All indicators show sales momentum increasing and with the model year change now complete, we have ambitious plans for the months ahead," said Ludwig Willisch, head of BMW in North America.
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires


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Tesla Recalls Thousands of Electric Vehicles
Tesla had to recall nearly 6,000 units of its vehicles in the United States (US). This is because the brake caliper bolts are potentially loose, and can cause a loss of pressure to the tires.
Tesla had to recall nearly 6,000 units of its vehicles in the United States (US). This is because the brake caliper bolts are potentially loose, and can cause a loss of pressure to the tires. Thus the published document, confiscated from Reuters, Wednesday (2/6/2021).
This recall campaign involves the Model 3 produced from 2019 to 2021 and the Model Y 2020 to 2021.
The Elon Musk manufacturer himself has reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to the problem. The Uncle Sam country brand itself, will also check and tighten, or replace the caliper bolts if necessary.
Tesla stated that this loose bolt could separate the brake calipers and touch the wheel rims, which can lead to a loss of tire pressure in very rare circumstances. Then, if any owner experiences the problem, Tesla will tow the unit and take it to the nearest repair shop.
Meanwhile, the electric car company obtained information regarding the brake caliper bolt problem in December 2020. This is because an incident involving the Model Y had occurred, with the rear brake caliper bolt loose on the driver's side. Since then, the company has taken steps to prevent the brake caliper bolts from loosening in the assembly process.
Challenge Tesla and BMW, Porsche Prepares New Electric Car
The segmentation of electric sedans is getting excited again. Not only followed by ordinary manufacturers, however, premium automotive manufacturers also present their champions. For example, BMW has officially introduced their latest model i4. This model, becomes a new challenger for Tesla, where the dominance of electric cars is increasingly crowded and diverse.
Not wanting to stay silent, Porsche is also reportedly preparing its new weapon to face the BMW champion. The information quoted from carscoops, which said the new model will be paired to compete with the Tesla Model 3 and BMW i4.
The information shared, Porsche, is rumored to have prepared a PPE platform to build their electric sedan. As for the placement of the segment, the model which is known to use the Cajun name, is under the Taycan, Posrche's electric car that was recently introduced.
Speaking further, Cajun, will later share a platform with their flagship SUV, the Macan. Some of the specifications that will be used together include the platform, battery, and powertrain.


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Valenzano Winery of Shamong gives out samples of wine at the 2012 Jazz it Up Wine Festival.
The Jazz It Up Wine Festival, which takes place Saturday, Aug. 31, and Sunday, Sept. 1, includes nearly 300 different wines from 19 New Jersey wineries.
But wine lovers aren't the only ones who will enjoy the event, says Tom Cosentino, spokesman for the Garden State Wine Growers Association, which presents the festival.
"The festival is about the whole experience, not just the wine," he says. "It is a full afternoon of entertainment." ...


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Felecia Crawford likes to ask herself the question, “What are we known for?”
And the foodservice team at St. Rita’s Medical Center, where Crawford is culinary director via HHS, is known for a lot of things—one of them being their scratch-made cookies.
The idea for a cookie concept sparked in May 2022 when the Lima, Ohio, foodservice team ordered two new TurboChef pizza ovens. Staff wanted to create something unique that could also boost traffic during the afternoon daypart when diners crave a quick snack.
Lima is a small town and there aren't big gourmet cookie chains in the area, but that doesn’t mean demand for the sweet treat isn’t there, said Crawford.
”I’m like, OK, we can do this. So, let's make our version of a nice, made-to-order gourmet cookie, you know?" said Crawford. "Who doesn't like a warm chocolate chip cookie to brighten their day?”
The team quickly got to work testing out cookie recipes. And it was during this development phase that they established a name for the concept—Simple Dimple.
Crafting the brand
While working on the menu, the team realized they could bake the cookies in the TurboChefs in just four minutes, but if they wanted the treats to cook evenly, they had to put a dimple in the center of the dough.
“And so, our tagline is ‘pure and simple, with a dimple,’" Crawford said. "It really is about taking people back to those taste memories. ... When I tasted [them], it takes me back to my grandmother's house, it takes me back to my mom making chocolate chip cookies. And so, really connecting people with food and those happy memories to go with it.”
Simple Dimple currently has about 19 cookie options offered on a rotating menu. Its staple chocolate chip cookie is of the brown butter variety with pink Himalayan salt. The cookies are sold for $3 a piece and or in packs of one, two, three, six and 12.
Most of the cookies are hot held and served warm, but the concept also offers cookie sandwiches, such as a banana pudding cookie sandwich. Recently, the team added new fall-inspired offerings—chocolate chip with sea salt caramel, iced gingerbread and a pumpkin snickerdoodle with cinnamon cream cheese frosting.
The concept officially opened in August 2022 with a big party—the team even delivered cookies to all of the nursing units.
For the Lima community, the cookies mean more than just a snack; the hospital uses them to foster community as well.
“The hospital does also use the cookies as opportunities to recognize staff," Crawford said. "So as they find staff that are doing an amazing job, for patient care or for communication with others, we actually do have free cookie coupons that they hand out.”
Responding to challenges
Demand for the concept quickly exploded, according to Crawford, who said the initial idea was to serve the cookies made to order, but long lines out the door made that a challenge. Now, Simple Dimple sells an average of 1,000 to 1,200 cookies a month. Rather than serving them made to order, the team bakes off warm cookies every morning before lunch.
Another issue the team has had to address is staffing. The concept runs best with a full-time baker on staff, but labor challenges have made it difficult to have that designated person. As such, cross-training has been key.
“Every single person on this team has kind of pulled together, every manager I have has helped," she said. "Whether it is help pull ingredients, help put together dough, help scoop dough after we've already made the dough, so it’s ready to go. It's been a huge team effort, you know, it's one of those. We're tight, we take care of each other.”
Short-term goals for the operation include continued menu development and planning flavors for upcoming seasons. In the long term, the team hopes to expand the concept to other hospitals in its healthcare system.
And demand for the cookies has yet to slow down, Crawford noted.
“We are known for cookies now,” she said. “So again, our goal is to start out going, 'What are you known for?' We're known for big cookies.”


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THE unveiling of a new lupin processing facility has paved the way for a resurgence in the legume.
Lupin Foods Australia (LFA) - a wholly owned subsidiary of CBH - opened the facility yesterday and said it would focus on marketing lupins as a new health food alternative on the domestic and global market.
Lupin Foods Australia general manager David Fienberg said the idea for the project emerged in 2009.
"We have progressively moved towards a lupin food strategy and we started to do the work in earnest from January this year," he said.
"So it has taken us 10 months to redesign the mill towards lupin food products.
"In that time we have developed the markets for lupins, and we developed the technology to produce the products and packaging."
Mr Fienberg said Indonesia was a target market, where lupins would be reintroduced as a brand new product in competition with soybeans.
"In parallel with that, we have brought on a lot of products that are extremely versatile, and are focused on being a functional food that can be eaten at either breakfast, lunch or dinner," he said.
Despite his enthusiasm, Mr Fienberg acknowledged lupins were currently a struggling commodity.
"It is about volatility, when you go to plant, the price of lupins is high, when you go to harvest the price has dropped away," he said.
"At the moment lupins are at about $315-$320 a tonne, which is fantastic, if only they would stay there."
When asked why CBH had opted to invest in the declining commodity, Mr Fienberg said the stars had lined up, with increased incidence of obesity and diabetes, market volatility and the appetite of CBH to provide more farmgate value back to growers at a time where they had never struggled more.
"We have science and great food technology, we have people asking us where this stuff has been for the past 20 years and why has it taken so long," he said.
"We have gathered a lot of work that has been done before.
"It was very much focused on agronomy before, but with the Department of Agriculture and Food and the CSIRO, and some quality food technology companies, we now have a focus on Australian food technologies and on a whole range of products that we think can be delivered to the doorstep and be used in any meal.
"We have a small team that is passionate about this and we hope that it flies."
Mr Fienberg said the initiative would focus on the demands of the current consumer and the modern need for easy, fast and healthy foods.
"We are not dealing with muffins, cakes and desserts and stuff that we feel that the current consumer doesn't have the time to muck around with," he said.
"With most of our foods, you can open the packet and within 15 minutes you have a meal.
"It is the highest natural source of protein and fibre in the world, and to quote the CSIRO, with the exception of iron and Vitamin B12, you could live on this in the desert for your entire life," he said.
"There is not another product in the world like this, so when we cobble together some simple but fantastic tasting foods, it can go on the table at any time of the day.
"It's gluten-free, it's high protein, it has fibre and an amazing amino acid profile.
"The way we know we are on the right path is that we have tested it and tested it, not only here but in Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and internationally."
Mr Fienberg said the processing facility would provide two main advantages for WA growers.
"Firstly it will enable us to stabilise the price because we have decommoditised it and secondly, it will give us the ability to dramatically increase the value of lupins on farm, not only in terms of the ability to grow more hectares because you know the price is stable, but you know the price will go up," he said.
"If we continue to trade lupins in a commodity market as stock feed, it's pegged continuously against soybean meal.
"Soybean meal is volatile, it depends on what is happening in China and what is happening globally in terms of pork and chicken.
"We need to break that nexus and get it out of the market and create a whole new market for it and put it into a new position."
Mr Fienberg said there was potential to offer growers a fixed-price contract for up to two years.
"But we need a few things back, we need you to have on-farm quality systems that ensure we know exactly what the regime is in terms of chemical and agronomy," he said.
"We need specific varieties, we are not too sure what those are going to be, we need specific harvesting equipment, specific management on-farm and logistics so we get a very efficient demand and supply chain working together
"If we can do that, we believe this is just half a step away from what good farmers do now."
Mr Fienberg said he believed growers would eventually use wheat as their break crop, rather than lupins.
"Simply because they know they can rely on the price, they know it does amazing things to soil and weed programs," he said.
"If we can give them a white knight they will warm to it."
Mr Fienberg said DAFWA reports had clearly indicated potential to have 2-2.5 million tonnes of lupins grown in WA in an average season.
"We know we can probably source another 1mt from around Australia, and there are parts of the world that can lift their production as well," he said.
"We think by engaging with suppliers from WA and around Australia we can get stability of supply and work together to be able to distribute this food into a high quality market."
Mr Fienberg said LFA would be the first processing plant of this scale, with the ability to process up to 145,000t a year.
"In Western Europe there is about 500,000t of lupins eaten consistently, but it is quite sporadic, it is a different system and it is a different lupin to what we have here," he said.
"It has some amazing features that are not present in other lupins, we are trying to capitalise on those.
"We are underpinning all this with great medical evidence, preliminary indications indicate that you will reduce blood pressure, it will strip cholesterol and it will give you a gluten free break.
"On a protein per weight basis lupin foods are the equivalent of a porterhouse steak which is quite profound.
"145,000t is not going to make a massive change but what it does enable us to do is prove to the global market that WA has something amazingly different to the rest of the world."


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The Elder Scrolls Online: Introducing One Tamriel
The Elder Scrolls Online announces that its “One Tamriel” update, which will make it possible to adventure anywhere regardless of level, will arrive October 18.
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The Tinybeans Group Ltd (ASX: TNY) share price is edging higher today following the company’s release of its Q1 FY21 update. In early morning trade, shares in the tech company reached an intra-day high of $1.35. However, the Tinybeans share price has since retreated to $1.24 at the time of writing, up 0.82%.
What’s moving the Tinybeans share price?
The Tinybeans share price bounced higher this morning after the company reported a robust result backed by an acceleration in user engagement for the period ending 30 September.
Revenue jumped to $2.5 million, a 123% increase on the prior corresponding period, and 6% on the previous quarter. The record result was achieved by Tinybeans’ premium subscription base growing above 21,800 members.
Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) improved, operating at a loss of $331,000. This represented a 50% reduction on the past three months. With high operating margins, the company noted that revenue is closing the gap as the business grows.
Operating cash burn for Q1 FY21 was $815,000, driven by recruitment costs to support new and existing larger advertising partners. Advertising wins included Walmart Inc (NYSE: WMT), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Cooper Companies Inc‘s (NYSE: COO) CooperVision, Spin Master Corp, Aphabet Inc‘s (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Google and Moose Toys.
Tinybeans recorded a cash balance of $4.55 million at the end of the quarter.
What did the CEO say?
Tinybeans CEO, Mr Eddie Geller, commented on the positive result. He said:
I’m pleased to report another quarter of strong growth despite COVID disruptions to our operations and to our brand partners…
Historically, Q1 is seasonally a slower quarter in the U.S. advertising market, however, a 15% revenue growth in USD terms during difficult economic times is very promising…
We have plans to significantly grow this offering as more and more content gets integrated across the app. E-commerce is a complementary addition to the platform and a total addressable market in the baby/kids category in the U.S. of over 1 trillion dollars.
Tinybeans said it continues to perform well with the COVID-19 backdrop and is focused on executing its growth strategies.
New partnership agreements are being worked on and are expected to be released to the market in due course.
The company is anticipating exponential user growth to begin in FY22, with revenues from its consumer segment to eclipse adverting by FY23. This is due to its ever-growing sales team pushing subscription and e-commerce products and services.
About the Tinybeans share price
The Tinybeans share price has been an impressive performer since the beginning of August, reflecting a gain of more than 50% for shareholders. On today’s price, the company has a market capitalisation of just under $58 million.
This Tiny ASX Stock Could Be the Next Afterpay
One little-known Australian IPO has doubled in value since January, and renowned Australian Moonshot stock picker Anirban Mahanti sees a potential millionaire-maker in waiting...
Because 'Doc' Mahanti believes this fast-growing company has all the hallmarks of genuine Moonshot potential, forget 'buy now pay later', this stock could be the next hot stock on the ASX.
Doc and his team have published a detailed report on this tiny ASX stock. Find out how you can access what could be the NEXT Afterpay today!
Returns as of 6th October 2020
Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Aaron Teboneras has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of and recommends Alphabet (A shares) and Apple. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. owns shares of Tinybeans Group Ltd. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Alphabet (A shares), Apple, and Tinybeans Group Ltd. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.
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Is Netflix the AOL of Web Streaming?
Submitted by Scott Cleland on Fri, 2012-03-09 17:46
Netflix' erratic and panicky behavior this past year is telling us that Netflix' leadership fears they may becoming the AOL of web streaming.
Remember AOL was the company that led the dial-up narrowband market, but fell way short in transitioning to broadband success. (Investors remember AOL-Time Warner, dubbed the worst merger of the century.) Meanwhile, Netflix is the fallen star company that led the mail-DVD business, but now is struggling to repeat its offline success online with web streaming.
If one looks at Netflix' panicky behavior over the last year or so, a clear pattern emerges that Netflix' own management is very concerned about how it will successfully transition from DVD mail-order leader to successful web streaming provider.
Consider the cumulative evidence.
- Fall of 2010, Netflix strongly lobbied for the FCC's Open Internet Order/net neutrality policy, to ban broadband usage-based pricing as per se anti-competitive, so that Netflix would not have any video distribution costs and would have a big cost of distribution advantage over broadband facilities providers. The FCC gave Netflix a half a loaf, declaring (para 76) that paying for priority may be discriminatory, while allowing broadband providers to employ usage-based pricing (para 72).
- In early July 2011, Netflix' General Counsel screamed in a WSJ op-ed: "Why Bandwidth Usage Pricing is Anti-competitive," despite the FCC concluding the opposite seven months earlier. Obviously Netflix' leadership did not like the hand the FCC dealt it.
- July 12th 2011, Netflix' CEO shocked their customers in announcing a 60% price increase for a bargain service -- with no warning. This prompted ~13,000 irate comments to their blog post announcement and triggered material customer cancellations of Netflix service. Obviously, Netflix' leadership looked ahead and did not like the economics of its original pricing model.
- September 19th 2011, Netflix jerked its customers around again requiring them to sign-up for two accounts and credit card charges, one for DVDs and another for streaming, essentially delegating to their customers the work that Netflix' own IT and customer care divisions should do for its customers.
- October 10th 2011, Netflix whipsawed everyone yet again with a curt 180-degree-reversal announcement that Netflix would no longer be splitting the company into separate DVD and streaming businesses. In just three months, Netflix’ leadership managed to majorly jerk around its investors and customers three different times. Netflix management clearly was concerned and highly-confused about its best business path forward.
- In December 2011, Netflix ran to Washington yet again for rescue, this time asking Congress to pass a special Netflix law to lessen consumer privacy protections so Netflix could partner with Facebook and share people's viewing histories publicly via Facebook -- something video competitors cannot do under a I980s privacy law.
- Finally, this week we learn that Netflix, a long-time critic of facilities-based video providers, is reportedly proposing to partner with cable companies to have Netflix be offered over cable like an HBO-like channel.
In sum, is this the behavior of a company that knows where it is going and likes its prospects? Or is this the panicky behavior of a company that is extremely concerned about its prospects of successfully transforming from an offline DVD business model to a broadband web streaming business model -- in flight?
Netflix' panicky behavior belies its own fears that it is becoming the AOL of web-streaming.
Previous Netflix posts:


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The following items were taken from Niles police reports:
A Niles woman was cited for the cost of emergency services and possession of drug paraphernalia after overdosing on opiates on the 6900 block of Monroe Street on Oct. 16.
A Des Plaines man was charged with DUI on Oct. 12 on the 9000 block of South Golf Road.
A Chicago man was charged with DUI on Oct. 11 on the 9200 block of Milwaukee Avenue after being pulled over for driving erratically.
A Norridge man was charged with retail theft at a store on the 8600 block of Dempster Street after being observed by a loss prevention agent leaving the store without paying with items worth $103 in a shopping cart.
A residence on the 9200 block of Washington Street was burglarized on Oct. 15.
A woman had her wallet stolen while shopping at a store in the 8500 block of Golf Road on Oct. 15.


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Researchers examined how eating habits can be linked to COVID-19 severity. What they found may shock you, but it didn’t surprise PETA.
Fish feel pain, too! And if your family usually celebrates Father’s Day by accompanying Dad to the local fishing hole, this will help you start a kinder tradition.
If it’s made from dairy, it comes from cows like Dawn. See how students across the country are sharing Dawn’s story to show the world that milk belongs to mothers like her.
Vital Farms Claims Humane Treatment of Chickens—PETA Foundation Lawyers Help File Class Action Lawsuit© iStock.com/funix
Vital Farms uses gimmicky words and deceptive images to mislead consumers about the way it really treats chickens. PETA is helping consumers sue over the brand’s allegedly false claims.
PETA has made a lot of top 10 lists over the decades, so it was only natural to compile the top 10 of them! Check out our top 10 top 10 lists for food finds, reasons to go vegan, and more.
Thanks to PETA Asia, Odd the monkey can finally enjoy a normal life—away from Thailand’s cruel coconut industry. Here’s how you can help others!
Join California Students Opposing Speciesism hubs in pushing for a ban on serving meat, eggs, and dairy as well as on supplying animal-tested products to students, teachers, and staff on UC campuses.
Join 25 of the world’s most trusted experts for the free online 10th Annual Food Revolution Summit! Get the latest insights on vegan health while supporting PETA’s vital work for animals. It’s a win-win! Register today.
Eating vegan—even for just a single day—is an effective way to help the planet. Here are PETA’s tips and resources to help you go vegan on Earth Day and beyond.
Check out these restaurants and companies that are helping PETA for “Go Vegan for the Earth” Day this year!
Looking for love on the apps? PETA took to Tinder to see who would fare better with matches: an amateur angler or a “trash fishing” pro. Here’s what we learned.
Victory! New Zealand has made the compassionate move to ban the live export of millions of animals, a journey that is fraught with illness and death. Now, all eyes are on Australia to follow suit.
Severe injuries, dead and dying chicks, rotting bodies scattered on the feces-covered floor of dank, dark sheds: THIS is what you’re supporting when you buy chicken.
“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE
— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind


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By Daniel Hunter
900 jobs are to be cut at Premier Food, the makers of Hovis bread, following the closure of two bakeries.
The company said it would close two bakery sites in Greenford, west London and Birmingham some time next year.
Premier, which is the country's largest branded food producer, is also simplifying its bread distribution network by cutting some 130 routes.
“Having generated solid growth momentum in our grocery division, it is critical that we act to assure the long-term future of the bread division," Michael Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of Premier Foods said.
"By simplifying our cost base, we can increase focus on improving efficiency, quality and service levels to help grow our core Hovis business. We recognise the impact these actions will have for our employees at the sites affected. Decisions will not be taken lightly but they are necessary if we are to build a strong and successful future for the Bread Division and those who remain with our business”.
The closures come on top of the previously announced closure of its bakery in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
Join us on


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Jeff Kagan explains why grocers can't simply choose to sit the change wave taking place in their industry. If they do, the wave will pass them by, leaving them behind where they will slowly wither and die.
Gary Sankary, head of retail for Esri, explains why the emphasis on customer experience must continue for retailers wanting to successfully navigate through today's new business model.
Consumers are driving retailers to deliver an enhanced, multi-pronged and expansive delivery experience and those not hopping on the bandwagon will likely be left in the dust. Experts offer insight and tips are making sure that doesn't happen.
E-commerce has not taken off in the grocery sector as it has in other retail segments in the U.S., nor has it matched the performance of grocery in the U.K. Tim Steiner of Ocado, the U.K.'s leading e-commerce grocer, says the right combination of benefits has evaded e-commerce grocery in the U.S.
The TrustChain, a collaborative initiative that involves IBM and a consortium of leaders in the gold and diamond industry, aims to track and authenticate jewels from mine to market to provide transparency to consumers and shoppers.
Blogger and industry expert Chris H. Petersen explains why today's retail customer experience involves a foundation of "goodwill" that drives positive feelings.
Rafik Hanna, senior director, All Access, at Taco Bell will share insight on how the brand is winning big with customers due to its digital transformation strategy at the upcoming Interactive Customer Experience (ICX) Summit taking place next month in Texas.
Jeff Kagan explains why Best Buy is a model of success that struggling retailers may want to take note. The retailer saw what was coming and transformed to survive.
Tom Chittenden, NCR VP and general manager of retail solutions, says retailers striving for a frictionless checkout must consider strategic business objectives and understand the best to serve loyal consumers and attract new ones.
Abnesh Raina, PlumSlice Labs founder and CEO, explains why accurate product data management is essential for retailers looking to stay ahead of the ever-growing consumer demand and truly deliver a unified commerce customer experience.
Blogger Chris Petersen says that when a retailer doesn't have the resources or infrastructure, the best way to compete with Amazon is do something different. Some of the smallest retailers are deploying strategies that other retailers can leverage for differentiation.
Sam Kliger, KWI CEO, explains why there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to retail return policies. The policy is an important part of a retailer's overall approach to customer service, but not as simple as making guidelines strict or lenient.
Instead of resisting change when new competitors such as e-commerce retailers and on-demand delivery services came into the market, Target is investing in its digital infrastructure to meet the needs of changing shopping habits.
Matt Matsui, senior vice president of products and strategy at Calabrio, says digital transformation isn't just coming — it's finally here and retailers must be careful to not get swept up in the hype. To best serve customers, companies can't ignore the fact shoppers still want a human connection, whether that's in-store or online.
The National Automatic Merchandising Association trade show floor featured POS equipment tailored to a consumer who is comfortable with mobile payment, and other technologies such as advanced data analytics, artificial intelligence, robotics, biometric identity verification and digital signage.
There's Black Friday and Cyber Monday and now comes Way Day, which will take place April 25 at Wayfair.com. The retailer is launching its own retail 'holiday' shopping event as customers want free fast shipping and an easy way to shop.
Retailers must be aware of what's changing in payments to better serve their customers. That was the overarching message to retailers from a group of executives on a panel at the recent Oracle Industry Connect in New York City.
Chip R. Bell explains why retail success starts with customer intelligence that provokes insight, not just customer information, and includes shifting the "locus of focus" from customer wants and needs to hopes and aspirations.
Bryan Pearson ponders what will happen to the Whole Foods brand now living under the ever expanding Amazon umbrella.
Recognizing the need for both physical stores and e-commerce, retailers seek solutions — including self-serve kiosks — to deliver more interactive customer experiences.


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Uber drivers may be sabotaging the competition by booking and canceling rides to tie up rival Lyft drivers.
Data acquired by CNN shows Uber employees have ordered and canceled more than 5,500 rides from rival Lyft since last October. CNN says it requested the data while reporting another story about the competition between the two companies.
Lyft claims this is happening all across the county and says the data links the fake ride requests to at least 177 Uber employees.
The fake requests cost Lyft drivers money. They spend their own gas money to get to the destination only to find out they've been scammed. While responding to the fake order, the Lyft driver is off the app map meaning users needing a ride might pick an Uber driver instead.
Lyft spokeswoman Erin Simpson released this statement:
An Uber spokesperson responded with this statement:
That led to another response from Lyft, who issued this statement:
The CNN report does say this is not the first time Uber has been accused of canceling rides on a competing service. Earlier this year, Uber staffers in New York called and withdrew more than 100 ride requests with another ride share rival. After being uncovered, Uber said in a statement that it would "tone down their sales tactics."


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Authors are looking to escalate their fight with Amazon.com Inc. by seeking a government investigation into what they say is the online retail giant's abuse of its market power.
The Authors Guild, the country's largest advocacy group for writers, met with Justice Department officials in early August, people familiar with the matter said. The Guild, which has more than 8,500 members, raised concerns that Amazon is violating antitrust law as it puts pressure on Hachette Book Group in a dispute over revenue from e-books.
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Today's JCPenney coupon code - 30% off entire purchase
Dyson promo code: Extra 20% off sitewide
Wayfair Black Friday Coupon: 30% Off


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The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is today proposing stricter rules for firms selling ‘contract for difference’ (CFD) products to retail customers to improve standards across the sector and ensure consumers are appropriately protected.
The practice of paying employees a week before Christmas Day is helpful – or so we think. However, this means that the gap between paydays will be just over five weeks – with January already being a long month for most. Early pay days also encourage overspending.
Many local entrepreneurial businesses have the potential to thrive under pressure. However, in the midst of a volatile economy small and medium enterprises (SMEs) do require a particular level of certainty to flourish and implement growth strategies.
The Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, today met with the new SAA Board following its approval by Cabinet on 31 August 2016. The purpose of the meeting was to share with the board the status of the airline and government’s expectations of the Board, National Treasury said in a statement.
As we near the end of Women’s Month, the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition, sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS has revealed a record number of entries received from female entrepreneurs – growing by more than 38% from 2015. Gugu Mjadu, spokesperson for the 2016 Entrepreneur of the Year® competition sponsored by Sanlam and BUSINESS/PARTNERS,...
While there are still a lot of preconceived notions about women in our society, some might still believe the myth that women cannot possibly give their all to their careers, or to the same extent that men do, because women have children, Lindi Dlamini: Group Executive, Human Resources at PPS Group writes.
I attend a great many talks given by economists every year. This is part of my job as editor of MoneyMarketing. I’m not an economist, so in order to make good editorial calls, I listen to those who are experts in the subject of economics. These talks are almost always very educational and interesting –...
Visit the official COVID-19 government website to stay informed: sacoronavirus.co.za


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The non-woven fabric market was valued at USD 43,883 million in 2020 and the market is expected to register a CAGR of more than 6% during the forecast period (2021-2026). Outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in the shut down of businesses, production, and manufacturing facilities, resulting in no economic activity. As the governments are planning to provide economic packages for SMEs and other benefits, consumers worldwide are now focussing on essential commodities and personal protective equipment. Hence, the negative impact of COVID-19 is expected to be minimal to the growth of the nonwoven fabric market.
- Over the short term, the growing application base in the healthcare and personal care industry, along with increasing demand for electric vehicles, is expected to drive the market studied.
- Spun-bond segment dominated the market, by technology, and it is also likely to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period.
- Asia-Pacific dominated the market across the world, where the demand for non-woven fabric are majorly driven by the increasing application and demand from industries, such as construction, healthcare, etc.
Key Market Trends
Increasing Demand from the Healthcare Industry
- Nonwoven fabric is used to make various products in the healthcare industry, such as surgical gowns, aprons, drapes, face mask components, and wound dressings. They are also used in hygiene products, such as sanitary towels, sanitary napkins, tampons, baby diapers, and napkin liners.
- The demand for new and better-performing products is propelling the nonwoven industry. There is a significant demand for nonwoven fabric from the healthcare industry. Increasing surgeries and the construction of new medical facilities are the primary driving forces for this market.
- Additionally, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been astronomical increase in the demand for nonwoven face masks to prevent the spreading of the virus. This has resulted in an increase in demand for nonwoven fabrics across the world, at an exponential rate.
- Asia-Pacific is expected to witness a significant increase in hygiene products, over the forecast period, due to the increasing adoption of female hygiene products in countries like India and China.
- In India, according to BCH (Indian nonwovens industry association), the market penetration rate of sanitary napkin has increased by 18% from 2014. It is currently estimated that over ~60% of the Indian women do not use sanitary care products. This is majorly due to the high amount of population residing in rural areas. With the increase in penetration rate of sanitary care products, owing to the increasing hygiene precautions, the market for nonwovens in the country is expected to rapidly increase.
- In China, the market for feminine products and baby diapers has been growing at a rapid rate, owing to the increase in hygiene-related concerns. The leading diaper manufacturers in the country include Quanzhou Diaborn Hygiene Products Co. Ltd, Chiaus, BBG Sanitary Commodity Limited, AAB China Co. Ltd, InSoft, Yamaza, and Baron China Co. Ltd.
- Other factors, like population growth, increasing aging population, and the COVID-19 outbreak across the world, are driving the demand for nonwoven fabrics in the healthcare industry.
Asia-Pacific to Dominate the Market
- Asia-Pacific is expected to be the largest consumer, globally, owing to the commissioning of additional capacities, as well as an increase in the production of non-woven fabric in the region.
- In terms of consumption and production of non-woven fabric, China held the largest share, globally.
- The textile industry in China is booming, with increasing investments and government support from the 13th Five Year Plan. Textile and apparel makers in the country are going through painful industrial restructuring. While the country, with enormous production capacity, is still the world's largest clothing exporter, oversupply at home, high labor costs, and rising global protectionism have all eroded its competitiveness.
- The Chinese government is planning Xinjiang as the hotbed for the textile and apparel manufacturing and has invested USD 8 billion. China's northwest region is expected to become the country's largest textile production base by 2030.
- As the construction industry is dominated by state-owned and private enterprises, increased government and private spending, in this regard, is pushing the industry to the peak position in the world. The housing authorities of Hong Kong have launched several measures to push-start the construction of low-cost housing in the country.
- Moreover, healthcare has become one of Indiaâ€™s largest sectors. The countryâ€™s health care spending as a percentage of GDP is growing rapidly, owing to the governmentâ€™s focus on improving healthcare recently. India is also one of the famous destinations of medical tourism owing to its cheap and quality healthcare, and it is also experiencing high growth.
- All the aforementioned factors, in turn, projected to increase market at high rates in Asia-Pacific region, owing to the rapid growth of end-user industries.
The market studied is fragmented, comprising several large and small players; the top six players accounted for over 22% of the global market. The market is extremely competitive, with various leading manufacturers engaging in strategic partnerships to expand their market share. Major players in the market include Berry Global Inc., Freudenberg Group, Ahlstrom-MunksjÃ¶, KCWW, and DuPont, among others.
Reasons to Purchase this report:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support


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All publications by tag «Niantic»
Niantic launches Lightship ARDK and $20 million fund, planning to build its own real-world metaverse
Niantic has shared its vision of a “real-world metaverse” by launching the Lightship, an AR developer kit (ARDK) for AR experiences. On top of that, the company also opened a $20 million fund for developers.
Niantic shutting down Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, as its revenue falls short compared to Pokémon GO
Niantic has decided to shut down Harry Potter: Wizard Unite in 2022. The company, though, is still trying to expand its portfolio of mobile AR games, in which Pokémon GO remains the most successful title.
Niantic’s John Hanke wants to prevent ‘dystopian nightmare’ of metaverse by improving real world with AR
John Hanke, founder and CEO of Niantic, has criticized the idea of virtual metaverse, calling it a “dystopian nightmare.” He proposed another concept of improving the real world with additional interactive objects and information using AR technology.


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As it always happens, fake listings and leaks crop up in China and while it is easy to make them out as fake or real, many just post them. So, a new listing of Nokia 8 has appeared at JD.com and many have posted the news without even verifying anything.
If you check the listing it screams fake with a recently posted Nokia P1 / Nokia 8 concept as listing image. You may have seen these images in our article about this concept.
In fact, chances of Nokia 8 missing MWC 2017 is high with our sources reporting it. We posted an article about why HMD must talk about Nokia 8 on February 26.
This listing had fake pricing and even claimed to accept Nokia 8 pre-orders. Hope, nobody has already fallen into trap.
Read our Full Nokia 8 coverage:
[display-posts tag=”nokia-8″ posts_per_page=”30″ image_size=”thumbnail”]


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Imperial Valley News Center
Washington, DC - In June, the Commission announced its first settlement with a mobile advertising network, InMobi. Among other things, the Commission’s complaint challenges the company’s location tracking practices. In this post, we explain the mechanism that the Commission alleges InMobi used to track users’ location without permission, and discuss technical steps that mobile operating systems have taken to try to address this practice.
San Diego, California - San Diego Zoo Global is honoring the work of two prominent Australia zoos for their significant efforts in wildlife conservation worldwide. During a ceremony, Monday, with San Diego Zoo Global staff, representatives from Zoos Victoria in Melbourne and the Taronga Conservation Society Australia in Sydney were presented with the San Diego Zoo Global 2016 Conservation Partners Medal, shining a light on their efforts in wildlife conservation research projects, public education and strict animal welfare standards.
Germantown, Maryland - I was always fascinated with science. However, I steered away from pursuing science beyond high school because there was too much math involved (and “MATH,” a four-letter word if ever I saw one, and I never really got along). As a result, much of my teaching experience has centered around things that came more naturally to me. In fact, though this will be my 11th year teaching, it is only my third year teaching science.
Sacramento, California - Are you one of the thousands of California farmers and ranchers who invite the public to your land to shop at your farm stand, pick their own fruit, taste wine, stay the night, learn a skill, enjoy a festival, or tour your operation?
Washington, DC - Many owners of 2.0 liter Volkswagen diesels will soon be able to sell their cars back to Volkswagen AG for more than their current replacement value as a result of a proposed $10.03 billion deceptive advertising settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC wants to make sure consumers and businesses to know the facts surrounding the settlement. To that end, the FTC issued two new blog posts today.
Stanford, California - Silicon memory chips come in two broad types: volatile memory, such as computer RAM that loses data when the power is turned off, and nonvolatile flash technologies that store information even after we shut off our smartphones.
Page 497 of 2210


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Australian billionaire Frank Lowy's controversial plan to split Westfield Retail Trust's shopping mall business has won approval from the majority of shareholders.
Under the $70bn (£41bn, €51bn) plan, Lowy was seeking to split the company's shopping mall empire into two separate entities – a domestic business focusing on shopping malls in Australia and New Zealand and an international business including shopping centres in the US and the UK.
More than 76% shareholders in Westfield Retail Trust (WRT) voted in favour of the proposal, as it needed at least 75% vote to go ahead.
Following the approval, the international shopping centre business of WRT will be merged with the main Westfield Group. The Australian and New Zealand properties business will be combined with Westfield Retail Trust and a new company called Scentre Group will be created.
WRT was spun off from Westfield Group four years ago.
"As chairman I'd like to acknowledge the positive engagement with shareholders, both for and against the proposal," said Richard Warburton, chairman of the Westfield Retail Trust.
"Achieving a 75% yes vote was a high hurdle but we were always confident of the intrinsic strategic merit and fairness of the proposal to both entities and we now look forward to the creation of what will be two new, great companies," said Westfield chairman Lowy.
In a poll conducted in May, the majority of WRT investors had voted against the proposal. The new result shows that the company's campaign in the last few weeks to win over investors has been a success.
"Ultimately they ran a very successful lobbying campaign against those institutions that voted against it or didn't vote," said Australian Shareholders Association spokesman, Stephen Mayne.
Several big shareholders in WRT argued against the restructuring, saying it would increase the company's debt and risk. UniSuper, which is the largest shareholder in WRT with an 8.5% interest, was among the shareholders that opposed the plan.
John Pearce, chief investment officer with UniSuper, said he was disappointed with the result, but noted that the fund will stick on with its investment in WRT.
"We will decide what we do with our shareholding but this result doesn't trigger any immediate buy or sell decision," Pearce said.
"Clearly the result is a bit disappointing but I respect Westfield's campaign, it was obviously very effective, and we look forward to working with them in the future."


text: Amazon Pay has entered into competition with Flipkart and Paytm in the Indian digital wallet market. Previously, Amazon Pay in India worked around a gift card option, but now the company has allowed customers to load money directly into the wallet. The company has said that it is now focussed on ensuring that “customers have a trusted and convenient payment experience”. It also added that it will continue to partner with the finance company Qwikcilver to offer other “digital gifting and payments solutions” on top of the new direct payment feature. Following India's announcement of the upcoming removal of 90% of bank notes from circulation, digital wallets have become a vital means of payment in the country, with overall digital transactions quadrupling since the announcement.


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The new offering complements the company’s flagship Stories creation suite, licensed by leading global creators such as The Guardian, Yahoo, Google, Vice or Lonely Planet. The new platform launches with a renewed commitment to empower media organisations with the best-in-class commercial and editorial products, that help compete effectively for both user attention and advertiser revenue.
Public will allow creators to publish a new form of choose-your-own-adventure web experiences, allowing consumers to engage with editorial or brand-supported content over an interface that’s uniquely relevant and familiar to them through apps such as Whatsapp, Telegram or WeChat.
The company encourages creators to embrace a more direct, and conversational communication style to help build deeper and more meaningful bonds with an audience that’s routinely exhausted by today’s media and technology environment. The format allows creators to step away from the one-size-fits-all model, and create experiences that branch out dynamically to reveal new chapters, media elements and other interactive components.
“Conversational content is the right step for the millions of creators looking to push more personal and differentiated experiences to their subscribers, while acting mindfully with regards to user privacy and data protection. Whether it comes to guiding the user's attention through a story or recommending the next read, asking people about their preferences, rather than guessing them, simply makes a lot more sense” declared Mihai Fanache, CEO at Newsroom AI, the company behind Public.
The new platform addresses new use cases in the wider content-experiences universe, allowing creators to collect leads or user feedback, make dynamic content recommendations or drive product sales, without leaving the content pages.
Similar to the Stories offering, Conversations will be available for both editorial and commercial teams, welcoming a new range of editorial and commercial integrations, available through Public’s global network of publishers and solution providers.
For more information on Public, please visit www.getpublic.com


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The National Literacy Trust has partnered with cosmetics company Lancôme to launch an audiobook club for young women.
Behind the Cover is aimed at women aged 16+, and is designed to "support young women’s literacy skills, confidence and wellbeing at home", in light of the continued closure of schools in the UK.
Throughout the summer, subscribers will receive a free audiobook and access to author content and activities. They will also be encouraged to submit a book review, a selection of which will be published every month on the NLT's website.
Behind the Cover launches with 2019 Booker Prize winning Girl, Woman, Other (Penguin Audio) by Bernardine Evaristo.
Evaristo said: “Reading about different places and adventure when I was growing up opened the world to me. Yet I was always frustrated that black British women weren’t visible in the books I read, which is why I wanted to tell the stories of as many black British women as possible in Girl, Woman, Other, spanning different ages, classes, backgrounds and experiences.
"I am delighted that so many young women will get the chance to listen to Girl, Woman, Other through the National Literacy Trust and Lancôme’s brand new audiobook club. Everyone has a story to tell, so I hope my book inspires young women to share theirs.”


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Instagram unveiled a new logo on May 11, and it may actually go down as one of the biggest Internet freak-outs of all time! And while a select few seem to like the update, the masses have spoken — and they are NOT too pleased. One user even threatened to stab her eyes out — yikes!
Hating on an app update is nothing new — remember when people lashed out when Twitter changed its liking system from stars to hearts? And don’t forget how Facebook freaks out EVERY time there’s a slight design or layout change to the site. But the new Instagram change that was unveiled on May 11, may just take the cake for overreactions. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite Twittersphere responses and trust us — they are BEYOND dramatic!
“The Great Instagram Freakout,” as The New York Times referred to it, blew up the Twittersphere with fans completely going crazy over the fact that Instagram changed their layout and logo. And while we totally understand that it takes time to adjust to such a change, the Internet dramatics were a tad overwhelming! Come on people, it’s not like Justin Bieber, 22, shaved his head — again!
“Today we’re introducing a new look,” Instagram announced via — you guessed it — Instagram, on May 11. “You’ll see an updated icon and app design for Instagram. Inspired by the previous app icon, the new one represents a simpler camera and the rainbow lives on in gradient form.” Doesn’t sound too bad, right? Wrong! People had PLENTY to say about this updated icon…and not all of it was pretty.
Check out some of our favorite reactions below tell us, what do YOU think of Insta’s new design?
the new Instagram logo makes me want to stab my eyes out
— gracey (@Graci0uss_) May 11, 2016
New Instagram logo has me like pic.twitter.com/rD2y6SjWJZ
— Vinny Vaillancourt (@vtothepowerof2) May 12, 2016
the new Instagram logo is fiiire pic.twitter.com/bJirmTMsV3
— manelsus (@arianaswallows) May 12, 2016
How the new instagram logo was made pic.twitter.com/Lwe6Oa46T8
— Troy Osinoff (@yo) May 12, 2016
Dear instagram, your new logo is ugly as sin. pic.twitter.com/cs0cV69MfA
— SCOTT WARNER (@ScottWarner18) May 12, 2016
If the Apple logo had been redesigned by Instagram. pic.twitter.com/gK4Y5Xlhwd
— Vlad Savov (@vladsavov) May 12, 2016
Not sure I like the new @instagram app logo! It’s dominating my home screen! 😳
— Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) May 12, 2016
If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. The new Instagram logo = 💩
— Rob Chianelli (@RobChianelli) May 12, 2016
But not EVERYONE was hating on the new design — some people actually appreciated its simpler layout. However, those tweets were few and far between.
Loving the new update of Instagram. Not the logo but the colors & the interface. Black & white theme. So fresh & so clean. 😍
— Lucaspeebo (@Lucaspeebo) May 12, 2016
I DON’T CARE ABOUT THE NEW INSTAGRAM LOGO AM I STILL A MILLENNIAL
— Anne T. Donahue (@annetdonahue) May 12, 2016
Tell us what YOU think about Insta’s new logo, HollywoodLifers — is it amazing or totally ugly?


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Since the pandemic hit its market area in March, Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) has given more than $20.4 million to its over 15,000 employee-partners, which includes a third round of gift cards delivered to all active employees yesterday.
Full-time employees are receiving a $200 BGC gift card and part-time employees are receiving a $100 BGC gift card totaling $1.9million given to help with those recovering from Hurricane Laura and the pandemic.
“We are very proud of the way our team has pulled together totake care of our customers, communities, each other and our stores after Hurricane Laura swept through much of ourmarket area last Thursday,” said Brad Brookshire, Chairman and CEO.“
Our team’s commitment to keeping everyone safe during last week’s storms, and during the past six months of the pandemic, has been truly phenomenal. We are excited to give back to them and their families leading into the holiday weekend.”
The gift cards are in addition to the more than $20.4million BGC has invested in its employee-partners through bonus checks, temporary wage increases for partners in retail and logistics, retail incentives, an extra employee discount, on-site meals, and a compensation plan for those who could be directly affected by COVID-19.Based in Tyler, BGC is a regional family-owned grocery business that employs more than 15,000 individuals throughout Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, including here in Kilgore, on US. 259
The company operates more than 180 stores under the Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods, FRESH by Brookshire’s and Spring Market banners, along with three distribution centers and corporate offices.


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Catch Bloom at CardCon Orlando
Bloom is excited to speak at CardCon as part at FinCon 2018.
We’ll be joining fellow credit industry and consumer credit industry professionals, journalists, and leasing speakers this week at CardCon.
CardCon is The Convention for Credit and Credit Card Media that’s held annually before FinCon, at the same hotel and conference center. It features presentations, panel discussions, and networking events that appeal to the community of writers and bloggers who cover the credit card and consumer credit industries. It’s also a great opportunity for networking with affiliates, media, card issuers and industry representatives. The conference will feature the following:
- The latest information about credit cards from industry leaders.
- In-depth information about credit histories, credit scores and the changing regulatory environment.
- The unique aspects of credit card affiliate marketing and how to grow the income of your business.
Bloom Speaking at CardCon
Jesse Leimgruber will be speaking on a panel hosted by Jeff Richardson. Jeff is the Vice President and Group Head — Marketing & Communications, for VantageScore.
“We’re excited to be on stage to share insights about Bloom with industry veterans and make in-roads into driving the future of credit,” shares Bloom speaker Jesse.
- Here is a link to our speaker page: https://cardconexpo.com/jesse-leimgruber-co-founder-bloom-protocol/
- Here’s more information you can pull from


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Sherman may be a small Texas town with a population of just a few tens of thousands of people, but Apple supplier Finisar has big plans for its new plant there …
Finisar makes vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL) used in the iPhone X’s face-recognition system, along with the proximity sensors in AirPods.
Back in December, Apple paid Finisar $390M against future orders at part of its Advanced Manufacturing Fund designed to support US-based manufacturing. That money is enabling Finisar to create a new 700,000 square foot plant in a building formerly occupied by a semiconductor manufacturer.
The company told local TV station KXII that its ambitions go beyond the iPhone and AirPods.
“We’re making Sherman the VCSEL capital of the world,” said Curtis Barratt, VP and general manager of Finisar. “Everything from self-driving cars, to gesture recognition, to facial recognition, all of these applications are going to make this a very, very important location.”
Barratt said that the company was gearing up to begin production in October.
About 90 percent of the equipment is on order, and we’ll bring that in starting in April or May. We’ll start the line first articles by August and production will get going by October.
KXII also got a look inside the building, but there isn’t yet much to see.
Tim Cook announced a $1B Advanced Manufacturing Fund to promote US job creation in May of last year, with Gorilla Glass maker Corning the first beneficiary. The $390 Finisar deal was originally reported as an ‘investment’ in the company, but was later clarified as an advance payment on future orders.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Beamdog Entertainment is a team of ex-Bioware and Black Isle developers who specialize on taking classic Infinity Engine RPGs and updating them for modern devices, like the Mac or iPad. First, they did it for Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II and now they are doing it with Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition, coming soon to a Mac or iPad near you.
All items tagged with "beamdog entertainment"
Last year, the classic PC Dungeons & Dragons RPG Baldur’s Gate finally made its way to the Mac in an enhanced port put together by Beamdog Entertainment, and from there, the iPad. We were excited about it at the time, but only because it paved the way for Baldur’s Gate II, which to this day might be the finest PC RPG game ever made. Baldur’s Gate is pretty good, but it hasn’t aged well. Baldur’s Gate II and its expansion, Throne of Bhaal, still hold up.
Time to get psyched, then. Beamdog is bringing Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition to the Mac on November 15. And if history is anything to judge by, an iPad version should follow a few months later.


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Zhejiang Seahead Ship Design and Research Institute has become the first to be granted approval in principle for a methanol bunkering ship in China. The China Classification Society (CCS) Wuhan Rules and Research Institute has given the green light for a ship design with a maximum methanol filling capacity of 7,500 tonnes.
The ship design sports filling hoses, emergency release devices, dry break valves, ESD systems and other measures and can run on both fuel oil and methanol.
“It fully considers the risks of methanol filling and the future development needs of Zhoushan as a bonded ship fuel filling centre in Northeast Asia. The technical indicators of this type of ship, such as speed, load capacity, economy, and ship type adaptability, have reached the advanced level of similar international ship types,” CCS said.
The working group conducted in-depth research and detailed evaluation in terms of the overall design, ship layout, bunkering system, cargo containment system, safety protection, provided a full range of technical services in terms of ship safety and system design optimisation, and cooperated with the designer to carry out the application verification of the first draft of “Guidelines for Methanol Fuel Bunkering Ships”.
CCS added that the completed development and in-principle approval are expected to lay the foundation for the design, evaluation and verification of China’s methanol fuel bunkering ships and help the industry better meet the growing demand for methanol fuel bunkering.
Interest in methanol as an alternative fuel has grown in the shipping industry ever since Maersk set the ball rolling on methanol-fuelled newbuilds in 2021 with a series of 16,000 teu units and its 2,100 teu feeder newbuild as part of its goal to achieve net zero in 2040. Today, it has 25 methanol-enabled vessels on order, as well as another industry first that will see the retrofit of one of its ships to methanol dual-fuel in 2024.
Chinese boxship giant COSCO Shipping Holdings also signed up for methanol dual-fuel ships last year, becoming the third of the top four largest carriers to bet on the fuel. Last October, Sinopec claimed to be the first to carry out methanol bunkering for the 2022-built Proman and Stena’s tanker Stena Pro Patria at Nasha port in Gunangzhou.


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The NFC Forum is working on the second wave of its certification programme, due to be completed next year. As part of the project the standards organisation is looking to appoint an RF analog test tool validation services test house. Companies interested in participating in the request for proposals should email email@example.com.
- Orange to launch mobile-only bank with NFC payments and AI
- Bank of Korea signs up retailers for coinless society trial
- Six Dutch banks to take Belgium’s Payconiq to the Netherlands
- NXP and GCL Technologies offer NFC tamper evident closure solution for wine and spirits brands
- Mastercard tests biometric payments card in South Africa


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Sachin PalMoneycontrol Research
The logistics sector has been in limelight in the past couple of years and is undergoing a significant transformation on account of various reform initiatives and policy changes. The major reforms include the introduction of GST (goods & service tax), roll out of E-Way bill and the sector being granted infrastructure status. The initial benefits of these developments have started coming in but majority would accrue in the coming years. In this backdrop, it may be worth checking out the stock that investors should look at to ride the emerging tailwind in the sector.
Sectoral reforms to drive efficiencies and benefit organised playersThe introduction of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in July last year has ushered in an architectural change in the logistics sector and simplified the state-wise differential tax structure with a uniform single lower tax. The new tax regime would also drive operating efficiencies as the time spend to pay octroi duty, border checks could now be used to move goods further.
In November 2017, the government granted infrastructure status to logistics sector (including cold chain and warehousing facilities). The grant of infrastructure status will allow the logistics companies get access to more economical loans under favourable terms. The industry expects to gain around 25-50 bps in terms of funding cost from this development.
The introduction of E-Way bill (electronic documentation aimed to track goods movement and prevent tax evasion under GST) from 1 April 2018 would result in increased transparency as well as encourage further formalisation of the sector.
These changes are likely to reduce the cost of logistics in India which currently stands around 13-14% of GDP, which is significantly higher than countries such as US (9.5%) and Germany (8%). The reforms and developments also marks a step in the right direction as government has already indicated its plans to bring down the logistics cost to around 10% of GDP.
Sector set for a healthy runIn light of the recent developments and changes, the sector looks set to grow at a healthy rate. According to research firm CRISIL, the Indian logistics industry that was estimated at Rs 6.4 trillion in FY17 is forecasted to reach Rs 9.2 trillion by FY20 representing a CAGR of 13% driven by growth across all segments.
Within the logistics segment, Third-Party Logistics (3PL), a service that allows a business to outsource operational logistics from warehousing to delivery, is expected to grow the fastest. As per CRISIL estimates, the 3PL market in India stood at Rs 32,500-33,500 crore in FY17 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 19-21% to reach Rs 57,000-58,000 crore by FY20.
In terms of mode of transportation, road remains the most preferred medium for transport, although it is relatively expensive compared to rail. The growth and efficiencies in road transport (~65% of the sector) will be supported by recent government initiatives such as Bharatmala and Smart Cities.
Growth in E Commerce which requires a faster turnaround time is another key driver for express delivery companies which mainly operate in the road segment.
Physical warehouses becoming passéThe removal of tax boundaries across states would aid the consolidation of warehouses as logistics companies are increasingly focusing on the hub and spoke model.
They are increasingly employing a pool of large trucks and other vehicles which act as a mobile warehouse to serve a wider area. This trend is gaining traction as it eliminates the need for capital-intensive physical warehouses and allows the players to serve their clientele with more flexible and moving fleet.
However, strategically located warehouses along with specialised warehouses providing customised storage solutions (temperature/climate controlled, Bulk Storage etc.) will continue to flourish as we don’t see any replacement for them.
How are the companies placed?We looked at the companies operating in the sector on multiple parameters such as their business model, historical financial performance, strength of their balance sheet, operating metrics etc. to understand their business performance.
Container transportation operators, Concor and Gateway Distriparks have witnessed low single digit volume growth and have seen their margins decline due to cost pressures.
VRL Logistics has a unique business model and has reported a healthy bottomline growth in 9M FY18.
Allcargo has posted decent performance but its capital intensive business weighs on the Return on Equity (RoE).
Third Party Logistic (3PL) operator Mahindra Logistics (ML) has the highest asset turnover ratio of 3.8x but operates on very low net profit margins (NPM).
Express delivery operators Bluedart and Gati have been witnessing stiff competition from private players, which is the major reason for their sluggish profitability growth during FY14-FY17. Also, their debt to equity ratio remains at elevated levels.
Future Supply Chain (FSC) has seen a big surge in profits (on account of a small base). However, its asset turnover and return ratios remains moderate despite being a third party logistics operator.
Our preferred pick – TCI ExpressAmongst the listed companies in the sector, TCI Express (TCIX, price: Rs 477, Market Cap: Rs 1826 crore) remains our preferred pick in the sector considering future growth, business model, financial profile and current valuations.
TCIX, the demerged express distribution business of Transport Corporation of India, operates in the surface express, domestic air express, international air express, and reverse express segments though a vendor network of 4000+ containerised trucks, 550 branches and 28 sorting centres. While majority of the sorting centres are leased, it owns around 9 sorting centres at strategic locations and plans to develop sorting centres at various strategic locations.
The management plans to grow its business organically and has chalked out a capex plan of Rs 400 crore (over 5 years) to drive future growth.
The development of road and highways under the Bharatmala Pariyojana will be a big boost for TCIX as it primarily operates in the road segment.
Despite the hiccups faced due to GST in the Q1 and Q2 of FY18, the company remains on track to deliver topline growth of 18-20% in FY18.
Going forward, we expect the company to post a topline growth of 15%+ in FY19 aided by industry tailwinds. A slower than expected pick-up in the industrial growth as well as execution challenges related to recent changes (introduction of E-Way bill etc.) remains the key investment risks.
We expect, the net profit growth to be much higher (25 %+) on account of high operating leverage and cost savings resulting from recent changes in its distribution strategy. Investors with a medium to long term view should look to accumulate this stock post the recent correction in the markets.
For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research Page.


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Macquarie Capital Securities analyst Damien Thong predicts that Sony will release a next-gen PlayStation console by the second half of 2018, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal's Takashi Mochizuki. Sony's new PlayStation systemwould coincide with the company's Fiscal Year 2018.
The Japanese games and entertainment titan recently released its Fiscal Year 2016 earnings, showing its Games and Network Services sector is once again its most valuable branch. Furthermore, Sony just hit its 60 million PS4 sales milestone.
Sony reported total consolidated sales and operating revenue losses of 6.2% year-over-year to $68.17 billion, and operating income losses of 1.9% to $2.58 billion. Sony's Games and Network Services branch, which consists of its PS4 and subscription services, rose by 6.3% ($420.5 million) to $14.79 billion in sales, and earned $1.21 billion in operating income.
Sony's FY2017 guidance reveals it predicts its Games and Network Services earnings to rise by 14.6% ($308.47 million) to $16.94 billion in sales, and $1.52 billion in operating income.
Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro is primarily built on a customized Polaris-grade GPU from AMD, featuring a splash of its next-gen Vega graphics architecture as well. However, the PS4 Pro's built-in CPU is outdated, leading to some bottlenecks in 4K performance. Many feel that the PS4 Pro was released too soon as a means to one-up Microsoft's Project Scorpio which won't be out until Holiday 2017. Once Microsoft's 4K Xbox hits, it'll be Sony's turn to strike back with an answer to the beefy 6TFLOP system.
While WSJ's Mochizuki specifically says "next-gen," I believe industry analyst Damien Thong meant the new PlayStation console will be an iterative system, not a new PlayStation 5.
Sony has put far too much effort into the PlayStation 4 to just scrap it and reset everything with a brand new console generation.
By treating consoles as siblings in a "family," the iterative console cycle has tons of benefits over traditional reset cycles such as the evolution from the PS2 to the PS3.
I expect this "next-gen" PlayStation will simply be a beefier PlayStation 4 that pushes persistent native 4K gaming and fully leverages the might of Sony's massive array of PS4 games. This would be Sony's move of answering Project Scorpio and retaining all of the major features and benefits that players enjoy now.
Just double check Sony's financial earnings above to see just how important the PlayStation brand is to the company, especially its current PlayStation 4 generation. I don't foresee Sony changing generations any time soon--possibly not until 2022 or beyond.
As Sony's financials only discuss previous and current fiscal years, the reports mention nothing about its 2018 calendar year. Remember that 2H 2018 would be Sony's Fiscal Year 2018, which is held from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. We shouldn't hear any information or rumblings about a new console until after April 2018 at the earliest.
- > NEXT STORY: Sony shipped about 60 million PS4s
- < PREVIOUS STORY: Halo 6's 'compelling' story will focus on Master Chief


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Oklahoma Ranks No. 7 for Lowest Tax Burden
31 Mar 2021
WalletHub released its 2021 Tax Burden by State findings. To determine the residents with the biggest tax burdens, WalletHub compared the 50 states across the three tax types of state tax burdens — property taxes, individual income taxes and sales and excise taxes — as a share of total personal income in the state. Oklahoma ranked the 7th lowest tax burden of all U.S. states.
New Reasor's, retail, part of $40 million mixed-use development in south Broken Arrow near Creek TurnpikeMar 29 2021
BROKEN ARROW — Area grocery chain Reasor’s will build a 60,000-square-foot store that will anchor a $40 million mixed-used development planned on city-owned property. Spearheading the project, to be located near 5601 S. Aspen (145th East Avenue) just north of the Creek Turnpike, is OakTrust Development, which also plans...
36 Degrees North reports $375.5 million economic impact on regional economy over last 4 yearsMar 22 2021
Abasecamp for entrepreneurs, 36 Degrees North on Monday reported it has had a $375.5 million economic impact on the Tulsa region in the last four years. 36 Degrees North on Monday released its economic impact report, “showcasing the effect of the organization and its programs on the Tulsa regional...
Arthur Jackson, senior vice president of economic development for the Tulsa Regional Chamber, has been named a 2021 Economic Development 40 Under 40 Award recipient by Development Counsellors International (DCI) and Jorgenson Consulting. The biennial award program recognizes rising stars in the economic development industry. “Arthur has had great...


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Kepak Group (‘Kepak’), an Irish company and one of Europe’s leading food innovators, is this week hosting two of the flagship events taking place as part of the 63rd International Congress of Meat Science and Technology being held in Cork (August 13-18).
In addition to a robust programme on thought provoking topics of global interest, over 400 delegates are being treated to an array of informative events and technical tours, such as the Kepak sponsored visit to Teagasc Moorpark (where they will sample grass fed Irish beef from Kepak Cork), and a technical tour of Kepak Cork, Kepak’s flagship site where delegates will be shown best practice in meat processing covering topics from animal welfare to slow cooking of meats.
Mr Sean Coffey, CEO of Kepak’s Meat Division commented, “As a Silver Sponsor of this prestigious International event, we are delighted to open our doors at Watergrasshill to delegates including food scientists, engineers, food industry professionals, thought leaders, decision makers, regulatory authorities and students from over 55 countries, and to share with them insights into our sustainable grass fed beef programme, delivering at the very highest level to our valued customers”
Commenting on the sponsorship and event, he added: “Kepak is extremely proud to be involved in such an important global industry event – events such as these are crucial in facilitating the effective exchange of information and ideas on relevant topics in the world of meat science and technology. As an Irish company and one of Europe’s leading food innovators, we welcome the opportunity to facilitate and encourage dialogue between industry and researchers which will continue well beyond this Congress, to gather new knowledge and to foster partnerships with the global world of meat science at this innovation driven international forum. Kepak is also a founding member of a Government sponsored cross-Irish meat company food science research programme, Meat Technology Ireland, launched earlier this year. Faced with the challenges ahead, investment in research and innovation will be the key to future success.”
The International Congress, which finishes this Friday, August 18, sees 150 different organisations represented from over 65 countries, and embodies an unparalleled global collaboration of the brightest minds in meat science, research and innovation, with scientific, industry and policy experts sharing new findings, practical experiences and lessons learned in their respective fields.


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The president of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solis, visited Korea on the 12th of October.
According to the date of the visit, we also met the president at GCCEI.
This meeting was for the demo of WimFactory~
We were really honored to explain the process and concept of WimFactory on the spot
where important people from Costa Rica including the president, foreign minister were with us.
We introduced the core technologies of WimFactory which are a self-developed smart factory IoT device WICON
and smart factory administration system WIM-X through the real image of WimFactory applied to the factory.
We received many attentions during the demonstration.
Although there are many developing countries in Central America where Costa Rica is situated,
the market of Central America has a high potential and many global companies give attention to them.
We hope that we can see WimFactory in Central America soon~
Shall we watch a video showing the day~? 🙂
If you want to know more about WimFactory >>> www.wimfactory.com
IoT research team pursuing happier lives~


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California Gets New Online Poker Bill
California’s always at the center of every decision. It makes sense, too, considering it’s the most populated state in the country by roughly 12 million people. It should come as no surprise, then, to learn that California, having failed to legalize online poker in the past, is trying to do so once again.
Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Sawyer has created a new bill, titled the Internet Poker Consumer Protection Act of 2015. Though it’s similar in idea to the bill proposed recently by Assemblyman Mike Gatto, the actual content of the bill is quite different.
Gatto’s bill wasn’t well received due to the restrictions in the bill. Jones-Sawyer’s bill should be better received, as it allows racetracks to offer online poker. The bill also allows card clubs and Indian tribes.
There are a few downsides, however. The bill, named AB 167, does not have a bad actor clause. A bad actor clause refers to any online gaming company that continued to do business after the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gambling Encorcement Act) was passed in 2006. It’s up to each individual state to add a bad actor clause. The lack of a bad actor clause means that certain unwanted companies could be allowed to operate in the state.
The bill also calls for anyone not residing on tribal land to be unable to play on tribal sites. If you remember, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel tried to legalize online gambling on their own, stating that certain laws and restrictions didn’t apply to them. The bill would also charge those that gambled on unlicensed with a felony, for both the player and the operator of the site.
It’s a bold move by Jones-Sawyer to get online poker legalized in the state, and if it passes, it could change the entire landscape of online poker. As we mentioned earlier, California has 37 million people, which is 12 million more than the second most populated state, Texas. If any state should serve as a testing ground as to how successful online poker could be in the United States, it’d be California.
California is just one of several states to introduce new legislation this year to legalize and regulate online sports betting. Last week, Mississippi introduced legislation to legalize and regulate online gambling as well. This shows how far we’ve come – just a few years ago, there were a handful of states that were willing to take a risk on online gambling. Now, thanks to the success in those states, as well as the revenue that’s being brought in (especially last month in New Jersey, which posted record profits thanks to cold weather outside, as well as no deposit bonuses), states are fighting for the opportunity to be next in line to legalize online gambling.