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TULSA - Nineteen May's Drug, Med-X Drug and Drug Warehouse stores are set to close in Green Country come November, 2News has learned.
The news comes a day after Walgreen's finalized its $450 million acquisition of USA Drug, which owns the businesses.
Twenty-two stores will shut down across the state, says Walgreen's spokesman Jim Graham.
"Our decisions about store closures are based on a number of considerations, including size of the market and proximity to other Walgreens and USA Drug stores and affiliates," Graham said.
He says the company is working to make the transition as seamless as possible for its adopted customers.
"When a store is closed, all customers will be notified of the location of a nearby Walgreens or USA Drug-affiliated store where their prescription information will be transferred," he said. "No other action is needed by pharmacy customers to have their existing prescriptions filled at any Walgreens store."
But nine USA Drug-affiliated stores within Tulsa will stay open, Graham says.
Here's the full list of Oklahoma stores expected to close by November:
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Also in the headlines
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Glow Downtown holiday light tour kicked off the Christmas season with festivities at Guthrie Green, The Deco District and the BOK Center, Dec. 1
Click through photos to see the balloons at the 87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
Marathoners and half-marathoners run in the 2013 Williams Route 66 Marathon, Nov. 24, 2013


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This Week In Mobile
Apple, China Mobile Sign Deal to Offer iPhone - stratēchery by Ben Thompson
Apple, China Mobile Sign Deal to Offer iPhone – stratēchery by Ben Thompson
This is a BIG deal: Apple will be launching on China Mobile. This was one of the announcements we’ve been waiting for since the iPhone event a few months back. It should be a huge opportunity for Apple – probably the biggest growth opportunity for the iPhone in a long time. This post from Ben Thompson adds some helpful context to why.

domain: news


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The latest report by Africa No Filter investigates news and content about business in Africa and the impact of perceptions about Africa as a business and investment destination. It also identifies information and news gaps that offer alternative framing for business in Africa.
Last year, African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina told his audience of African Ambassadors that a concerted effort to change the narrative on Africa in the United States was necessary to attract increased US investments into the continent.
He is right. Several academic researchers have proved a correlation between media coverage and investment levels, and one study of the stock market in the US showed that media visibility led to more investment than under-investment.
The African Continental Free Trade Area is the largest free trade area in the world, with 54 participating countries and access to a combined Gross Domestic Product of $3.4 trillion. Yet this makes up under 1% of business news and analysis about business in Africa in global and African media.
The absence is glaring. Very few institutions are as powerful as the media. As storytellers to millions, they have the power to shape public perceptions and inform narratives – good and bad – about the investment landscape and opportunities in Africa.
Africa No Filter believes that there has never been a better moment to change the investment narrative on Africa, and in order to do that, we need data.
So we commissioned The Business in Africa Narrative Report because, to date, we have not been able to find any detailed data analysis that unpacks African and international narratives, stories and frames about business in Africa.
Our report fills that gap, providing a comprehensive quantitative analysis of frames and stories about business in Africa yet to be undertaken. We show the keywords, frames, stories and narratives associated with business in Africa are dangerously distorted.
There is an overemphasis on the role of governments, foreign powers and larger African states alongside an underappreciation of the role of young people, women, entrepreneurs, creative businesses, smaller successful African states and Africa’s future potential.
This report investigates news and content about business in Africa and the impact of perceptions about Africa as a business and investment destination. It also identifies information and news gaps that offer alternative framing for business in Africa.
The report analysed over 750 million stories published between 2017 and 2021 on more than 6,000 African news sites and 183,000 sites outside the continent. Insights were gained using eight research approaches, including analysing trends on Twitter, academic research and literature reviews as well as 22 global business indices.
The report found seven significant frames to stories about business in Africa:
- More negative coverage: International media are more likely to negatively frame issues that impact on business in Africa while African media are twice as likely to reference corruption in their coverage of business in Africa compared to international media.
- Foreign powers scramble for Africa: 70% of international coverage about business in Africa is dominated by references to foreign powers like China, the USA, Russia, France and the UK.
- Africa is two countries: Business in Africa coverage focuses on South Africa and Nigeria while business stars like Mauritius, Botswana, the Seychelles and Namibia get little coverage and research attention.
- Silencing creativity, amplifying technology: Despite Nollywood being the world’s second-largest film industry and the growing influence of musical influences like AfroBeats and AmaPiano, creative businesses were only featured in 1% of all articles across African and global media.
- Youth and women are underrepresented: Africa claims the top three spots in the Mastercard Index for the highest concentration of women business owners in the world. It also has the youngest population globally. However, youth and women are underrepresented. In fact, online news coverage of young people has declined since 2017, falling from 12.5% of articles referencing young people in 2017 to 8.1% in 2021.
- Government, policy and regulations dominate: Around 54.5% of business news in 2021 was framed through government action and policies. Additionally, African media focused more on themes related to government than on those related to entrepreneurship. Yet, African countries make up six of the top 10 countries whose populations were most likely to search for the topic of entrepreneurship in 2021.
- Missing Free Trade Area and investment: It makes up 1% of news and academic research, yet the agreement is expected to lift 30 million Africans out of extreme poverty and boost the incomes of nearly 68 million others. It’s also projected to boost Africa’s income by $450 billion by 2035 and increase Africa’s exports by $560 billion, mostly in manufacturing.
Stories and the perceptions they create are powerful. Stories about business in Africa - and how they are framed - directly impact individuals’ motivation and desire to set up new businesses and trade with, invest in or finance businesses.
This report shows why it’s critical to shift perceptions about business in Africa and presents over 30 trends that many analysts and business writers miss out on.


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Ambassador McMullen travels through Switzerland to get a fist-hand insight of regions, cultures, businesses and people – and their connections to the United States. His most recent trip took him to central Switzerland, where he visited the Canton of Glarus for a day.
Glarus Businesses with Investment in the United States
The first visit of the day brought Ambassador McMullen to Swiss chocolate manufacturer Läderach. The company’s story began in the early 1960s in Glarus, when Rudolf Läderach Jr. began to experiment with chocolate in his cellar. Today, the company has shops across the globe, including the United States. Läderach recently opened a store in New York City, and further stores are planned to open this spring. The Läderach family took Ambassador McMullen on a tour of the factory; all Läderach chocolates are handcrafted, and Ambassador McMullen was able to see the production of Easter chocolate bunnies up close.
On his next stop, Ambassador McMullen visited Schabziger manufacturer Geska. Schabziger is a traditional cheese exclusively produced in the Canton of Glarus that dates back more than 500 years. It is made out of skimmed cow milk and a special kind of herb. The resulting cheese is hard, green with a strong flavor. Geska CEO Hermann Luchsinger provided an overview of the cheese factory and its distribution channels in Switzerland and around the world.
Touring the Kunsthaus Glarus
The Ambassador enjoyed getting a tour of the Kunsthaus Glarus by Director Judith Welter. She gave him and insight into the current exhibition and the architecture of the building. The current exhibition features artwork from two Glarus artists, who created a series of works after visiting Greenland. A previous exhibit focused on U.S. artist Sam Pulitzer; the Embassy supported the Kunsthaus with a small grant for that exhibition. As part of the tour, the Ambassador got to see the storage of the Kunsthaus, which has a unique concept: It is regularly open to the public, and the museum offers specialized tours to highlight specific artworks that are rarely exhibited.
Meeting Political Leaders
Ambassador McMullen was able to meet and have lunch with representatives of the Glarus cantonal government, who told him about the thriving economy and unique political practices. Glarus is one of two Swiss cantons that still holds an annual open-air assembly in which citizens can vote on proposals in person. The “Landsgemeinde,” one of the oldest forms of direct democracy, practiced in Glarus for 727 years, is held each year at the first weekend of May. All eligible citizens over 16 years of age legally resident in Glarus are invited to vote on the laws and expenditures of their canton.
More about the visit in the article on the Glarus news platform glarus24.ch: “Wichtiger Besuch bei zwei Glarner Unternehmen“


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Stores may post weakest October sales on record
Published: Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 1:09 a.m.
NEW YORK — After slashing their spending in September as the financial meltdown intensified, shoppers went into full retreat in October, spooked by rising layoffs and shriveling retirement funds.
Retailers reporting October sales data for established stores next week expect to see the weakest performance for that month since at least 1969 — in many cases percentage declines in the mid-teens — and are frantically cutting prices even more to pull in shoppers.
"Consumers just stopped shopping," said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers.
That is only raising more worries about the holiday season and the financial health of the industry, which has seen a string of liquidations from Mervyns LLC to Linens 'N Things. Men's Wearhouse Inc. is slashing prices on all leather jackets and selected sweaters by 50 percent, while Saks Fifth Avenue is cutting some women's fashions by 40 percent.
Kmart, a division of Sears Holdings Corp., is giving shoppers for the first time a jump-start on Black Friday deals, starting this Sunday. Kmart, which said it had planned the deals before September, will be offering weekly savings of 25 percent to 50 percent on 15 home electronics items through Nov. 23. Meanwhile, J.C. Penney Co. is already cutting prices on its tree ornaments.
Stifel Nicolaus & Co. analyst Richard Jaffe describes many of the discounts as "unplanned and extreme."
With the economy expected to deteriorate, the goal is to get consumers into the stores as early as possible to spend on holiday gifts, while trying to clear out fall merchandise piling up. While shoppers are expected to buy for their children this holiday season, they may not buy much else, and economists say spending will remain weak at least through early 2009.
The good news is that gas prices have receded in recent weeks, but there's not much else to cheer about as Americans feel the pain from the financial meltdown, from tightening credit to mounting layoffs. Job security is a key factor in consumers' ability to spend.
Carmen Velez, 49, from the Bronx, says worries about being let go from her job as a home health care aid has meant doing away with her $75 monthly clothing splurges at J.C. Penney and other nonessential purchases. She says the family she works for may not be able to afford to keep her employed.
She said she will buy some holiday gifts for her two grandchildren, but that's about it.
After posting a lackluster 1 percent gain in same-store sales in September, according to the ICSC-Goldman Sachs index, many analysts expected October's performance to be weak, but not this bad. Niemira estimates that same-store sales will fall 0.5 percent, the weakest October performance since at least 1969, when the index began. Excluding Wal-Mart Stores Inc.'s figures, that number could be down as much as 3 percent, according to Niemira.
But even discounters and warehouse clubs, which are expected to fare better, are seeing their sales slow.
Same-store sales are sales at stores opened at least a year and are considered a key indicator of a retailer's health.
Niemira expects same-store sales to be up 1 percent for November and December together, but he's not sure how the economic uncertainty will play out.
"Will consumers find a little more optimism after Tuesday's (presidential) election?" he asked. Nevertheless, he expects spending to remain weak through early next year.
A string of reduced forecasts from the likes of Liz Claiborne Inc. to Williams-Sonoma Inc. only serve as harbingers of bad news to come when retailers report their same-store sales figures Thursday.
Williams-Sonoma Inc., which owns Pottery Barn, its namesake kitchen goods stores and other brands, lowered its profit outlook Wednesday. While Chairman and CEO Howard Lester said that Pottery Barn stores are suffering the most in recent weeks, momentum has slowed significantly across all its brands. He noted that same-store sales have worsened from a 14 percent drop in August to a 20.1 percent decline in September to being down nearly 27 percent so far in October.
"As we look forward, it is extremely difficult to know how the consumer will respond in the fourth quarter," he said in a statement. But he says he's assuming that the weak sales will remain until the end of the year.
Last week, Liz Claiborne Inc., a big supplier to department stores, lowered its fourth-quarter and full-year profit outlook.
"This is one of the worst Octobers in my memory," said Walter Loeb, a retail consultant who has been in the industry for 50 years. "Retailers are in a serious panic. Not only does this affect sales, but store profits."
Many analysts say that stores just can't sustain such a prolonged sales weakness and expect more to be in bankruptcy after the holidays. JP Morgan analyst Christopher Horvers wrote in a note released Friday that if consumer spending remains weak, Circuit City Stores Inc. will likely have to file for bankruptcy protection.
In the latest blow to the consumer electronics retailer, the New York Stock Exchange warned Circuit City on Thursday that its stock price was not high enough for continued listing. The NYSE said Circuit City's average closing price has been less than $1 over 30 consecutive trading days as of Oct. 22, falling below the exchange's requirement.
Ken Perkins, president of research company RetailMetrics LLC, says that the retail industry is expected to post its sixth consecutive overall decline in profits when the bulk of companies report third-quarter results next month. He estimates that profits will be down 12.9 percent. For the fourth quarter, profits are expected to be down at least 2 percent, but that figure will likely be reduced as stores report October sales.
"The outlook is not particularly good," he said. "It's heading south."
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Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 75,542 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,420,541.76. As a company's earnings per share being to rise, so does their market value per share. The stock decreased 0.11% or $0.05 during the last trading session, reaching $45.02. About 2.13 million shares traded or 58.92% up from the average. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) has risen 4.35% since March 8, 2017 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 12.35% the S&P500.
California State Teachers Retirement System decreased its stake in Tupperware Brands Corp (TUP) by 7.17% based on its latest 2017Q3 regulatory filing with the SEC. Insiders have sold a total of 36,182 shares of company stock worth $1,660,188 over the last quarter. (NYSE:LEG) by 18.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The stock increased 0.61% or $0.87 during the last trading session, reaching $143.55. Given that its average daily volume over the 30 days has been 1.30M shares a day, this signifies a pretty noteworthy change over the norm. Regulus Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLS) has declined 73.20% since March 7, 2017 and is downtrending. It has outperformed by 12.31% the S&P500.
Since December 12, 2017, it had 0 insider buys, and 4 sales for $1.20 million activity. $686,200 worth of Chegg, Inc. (NYSE:EL) was sold by Polcer Gregory. (NYSE:JPM) stake by 82,237 shares to 1.33 million valued at $126.92M in 2017Q3. On Wednesday, December 13 ROSENSWEIG DANIEL sold $6,224 worth of Chegg, Inc. (NYSE:TRGP) for 24,690 shares. It increased, as 48 investors sold TUP shares while 91 reduced holdings.
The Healthcare stock (Exact Sciences Corporation) created a change of 0.21% from opening and finally closed its business at 47.76 by making a change of 1.96% on 06-03-2018. TRAVIS TRACEY THOMAS sold 5,000 shares worth $700,550.
Analysts await Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) to report earnings on April, 26. Tnb Financial has 0.03% invested in Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG) for 4,305 shares. LEG's profit will be $81.99M for 18.17 P/E if the $0.62 EPS becomes a reality.
These analysts also forecasted Growth Estimates for the Current Quarter for LEG to be -3.2%. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (LEG) has an EBITDA margin of 14.47%. Its down 0.32, from 1.56 in 2017Q2. It increased, as 43 investors sold LEG shares while 129 reduced holdings. 51 funds opened positions while 142 raised stakes. (NYSE:EL). Jones Cos Lllp owns 28,101 shares or 0.01% of their U.S. portfolio. 16,300 are held by Bennicas Inc.
Maximum and minimum EPS estimate for the current quarter is projected at $0.66 and $0.53, respectively, according to 7 analysts. The Arizona-based Dynamic Advsr Solutions Ltd Liability has invested 0.17% in Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG). Peoples Services Corporation holds 139 shares.
Curious penguins find research camera, take 'selfie' video
The penguins are seen tilting the camera over and examining it in a way that makes them appear to be taking a selfie together. The two penguins stumbled across a camera left in the ice on Wednesday night by expeditioner Eddie Gault .
Oops. Trump Meant $100 Billion
Rising protectionism in trade, especially by the USA , is the largest threats to the export prospect of China, said the economist. Yuan-denominated imports fell 0.2 percent last month, which produced a trade surplus of 224.9 billion yuan.
Sane Trilogy whirls onto Switch
During the Nintendo Direct presentation today, Nintendo announced the Crash N' Sane Trilogy for the Nintendo Switch . The PC release comes roughly one year after the PS4 version which means that timed exclusive has run its course.


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“Apple on Monday appears to have rolled out a new implementation of its two-factor Apple ID authentication system with iCloud.com, requiring users who have the additional layer of security enabled to enter a special code before accessing the Web apps,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“Prior to the change, iCloud.com was accessible via a simple password,” Campbell reports. “AppleInsider was able to confirm the new iCloud security feature is indeed Apple’s normal two-factor authentication service, though it is unclear if the feature is in testing or nearing rollout. Certain Apple ID accounts we tested required the second verification, while though others did not.”
Campbell reports, “Like Apple’s other two-factor methods, iCloud.com asks users who log on to enter both a password and a four-digit verification code that is sent by the system to a trusted device. Once verified, all iCloud apps are unlocked and can be accessed normally. ”
Read more, and see the screenshots, in the full article here.


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MICHAEL DURU PROMOTES QUEBEC FASHION
It was a fabulous Quebec fashion event this past weekend at Michael Duru’s store in Shrewsbury, New Jersey.
With a goal to generate excitement and enhance the shopping experience, Duru worked with the Quebec trade ministry to showcase fashion from the region. “Fred Derring from DLS was the point person who coordinated the event,” explains Duru. “Our store uses lots of Canadian manufacturers so it was fitting that we were chosen.
“The event was successful, creating much social media buzz and additional foot traffic,” he continues. “Compared to last year, we picked up 21 percent for the weekend. We featured Jack Victor, Coppley, Ballin, Dion neckwear, Balfour and some S.Cohen and Brax (both distributed out of Montreal but not made there). These were promoted at 15 percent off during the weekend; each purchase qualified for a drawing for two Air Canada tickets to Montreal.”
The store also hired a local chef to cook Canadian favorites including waffles and maple syrup skewers, duck meatballs, Canadian bacon-wrapped shrimp, Canadian poutine with gravy, all served with Quebec beer (Unibroue) and gin (Ungava). The event was promoted in social media, email blasts, and ads in newspapers and magazines.
Says Ryan McInturf from the Quebec government office in NYC, “We’re thankful for the partnership and the commitment DLS and Michael Duru have shown for Canadian fashion. Montreal is the third-largest fashion cluster in North America, with world-class brands of unmatched quality and style. Quebec’s trade office is always open to promote our fashion industry and solidify fruitful partnerships.”
Adds Fred Derring from DLS, “We’re a strong believer in pop-up shops and look forward to partnering with the Quebec government in more of our better stores.”
One Reply to “MICHAEL DURU PROMOTES QUEBEC FASHION”
A great article and a wonderful Canadian event highlighting men’s fashions at M Duru. What great foresight by Ryan Mcinturf from the Quebec Government by stepping up to promote Canadian Fashion in the US. On a side note feel honored some of my pictures were used to highlight this event. Lee leonard
Comments are closed.


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Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO) President İbrahim Burkay stated that they expect new support as the business world after the ‘complete closure’ decision taken within the scope of coronavirus measures.
Chairman Burkay recalled the 17-day full closure decision that will last until the end of the holiday and said,“ The economic problems of our sectors that have to suspend or limit their services together with the full closure will deepen. Additional support needs to be mobilized quickly so that we can maintain social welfare and maintain a healthy business life. In this context, I would like to repeat our call to provide cash grant support instead of low-cost loans to businesses whose activities, especially in the food and beverage services and retail sector, have been suspended and whose income has disappeared completely.
“RAW MATERIALS” INCREASE IN PRICES INCREASED COSTS “
Stating that they demand that the short-time work allowance that protects businesses and employees from the destructive effects of the pandemic continue until the end of the year, Chairman Burkay said, We expect the necessary support mechanisms to be activated for our chamber member businesses, which are deprived of support for access to credit and finance. High increase in raw material prices and delayed shipments in the absence of containers increase the costs of our companies. We expect government support against the increase in container and freight costs of our exporters. As the business world, while struggling with the heavy burden of pandemic conditions, we demand that the 5-point increase in corporate tax, which is a new obstacle for our investors, be reconsidered ”.
THE REQUEST FOR RENTAL ARRANGEMENT CONTAINS A REASONABLE SOLUTION FOR ALL PARTIES
Passing the draft law prepared by the Arbitration and Mediation Center on the planned lease arrangement for businesses that have been closed due to the pandemic. Stating that they submitted this year to the Ministry of Justice, Burkay said, “Dividing the force majeure burden between the parties in terms of rent payments of our enterprises that are closed within the scope of epidemic measures and which are limited; We believe that a system where the tenant, tenant and the state will receive the same share will be the most reasonable solution for all parties. Expressing that very important works have been carried out to add value to the city and the country’s economy thanks to the solidarity and solidarity, he thanked the members of the board of directors and council.


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The NCTM IP team is happy to announce that with decision n. 26498/2013, issued on November 27, 2013, the Italian Supreme Court, upheld the petition proposed by NCTM Law Firm on behalf of Ferrari and overruled the Court of Appeal’s decision which considered legitimate the use of Ferrari trademarks by an unofficial Ferrari owners’ association, named Ferrari Club Milano.
According to the Supreme Court’s decision, the acquiescence in the use of a later trademark can only operate in favour of registered trademarks. Hence, the owners’ tolerant knowledge of the use of a non-registered trademark shall not prevent the trademark proprietor from bringing action against that use.
In addition, according to the Supreme Court, trademark infringement is not excluded by the circumstance that the infringer is a non-commercial entity.
NCTM partners Alberto Toffoletto, Sante Ricci and Paolo Lazzarino assisted Ferrari in the case.


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Featured in Patents Pending
Apple Wants To Patent A Paper Bag
Is this the company's next big innovation?
A Ferrari 4X4? Shhh, It’s a Hybrid
European patent filings show Ferrari is working on a gas-electric hybrid. Is the famed builder of crimson sports cars going green?
Inside the inventions of a new animated film.


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American Express Co (AXP)
23 Mar 2017
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|65||2001||Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer|
|57||2015||Vice Chairman of the Board|
|56||2013||Chief Financial Officer, Executive Vice President - Finance|
|56||2015||President - Global Consumer Services Group|
|58||2015||President - International Consumer Services and Global Network|
- BRIEF-American Express announces new hires within Global Commercial Payments
- BRIEF-American Express CEO Chenault's FY 2016 total compensation $17.5 mln
- BRIEF-American Express Co reports card member loans stats for February
- Trump 'not wrong on everything': Berkshire's Munger
- 'More mellow' on Trump; not 'crazy' on Apple -Berkshire's Munger


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QUITO, ECUADOR -- Most of the world’s chocolate today comes from America and Europe, and it's made from cacao (cocoa) beans grown in Africa. But at least one South American company wants to make the best chocolate in the world from beans grown at home in the cradle of cacao.
“Latin America has been sitting on a gold mine of cacao that has historically been sold to other countries,” said Maricel Presilla, U.S. based chef, food historian and member of the International Chocolate Awards, “but now is the time to reclaim that resource.”
One company aiming to do exactly that is Pacari, a chocolate maker keeping its organic cacao bean to chocolate bar production in Ecuador.
A 13-time award winner at the 2015 International Chocolate Awards, Pacari was founded in Quito in 2002 by native Ecuadorian Santiago Peralta and his wife, Clara Barboto. The couple began thinking about opening their own business and building something they could leave behind.
“We wanted to have something to stand on, a business where we could have something organic and economically sustainable,” Peralta said.
Peralta and his wife spent their first five years in business learning about cacao, which resembles a pointy acorn squash. The fruit’s seeds are fermented, dried, roasted, and ground into cocoa—the key ingredient in any chocolate bar.
The next step was making personal connections with cacao farmers to ensure that they were producing a quality product. Connecting with farmers directly not only ensured quality cacao in terms of farming, but also ingrained in Peralta a responsibility to improve the lives and education of those working with him.
“There is mutual solidarity that is the key to me, because we have formed this connection.” Peralta said.
Peralta teaches each family the process of making chocolate: growing the cacao, monitoring the optimum fermenting time, harvesting the fruit at the best season and pruning it properly. The couple also help provide machinery and drying facilities for farmers who can’t afford it.
“Cacao is not just a way to get money,” Peralta said. “There’s a consciousness that this cacao will be transformed into something yummy called chocolate that will represent the country. They know they carry a responsibility—so this comes out in our chocolate.”
Cacao’s potential revenue increase has gotten the attention of the Ecuadorian government. The country’s Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganaderia, Acuacultura y Pesca has invested in programs that rehabilitate cocoa farms.
One such program is Minga del Cacao, where community groups help their neighbors prune or trim the branches of cacao trees to increase production. “It’s an Andean way of co-operation where you help neighbors with their land,” Maricel Presilla said. “They come and help prune because the number one problem is that if you don’t have enough sunlight, that starts disease.”
Traditionally, farmers reckoned that more branches produced more cacao, but problems stemming from overgrown trees actually reduced their yield and diminished quality. Pruning methods also help keep cacao trees at a manageable size making harvesting the fruit easier.
“The objective is to increase the amount of income for families,” said Ricardo Zapata of Minga del Cacao. “A chunk of the farmer’s income goes to education and reinvestment in own farms. Those are the positive effects we have.”
Emilio Rivera, 55, has been working his 50-hectare farm in the Amazon region of Ecuador for nearly 14 years. He is able to sell his cacao for about a dollar per pound.
“Cacao has been my main source of income,” Rivera said through a translator. “But, there are challenges and problems, one challenge is there is a lot of plant disease.”
Since working with Minga del Cacao, Rivera has sold around 600 pounds of cacao per harvest, an increase compared to years past.
“The effort is to save cacao and improve the life of farmers, which is fantastic,” Presilla said. However, much of this cacao is exported. Presilla hopes that the next step will be government support for keeping cacao in the country and using it for quality chocolate production in Ecuador.
Pacari’s fresh, socially aware, and sustainable method of chocolate production has caught the attention of Whole Foods, an upscale U.S. grocer.
“We look for suppliers who share commitments and values that have a higher purpose and reshape the way people think about food,” said Errol Schweizer, executive global grocer coordinator for Whole Foods. “The first thing we look for is quality. Companies need to have high quality products starting with the beans to the growing system, and ending with a product that’s got a good taste and is appealing.”
In 2013, some regional Whole Foods stores began carrying Pacari chocolate. Now Schweizer is working with Peralta to carry the brand throughout the U.S.
According to Peralta, the biggest struggle is being so far away and not being large in size; Pacari will have to work on a dependable distribution method.
But the odds are in Pacari’s favor. Schweizer pointed out that fair trade cocoa has been the store’s fastest area of growth.
Pacari’s international success is setting an example for others in Latin America, Presilla said. She believes Pacari is one of the first and most recognized artisanal chocolate companies in and from Ecuador.
Peralta hopes that Pacari’s example will attract young people - which is a key issue.
“If we don’t get young people involved and help get them excited about cacao we won’t have a future,” Peralta said. “So we are working on programs getting new generations in the process of cacao; how can we show young people that the countryside can provide a good living too rather than moving to the city to work with computers.”
Another challenge is establishing a culture of fine chocolate appreciation in Ecuador—showing that cacao is not just a cash crop, but the main ingredient of a rich experience.
“When a chocolate company in Europe starts selling chocolate, people understand more about quality. They make desserts with the chocolate because there is a chocolate culture there,” Presilla said. “In Latin America, because of our colonial history, we have to educate our people. So if a company wants to be like Pacari they need to be taught about fine chocolate, and taught why you would want something made properly.”
Despite the challenges, Peralta is hopeful that Pacari can show that Ecuador has the best chocolate in the world.
“If chocolate can’t succeed I don’t see any food succeeding,” he said. “Chocolate is the most loved food on earth.”
Tracy Jarrett reported from Ecuador on an International Reporting Project (IRP) fellowship.


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A Bangladesh government committee investigating the garment factory fire that killed 112 people last month said in its findings that the blaze was sabotage, probably by someone who worked there. But the panel said that no matter who set the fire, the owner of the factory also should be punished for the deaths because he neglected worker safety.
Chrysler Group is planning to potentially add 400 jobs at three existing central Indiana factories while also starting up a new plant nearby with perhaps 850 workers. The Kokomo City Council voted Monday night to approve property tax breaks requested by Chrysler for $212 million in new equipment for its factories in the city.
The story of how the United States lost its place in manufacturing dominance and why jobs were shipped offshore is highly relevant for business executives, government leaders, and anyone interested in understanding their true impact on the country and what it will take to reestablish America’s prominence as a manufacturing leader.
3D printing is a technology that has, for more than a decade, seen inroads mostly in the hobbyist community. It’s expensive and slow, but is capable of producing items that are difficult — if not impossible — to replicate with more traditional processes. Kevin Sullivan, director and global practice lead of the Industrial Practice, Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), says that day will come by the end of this decade.
Chrysler Group says it is considering a sprawling, unfinished factory in central Indiana for a plant with perhaps 850 workers. Tipton County officials on Monday approved a property tax abatement request from Chrysler for the factory site along U.S. 31 near the city of Tipton.
The federal government is expanding an investigation into floor mats that interfere with pedals in Ford, Mercury and Lincoln cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was initially investigating 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles. Late last week, it said it also would look at those 2008 and 2009 models and the Lincoln MKZ.
The Obama administration on Friday imposed a new air quality standard that reduces by 20 percent the maximum amount of soot released into the air from smokestacks, diesel trucks and other sources of pollution in its first major regulation since the election. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said the new standard will save thousands of lives each year as people "benefit from the simple fact of being able to breathe cleaner air."
The head of a new North Dakota-based sunflower business says he believes the company's new plant in Lubbock, Texas, is the most technologically advanced sunflower seed roasting facility in North America. SunGold Foods CEO Bob Majkrzakpresided over a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at the facility, which will produce in-shell sunflower seeds to be sold as snack food.
Cisco has completed the acquisition of software company Cariden Technologies Inc. for about $141 million. The privately held Sunnyvale, Calif., company supplies network planning, design and traffic management products and services for telecommunications providers.
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. said Monday that it has completed the sale of its wholly owned subsidiary that operates a plant in the Netherlands to the country's VD Leegte Beheer B.V. for one euro, in line with an agreement reached in July. The sale of Netherlands Car B.V. results in a one-off loss of some 25.1 billion yen, according to the Japanese automaker.
The growing popularity of Greek yogurt in the United States has revived at least one town in upstate New York when Chobani founder Hamdi Ulukaya decided to buy a closing yogurt factory in New Berlin, N.Y. He's grown the staff from 5 employees to over 1300 people. Rock Center’s Harry Smith reports.
Ford said Friday that it's talking to the government about the fuel economy of its hybrid cars after a report suggested they're falling short of targets. Consumer Reports said last week that Ford's new C-Max hybrid didn't meet the published fuel economy of 47 miles per gallon, averaging 38 miles per gallon in the magazine's testing.
The first new Boeing Co. jetliner sold to Iraq in 30 years touched down in Baghdad on Saturday, signaling the country's determination to rebuild its economy after decades of war and sanctions. Iraq is eager to improve its creaky aviation industry, which lags far behind that of its energy-rich neighbors.
The closure of the 85-year-old Minas Basin mill is the latest blow for one-industry towns that have seen the economy pass them by, adding to the westward migration of skilled workers and draining the coffers of struggling communities. As the plants close, the small-town dream fades for many, says Arne Jensen, a former construction electrician at the Minas Basin site.
Apple said Monday that it sold more than 2 million iPhone 5s in China in their first three days of availability, setting a record for that market. The iPhone 5, which launched in China on Friday, will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of December.


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Saturday, 29 December 2012
Suzuki recalling 2,800 XL7 models over faulty fuel pump
A recall has been issued for the 2007 Suzuki XL7, but only those vehicles either bought or registered in four states: Texas, Arizona, California and Nevada. Potentially 2,380 of the SUVs manufactured from June 13, 2006 to December 22, 2006 could have an issue with their fuel pump modules: The plastic supply or return port could crack. If that happens, it could lead to a fuel leak and then to a fire.
Suzuki hasn't said when the recall will begin. Once it does, owners will be notified and can have their dealers make the necessary repairs free of charge. There's a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below with more information.Permalink | Email this | Comments


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Today, at UP Global’s UP Summit in downtown Las Vegas, Startup Weekend founder Andrew Hyde announced that he’ll be returning to the organization to run something called Startup Week.
Startup Week will be a weeklong celebration of entrepreneurship held in 20 cities during the course of the year, including six core ones: Tampa, Denver, Columbus, Phoenix, Dallas, and Seattle.
“Absolute honor to rejoin Startup Weekend / UP Global. It feels a bit like moving back into my parents’ house if they now had a penthouse, stocked the fridge, and invited over the world's most interesting and motivated people,” said Hyde.
Hyde created Startup Weekend in 2007, and sold it to Marc Nager, Clint Nelson, and Franck Nouyrigat in 2009. The “build a startup in 54 hours” event has since grown to reach 45,000 entrepreneurs. Last year, Startup Weekend merged with Startup America to create UP Global, a nonprofit dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and their communities.


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WICHITA FALLS, Tx (RNN Texoma) - The Wichita Falls ISD has stopped serving romaine lettuce sourced from Yuma, Arizona following a recall by the CDC.
The E. coli outbreak connected to romaine lettuce, in all forms, grown in that area was expanded following new cases of acute gastroenteritis at a correctional facility in Alaska.
Those cases are likely linked to the current outbreak affecting 53 people in 16 states.
Officials with WFISD sent the following statement in regards to the recall.
There's nothing we take more seriously than the health and safety of our students and the food we serve at Wichita Falls ISD. That's why we follow the CDC and FDA guidance to stop serving romaine lettuce sourced from the Yuma, Arizona growing region as an outbreak of E.coli is investigated.
This week, we reintroduced romaine lettuce on our menus that comes straight from the Salinas, California and Mexico growing regions which were not impacted by the advisory. We will continue to work closely with our food safety experts to stay on top of the situation.
The CDC said do not buy or eat romaine lettuce at a grocery store or restaurant unless you can confirm it is not from the Yuma, Arizona growing region.
For more information on the recall, click here.


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Grim start ruins retail Christmas
Shops have not yet seen the sales they want for December, writes
A CONFIDENTIAL survey of 300 retailers by Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), a lobby group, has revealed a high level of anxiety in the sector ahead of the Christmas period.
Trading has failed to rise above December 2012 levels, despite rising consumer confidence, with reports of poor womenswear and footwear sales. Heavy discounting by fashion retailers has failed to get people spending and harsh weather conditions are dampening shoppers’ sprits.
With the majority of workers finishing for the holiday on Friday, retailers are banking on a “last-minute surge” in the last four shopping days before Christmas Day, according to a survey by HR firm Peninsula Ireland.
The footwear sector is the hardest hit, after heavy discounting in early December when dry, mild weather depressed sales. The


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Calm markets – eos increases the most of the biggest cryptocurrencies
The world's biggest cryptocurrency bitcoin is currently trading at $3,670, which is around $38 higher than yesterday.
The total market cap for all cryptocurrencies has dropped about $4 billion over the last 24 hours. Also, a new report shows that the American crypto exchange Kraken is the safest exchange.
The crypto markets have lost in value over the last 24 hours. Currently, about 80 out of the 100 biggest cryptocurrencies show red numbers.
The market cap of all cryptocurrencies has lost around $4 billion over the last day – from $220 billion to $216 billion.
The cybersecurity company Group-IB has released a new report showing that the U.S. crypto exchange Kraken is the safest, while other major exchanges like Okex, Huobi Pro and Coincheck are the least secure ones to use, Cointelegraph reports.
Looking at the biggest cryptocurrencies, all of them have lost in value over the last 24 hours. Bitcoin cash (-4,83%), xrp (-3,08%) and eos (-2,64%) have lost the most, but also bitcoin (-0,56%) and ethereum (-1,92%) have lost in value over the last day.
The biggest cryptocurrency bitcoin (-0,56%) is at the time of writing traded at around $6,492.
The cryptocurrencies on top 100 that performed the best during the last 24 hours were wax (+8,93%) and polymath (+6,68%), and those who performed the worst were electroneum (-6,16%) and ardor (-5,23%).
*All numbers in this article are from Coinmarketcap.com.
On Thursday, a new meeting place for fintech in Sweden called Findec is launched.
OPINION. Altcoins are rising in popularity. Bitcoin's cryptocurrency crown is not as secure as it was in the past – and could potentially fall....


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Climate Change and Food Insecurity
The saying goes, “everyone needs a farmer three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner”, but globally we are currently experiencing changes to climate resulting in disruption to food production and resulting food insecurity.
- Widespread drought across the Americas from Canada to Chile, Central Asia, and Africa, resulting in reduction in crop quality, complete crop failures, and livestock deaths.
- Excessive rainfall in areas such as New South Wales and parts of Europe where crops cannot be planted or are washed away.
- Lack of snow in mountainous regions where lower lying land relies on snowmelt to feed irrigation networks. (Nature.com, 2021)
- Wildfires in Greece, Italy, Tunisia, and Algeria (European Science Hub, 2023)
Add in the increasing demand for resources.
- Water for domestic consumption, crop irrigation, and industry. (Drought conditions in areas such as the Panara River Basin in Brazil which serves multiple hydroelectric dams has also led to regional power rationing) (Nature.com, 2021).
- Competition for land for agricultural production, housing, infrastructure as well as protecting habitat for the natural world.
Statistics also indicate that the ones who have contributed the least to climate change based on greenhouse gas emissions, are also the most vulnerable in society affected by these changes. E.g., several years of drought in Madagascar has resulted in 33% of the population (8.8 million people) being food insecure (IMF, 2023), surviving off a diet of insects and cactus leaves (BBC, 2021).
Impacts on food security for the UK
The food and drink sector is the UK’s largest manufacturing industry, bigger than the aerospace and automotive industries combined. UK agri-food and seafood sectors create over £120 billion of value for the economy every year and employ over 4 million people (Gov.UK, 2022).
Professor Michael Fakhri, The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, said trade was the biggest vulnerability in the global food system, as in the last thirty years policies had been “geared towards prioritising food trade by any means possible” (House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, 2023).
Being part of a global food system can provide a diversity of supply sources and access to new products that cannot be produced domestically, contributing to domestic food security. However, exposure to international markets, in combination with global supply chain pressures and shocks, also creates price and supply impacts (Gov.UK, 2022). With approximately 48% of food consumed now being imported, compared to 78% in the mid-70’s, the UK as a nation is not food secure, this also hides a wide range of self-sufficiency levels sector by sector, e.g., the UK is only 17% self-sufficient in fresh fruit.
One of the changes that have been seen over that time frame is changing dietary habits, year-round supply of fresh fruit and salad, where we are not only importing food, but also water contained within that food from countries that can least afford it. Increasing consumption of rice with a large proportion imported from India and Pakistan and Vietnam (Volza.com, 2023). (The recent ban of rice exports from India due to extreme weather conditions and reported hoarding in other countries, there will be inevitable disruption of supply and price of this now staple foodstuff).
Navigating Food Shortages and Challenges in the UK’s Agri-Food Sector
We have also experienced other food shortages in recent months, with availability and production of items such as eggs, cucumbers and tomatoes all affected by a perfect storm of record energy inflation, post-pandemic supply chain disruption, the war in Ukraine and the unpredictable effects of climate change (NatWest Report, 2023), and NFU findings suggest that further challenges are imminent with 40% of beef farmers and 36% of sheep farmers planning to reduce numbers in response to input costs.
The sole remaining Nitrogen fertiliser plant in the UK adds further risk to food security as more fertiliser products need to be imported. Availability of seasonal labour has caused issues with harvesting in the horticulture and meat processing sectors.
The UK has the third highest welfare standards globally according to the World Animal Protection – Animal Protection Index and there is a clear cost attached to this legislation with lower standards enforced in other countries, some of which export their products to the UK. This approach by retailers may make prices cheaper for consumers, but equally prevents UK farmers from being competitive in the marketplace in comparison, unless they are able to market their produce locally at higher prices than food processors or retailers are willing to pay.
The UK is also a relatively small but densely populated country, with competition for resources of land, water, and labour. Economic growth requires land for development, whether that be housing or industrial, but this should not be growth at any cost. Productive farmland should not be easily given up making way for warehousing and infrastructure; the environment, biodiversity, and food security surely must have priority if the sector is to satisfy government aims of reducing emissions, halting species decline, increasing woodland creation rates, restoring peatland and overall soil health. During the Covid19 pandemic, public access to the countryside was proven to be beneficial for mental health and wellbeing.
Embracing Innovation and Collaboration for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems
Innovation will be a key component to sustainably boost production and profitability across the supply chain. The government has committed to spend over £270 million through the Farming Innovation Programme and are supporting £120 million investment in research across the food system in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) in addition to other funding packages (Gov.UK, 2022). Technological advancements are helping growers move towards achieving some of the government goals of Net Zero, precision breeding for drought tolerance, and reduction in pesticide use, circular use of waste for energy production, feed additives to reduce methane emissions.
Agri-EPI Centre and it’s fellow sister centres CIEL and CHAP are actively working with our members and wider stakeholders to identify real problems faced by growers, and potential solutions that could be developed to those problems of sustainable food production at the same time as improving soils, enhancing environments for wildlife etc. Internal capability and resources such as the farm network, our technical asset portfolio of drones, sensors, robotics, phenotyping facility, cold storage, GHG monitoring are available for research and development in funded projects and commercial use. To find out if we can support your innovative idea, please get in touch via email@example.com.
About the author
Duncan Ross, Business Development Manager Crops and Horticulture.
With a background in horticultural production and agricultural engineering, Duncan has an excellent network and knowledge of current issues and developments across AgriTech and the fresh produce sector.


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Q4 2022 INDUSTRIAL MARKET OVERVIEW
Vacancies in the Boston industrial market finished Q4 2022 at 2.8% in the warehouse segment and 4.7% in the flex segment, both record lows. Despite limited available space on the market due to tight occupancy rates, net absorption topped 370,000 SF last quarter and 1.8 million SF last year. The warehouse segment generated stronger demand on an absolute basis last year, but flex received stronger demand as a percentage of inventory and experienced greater vacancy compression. Plenty of deal volume also occurred in the market’s sizable pipeline, with under construction space totaling roughly 2 million SF and 14 million SF for flex and warehouse, respectively. Rent growth continued at a swift pace, especially in the flex segment which reached 11% in 2022. Flex rent growth last year matched its cumulative total across 2019-21. Industrial rent growth also reached 10% for the second consecutive year.
While the market’s fundamentals are in excellent shape, several macroeconomic trends presented headwinds last year. Combined net absorption for warehouse and flex space fell to its lowest total since 2019. E-commerce companies are contending with global supply chain disruptions and inflation-driven pressures on consumer spending. After several disappointing earnings reports, Amazon scaled back its national logistics footprint by 10-30 million SF. This included several closures in Massachusetts, but the company is still expanding its local inventory at a much faster rate than it is shutting locations. Biotech was affected by struggling public markets, with IPO activity slowing significantly and industry stocks underperforming the broader economy in 2022. Rising interest rates have also presented additional obstacles to dealmaking.
Despite macroeconomic headwinds, the Greater Boston industrial market is well positioned for long-term growth. E-commerce should have plenty of room for continued liftoff, with online sales as a percentage of total retail sales in the U.S. still trailing that of many other industrialized nations. Although biotech IPO activity floundered last year, VC investment still reached its second-highest year on record, after 2021. While dozens of local companies announced thousands of combined layoffs in 2022, overall scientific R&D jobs increased by about 12.6% in 2022, which roughly doubled growth in the broader professional and business services sector. As this influx of investment boosts the R&D capabilities of local firms, requirements for biomanufacturing and GMP space should also increase. President Biden also issued an executive order in the second half of last year that earmarked more than $2 billion across several departments to support domestic biotechnology and biomanufacturing.


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If they were left out before, some 500 women across India have now gained a baseline knowledge of global trade thanks to a partnership with an Atlanta corporate giant that understands how to deliver.
United Parcel Service Inc. last month kicked off its Women Export Program in India, aiming to break down barriers that have kept women from fully participating in the global economy.
The move is consistent with UPS’s focus on empowering women through economic access, particularly across Asia but also throughout many other points in the 220 countries and territories it serves.
It also came as Laura Lane, the company’s executive vice president and chief corporate affairs and sustainability officer, traveled to India on a trip that underscored the company’s commitment to women through a variety of business and philanthropic endeavors.
The Women Exporter Program has run in countries as varied as Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam; while the specific hurdles are different based on each country’s culture and regulation, the uphill battle women face is the same almost everywhere, Ms. Lane says.
In some societies, women aren’t allowed to own property or assets, open a bank account or gain access to financing without a male co-signer. In others, women can’t travel, either within their country or across borders. These rules keep many from controlling the destinies of their companies, Ms. Lane told Global Atlanta in an interview.
“How do you run a business if you can’t own the property and the assets you use to produce the product?” Ms. Lane said, also pointing out inequities in access to capital. “For any small and medium-sized business, in order for them to grow and scale, they’ve got to have access to financing for growth of the business, but also trade financing to be able to engage in exporting opportunities. How do you do that if there are laws and regulations that prohibit women from being able to access that kind of credit?”
UPS has been working within multilateral organizations to push top-down change, advocating for World Trade Organization member nations to add language to their country’s General Agreement on Trade in Services banning gender discrimination. That push came out of a similar initiative in the APEC Business Advisory Council, or ABAC, where Ms. Lane is one of three corporate representatives bringing the U.S. perspective to the Asian forum.
Since the launch of the Women Exporter Program in 2018, UPS has also worked at the grassroots, teaching women essential skills like marketing, warehousing, customs, finance, operating e-commerce platforms and more, bringing in partners like Visa and Mastercard to help with credit and payment access as well as companies like Microsoft and Google to provide digital up-skilling.
Ms. Lane launched the India edition in March in partnership with the government’s Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Delhi and the Mumbai-based India SME Forum. The first 500 slots were heavily oversubscribed, with just over 2,000 applications coming in.
“I often get the question, ‘Well, it’s only 500 women, but we want to make sure we have 500 success stories, so we’re taking it slow and methodically working with every woman as an individual, understanding their unique product offering and their unique market opportunities, and ensuring that we’re running right alongside them so that they can be successful. And then it’s going to be wash, rinse, repeat,” Ms. Lane said.
Ms. Lane spoke to Global Atlanta the day before she would be in Atlanta to kick off the third edition of the Women’s Export University program here, a one-day program operated in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and International Affairs. Read more about that program here
While the Atlanta program garnered substantive participation, the scale in India was much larger, in part because the need is greater.
“Outside the United States, there are a lot of women entrepreneurs that don’t have the benefit of a U.S.-size consumer market to be able to sell to,” Ms. Lane said, and while many may be apprehensive about the risks of selling abroad, the training helps allay their fears.
“I think once we explain the risks, a lot of these women-owned businesses recognize that they don’t have to limit their growth potential, just by how far their community reaches,” she said.
While in India, Ms. Lane also signed an agreement with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, or FICCI, to partner on its Green Exporters program, which since 2022 has helped small and medium-sized companies assess their environmental impact and gain certifications that will make their products more appealing to larger buyers.
She also joined UPS team members planting 900 trees at a senior home in Pune, where she also presented a UPS Foundation grant to a nonprofit taking kids off the streets. The UPS Women’s Leadership Development Business Resource Group donated more than 4,000 feminine hygiene products to the same organization.
From there, Ms. Lane spoke on a panel on “The Startup Planet: Reclaiming Half the Sky” during the second day of the Raisina Dialogue, a high-level conference economics and geopolitics held in Delhi.


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Sunday, October 23, 2016
iPolitics - Canadians want online voting: poll - comment
(I have also left a similar comment on the EKOS Politics article The Case for Internet Voting,
and this can serve as a partial response to the claims made on 1310 News Ottawa Today with Marc Sutcliffe, Oct 25, 2016 from 10:00 to 11:00, timecode 11:10 to 21:02):
What I hope has roughly the same shelf life as whips and buggies is the idea that we can make tech policy based on opinion polls. Before we send a spacecraft to Mars, we don't poll people for their opinions on whether the Earth orbits the Sun or on the laws of gravity. In the 21st Century, we need to do evidence-based policy. Here's what the computer science and social science evidence says about online voting:
- Widespread use of online voting would enable widespread coercion of voters, including vote buying.
- The innumerable software and hardware components that would be involved in marking, transmitting, receiving and counting an online ballot represent an unreasonably high risk to the chain-of-custody for the ballot.
- Canadian government departments have already been successfully cyberattacked by nation-states.
- Computer security experts warn that online voting is not secure.
- National security experts warn that online voting is not secure.
- Social science evidence indicates that online voting won't increase turnout.
Halifax Votes 2016: E-voting turnout down by more than 10,000 from 2012
In fact, the evidence shows that adding online voting never substantially increases turnout. In a study of online voting in Ontario, Goodman and Stokes conclude
"internet voting is unlikely to solve the low turnout crisis"
Goodman, Nicole and Stokes, Leah C, Reducing the Cost of Voting: An Empirical Evaluation of Internet Voting's Effect on Local Elections (October 6, 2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2849167
Estonia, a tiny country that is often claimed as a poster child for online voting, had a lower turnout in its national elections in 2015 than Canada did. (Estonia 64.2%, Canada 68.3%)
Claims that online voting will somehow engage young voters are similarly spurious; the evidence shows that it is middle-aged voters who would have voted anyway who vote online. The City of Kitchener’s 2012 report on Internet voting finds that “There is clear evidence that, regardless of geography internet voting does not attract younger voters.” (FCS-12-191 - Alternate Voting - Internet Voting)
Similarly, on the security front, the article proceeds from one assumption unsupported by evidence to another. First "If we can make financial transactions secure". Well actually we can't make financial transactions secure. The core interbanking system SWIFT was compromised and millions of dollars were stolen.
New York Times - Once Again, Thieves Enter Swift Financial Network and Steal http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/business/dealbook/swift-global-bank-network-attack.html - May 12, 2016
Online banking transactions are individually identifiable and reversible. That's why online banking works. When people's banking accounts are hacked - and they are hacked all the time - the charges are reversed by the bank at no cost to the customer. Votes can't be either individually identifiable or reversible. That's one of the core challenges of online voting.
Blockchain isn't a magic bullet for online voting. You can watch Canadian computer scientist Jeremy Clark explain why https://youtu.be/-Uw-JnGIeIE
And it's important to understand hacking isn't some theoretical threat. Core internet services were disrupted just this past week by a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack.
New York Times - Hackers Used New Weapons to Disrupt Major Websites Across U.S. - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/22/business/internet-problems-attack.html - Oct 21, 2016
Canadian government departments including the Finance Department, Treasury Board Secretariat, Defense Research and Development Canada and the National Research Council have all been successfully hacked.
CBC - Foreign hackers attack Canadian government - http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/foreign-hackers-attack-canadian-government-1.982618 - February 16, 2011
Globe and Mail - Extensive fallout from Chinese hack of National Research Council - http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/records-show-extensive-fallout-from-chinese-hack-of-national-research-council/article31695327/ - Sep 2, 2016
Online polls where you ask people whether they like doing things online are all well and good. But they're not evidence supporting policy on online voting. When the actual evidence is examined, the conclusion is that online voting is a terrible idea.
For more information for a general audience, see
* Why Electronic Voting is a bad idea https://youtu.be/w3_0x6oaDmI
* Online Voting is a cybersecurity nightmare http://www.dailydot.com/layer8/online-voting-cybersecurity-election-fraud-hacking/ - June 10, 2016
* This is why we still can't vote online http://motherboard.vice.com/read/this-is-why-we-still-cant-vote-online - Oct 19, 2016
For a technical audience, you can review the many very real vulnerabilities and successful attacks documented by computer security expert J. Alex Halderman in "Practical Attacks on Real-World E-Voting" https://jhalderm.com/pub/papers/ch7-evoting-attacks-2016.pdf


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Rallye Dakar 2018 finished the races. Czech driver Martin Prokop positioned as number 7 in the field of the cars. Final podium was the place for the emotions and smiles.
Volkswagen Group will extend stops to production in Germany as it deals with fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. VW said that it was responding to weakening demand and supply...
Volkswagen expects the car market in Germany to recover in the summer after the automaker was forced to suspend output due to the coronavirus pandemic.
While vehicle and component production has slowed to a trickle in Europe because of the coronavirus outbreak, Daimler, Volvo and suppliers say their factories in China are coming back...
Volkswagen Group CEO Herbert Diess warned that the coronavirus crisis may force the company to keep its factories shut for longer than initially planned.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars announced today that production at the company’s Goodwood-based manufacturing plant will be suspended from Monday 23 March for two weeks.
Autologistika.cz is a portal for those seeking the latest information in the field of energy-efficient cars and drive technology-friendly environment.
Server is operated by Automakers.cz
Autologistika.cz Server is free to readers. For those interested to email newsletter requires user registration.


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54% growth in non-oil exports, 67% in unloading and loading and 55% in the number of incoming ships were recorded compared to the same period last year.
Regarding investment opportunities in Gilan ports, Hamideza Abaee, the General Manager of Ports and Maritime of Gilan stated that the importance of the sea and its impact on the economy undeniable today, and currently the upward trend in trade between the Caspian littoral states is more tangible.
He continued: Anzali Port as the oldest and most significant port on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea has always been an important port for traders, merchants and shipping lines in northern Iran and Caspian littoral states.
“We have seen significant growth in the field of unloading and loading operations, as well as export of goods compared to the same period last year,” Abaee emphasized. “also 54% growth in non-oil exports, 67% in unloading and loading and 55% in the number of incoming ships were recorded compared to the same period last year.”
Referring to the investment opportunities of Anzali Port Complex and its development programs, Abaee acknowledged that Gilan ports have the capacity to welcome all ships carrying Caspian Sea goods and can play a big role in meeting the needs of the market.


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- The high-end pharmacy offers instore free analysis like vitamin check, hair and skin analysis, BMI, cholesterol levels among others and based on the results, healthcare products and supplements can be recommended.
- Upto 25 Zest Pharmacy stores will be established within the next 2 years. In addition to standalone pharmacy stores, there will be Zest Wellness sections inside Spinneys and Waitrose outlets where only consumer wellness products will be featured.
Abu Dhabi: Aster Pharmacy, the retail arm of Aster DM Healthcare and a leading pharmacy chain in the GCC, has announced the launch of a wellness inspired pharmacy concept known as Zest Pharmacy, as a part of its joint venture with the Fine Fare Food Group, that manages Spinneys and Waitrose retail in the UAE. With a focus on premium wellness, Zest Pharmacy aims to provide customers with a unique and enriching experience that combines modernity, nature, and eco-friendly practices. This collaboration combines the expertise of Aster Pharmacy in healthcare and Spinney's Group's retail excellence to create a premium wellness destination like no other. The first Zest Pharmacy store was inaugurated today by Ms. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director - Aster DM Healthcare, Mr. N S Balasubramanian, Chief Executive Officer - Aster Retail, Sunil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer - Spinneys and Tariq Albwardy, Director - Albwardy Investment in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi.
Emphasizing on the belief that preventive care is better than sick care, Zest Pharmacy boasts of a team of dedicated health and wellbeing experts who will provide personalized advice on improving health and lifestyle, empowering individuals to lead active and fulfilling lives. The pharmacy will provide a wide range of high quality and certified products across categories like skincare, nutrition, cosmetics, mother and childcare, home-use medical equipment among others. The store will also house premium brands like Esthederm, NeoStrata, SkinCeuticals, Obagi, The True Honey & Country Life.
Talking about the inauguration, Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman and Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare, said, "With the launch of our new Concept Pharmacy styled as Zest, we aim to meet the needs of our high-end customers for various products in the health and wellness segment. By combining our expertise with the premium retailer of the region, the Spinneys Group, we aim to redefine the health and wellness landscape of countries we operate with the new brand and value-added products."
"Zest Pharmacy is poised to become the go-to destination for premium wellness products, supporting individuals on their path to a healthier and happier life. We want to create an environment where customers feel supported and inspired to prioritize their well-being. With our state-of-the-art diagnostic technology, we can help identify ailments and deficiencies, offering tailored health plans to start them on a transformative well-being journey", stated Ms. Alisha Moopen, Deputy Managing Director of Aster DM Healthcare.
Leveraging cutting-edge diagnostic technology, Zest Pharmacy will offer customers valuable insights into their health status through the Innovation Station, powered by Rossmax. The innovation station provides free comprehensive and immediate reports on ailments, deficiencies, and tailored health plans to initiate customers' wellbeing journeys. This advanced facility also offers free skin and hair analysis, along with vitamins analysis, ensuring customers receive accurate and personalized recommendations for balanced vitals and preventive healthcare measures.
Commenting on the launch of the concept store, Mr. N S Balasubramanian, Chief Executive Officer of Aster Retail, said, "Zest Pharmacy represents a significant step forward in our commitment to offering our customers an unparalleled retail experience. We are confident that Zest Pharmacy's innovative approach and commitment to well-being will resonate strongly with our customers, providing a step-forward in our aim to spread Good Health and Happiness. With the first store being launched in Abu Dhabi, we are keen to bring our wellness offering closer to our customers in Abu Dhabi.”
Zest Pharmacy will extend its exceptional service beyond the physical store by providing a convenient and reliable home delivery service. Customers can simply make a phone call, and their health and well-being needs will be met promptly.
Sunil Kumar, CEO at Spinneys, UAE, explains: “We are excited to partner with Aster Pharmacy to launch the first supermarket wellness concept in the UAE. As a truly local supermarket, the community is our heartland and it is our mission to nourish and inspire customers to live better lives, day by day. Our new holistic wellness offering is a direct response to our customers’ desire to live healthier lives. We are dedicated to understanding our customers’ needs, their shopping behaviours, and what we must do to help them live better.”
Looking ahead, Aster Pharmacy plans to open more Zest Pharmacy stores in the upcoming financial year and aims to expand the network to more than 25 stores within the next two years in UAE. Zest Pharmacy will operate in two formats: Zest pharmacy standalone stores and Zest wellness sections - inside Spinneys and Waitrose stores in many locations. This is a positive step forward for both Aster Pharmacy and Spinneys as they are set to expand their footprint in Saudi Arabia.
About Aster DM Healthcare
Aster DM Healthcare Limited is one of the largest private healthcare service providers operating in GCC and in India. With an inherent emphasis on clinical excellence, we are one of the few entities in the world with a strong presence across primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary healthcare through our 32 hospitals, 127 clinics, 521 pharmacies* and 205 labs and patient experience centers in seven countries, including India. We have 30,330 dedicated staff including 3,863 doctors and 8,975 nurses across the geographies that we are present in, delivering a simple yet strong promise to our different stakeholders: “We’ll treat you well.” We reach out to all economic segments in the GCC states through our differentiated healthcare services across the “Aster”, “Medcare” and “Access” brands.
*Including 257 Pharmacies in India operated by Alfaone Retail Pharmacies Private Limited under brand license from Aster
Spinneys’ story started in 1961 when the first supermarket opened in Al Nasr Square. It has since grown to be one of the most favourite premium supermarket retailers in the region, with 61 stores across the UAE. Much loved by expats and locals in the region, Spinneys enjoys a well-deserved reputation for forward thinking, keeping pace with changes in cooking trends and the emergence of new products worldwide. Today, Spinneys Dubai, owned by UAE national Mr Ali Albwardy, has built a strong name for supplying top quality produce and offering a high level of customer service. Yet food standards, safety and freshness have always been at the forefront of the company’s ethos – just one reason why the Spinneys brand is defined as ‘The fresher experience’.
For more information about us, please contact:
Udhayan Sasidharan Nair


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European online advertising trade bodies the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) and the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB Europe) have merged to form a single organization dedicated to supporting the online ad sector across the region.
The merger will unite each group’s corporate members, bringing the total base to 41 companies including Microsoft, AOL and Yahoo, alongside other major networks and media companies operating in the European digital ad space. The merger is designed to help broaden the influence of the parties’ efforts, and provide a single voice on industry issues such as self-regulation, the pair said.
Following the merger, previous EIAA Executive Director Alison Fennah will assume the role of VP of research and marketing at IAB Europe, and help expand on its existing research and marketing programs. Under the EIAA banner Fennah previously issued reports such as the bi-annual Internet Ad Barometer, which will be rolled into the IAB’s research efforts.
Guy Phillipson, chairman of IAB Europe and CEO at IAB UK, said in a statement the combination would “bring renewed energy and focus to support and protect the interactive advertising industry.”
He added, “Now that the industry has taken the initiative on self-regulation before the European Commission, it is vital that we have one committed and empowered organization… right across the region.”
IAB Europe President and CEO Alain Heureux, will head up the combined entity, with Kimon Zorbas remaining in his role as VP, public affairs – a position in which he is currently promoting a pan-European self regulatory framework for online behavioral advertising.
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Shoppers ditch cash in favour of in-app payments
UK shoppers are actively avoiding retailers with outdated payment methods, according to new research.
A survey of 2,000 British shoppers by supermarket app Ubamarket revealed that over 10 million people, or 20 per cent, would avoid shops that only accept cash.
A staggering 37.5m people (73 per cent) had also changed their mindd and decided not to purchase an item because of the size of the shop’s queue.
More than half (53 per cent) also said that they found queues the most frustrating thing about the retail experience.
Ease of payment has now become a “make-or-break” factor among shoppers choosing where to shop, with 32 per cent saying they would pick an online or high-street retailer based on how easy it is to pay for items.
A fifth of shoppers said that in-app payments were their favourite method of paying for items, rising to 34 per cent among 18 to 34-year-olds.
However, when it came to in-store, almost half (48 per cent) said they hated using self-scan machines.
Looking to the future, 21.1m people, or 41 per cent, believed that all payments would be made via mobile devices, increasing to 53 per cent among millennials.
Will Broome, chief executive of Ubamarket, commented: “Over the past decade, major retailers have taken some strides to improve in-store shopping by embracing new technologies. However, today’s research reveals that long queues and frustratingly outdated payment systems remain a significant challenge that are ruining millions of shopping trips, and therefore must be addressed. Despite the rise of online shopping, it is clear that retailers need to invest in the in-store shopping experience to maintain shoppers’ loyalty in today’s competitive market.”
Robert Capps, authentication strategist and vice-president at NuData Security, said: “New research findings from retailing app Ubamarket – specifically that consumers are rapidly moving away from cash transactions, that 73 per cent reject transactions that mean standing in a queue and millions of us actually avoid cash-only retailers – confirms what many already instinctively knew.
“Digital-only transactions are merely a matter of time, and very little time at that. Instant, frictionless transactions are an order-of-magnitude improvement over carrying and fumbling for currency, and waiting on other customers and the cashiers, and an improvement with enormous residual benefits. The simple transaction histories that digital transactions provide mean the consumer can track and understand their spending patterns. Saving and organising receipts becomes a thing of the past.
“While most expect millennials to readily embrace digital transactions, their ease of use and enduring data capture make digital transactions the preferred purchasing method for consumers of all ages. We just need to ensure that we are providing the most seamless and convenient journey along the way, while ensuring the e- and m-commerce organisations are not taking on more risk in that journey. And there are means to do just such a balancing act in today’s digital journey.”


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China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on Thursday held a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.
The two ministers said dialogue and exchanges in the business field between China and the United States are very important and agreed to promote the "healthy" development of trade and investment cooperation and "properly" handle differences.
They also agreed to continue to maintain communications.
The latest conversation came about a week after Chinese Vice Premier Liu He spoke with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a virtual call on June 2. Liu had a previous phone conversation with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai on May 27.
From January to May this year, the trade volume between China and the U.S. reached $279.64 billion, a year-on-year increase of 52.3 percent.


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TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa Bay area clothing company is selling apparel highlighting Tampa Bay sports teams.
For the Bay Clothing Company opened in August. Owner Dave Gesacion said they have been busy since Tampa Bay area sports teams are winning.
"Hit some luck for sure with the Lightning making their run to the Cup and the Rays going to the World Series and now with the Bucs and the Super Bowl," said Gesacion.
Gesacion grew up in Youngstown, Ohio.
"Just growing up there and going to games and sporting events. I have been a fanatic since I was a young kid," he said.
He has lived in the Tampa Bay area for the majority of his life and his wife is also a huge sports fan.
"That's one of the things that brought us together was our love of sports and going to events and things. It has been tough not going to games last year, but it's fun doing this and doing something new," said Gesacion.
Gesacion prints his shirts through a local business, Adver-T Screen Printing. He also sets up pop-up stores at different events throughout the community.
"This is built on a love for Tampa Bay, one t-shirt at a time. It has been pretty awesome."
For more information on For the Bay Clothing Company apparel, visit: www.forthebayclothingco.com.


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Having dusted off the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity cobwebs, VM DSGN's designer and creative director Vumile Mavumengwana talks us through his experience on this year's design awarding jury and what it's really like being a South African in Cannes.
By Leigh Andrews 2 days ago
LIA has announced the Ambient, Print, Poster, Billboard, Verbal Identity jury and that Jeremy Craigen, global chief creative officer of Innocean Worldwide, will preside over it.
17 Jul 2018
The Fifa World Cup settled the global gaze on Russia for the past few weeks. While July 2018 has been a time of football celebration, it's also Pride Month. So while 'gay propaganda' is still banned in Russia, that doesn't mean there's been a lack of rainbow support - where there's will, there's a way.
By Leigh Andrews 16 Jul 2018


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The charismatic iPhone X is in the news again, and this time they are speculations about the Touch ID feature of the iPhone X. There were multiple rumours spread about the technology being implemented on the handset. The users were eager to see a Touch ID button under the display and many criticized Apple for not being able to do so.
But as astonishing as it is, an Apple executive disclosed that the Cupertino company never even thought of putting a Touch ID under the display, on the side or even on the back of the iPhone X. Apple’s Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering (Dan Riccio) said in an interview that all the speculations and rumours about the Touch ID are not true. Whether the news was about the Touch to be placed on the side or under the display they were simply not true.
“I heard some rumour [that] we couldn’t get Touch ID to work through the glass so we had to remove that. When we hit early line of sight on getting Face ID to be [as] good as it was, we knew that if we could be successful we could enable the product that we wanted to go off and do and if that’s true it could be something that we could burn the bridges and be all in with. This is assuming it was a better solution. And that’s what we did. So we spent no time looking at fingerprints on the back or through the glass or on the side because if we did those things, which would be a last-minute change, they would be a distraction relative to enabling the more important thing that we were trying to achieve, which was Face ID done in a high-quality way.”-Dan Riccio, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, Apple
Amongst rumours of Apple allegedly reducing the accuracy of face ID, the experts discovered that it still worked very well. So instead of getting worked up about looking for a place to embed Touch ID, the company focused on improving on the Face ID, giving the world the first Apple phone with facial recognition. Interestingly enough, Ming-Chi Kuo (KGI analyst) had already disclosed what Apple was considering, he told clients that the company will come up with a revolutionary front-facing camera which will support facial recognition. That will help in unlocking the phone.
For more information keep reading our website the Mr. Phone.


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Some LG G7 owners are reporting bootloops, but a fix is coming
- Some LG G7 users are reporting that their phones are suffering from bootloop issues.
- Fortunately, the issue is restricted to T-Mobile users in certain European countries.
- LG is aware and will be issuing a fix “within the next several days.”
LG is no stranger to the phenomenon of bootloops, and it looks like a few LG G7s are experiencing the issue as well.
According to threads on Reddit and XDA (h/t: PhoneArena), some European LG G7 owners reported that their phones would repeatedly try and fail to boot up. Oddly enough, it seems like the problem is restricted to T-Mobile subscribers in Europe. One redditor also posted a video of their phone boot-looping, which can be seen below.
The South Korean manufacturer has confirmed the issue to PhoneArena, saying it was indeed related to one network (which looks to be T-Mobile).
“The latest software update for the LG G7 ThinQ on a specific network in a number of European countries is preventing the phone from starting,” LG explained, adding that affected phones haven’t suffered from permanent damage.
“In cooperation with the operator, LG will be issuing a software solution within the next several days which will allow affected customers to roll back the update and return their device to its previous state. Customers are encouraged to contact an LG call center or visit their local service center for further assistance,” the company added.
In other words, this seems like an issue with the network or the latest version of the network-approved G7 update rather than the LG hardware itself. This should be a relief for both users and the Korean brand, following a spate of more serious bootloops over the years that affected everything from the LG G4 to the Nexus 5X.


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Trade commences under African Continental Free Trade Area terms
Commercially meaningful trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Guided Trade Initiative has begun. CWEIC Strategic Partner, the Cameroonian Port of Kribi, received a shipment of resin from Tunisia which benefited from a reduction in custom tariffs.
The Government of Cameroon represented by the Minister of Trade Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, The Cameroon National Shippers Council represented by Auguste Penda Mbappe and The Port Authority of Kribi represented by Patrice Melom were present at the ceremony to officially release the first successful shipment under the preferential trade regime of the AfCFTA.
This shipment is the first in a series of goods shipped from Tunisia and Egypt to Cameroon under the AfCFTA rules, and marks the start of the test phases for AfCFTA implementation.
In a press release The Cameroon National Shippers Council commented that: The objective of the AfCFTA is to ensure the free circulation of goods and services produced in Africa or with African raw materials. This pilot phase is the first milestone towards the African Common Market, presented as a formidable lever to boost the continent’s growth and economic development. It should be noted that the unloading of this shipment will mark the beginning of customs tariff reductions for products shipped under AfCFTA in Cameroon. Measures have been taken to guarantee the successful implementation of tariff reductions for concerned cargo.”
According to the World Bank, The AfCFTA will compromise the largest free trade area in the world and will connect 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product valued at US$3.4 trillion.
To speed up implementation and help the agreement reach its full potential, the AfCFTA Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) was launched in October 2022 to enable the start of trading under the preferences of the AfCFTA Agreement. The GTI will enable trade between countries that have met minimum requirements for trade under the AfCFTA. Eight countries (Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Rwanda, Tanzania and Tunisia) are taking part, representing the different regions of Africa. The GTI will test AfCFTA’s policies, legal framework and operational and institutional environments.


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REINER SAID TO BE TOP CHOICE FOR FINLAY FINE JEWELRY POST
NEW YORK — Speculation that Arthur E. Reiner, former chairman and chief executive officer of Macy’s East, is a top candidate for a high-level job at Finlay Fine Jewelry Corp. continued to circulate Tuesday.
The reports surfaced early this month, but on Tuesday, sources said, a deal was close.
“I don’t know anything about it,” said Ron Grudberg, ceo of Findlay. He said he had not spoken to Reiner about a job.
Finlay operates about 760 licensed fine jewelry shops in 30 department store groups in the U.S. Last year, the company did $505.6 million in sales.
Reiner, who is 54, spent 32 years at Macy’s before being squeezed out by the Federated Department Stores’ takeover. He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Federated is consolidating its Abraham & Straus division into Macy’s East and named Hal Kahn, the former ceo of A&S, chairman and ceo of the combined operation.


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A consortium of private investors led by Apax Partners and Barclays Capital has completed the £1.6 billion (€1.8 billion; $2.2 billion) sale of supermarket giant Somerfield six months after its acquisition by the supermarket chain Co-operative Group (Co-Op) was first announced.
“The Somerfield sale process was delayed during the last six months due to the difficulties faced by the retail sector. This is because the parties involved in the process had their own problems to deal with,” a source familiar with the situation said.
Somerfield: 940 stores
The Somerfield chain, which is the sixth largest grocery retailer in the UK with 940 shops, was acquired by Apax, Barclays, the Tchenguiz Family Trust, Kaupthing Bank and management for £1.8 billion in 2005.
Although the exit price was £200 million less than what was originally paid for it, Apax said in a statement that it was a “successful exit for the consortium”. Nearly half of the debt the consortium used to acquire Somerfield had been repaid at the time of the acquisition, according to Apax, and the balance sheets were restored upon acquisition by Co-Op.
The consortium shelved a €1 billion refinancing plan in August 2007, according to reports at the time. Since taking control of Somerfield, the private equity consortium installed new management and refocused the firm’s brand as a small scale local grocer. Somerfield gained a 3.7 percent sales increase over Christmas and a like-for-like sales growth of 5.5 percent in the eight months to January 2009.
This represents a good example of how private ownership can breathe new life into a business that is lacking strategic direction.
Alex Fortescue, Apax partner
This represents a good example of how private ownership can breathe new life into a business that is lacking strategic direction,” Alex Fortescue, a partner at Apax, said in a statement.
The consortium put Somerfield up for auction in January 2008, hoping to raise between £2 billion and £2.5 billion, after receiving unsolicited approaches from buyers in December 2007. UK supermarkets Asda, WM Morrison, Sainsbury’s and Tesco were rumoured to be among the bidders.
Co-Op, which is the world’s largest consumer-owned business, had its offer of £1.6 billion accepted in July last year. It now has more than 3,000 stores worldwide, and today announced the sale of 24 of its stores to Sainsbury’s, the UK’s third-biggest supermarket group, for £83 million pounds. Of the stores sold, 22 were Somerfield and two were Co-Op.


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Wii U gamers in Europe finally have some games to look forward to in 2013, with the confirmed release dates for Scribblenauts Unlimited and SiNG Party.
The karaoke party game will hit stores on January 18, followed on February 8 by Scribblenauts - the latter will also be released on the same day for 3DS.
Also coming in Q1 2013 are LEGO City Undercover and Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge (January 11).
Sadly Pikmin 3 won't be out as early as we'd hoped, being confirmed for a Q2 2013 release date. Japanese favourite, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate will be released in March 2013 for Wii U and 3DS.
Source: Nintendo Direct