DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Exclusive-Google to Launch Anti-Misinformation Campaign Ahead of EU Elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Martin CoulterLONDON (Reuters) - Google is preparing to launch an anti-misinformation campaign across five countries in the European Union (EU), the company told Reuters ahead of the bloc's parliamentary elections and tougher new rules tackling online content. France, Poland and Germany accused Russia on Monday of putting together an elaborate network of websites to spread pro-Russian propaganda. Jigsaw's ads will be translated into all 24 official EU languages, the company said. The campaign will run for at least one month, with a view to extend it based on reach and performance. Results from the campaign, including survey responses and the number of people reached, are expected to be published in summer 2024.

Persons: Martin Coulter, Jigsaw, We've, Beth Goldberg, Goldberg, Matt Scuffham, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Martin Coulter LONDON, Google, European Union, Russia, Europe's Digital Services, YouTube, Universities of Cambridge Locations: France, Poland, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Europe, Bristol, Ukraine

Vacuum maker Dyson has in recent years tied up with eBay UK to sell officially refurbished products at a hefty discount to the price of new ones. Some 23% of consumers globally say they are buying more second-hand products, according to the EY Future Consumer Index, a survey of 22,000 consumers published earlier this month. "I found a waistcoat for my dad in a charity shop in Peckham the other day – I saw it and I thought I have to get it, he's going to love it," Baker said as she browsed in a Crisis charity shop in Camberwell, south-east London. In the fourth quarter of last year, sales in UK charity shops grew by 8.6% compared the previous year, according to the Charity Retail Association. Lesley Wright, a volunteer at an Oxfam shop in Brighton, England, is gearing up for her "busiest-ever" holiday season.

Persons: Eve Williams, Dyson, Lorna Fallon, Lucy Baker, Baker, Lesley Wright, Wright, Richa Naidu, Helen Reid, Matt Scuffham, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: eBay Inc, Oxfam, Apple, eBay, Dyson, Regent, Sustainability, Charity Retail Association, Reuters, Thomson Locations: British, London, Peckham, Camberwell, Brighton , England

☆ Man United nears sale of 25% stake to Jim Ratcliffe for $33 a share -Sky News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The Glazer family announced last November that they were exploring "strategic alternatives" for the club, including a possible sale and were open to fresh investment. Manchester United's U.S.-listed shares rose 9.5% to $20.10 in early trading on Friday. Manchester United generates more revenue and has a larger fan base than its London rival. The Glazer family has faced intense criticism from fans over its handling of this key part of the club's operations. The six descendants of American businessman Malcolm Glazer, who died in 2014, currently control 96% of Manchester United's voting stock.

Persons: Glazer, Jim Ratcliffe, Ratcliffe, Sir Alex Ferguson, Richard Arnold, Roman Abramovich, Todd Boehly, Phil Noble, Malcolm Glazer, Ineos, Eva Mathews, Matt Scuffham, Arun Koyyur, Susan Fenton Organizations: Manchester, soccer, Sky News, Old, Manchester United, Premier League soccer, Chelsea, U.S, Clearlake, REUTERS, Reuters, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Forbes, Ligue, Nice, Swiss Super League, FC Lausanne, Racing Club Abidjan, Ivory Coast Ligue, Grenadiers, Thomson Locations: Old Trafford, Manchester United's U.S, London, Manchester, Britain, Ineos, British, Bengaluru

The holiday season, which begins with Black Friday at the end of November and lasts roughly until the end of December, is expected to be especially tough for retailers selling discretionary items, executives say. "We are seeing some early Black Friday sales start just now," Barbie maker Mattel's (MAT.O) president and chief commercial officer, Steve Totzke, told Reuters on Monday. "The market for toys has been declining for the whole year," said Florian Sieber, CEO of German toy maker Simba. "We are expecting a good holiday season for Mattel," Totzke said. "We expect to continue to gain share throughout the holiday season."

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Larian, Santa Claus, Barbie, Loo, Isaac Larian, Toymakers, Nic Aldridge, Aldridge, Mattel's, Steve Totzke, Florian Sieber, Simba, Sieber, Totzke, Frédérique Tutt, Jerry Storch, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham Organizations: REUTERS, Hasbro, Mattel, Consumers, Euromonitor, MGA Entertainment, Toymakers Hasbro, Reuters, Bandai, P, Global, Storch Advisors, Hudson's, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Europe, Santa, United States, Loo Wee, U.S

"We are seeing some early Black Friday sales start just now," Barbie maker Mattel's (MAT.O) president and chief commercial officer, Steve Totzke, told Reuters on Monday. "The market for toys has been declining for the whole year," said Florian Sieber, CEO of German toy maker Simba. "We are expecting a good holiday season for Mattel," Totzke said. "We expect to continue to gain share throughout the holiday season." "But it's a reality that there won't be as many toys sold this year as last year."

☆ Airbus bullish on jet output as profits override space charge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Airbus declined to elaborate on the charge, which came as the planemaker formally announced a restructuring in its Defence & Space division that has been in preparation for several months. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stuck to his guns, however. Airbus is producing A320-family jets in the low-50s per month instead of a planned level closer to 58, they said. On the loss-making A220, Airbus reiterated plans to raise output to 14 a month. "We are working very closely with them in the spirit of supporting them, but we also expect from Spirit to well support Airbus.

Persons: Steven Udvar, Guillaume Faury, Faury, Pratt, Safran, Whitney, Chris Calio, Spirit, Patrick Shanahan, Tim Hepher, Valerie Insinna, Allison Lampert, Matt Scuffham, Sharon Singleton, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Airbus, Defence, Space, Air Lease AL.N, Pratt & Whitney, CFM, GE Aerospace, GE, Boeing, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Paris, Washington, Montreal

☆ Airbus raises A350 output goal as core Q3 profits rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A Airbus A350 aircraft during a display at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 20, 2022. The world's largest planemaker said it was aiming to return to pre-COVID levels of 10 A350 jets a month in 2026, up from a previous goal of nine a month by end-2025. Adjusted operating earnings came in at 1.013 billion euros ($1.08 billion) in the quarter, up 21%, as revenues rose 12% to 14,897 billion. Analysts expected earnings of 1.142 billion euros on revenues of 15.098 billion, according to a company-compiled consensus. Production on the company's main profit-generating programme the Airbus A320 family, is "progressing well" towards a previously announced target of 75 a month in 2026, Airbus said.

Persons: Peter Cziborra, Tim Hepher, Matt Scuffham, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Airbus, Farnborough, REUTERS, Rights, Industry, Thomson Locations: Farnborough, Britain

REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Unilever (ULVR.L) top-10 investor Lindsell Train welcomed its recent management changes and said it had already discussed the consumer goods company's next steps with the incoming chairman. These moves demonstrated that Unilever thinks that a "fresh perspective on all aspects of the business is necessary", Nick Train, manager of the Finsbury Growth & Income Trust and co-founder of Lindsell Train, told Reuters. A bungled attempt to buy GSK's consumer healthcare business was followed by billionaire activist investor Nelson Peltz joining the board. "We maintain a productive open dialogue with the company and most recently met with the new (Unilever) chairman to hear his view on the most beneficial next steps," Train said. Matt Close, president of its ice cream business, will also leave after a more than three-decade career with Unilever.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Nick Train, Hein Schumacher, Schumacher, Alan Jope, Nelson Peltz, Ian Meakins, Nils Anderson, Hanneke Faber, Priya Nair, Matt Close, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham, Alexander Smith Organizations: Unilever, REUTERS, Lindsell, Income Trust, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Finsbury

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attends an in-conversation event with Tesla and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk in London, Britain, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Risks around rapidly-developing AI have been an increasingly high priority for policymakers since Microsoft-backed Open AI (MSFT.O) released ChatGPT to the public last year. "It was fascinating that just as we announced our AI safety institute, the Americans announced theirs," said attendee Nigel Toon, CEO of British AI firm Graphcore. China’s vice minister of science and technology said the country was willing to work with all sides on AI governance. Yoshua Bengio, an AI pioneer appointed to lead a "state of the science" report commissioned as part of the Bletchley Declaration, told Reuters the risks of open-source AI were a high priority.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Tesla, Elon Musk, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Sam Altman, Kamala Harris, Ursula von der Leyen, China –, Sunak, Finance Bruno Le Maire, Vera Jourova, Jourova, Harris, Nigel Toon, Wu Zhaohui, Musk, you’ve, Martin Coulter, Paul Sandle, Matt Scuffham, Louise Heavens Organizations: British, Elon, U.S, European Commission, Microsoft, of, Finance, EU, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, Bletchley, U.S, South Korea, France, United States

The draft AI rules have to be agreed by the European Parliament and European Union member states. A fourth trilogue meeting will be held on Tuesday, a day after EU lawmakers are scheduled to discuss their negotiating stance around foundation models and high-risk AI systems, sources said. Discussions could then be further de-railed by the European parliament elections in June. The EU started working on the draft AI Act in 2021. In May this year, the European parliament agreed on draft legislation including new rules around the use of facial recognition, biometric surveillance, and other AI applications.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Thierry Breton, Dragoș Tudorache, Brando Benifei, Supantha Mukherjee, Foo Yun Chee, Matt Scuffham, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, Reuters, EU, Thomson Locations: Rights STOCKHOLM, BRUSSELS, trilogues, Spain, Stockholm, Brussels

A 0.25 mg injection pen of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy is shown in this photo illustration in Oslo, Norway, September 1, 2023. REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON/NEW YORK, Oct 23 (Reuters) - The growth in demand for appetite suppressing anti-obesity drugs like Novo Nordisk's (NOVOb.CO) Wegovy presents opportunities for food manufacturers and the market's initially downbeat reaction may be overdone, investors say. Still, the stock market impact left some food manufacturers "trembling," said John Plassard, senior investment specialist at Nestle investor Mirabaud Group. The uptake in appetite suppressing drugs seems to be a U.S.-led dynamic, said My Nguyen, research analyst at Legal & General Investment Management America. "Elsewhere, trends such as wealthier, more mobile middle classes in emerging countries can support shifts towards snacking and convenience foods."

Persons: Victoria Klesty, Richard Saldanha, Wegovy, Kiran Aziz, Mark Schneider, John Plassard, Brian Frank, Frank, Nguyen, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: REUTERS, Walmart, Nestle, Aviva, Novo Nordisk, EY, Industry, Health Sciences, Wellness, Mirabaud, Tyson Foods, Arcos Dorados, Legal, General Investment Management America, Germany's, Investments, Unilever, Coca Cola, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Norway, Victoria, United States, Denmark, Germany, Arda, Ural, U.S

☆ Britain aims for global leadership role with AI safety summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Britain will host the world's first global artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit next month, aiming to carve out a role following Brexit as an arbiter between the United States, China, and the European Union in a key tech sector. The Nov. 1-2 summit will focus heavily on the existential threat some lawmakers, including Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, fear AI poses. Sunak, who wants the UK to become a hub for AI safety, has warned the technology could be used by criminals and terrorists to create weapons of mass destruction. Critics question why Britain has appointed itself the centre of AI safety. "We are now reflecting on potential EU participation," a spokesperson told Reuters.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Alan Turing, Kamala Harris, Demis, Matt Clifford, Clifford, we're, Stephanie Hare, Elon Musk, Geoffrey Hinton, Britain, OpenAI, Marc Warner, it's, Vera Jourova, Brando Benifei, Dragos Tudorache, Benifei, Jeremy Hunt, Martin Coulter, Matt Scuffham, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Britain's, EU, Bletchley, Google, San, Reuters, China . Finance, Politico, Thomson Locations: Britain, United States, China, England, British, France, Germany, London, U.S, San Francisco, Beijing, Europe

☆ Big Tobacco turns to rooibos tea to counter upcoming ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Emma Rumney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Tobacco companies have yet to publish any research showing the health implications of rooibos or other zero-tobacco sticks, Simonavicius added. PMI (PM.N) CEO Jacek Olczak told shareholders that its zero-tobacco sticks could avoid the regulatory scrutiny that tobacco products face. BAT's zero-tobacco sticks are not subject to current EU tobacco rules, the company told Reuters. That means it can sell rooibos sticks in flavours like peppermint and tropical fruit even after a ban on flavoured heated tobacco products is implemented across the bloc later this month. Across the European Union, heated tobacco products must be taxed at a minimum of 20% of the retail price, though national governments can go higher.

Persons: Erikas Simonavicius, Simonavicius, Philip Morris, Jacek Olczak, Jefferies, Owen Bennett, Bennett, Phil Gorham, Gorham, Fabienne, Morningstar's Gorham, Shabab, Emma Rumney, Matt Scuffham, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Big Tobacco, British American Tobacco, Union, Tobacco, BAT, Reuters, King's College, King's College London . Tobacco, Philip Morris International, PMI, Rivals Imperial Brands, Japan Tobacco International, Morningstar, EU, Dunhill, Lucky, European Union, University College London . Tobacco, Thomson Locations: Cape, Germany, Greece, King's College London

Air France-KLM has tended to let airlines it invests in keep their operations and branding. With the process still in its infancy, Air France-KLM has a chance to make a pitch to TAP now off the back of SAS. LONG FIGHT AHEADThere are remaining challenges for Air France-KLM as it looks to clear regulatory hurdles with SAS, including approval from American and European policymakers. Europe's airline industry has a history of cultural and political barriers to smooth integration, even within Air France-KLM itself. Air France-KLM is a member of the rival SkyTeam alliance.

Persons: Paris Charles de, Charles Platiau, IAG, James Halstead, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Tim Hepher, Matt Scuffham, Sharon Singleton 私 Organizations: Air France Boeing, Paris Charles, REUTERS, France, KLM, TAP, TAP Portugal, Lufthansa, LONDON, Air, Scandinavia's SAS, Ryanair, Wizz, Air France, IAG, Tuesday's SAS, SAS, Star Alliance, Reuters, Apollo Global Management, Union Locations: Paris, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Roissy, France, LISBON, Air France, Europe, Air, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, Portugal, Northern Europe, TAP's, Portuguese, U.S, Lisbon, Porto, Iberia, South America

The data, compiled by NielsenIQ, showed overall sales volumes for shower gel, tampons, dishwashing products, laundry detergent and toilet paper declined in the year ended Sept. 17. Reuters GraphicsMajor brands like Ariel laundry detergent and Dove soaps have for years dominated the market versus retailers' private label goods. But the NielsenIQ data shows volumes for private label personal products are inching up while those for big brands decline. For instance, shower gel volumes fell 6% overall and 10% for big brands but rose 14% for private label products. Similarly, while laundry detergent volumes were down about 2% across the category and fell 10% for big brands, they surged 28% for private label brands.

Persons: Sarah Meyssonnier, NielsenIQ, Anton Delbarre, Emmanuel Macron's, Bernstein, Bruno Monteyne, Alexandre Bompard, Henkel, Eurocommerce, Richa Naidu, Helen Reid, Matt Scuffham, Catherine Evans Organizations: Carrefour, REUTERS, Unilever, Reuters, Nestle, Pepsico, Reuters Graphics, Consumer, Procter, Gamble, Delbarre, Thomson Locations: Montesson, Paris, France

☆ US sanctions authority delayed KFC's Russia exit -franchise owner
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Elena Fabrichnaya | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It's OFAC office issued compliance guidance to the industry regarding the exit tax in the form of FAQs, or frequently asked questions, on Feb. 24, 2023, while negotiations on KFC's exit deal were still ongoing. The deal included all its Russian KFC restaurants, operating system and the trademark for the Rostic's brand. Once the buyers were approved, taking this new requirement into account, another one appeared - the budget contribution termed an "exit tax" by Washington - Levin said. "The closure was delayed again, the correct procedure on paying the exit tax was agreed," Levin said. Former KFC restaurants began opening in April as Rostic's, reviving a brand born soon after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Persons: Maxim, Sergei Levin, Levin, McDonald's, It's, Konstantin Kotov, Andrey Oskolkov, Elena Fabrichnaya, Alexander Marrow, Matt Scuffham, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Brands Inc, KFC, REUTERS, U.S . Office, Foreign Assets Control, Brands, Treasury, Smart Service, Russian KFC, Washington, Soviet Union, Rostic's, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, Ukraine MOSCOW, U.S, Unirest, KFC's U.S, Ukraine, Russian, Soviet

Sept 20 (Reuters) - Consumer goods firms like Nestle (NESN.S), Lindt (LISN.S) and Unilever (ULVR.L) may face increased pressure across Europe to cut prices after being singled out by French retailers and politicians, industry experts say. France is a crucial country for consumer goods companies, having long outstripped Germany, Italy, Spain and others as the European Union's biggest market for groceries by supermarket revenues, according to research firm IBISWorld. That means consumer groups will face pressure to rein back prices across the European Union. Because these supermarkets are in different countries and do not compete with one another, they often combine forces to negotiate with consumer goods makers. Consumer goods makers have for more than two years grappled with sky-rocketing input, supply chain and labour costs that they have either absorbed - taking a hit to margins - or passed on to retailers.

Persons: It's, Laurent Thoumine, Thoumine, Ferrero's, Pernod Ricard's Ricard, Systeme, Germany's, Switzerland's, Italy's, Philippe Michaud, Leclerc, Bruno Le Maire, Le Maire, Richard Saldanha, Lindt, Saldanha, Richa Naidu, Helen Reid, Matt Scuffham, Catherine Evans Organizations: Consumer, Nestle, Unilever, Carrefour, PepsiCo, European, Reuters, European Union, Epic Partners, French Finance, Aviva Investors, Paris, Thomson Locations: Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Eurelec

Reuters GraphicsReuters spoke to four shareholders that have launched activist campaigns who said that some big consumer goods companies are ripe for executive changes after failing to impress. Reuters GraphicsMany large consumer goods companies generally hold low levels of debt and are cash generative, said André Medeiros, managing director and Alvarez & Marsal's EMEA consumer and retail leader. 'ADVOCATING FOR MANAGEMENT CHANGE'Gianluca Ferrari, founding partner of investor Clearway Capital, said his firm had some consumer companies on its radar but declined to name them. He did not identify specific executives nor disclose the nature of his work with consumer companies. In October, Reuters reported that Peltz had approached former CEOs of consumer goods companies as candidates for the Unilever top job.

Persons: Danone's, Emmanuel Faber, David Samra, Samra, Alvarez, Marsal, André Medeiros, Nelson Peltz, Artisan's Samra, We're, Peltz, Heinz, Gianluca Ferrari, Ferrari, Clearway, Glanbia, Faber, Bluebell, Nicolas Ceron, Ceron, underperformance, Kraft Heinz, KHC.O, Andrew Hayes, Russell Reynolds, John Long, Korn, Long, Alan Jope departure's, Unilever's, Graeme Pitkethly, Hein Schumacher, Heinz's, Bill Johnson, Nelson, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Artisan Partners, Reuters, Danone, Evian, Unilever, Consumer Products, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Reuters Graphics, Marsal's EMEA, Billionaire, Artisan, Cadbury Schweppes, Heinz, Trian, Bluebell Capital, shareholders, Bluebell, Diageo, Russell Reynolds Associates, Thomson Locations: York, H.J, Frankfurt, Western Europe, North America

REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsChocolate makers are banking on the traditional resilience of their product to price increases. The data showed Hershey's sales volumes increasingly declined during the period as the company hiked prices. "We are seeing consumers starting to react more than before, I'd be very cautious with price increases," said Dan Sadler, a candy expert at U.S.-based market researcher IRI. Barry Callebaut (BARN.S), the world's biggest chocolate maker supplying most major brands including Nestle (NESN.S), doesn't expect any growth in sales volumes this year. Pennsylvania-based Hershey, is hoping that as it eases off the rate of price hikes, its sales volumes will reverse their current downtrend.

Persons: Nielsen, Dirk Van de, Luca Zaramella, Patrick Folan, Mike Blake, Mondelez, Hershey, Zaramella, Bernstein, I'd, Dan Sadler, Barry Callebaut, Hershey's, Michele Buck, Matt Scuffham, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Nielsen, Hershey, Reuters, Consumers, Cadbury, Barclays, REUTERS, IRI, Nestle, Rabobank, El, Kailyn, Thomson Locations: Europe, United States, North America, Encinitas , California, U.S, Pennsylvania, El Nino, West Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kailyn Rhone, New York

The logo of Bayer AG is pictured at the facade of the historic headquarters of the German pharmaceutical and chemical maker in Leverkusen, Germany, April 27, 2020. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Bayer (BAYGn.DE) is a "conglomerate" that needs to make major changes including "de-merging" two of its three business arms, investor Artisan Partners told Reuters on Friday. "Recently we wrote a letter to the conglomerate Bayer -- and it is a conglomerate," David Samra, founding portfolio manager of Artisan's International Value team, said in an interview. Bayer has a "whole host of problems" including "too much debt," Samra said. Artisan is Bayer's sixth biggest investor, according to Refinitiv data.

Persons: Wolfgang Rattay, David Samra, Bayer, Samra, Richa Naidu, Matt Scuffham Organizations: Bayer AG, REUTERS, Bayer, Artisan Partners, Reuters, Artisan's, Thomson Locations: Leverkusen, Germany

That professionalisation has underpinned the success of the ninth Women's World Cup, which ended on Sunday with Spain beating England by a single goal in a final that pitted the two European countries with the strongest domestic leagues against each other. Attracting record crowds and television audiences, the tournament buoyed hopes that the women's game can start to bridge the yawning financial gap that exists with the men. TV BLACKOUTIn broadcast rights, the women's game has struggled to compete. The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, threatened Europe's "Big 5" nations with a TV World Cup blackout unless their broadcasters upped their offers. But both Chadwick and Carlota Planas, a Spain-based women's' football agent representing several World Cup players, argued that the women's game now offers the values of tenacity, resilience and togetherness, which can appeal to advertisers.

Persons: Stoke City's, Molly Holder, Spain's, Olga Carmona, Sunday's, Gianni Infantino, Jill Ellis, Lisa Parfitt, Jill Scott, Chloe Kelly, Ella Toone, Kieran Maguire, Simon Chadwick, Chadwick, Carlota Planas, Planas, let's, Holder, Kate Holton, Nick Mulveney, Helen Reid, Suban Abdulla, Matt Scuffham Organizations: Stoke City women's, Reuters, Stoke City FC, REUTERS Acquire, Stoke, Spain, England, Deloitte, Real Madrid, Real Madrid men's, FIFA, Women, Football, Germany, University of Liverpool, Wembley, Super League, men's Premier League, Manchester City, Arsenal, School, Thomson Locations: Stoke, Trent, Britain, Handout, STOKE, England, MADRID, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, United States, Manchester, Chelsea, Liverpool, Sydney, London

"The increase in sugar and cocoa specifically is material," Mondelez CFO Luca Zaramella said in July. The data showed Hershey's sales volumes increasingly declined during the period as the company hiked prices. Barry Callebaut (BARN.S), the world's biggest chocolate maker supplying most major brands including Nestle (NESN.S), doesn't expect any growth in sales volumes this year. In the U.S., private label sales volumes grew nearly 9% in the year to mid-June despite near double-digit price rises, IRI data shows. Pennsylvania-based Hershey, is hoping that as it eases off the rate of price hikes, its sales volumes will reverse their current downtrend.

Persons: Mike Blake, Dirk Van de, Luca Zaramella, Patrick Folan, Mondelez, Hershey, Zaramella, Bernstein, I'd, Dan Sadler, Barry Callebaut, Hershey's, Michele Buck, Matt Scuffham, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, Hershey, Reuters, Consumers, Nielsen, Cadbury, Barclays, IRI, Nestle, Rabobank, El, Kailyn, Thomson Locations: Encinitas , California, Europe, North America, U.S, Pennsylvania, El Nino, West Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Kailyn Rhone, New York

The "AI for business" diploma offers training in data and AI for client leaders, practitioners, and WPP executives, according to WPP's website. The team work under AI expert Daniel Hulme who was appointed chief AI officer at WPP two years ago. While lawmakers and philosophers alike still debate whether content produced by generative AI models amounts to anything like human creativity, advertisers have already begun using the technology in their promotional campaigns. Unilever, which owns more than 400 brands including Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, has its own generative AI technology that can write product descriptions for retailers' websites and digital commerce sites, it said. The company's TRESemmé haircare brand has used its AI content generator for written content and its automation tool for visual content on Amazon.co.uk (AMZN.O).

Persons: Mark Read, Read, we've, Mondelez, Shah Rukh Khan, Daniel Hulme, Nestle, Gandon, Ray, Johannes Vermeer's, Aaron Rajan, Nestle's Gandon, Martin Sorrell, You've, Ben King, Richa Naidu, Martin Coulter, Matt Scuffham, Daniel Flynn Organizations: Nestle, Unilever, Marketing, Investment, Reuters, WPP, Oreo, Cadbury, Bollywood, YouTube, Facebook, University of Oxford, Global, Google, Go, Market Technology, Consumer, Walmart, Carrefour, Kroger, Thomson Locations: Africa, India, London, Swiss, Okta

☆ Exclusive: H&M says it will "phase out" sourcing from Myanmar
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Helen Reid | Thomson Reuters | London-Based Reporter Covering The European Retail Sector Through A Global Lens. Focusing On Companies Including Adidas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The world's second-biggest fashion retailer H&M (HMb.ST) has decided to gradually stop sourcing from Myanmar, it told Reuters on Thursday, as reports of labour abuses in garment factories in the country increase. H&M became the latest brand to cut ties with suppliers in the country after Zara owner Inditex (ITX.MC), Primark (ABF.L), Marks & Spencer (MKS.L) and others. "After careful consideration we have now taken the decision to gradually phase out our operations in Myanmar," H&M said in an email to Reuters. "We have been monitoring the latest developments in Myanmar very closely and we see increased challenges to conduct our operations according to our standards and requirements." Reporting by Helen Reid, Editing by Matt ScuffhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Inditex, Spencer, Helen Reid, Matt Scuffham Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: Myanmar, Zara

☆ Exclusive: Snapchat under scrutiny from UK watchdog over underage users
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Under UK data protection law, social media companies need parental consent before processing data of children under 13. Social media firms generally require users to be 13 or over, but have had mixed success in keeping children off their platforms. Snapchat declined to give details of any measures it might have taken to reduce the number of underage users. It also found Snapchat was the most popular app for underage social media users. However, other apps take more proactive measures to prevent underage children accessing their platforms.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Snapchat, Martin Coulter, Matt Scuffham, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Inc, Social, ICO, Ofcom, National Society for, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain

Search resuls for: "Matt Scuffham"

25 mentions found