Although the recent credit crunch and resulting economic uncertainty are affecting the growth potential of the European express industry, the main effects will be on the use of different modes of transport and profitability rather than on overall levels of parcel volumes. Indeed, supply chain rationalisation, internationalisation and business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce are continuing to drive industry growth. 3 Oct 2008
A new Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research study finds that 61% of new-vehicle shoppers in the United States say it is important to purchase a vehicle from a brand that is environmentally friendly. 3 Oct 2008
When it launches this summer, the new Pillsbury Savoury TubeSet batter delivery system from General Mills aims to combine the taste of ‘from-scratch' baking with flexibility and record time, making it the ideal prepared ingredient carrier for savoury flans, loaves, muffins and slabs. 2 Oct 2008
WASHINGTON: The US Senate on Wednesday approved a revised $700 billion bailout plan, which will authorise the US government the largest financial intervention since the Great Depression. 2 Oct 2008
Woolworths advised its shareholders today that all the conditions precedent relating to the acquisition by Absa of 50% plus one share of the issued ordinary share capital of Woolworths Financial Services have now been fulfilled. 2 Oct 2008
Science and Technology Minister, Mosibudi Mangena, will on Thursday preside over the unveiling of Africa's first locally developed electric car at the Paris Motor Show in France. 2 Oct 2008
USA: Wal-Mart will soon shut down the servers controlling reauthorisation of purchased digital rights management (DRM)-protected WMA music files, Ryan Halford, the company's computer buyer, indicated on a Wal-Mart blog. 2 Oct 2008
USA: Wii gamers who felt let down by the absence of download functionality for the original "Rock Band" video game will have more than just a playlist of new songs to look forward to with the upcoming release of "Rock Band 2" ("RB2"), expected to hit stores in November. 2 Oct 2008
Golden Kaan, which turns wine tasting and purchasing into a unique experience, has opened in Robertson, one of South Africa's premier wine-producing regions and known for its Wacky Wine Weekends and a variety of equally unusual events designed to raise the profile of the region. 2 Oct 2008
Kellogg's Coco Pops will be sending ten lucky children to the Makalali Private Game Reserve for their very own mini Game Ranger course with the new “Be a Game Ranger” competition. 1 Oct 2008
Pigheadedness and politicking cost American taxpayers $1.1 trillion from their savings and retirement funds yesterday and the cost to the world's economies will be much greater than it need be if a package isn't passed soon - without watering down. 1 Oct 2008
New record prices for both red and white wines were set at the 23rd Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction in Cape Town at the weekend with keen bidding from predominantly local, and an increasing contingent of international, buyers - resulting in a turnover just short of R5 million. 1 Oct 2008
Not infrequently the courts are called upon to decide cases where people slip, fall and injure themselves, often quite badly. Sometimes these accidents occur on pavements, sometimes in commercial or residential buildings and most often, it would seem, in shops. Moreover, from the cases which come before the courts for decision, the most dangerous place in any shop or supermarket appears to be the fresh produce section where various forms of vegetable matter or bits of fruit may fall and provide a trap for the unwary shopper. What must shop-owners do to protect themselves against claims which can be very substantial depending upon the nature of the injury suffered by the customer? 1 Oct 2008
The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) highlighted the public-private partnerships to feed hungry school children at the Mega Commitment to Action with former President Bill Clinton last week. The event was hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative. 1 Oct 2008
The iPod has become more than a simple music player. It now plays video, it features games, and (in the case of the iPod touch) it runs third-party applications. It's basically a pocket computer. And like any other computer, it can be tinkered with to do more than it was originally programmed to do. 1 Oct 2008
Sony Ericsson officially launches its new multimedia Xperia X1 mobile phone, today, 30 September. First announced at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2008, the device is Sony Ericsson's response to meet the growing need for a premium, converged multimedia experience on the mobile phone. 30 Sep 2008
In response to the melamine crisis currently affecting the dairy industry in China, which has seen Cadbury's recalling its sweets and has South African ports on high alert for contaminated products, Mars Foods has issued a statement disclosing the results of its own product testing. 30 Sep 2008
The current global economic environment is cause for concern for all of us, according to North West Premier Edna Molewa, who says South Africans are in for a tough time. She said while it was expected that the value of houses in South Africa would decline, the high cost of living was making it difficult for owners to make their monthly bond payments. 30 Sep 2008
Motorists will be able to breathe slightly easier from tomorrow as the price of petrol is expected to decrease at midnight on Tuesday, 30 September. 30 Sep 2008
If the last few weeks have taught us anything at all, it's that no industry giant or business is recession-proof. Not even the last bastion of Wall Street's banking elite. In this time of economic uncertainty, recession fears have become self-fulfilling prophecies. Strategies have edged over from prudence into phobia, and the consumer conga line has slowed to a crawl. Grim economic reports continue daily, playing on the deep fears of retailers and consumers alike, magnifying market ebbs into tidal waves. 30 Sep 2008
