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UK retailer Tesco and Unilever have settled their pricing dispute caused by the drop in the pound's value following the country's vote to leave the European Union. Before settling the dispute, Tesco suspended sales of some Unilever products on its online store. Industry sources revealed that Unilever had demanded 10 percent increases in the prices it charges the country's big 4 supermarkets for a wide range of products.
"Tesco, Unilever settle prices row after pound's Brexit dive", Reuters, October 14, 2016
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Tesco has removed dozens of Unilever brand products from its online store following a dispute between the companies over prices. Worsening tensions between suppliers and retailers, the disagreement highlights the adverse economic impact of the UK's exit from the European Union. Unilever has been working to raise the prices of products it supplies to the country's big 4 supermarkets by about 10 percent, claiming it needs to recover losses caused by higher cost of imported materials. Grocers, however, are opposing Unilever's demands for higher prices, saying some of the products are actually made in the UK.
"Tesco pulls Unilever goods from website over price row", Reuters, October 12, 2016
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The online grocery shopping service AmazonFresh is now cheaper for Prime members. The service, originally priced at $299 per year, later shifted to a $7.99 per delivery scheme, but is now being offered at $14.99 a month to Amazon Prime subscribers. AmazonFresh is now live in the Boston area, in addition to Baltimore, Seattle, major cities in California, the New York metro area, northern New Jersey, the Philadelphia metro, Northern Virginia, Stamford (Conn.), Trenton (N.J.) and London (U.K.). Customers can order by 10 a.m. for same-day delivery by 6 p.m., or order by 10 p.m. for delivery by 6 a.m. the following day.
"AmazonFresh Drops to $14.99 Per Month for Prime Members", Tech Crunch, October 06, 2016
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McDonald’s has enlisted the help of Conservation International in reaching a goal of serving only sustainable coffee by 2020. The goal is a nod to the growing interest among consumers in knowing where their food comes from. But there’s a practical consideration as well: to make sure it has a sufficient supply of high-quality coffee for the long run. Helping coffee farmers furthers that goal. Conservation International’s mission is to transform the coffee industry, which has been under stress because of climate change and fungal disease. Sustainability is a key part of that mission.
"McDonald’s Is Moving to Sustainable Coffee in Latest Menu Change", Bloomberg Market, October 05, 2016
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An NPR reporter who interviewed 14 former employees of meal kit delivery service Blue Apron heard tales of violence and code violations at one of its main packing facilities in California. They described violence among staff members, police visits, telephoned bomb threats, evacuations, and threats of gun violence. The police in the city (Richmond) chalked up the problems to growth so rapid that security was lax or non-existent. And early on, hiring was handled by incompetent temp agencies. But perhaps the basic difficulty was that the Blue Apron facility is both a warehouse and a manufacturing facility involved in fresh food handling, packaging, and delivery – not a typical Silicon Valley start-up model at all.
"Meal Kits And Chaos: Report Reveals Unsavory Side Of Blue Apron Warehouse", National Public Radio, October 05, 2016
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Nestlé Health Science has introduced a nutritional beverage targeting people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal disorders. ProNourish contains no fermentable, oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides or polyols (FODMAPs), which are specific types of short-chain carbohydrates that can be poorly absorbed in the small intestine, resulting in severe abdominal pain, bloating, constipation or diarrhea and excess gas in some people. ProNourish drinks contain six grams of sugar, 15 grams of protein, 3 grams of low-FODMAP fiber, 25 vitamins and minerals, and 170 calories. The company says its product is also suitable for people with gluten sensitivity or celiac disease, and lactose intolerance; but not galactosemia.
"Nestlé Health Science Unveils Pronourish™ Low Fodmap Nutritional Drink (USA)", News release, Nestlé, October 04, 2016
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Vietnam's General Department of Taxation has told Unilever Vietnam to pay tax arrears covering the period 2009 to 2013 when the company expanded its local business operations. According to GDT, the country's laws did not offer corporate income tax incentives to investors who expanded their business during the period. GDT, however, has accepted the company's request to exempt it from paying the related fine.
"Unilever Vietnam Asked to Pay Tax Arrears", VietnamNet, September 19, 2016
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Canadian school children who eat a disposable lunch – e.g., a Lunchable plus fruit juice or soda – generate about 67 lbs. of packaging waste in a school year. That adds up to 1,625 lbs. a year for a class of 25. To battle this problem, school boards are increasingly introducing “litterless lunch” policies that encourage parents to pack home-made sandwiches wrapped in cloth or reusable waxed paper, stainless-steel lunchboxes, and drinks in thermos flasks. It helps solve the waste problem, and saves families money. Parents can save over a dollar a day by sending their kid to school with a sandwich, a reusable water bottle, and fresh fruit or yogurt.
"With Litterless Lunches, Canadian Schools Try To Get Parents To Pack Zero-Waste Meals", Fast Company, September 16, 2016
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