Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo: A Data Centre Comparison for Asian Site Selection 2026-10-25 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Education, Telecom, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability, Banking, Government & policy, Jobs & workplace, Cloud & data centers, Construction & engineering https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/111063/ HONG KONG, Oct 25, 2026 - A regional headquarters needs a lease, a few racks, a legal entity, and people who can answer a regulator in English. A large training cluster needs a substation, a long-term power contract, water for cooling, and a construction workforce that will still be on site years after the ribbon cutting. Both get filed under "choosing a data centre market", and the same three cities appear on both shortlists. The criteria behind them barely overlap. Start with the workload, not the city That is why this comparison is organised around workloads instead of a league table. Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo each win on at least one axis and lose on at least one, and the axes do not carry equal weight for every tenant. A bank placing a matching engine cares about a 30 ms round trip to the next exchange. A hyperscaler cares whether a large load can be energised before the depreciation schedule eats the business case. Those two buyers should not read the same table the same way. The three cities are on the shortlist for different reasons, and it helps to say which. Hong Kong is a financial centre with a cable history. Singapore is a Southeast Asian gateway whose government rations power. Tokyo is a domestic market large enough to justify its own supply chain. A tenant that treats them as interchangeable will pick the cheapest lease and spend three years discovering why the choice was wrong. Six variables follow, each defined, sourced, and then read against the tenants it governs: cross-border latency and cable landings, industrial electricity price, rentable capacity and pipeline, licensing and ownership, technical talent, and the time needed to bring land and power online. The order runs from the questions that eliminate cities fastest to the ones that only break ties. Six variables, and why these six Each variable passes a simple test. It changes the answer for at least one plausible tenant, and it can be measured without asking a broker for a favour. Latency and cable landings decide whether a workload can be split across markets at all. Industrial electricity price is the largest controllable operating cost in a dense hall. Rentable capacity and pipeline decide whether a lease starts this year or in three. Licensing and ownership decide who may hold the asset. Talent decides whether the site can be staffed after the opening. Land and power timelines decide whether the project exists. Three candidates were dropped. Rack rents went first, because the three markets quote different products: Hong Kong space is commonly priced per square foot of raised floor, Singapore and Tokyo wholesale deals per kW, and neither basis converts cleanly without a density assumption the landlord will not warrant. Land cost per acre went next, because the figures I could reach sit behind subscription walls. Exchange-level latency went last, because venue latency depends on where a cage sits inside the building, which is a negotiation rather than a market statistic. What remains is narrow on purpose. It will not tell you which city has the better data centre industry. It will tell you which variable is likely to decide your project, and which city that variable points to. One methodological note before the numbers. Where two credible sources measure the same thing differently, I have kept both and said so instead of averaging them into a figure that belongs to neither. Singapore is the clearest case: the economic development board counts 1.4 GW of computing capacity across more than 70 facilities, while Cushman & Wakefield counts 1,068 MW across 51. The gap is scope, and scope matters more than the midpoint. Connectivity: the triangle is not equilateral The three cities sit on one trunk. The Southeast Asia–Japan Cable 2 runs 10,500 km and connects 11 landing stations, with its main trunk linking Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan; the system was designed for 144 Tbps and entered service on 16 July 2025. All three markets can therefore reach each other on capacity from the same build, which removes the old argument that one city is structurally cut off from another. The geometry still favours Hong Kong. Measured round-trip times between the three metros put Hong Kong 30.18 ms from Singapore and 62.17 ms from Tokyo, while Tokyo and Singapore sit 66.84 ms apart. Hong Kong is the hinge of the triangle and Tokyo is the far corner. For anything that must touch two of the three markets in sequence, that difference compounds with every request. Cable depth tells a different story. Hong Kong hosts 11 of the 14 intra-Asian submarine cables, according to Digital Realty. Singapore's advantage is breadth of networks rather than cable count: 742 distinct networks have a presence in the metro, against 583 in Hong Kong and 533 in Tokyo, on PeeringDB data. Tokyo's lower count is partly an artefact of how Japanese carriers peer and partly real. Read together, the connectivity picture splits three ways. Hong Kong is the lowest-latency place to sit if your traffic crosses the Pearl River Delta or shuttles between North and Southeast Asia. Singapore is the better place to buy transit, because more networks are already in the building. Tokyo is the right answer when the traffic is domestic Japanese or headed east across the Pacific, and a costly detour when it is not. Market Networks present RTT to Hong Kong RTT to Singapore RTT to Tokyo Hong Kong 583 — 30.18 ms 62.17 ms Singapore 742 30.18 ms — 66.84 ms Tokyo 533 62.17 ms 66.84 ms —   Latency measured 25 October 2026 by WonderNetwork. Network counts from PeeringDB, October 2026. Power: the ranking flips when the tariff class changes Electricity is where a comparison most easily goes wrong, because "the industrial price" is not one number. Two credible series produce two different orderings of the same three cities, and both are defensible. Start with country-average business retail prices collected in March 2026. On that basis Hong Kong is cheapest at US$0.169 per kWh, Japan is second at US$0.179, and Singapore is dearest at US$0.212. A mid-sized enterprise buying a few megawatts would look at that table and put Hong Kong first. Now switch to large-load industrial tariffs, the product a data centre actually buys. Tokyo's special high-voltage average came to 19.40 yen per kWh across January to July 2026, or US$0.119. Hong Kong's all-customer average net tariff was HK$1.406 per kWh from January 2026, or US$0.179. Singapore's high-tension large tariff, weighted for a flat 24-hour load, came to SGD 0.2490 per kWh, or US$0.192. Japan moves from second to first, Hong Kong stays in the middle, and Singapore stays last by a wider margin. The reversal is not a data error. Hong Kong's published figure is an average across all customer classes, which flatters a large user. Japan's is the actual special high-voltage product. Singapore's includes a contracted capacity charge that a 24-hour load absorbs but a peaky load does not, so a tenant running batch training around the clock faces a different bill from a tenant running a trading floor for part of the day. Market structure explains part of the gap. Hong Kong sets tariffs under a scheme of control agreed with the government, which is why the published number is an average across customers rather than a menu. Singapore publishes a quarterly regulated tariff alongside a competitive wholesale market, so the same building can buy at two different prices depending on contract length. Japan's retail market is deregulated, and special high-voltage is a reporting category covering all retailers rather than a single offer. A tenant comparing headline numbers is comparing regulatory artefacts as much as fuel costs. There is a second power variable that does not appear in the tariff: how much of it is low-carbon. Japan generated 23.56% of its electricity from renewables in 2025, Singapore 5.49%, and Hong Kong 1.04%, on Ember data. For a tenant with a corporate renewable target, that gap is a procurement problem in Singapore and a reporting problem in Hong Kong. Demand is moving in one direction. CLP reported that its data centre electricity sales in Hong Kong grew 7.5% in 2025, driven by AI and digital services. Growth of that order against a fixed generation fleet is how a price advantage disappears. Capacity: what you can rent, and how fast Installed capacity is the least interesting number in this comparison, because none of the three markets is short of buildings. What matters is what is empty, what is under construction, and how quickly the empty space is absorbed. Hong Kong has 592 MW in service across 49 facilities and a vacancy rate of 15.6%, with 185 MW under construction. That is the softest market of the three by a wide margin, and the only one where a tenant with a near-term requirement can plausibly negotiate rather than queue. Vacancy and demand can coexist: in September 2026 Grand Ming agreed to sell two Fanling data centres for up to HK$2.445 billion, about US$312 million, with Amazon identified as the buyer. That is a platform purchase rather than a bet on empty space. Singapore has 1,068 MW across 51 facilities, a vacancy rate of 4.8%, and just 25 MW under construction. The pipeline equals about half a year of current take-up. New capacity arrives through a government allocation process rather than the open market: at least 300 MW was offered under the 2024 green data centre roadmap, and a second call for applications launched in December 2025 for at least 200 MW more, with additional power possible for proposals that bring new green energy pathways. Tokyo is the largest market at 1,397 MW across 123 facilities, with 4.4% vacancy and 220 MW under construction. It is also the fastest absorber: 223 MW of take-up in the first half of 2026 alone, against 30 MW in Hong Kong and 25 MW in Singapore. Pre-letting is normal. Colt's Inzai 4 was fully pre-let when it launched, with 4.8 MW energised, on the way to 20 MW at full build and 70 MW across the Inzai campus. The constraint that binds all three is the grid. Connection waits of more than three years are reported for Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong alike, which means the difference between the markets is less about how fast a utility can connect you and more about whether you can secure an allocation, a site, or a pre-let building that already holds the connection. Market Industrial power (US$/kWh) Operational capacity (MW) Vacancy Under construction (MW) Networks present Hong Kong 0.179 592 15.6% 185 583 Singapore 0.192 1,068 4.8% 25 742 Tokyo 0.119 1,397 4.4% 220 533   Capacity, vacancy and pipeline from Cushman & Wakefield APAC H1 2026, compiled by Datacentres.com. Power from CLP, SP Group and the Japanese energy surveillance commission, as compiled in the same source. Construction cost adds a second filter. Turner & Townsend's 2025 index put Singapore at US$14.53 per watt, up 5% year on year, second only to Tokyo and ahead of Silicon Valley; Kuala Lumpur came in at US$11.37 and Shanghai at US$6.12. Hong Kong does not appear in the coverage I could reach, which is itself informative: the market with the most empty space is also the one whose build economics are least publicly documented. Licensing: the gate is rarely the telecom licence All three markets allow a foreign investor to own 100% of a data centre operator. The differences sit in who needs a licence and who needs to notify. Hong Kong licenses facility-based public telecommunications through a unified carrier licence, a single instrument covering fixed and mobile services since August 2008. Running a colocation building does not require one; landing a cable or selling capacity on public circuits does. The investment regime around it is unusually open, with no distinction in law between foreign-controlled and locally controlled companies, and no requirement that directors reside in Hong Kong. Singapore requires a facilities-based operator licence to deploy network infrastructure and sell capacity, and the market has been fully liberalised since 2000, with foreign and domestic firms applying on the same terms. The State Department's investment climate report counted 76 facilities-based operators. A colocation landlord that does not run public transmission sits outside the licence, but any tenant wanting to resell cross-border capacity will need a partner that holds one. Japan is the outlier in ownership terms, though not where a data centre tenant would feel it. The foreign ownership caps that exist apply to NTT at 33.3% and to broadcasters below 20%, not to data centres. What does apply is a prior-notification regime: acquisitions of 10% or more of a company in a designated core industry require filing with the finance ministry and the sector regulator, a step that matters for anyone buying an operating platform rather than building one. Entity setup is quick by regional standards, at about one month for a branch and two for a subsidiary. Administrative speed is not the constraint in any of the three. Hong Kong registers a local company through a single electronic platform, typically on the same day, and a non-Hong Kong company in about two weeks. Japan measures entity setup in one to two months, which is fast for the region. The months that decide a project timeline are spent on land, power and construction approvals, not on the corporate paperwork. The practical gate in all three sits upstream of the licence. In Singapore it is the power allocation. In Hong Kong it is land, since almost every new hall involves a lease modification or a government site. In Tokyo it is the grid connection queue and, increasingly, local consent. Talent: a proxy with a wide error bar There is no comparable public count of liquid-cooling technicians by city, so the usable measure here is a proxy with its limits stated. The IMD World Talent Ranking places Hong Kong 4th, Singapore 7th and Japan 40th out of 69 economies in 2025, scoring investment in education, appeal to foreign talent, and the readiness of the existing pool. That ranking measures economies, not data centres, and it will not tell you whether a specific metro can staff a round-the-clock network operations centre in English. It does capture something a site-selection memo usually misses: the difference between a place where a shift team can be hired in weeks and a place where one has to be imported. For a regional headquarters with a small technical team, Hong Kong and Singapore are close enough that the decision will be settled on cost and lease terms. For a Japanese-language operation serving domestic customers, Tokyo's rank is irrelevant and its local labour market is the only one that counts. Reading the matrix Three readings follow from the tables, and they point in different directions. On latency, Hong Kong wins and Tokyo loses. On industrial power, Tokyo wins and Singapore loses. On available capacity, Hong Kong wins and Singapore loses. On network depth, Singapore wins. On market size and absorption, Tokyo wins. No city is first on more than two of the five, and that distribution is the finding: a comparison that produced a single winner would be hiding the trade the buyer actually has to make. Where the data runs out Four gaps are worth naming, because each one is a place where a confident-looking table would be inventing precision. Rack rents are not comparable across the three markets, for the reasons given earlier. Land cost per acre is published by the major brokers but sits behind subscription walls in every case I could reach. Permit timelines are estimated rather than observed, and the benchmarks behind them predate the current build cycle. Exchange-level latency, as opposed to metro-to-metro latency, is negotiated per cage and not published on a consistent basis. Two smaller gaps matter for specific tenants. Hong Kong's construction cost per watt is missing from the most recent index coverage I could obtain, so the market with the most vacant space cannot be priced on a like-for-like basis against Singapore and Tokyo. And the three markets define installed capacity differently enough that Singapore's total shifts by roughly a third depending on whether captive capacity is counted, which is why the table uses one compiler throughout instead of mixing sources. What would change these conclusions is specific and observable. If Hong Kong's 185 MW under construction is absorbed at anything like Tokyo's rate, its vacancy advantage disappears and the negotiating leverage moves to the landlord. If Singapore's second allocation clears and the awarded capacity is energised, its pipeline constraint eases, though the power price and the green conditions stay. If Tokyo's grid queue shortens, its cost advantage compounds. None of these is a forecast; each is a number to re-check before signing. If you need X, choose Y Latency-sensitive trading or settlement across North and Southeast Asia: Hong Kong. The 30.18 ms round trip to Singapore and 62.17 ms to Tokyo are the best pair in the set, and 11 of the 14 intra-Asian cables land there. A large, near-term block of space with negotiating leverage: Hong Kong. A 15.6% vacancy rate and 185 MW under construction are the only combination in the three markets that gives a tenant a credible alternative to the incumbent landlord. Deep peering and the widest choice of transit partners: Singapore. 742 networks is the largest ecosystem of the three, and it is why Singapore remains the default for cloud on-ramps even at the highest power price. The cheapest energy for a round-the-clock, power-dense load: Tokyo. At US$0.119 per kWh on the special high-voltage tariff, Japan is the only one of the three below twelve cents, and a 23.56% renewable share helps a corporate target as well as a bill. Scale without a government allocation: Tokyo, but only through a pre-let. 220 MW under construction against 223 MW absorbed in a single half-year means the buildings that exist are already spoken for, so the route is a negotiation with an operator rather than an application to a ministry. A regional headquarters with a small technical team and an English-speaking regulator: Singapore or Hong Kong. The talent proxy puts them 7th and 4th against Japan's 40th, and neither licensing regime imposes an ownership condition that would complicate a holding structure. A green-field campus where a renewable power purchase agreement is the binding constraint: Singapore, if you can win an allocation, and nowhere if you cannot. The 200 MW second call is the main route to new capacity, and it is scored on green energy pathways rather than price. Sources Submarine Networks, SJC2 system profile. https://www.submarinenetworks.com/en/systems/intra-asia/sjc2  Digital Realty, Hong Kong data centres. https://www.digitalrealty.co.uk/data-centers/china  WonderNetwork, ping statistics between Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo, 25 October 2026. https://wondernetwork.com/pings/Singapore  WonderNetwork, latency from Tokyo to Asian cities. https://wondernetwork.com/pings/Tokyo  WonderNetwork, Tokyo to Singapore. https://wondernetwork.com/pings/Tokyo/Singapore  Datacentres.com, Hong Kong market report. https://www.datacentres.com/markets/hong-kong  Datacentres.com, Singapore market report. https://www.datacentres.com/markets/singapore  Datacentres.com, Tokyo market report. https://www.datacentres.com/markets/tokyo  GlobalPetrolPrices, Hong Kong electricity prices, March 2026. https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Hong-Kong/electricity_prices/  GlobalPetrolPrices, Singapore electricity prices, March 2026. https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/Singapore/electricity_prices/   This article was prepared by the expert team at Global Infinity, drawing on insights and data provided through its MCP data services.   About Global Infinity Global Infinity is an AI innovation company specializing in MCP data services. 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The company is presenting new products and flavours that combine fun and creativity while welcoming trade partners, importers and distributors from around the world to exchange ideas and explore business opportunities. Leading SAPPE’s showcase is its flagship brand, Mogu Mogu, with a wide range of new offerings, including Zero Sugar drinks, Jelly, Gummy, Candy and Iced Tea, alongside new flavours in its original drink range. The lineup extends the brand’s signature fun and creativity across diverse product formats, giving trade partners and visitors the opportunity to discover and taste the products firsthand. SAPPE is also presenting products from Sappe Aloe Vera, Sappe Beauti and All Coco, adding variety to its booth and offering new choices for international markets. Trade partners, importers, distributors and other interested visitors can meet the team to discuss the products and explore opportunities for international business development. SIAL Paris is one of the world’s largest food and beverage trade exhibitions, taking place every two years. For its 2026 edition, organisers expect 8,000 exhibitors and approximately 400,000 products across 10 industry sectors, covering 280,000 square metres of exhibition space. Bringing together manufacturers, buyers and distributors from around the world, the event provides SAPPE with another opportunity to showcase the capabilities of Thai brands and its diverse portfolio of innovative products to international trade partners. Visitors can discover and sample SAPPE’s products at Booth 5C F035, Hall 5C, throughout SIAL Paris 2026, from 17-21 October 2026. About SAPPE Sappe PCL (SAPPE) is a leading Thai beverage innovator and the creator of the "Snack Drink" category through its iconic global brand, Mogu Mogu, now exported to over 100 countries across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. The company specializes in fruit juice and functional health beverages designed to serve the evolving lifestyle needs of modern consumers around the world. SAPPE's diverse portfolio includes globally recognized brands such as Mogu Mogu, the world's first snackable drink; Sappe Aloe Vera, known for its refreshing taste and natural ingredients; and Sappe Beauti, a functional drink line focused on health, wellness, and women empowerment. Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, SAPPE is listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) under the symbol SAPPE. Driven by innovation, deep consumer insights, and a strong commitment to sustainability, SAPPE operates with a balanced focus on product innovation, economic performance, social responsibility, and environmental impact. The company believes that building a sustainable future begins with valuing people, embracing diversity, and leading with authenticity, creativity, and the courage to drive positive change. SAPPE's mission is to inspire lives worldwide one meaningful beverage at a time. Sappe official: https://www.sappe.com/en/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sappeplayground Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mogumogu_global/ Line: https://shop.line.me/@sappeonline Shopee: https://shopee.co.th/sappe.official Email: corpcom@sappe.com Sappe PCL [SET: SAPPE, SAPPE/F, SAPPE-R] https://www.sappe.com/en/ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Coca‑Cola Company Selects Agency Partners to Accelerate the Future of Marketing 2026-10-23 · WebWire · AI, Retail, Marketing & advertising, Software & IT https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363262 The Coca-Cola Company announced the completion of a global marketing operating system review, reaffirming its commitment to building a world-class marketing ecosystem designed to drive growth, strengthen consumer connections and unlock the next generation of capabilities powered by data, technology and AI. - - - • Coca-Cola will retain WPP Open X as its media partner globally, with the exception of North America, Japan and South Korea. - - - - - • Coca-Cola has selected Omnicom as its... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363262 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PFP Senior Home Care Named People's Choice — Bensalem Township 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951800228/pfp-senior-home-care-named-people-s-choice-bensalem-township Bensalem agency providing in-home care for seniors and adults with disabilities earned a 4.8-star rating across overall reviews. BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- The Consumer Ratings Institute named PFP Senior Home Care , a home care agency in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, serving seniors and people with disabilities, People's Choice — Bensalem Township in the Home Health Care ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Arrvel Introduces Industrial Barcode Scanner and Handheld Terminal Lineup for Global Enterprises 2026-10-23 · PR Newswire · Energy, Retail, Industrial, Logistics, Investing & markets, Software & IT https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arrvel-introduces-industrial-barcode-scanner-and-handheld-terminal-lineup-for-global-enterprises-302917916.html SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 23, 2026 -- As global supply chains accelerate digital transformation, enterprises across retail, warehousing, utilities, and asset management are placing unprecedented demands on their mobile workforces. The shift toward real-time inventory visibility,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Invictus Investment Enters Into Agreement With Helios Investment Partners for Minority Stake in Merec Industries 2026-10-23 · APO Group · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Sustainability, Investing & markets, Legal, Agriculture https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/invictus-investment-enters-into-agreement-with-helios-investment-partners-for-minority-stake-in-merec-industries?lang=en Helios to acquire a significant minority stake in Merec Industries, Mozambique’s largest flour milling company Partnership combines Invictus Investment’s sector knowledge and operational capabilities with Helios’ extensive experience across Africa to support Merec Industries’ growth in Mozambique and the wider region Transaction expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals Invictus Investment (ADX: INVICTUS) (https://invictusinvestment.ae), a leading holding company specialised in agro-food commodities across the Middle East and Africa, and Helios Investment Partners (“Helios”), a leading Africa-focused private investment firm, today announced that Helios Fund V (“Helios V”) has entered into an agreement to acquire up to a 49% interest in Stratton Africa Holdings Limited, the Mauritius-incorporated holding company of Merec Industries (“Merec”), from Invictus Investment. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, after which Invictus Investment will remain the majority shareholder. Founded in 1998, Merec is Mozambique’s largest flour milling company, processing wheat and corn into an integrated product portfolio spanning flour, pasta, biscuits and animal feed. Its mills, production facilities and silos are strategically located in each of Mozambique’s three principal port regions: Beira, Maputo and Nacala – making it the only miller with manufacturing facilities in all three. Merec also owns a grain terminal at the port of Maputo. This footprint supports a nationwide distribution network serving wholesalers, retailers, bakeries, feed producers and distributors, underlining Merec’s important role in the production and supply of essential food products across Mozambique. Invictus Investment acquired Merec in January 2025 through the purchase of its holding company, Stratton Africa Holdings Limited, as part of its strategy to expand its agro-food business in high-potential African markets and strengthen its capabilities across the value chain. Since the acquisition, Merec’s operating performance has improved significantly, and this has prompted a more ambitious growth strategy to expand the business beyond its core operations into new food categories in Mozambique and across the wider Southern African Development Community (“SADC”) region. The new partnership will support these plans by combining Invictus Investment’s expertise across the agro-food value chain with Helios’ track record of investing in and supporting market-leading businesses across Africa. Together, the shareholders will also work on furthering Merec’s governance framework, leadership capabilities, ESG practices and broader development impact. Commenting on the announcement, Amir Daoud Abdellatif, CEO of Invictus Investment, said: “We welcome Helios, one of Africa’s leading private equity investors, as our partner in the expansion of Merec. With its strong focus on high-growth sectors across the continent, Helios’ regional expertise will be instrumental in accelerating Merec’s next phase of growth. Since Invictus Investment’s acquisition of Merec, its position as Mozambique’s largest flour milling company has been strengthened and consolidated, and now, our shared ambition with Helios is to build on the business’s contribution to food security and local employment in Mozambique and develop it into a regional food platform for Southern Africa. This partnership aligns perfectly with our strategic approach to acquisitions, which has always been to build strong businesses alongside high-calibre partners that support our long-term vision of building a fully integrated agro-food enterprise.” Tope Lawani, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Helios Investment Partners, added: “Merec has built a distinctive position in Mozambique, with a nationwide footprint, strong brands and an important role in the country’s staple foods market. The consumer non-discretionary sector is a key strategic focus for Helios, and we bring a proven track record of investing in and scaling resilient businesses that serve essential consumer needs across Africa. We see significant opportunity to build on Merec’s strengths and are pleased to partner with Invictus Investment and the management team to support the company’s next phase of growth.” Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld is acting as legal counsel to Helios, with GDA Advogados as Mozambican counsel. Freshfields is acting as legal counsel to Invictus Investment. *Please refer to heliosinvestment.com/news and invictusinvestment.ae/investor-relations/ for more information. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invictus Investment Company PLC. For further information, please contact: Helios Investment Partners About Invictus Investment: https://apo-opa.co/4BmtcHf About Helios Investment Partners: Since 2004, Helios has applied its investment capabilities, entrepreneurial business-building expertise and local and global connectivity to generate competitive returns and positive impact across Africa. The firm is a certified B Corp, reflecting its long-standing commitment to sustainability and responsible business practices. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— InsuredChamp.com Advances Consumer Access to Auto and Home Insurance Comparison Tools 2026-10-23 · FinanceWire · Retail, Insurance https://financewire.com/2026/10/23/insuredchamp-com-advances-consumer-access-to-auto-and-home-insurance-comparison-tools/ Miami, FL, 23rd October 2026, FinanceWire … Read More The post InsuredChamp.com Advances Consumer Access to Auto and Home Insurance Comparison Tools appeared first on FinanceWire - Financial Press Release Distribution, Finance PR. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Luxury Watch Trade-Ins Have Evolved: Insights From Thousands of Evaluations at Gray & Sons 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury, Oil & gas https://www.einpresswire.com/article/947502904/how-luxury-watch-trade-ins-have-evolved-insights-from-thousands-of-evaluations-at-gray-sons Internal analysis reveals changing consumer motivations, growing market sophistication, and new trends shaping luxury watch trade-in activity SURFSIDE, FL, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Trade-ins have become an increasingly important component of the luxury watch market as collectors seek greater flexibility when upgrading, refining, and diversifying their collections. Insights gathered from ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— When Passive Investing Isn't Enough: Infrastructure Capital Equity Income ICAP ETF Seeks To Help Investors Looking To Capitalize On Volatility 2026-10-23 · NewMediaWire · Finance, Retail, Gaming, Media, Banking, Investing & markets, Construction & engineering https://www.newmediawire.com/news/when-passive-investing-isn-t-enough-infrastructure-capital-equity-income-icap-etf-seeks-to-help-investors-looking-to-capitalize-on-volatility-7090831 By Meg Flippin, Benzinga DETROIT, MICHIGAN - October 23, 2026 - When it comes to investing in large-cap, dividend-paying stocks, it may not always be enough to select an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 and sit back and watch it appreciate. In the current environment marked by rising interest rates, stubborn inflation and market volatility, doing that may cost you.  Passive, broad-market funds can expose investors to overconcentration risk and capped upside potential. They may also lock investors into overvalued large-cap names and fail to adapt when market conditions shift. The passive income-seeking ones may not be much better. They can potentially put investors at a disadvantage because broad index yields are stuck near lows, rigid rules may fail to protect against inflation, and capping upside limits long-term growth. It doesn’t help that inflation is rising, with prices up 3.7% in September, according to the latest Consumer Price Index reading.  Passive May Not Be Enough  All of that is particularly true in a volatile market where news in one sector can take down the entire market. Or where broad downturns could trigger losses. When things like the Federal Reserve announcing another rate hike - like it did at its most recent meeting in September - tanks the market, a passive ETF can’t react quickly. Investors have to be mindful that even if an ETF or fund layers options on top of its passive strategy, if it remains too rigid, they could still be at a disadvantage. Many of these rules-based ETFs hold a portfolio that mirrors the S&P 500 and sell monthly SPX index call options on 100% of their holdings. Despite using options to generate income, the fund may be forced to lock in losses during market pullbacks and strictly cap its participation in recovery rallies, because it has a rules-based approach. That does not benefit investors as an actively managed fund would.  Infrastructure Capital Equity Income ETF: All The Action You Need  The Infrastructure Capital Equity Income ETF (NYSE: ICAP) takes an actively managed approach. The fund does not track an index like the S&P 500. Instead, it selects large-cap, dividend-paying companies from a range of sectors using bottom-up fundamental analysis. That way, it is not beholden to one stock, sector, industry or region. Investors aren’t locked into one mega-cap company or overconcentrated in one area.  The portfolio construction emphasizes discounted cash flow estimates along with a dynamic valuation screen that includes metrics such as price-to-earnings, enterprise value-to-EBITDA and price-to-funds-from-operations. Holdings are also chosen for their consistent dividends, reasonable payout ratios and the potential for future dividend growth. ICAP also employs a flexible, discretionary options overlay. Rather than systematically overwriting a fixed percentage of the portfolio, the fund sells covered calls on individual stocks. Coverage ratios, strike prices and expirations are all managed dynamically.  Hands-On Approach Gives Investors An Edge The fund is able to do that because it is run by Infrastructure Capital Founder, CEO and Portfolio Manager Jay D. Hatfield, who brings with him nearly thirty years of experience in the financial markets, offering a broad perspective on stocks, options and investing. Thanks to his extensive experience as an investment banker, portfolio manager and research director, investors get access to a seasoned money manager who has created his own approach to investing.   Hatfield has a hands-on approach to selecting companies for the ICAP ETF that includes maintaining proprietary company models and relationships with the management teams to determine earnings estimates and forward-looking outlooks, establishing price targets using a dynamic relative valuation framework based on the relationship between price, earnings and growth and employing a selective option writing strategy and modest leverage of typically 15-30% to enhance income while retaining upside market exposure. Plus, investors get either a monthly payout or income that is reinvested.  Holdings are subject to change. Please see current top ten holdings by clicking here.  Inflation is rising, the Fed is still raising rates and the markets are reacting. Passive investing in this environment can almost feel like a fool's game sometimes, especially if you are seeking income. The Infrastructure Capital Equity Income ETF (ICAP) takes an active approach. To learn more about the ICAP ETF, click here.   Featured image from Shutterstock. This content was originally published on Benzinga. Read further disclosures here. This post contains sponsored content and was created in collaboration with a third-party partner. Benzinga is a publisher and does not provide personalized investment advice or act as a broker or dealer. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— M Loves Vintage Holdings Advances M Loves Optical Development Through Manufacturer Discussions, Designer Search and E-Commerce Strategy 2026-10-23 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387262/0/en/m-loves-vintage-holdings-advances-m-loves-optical-development-through-manufacturer-discussions-designer-search-and-e-commerce-strategy.html M Loves Vintage Holdings Advances M Loves Optical Development Through Manufacturer Discussions, Designer Search, and E-Commerce Strategy ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Striding AI Unveils Physical AI Solution for 24/7 Retail at APRCE 2026 2026-10-23 · Business Wire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/striding-ai-unveils-physical-ai-130000836.html Striding AI's self-developed robots APRCE On-site photos SINGAPORE, October 23, 2026--On October 8, 2026, Striding AI unveiled its Physical AI solution for retail, including two self-developed robots and a robot management platform, at the 22nd Asia-Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (APRCE 2026 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cox Capital Partners Launches Pilot Lending Program for Non-Traded BDC Shareholders 2026-10-23 · Business Wire · Retail, Banking https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/cox-capital-partners-launches-pilot-130000252.html Pilot will let eligible shareholders with large positions borrow against their holdings while continuing to seek repurchases at Net Asset Value. CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., October 23, 2026--Cox Capital Partners ("Cox Capital"), a provider of secondary liquidity solutions for retail private market investors, to ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FinanceFeeds Highlights Consolidation and Multi-Asset Expansion Reshaping the Online Brokerage Industry 2026-10-23 · PR Now · Finance, Retail https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/financefeeds-highlights-consolidation-and-multi-asset-expansion-reshaping-the-online-brokerage-industry FinanceFeeds examines how acquisitions, client-book transfers, multi-asset product expansion and growing institutional businesses are reshaping the retail and online brokerage sector. Rising compliance costs and customer acquisition expenses are pushing firms to reconsider scale,… ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Maison Territo Named Grand Winner at the 2026 Grands Prix du Design 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Retail https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951680307/maison-territo-named-grand-winner-at-the-2026-grands-prix-du-design Maison Territo - Montreal Maison Territo Receives the Grand Winner Award Maison Territo Recognized at the Grands Prix du Design Maison Territo takes the top distinction in the Large Retail Space category, building on its Gold and Silver certifications at the 19th Grands Prix du Design MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, October 23, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Maison Territo, the luxury design destination at Royalmount in Mont ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tokyo Lifestyle Co., Ltd. Opens Third Australian Store at Westfield Chatswood, Advancing Its Retail Expansion 2026-10-23 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Consumer goods https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387216/0/en/tokyo-lifestyle-co-ltd-opens-third-australian-store-at-westfield-chatswood-advancing-its-retail-expansion.html Tokyo, Japan, Oct. 23, 2026 -- Tokyo Lifestyle Co., Ltd. (“Tokyo Lifestyle” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: TKLF), a retailer and wholesaler of Japanese beauty and health products, sundry products, luxury products, electronic products, collectible cards, trendy toys as well as other products in Hong Kong, Japan, North America, Thailand, Vietnam, the United Kingdom and Australia, today announced the grand opening of its third directly operated retail store (the “Store”) in Australia under its proprietary “Tokyo Lifestyle” brand on October 17, 2026. Located at Westfield Chatswood in Sydney’s Lower North Shore, the new store marks another milestone in the Company’s physical retail footprint and strengthens its presence in the Australian market. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BranchOut Food Inc. Announces $5.0 Million Underwritten Public Offering 2026-10-23 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Insurance, Marketing & advertising https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387206/0/en/branchout-food-inc-announces-5-0-million-underwritten-public-offering.html BEND, Ore., Oct. 23, 2026 -- BranchOut Food Inc. (Nasdaq: BOF) (“BranchOut” or the “Company”), a growth-stage consumer packaged foods company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing clean-label, plant-based dried fruit and vegetable snacks, today announced the pricing of an underwritten public offering of 2,941,177 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $1.70 per share (the “Offering”). Gross proceeds to the Company, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses, are expected to be approximately $5.0 million. All of the shares in the Offering are to be sold by the Company. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— “instax mini Evo Cinema™” named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 2026-10-23 · MarketersMEDIA · Retail, Media, Consumer electronics, Entertainment https://news.marketersmedia.com/instax-mini-evo-cinematm-named-one-of-times-best-inventions-of-2026/89207120 New photographic experience blending analog and digital, enabling users to “hand over a video” has received high praise -- FUJIFILM Corporation announces that the instax mini Evo Cinema™ hybrid instant camera has been selected as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the Consumer Electronics category. This is the second consecutive year Fujifilm has been named to TIME’s Best Inventions list, with the instax WIDE E ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Boxery reviews the 22x22x12 box as a right-sizing option for bulky e-commerce orders 2026-10-23 · PR Now · Retail https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/the-boxery-reviews-the-22x22x12-box-as-a-right-sizing-option-for-bulky-e-commerce-orders The Boxery, a Lyndhurst, NY packaging supplier, reviews how the 22x22x12 box helps e-commerce sellers right-size packaging for mid-large items, cut void fill use and support waste-reduction goals. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Atlantic Bay expands Midwest presence with entry into Ohio 2026-10-23 · Send2Press · SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Banking https://www.send2press.com/wire/atlantic-bay-expands-midwest-presence-with-entry-into-ohio/ DAYTON, Ohio, and VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Oct. 23, 2026 -- Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group LLC (Atlantic Bay) today announced its entry into Ohio, continuing a period of retail expansion that includes the recent opening of its first Louisiana branch. The move extends Atlantic Bay's multistate footprint and brings its lending platform and support resources to Mortgage Bankers and homebuyers across Ohio. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DataMEDS AI Establishes "Health Lives Here" Community Respiratory Program for Corexa Health Pharmacy Network 2026-10-23 · Newswire.com · AI, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Food & drink, Biotech & pharma, Internet & apps https://www.newswire.com/news/datameds-ai-establishes-health-lives-here-community-respiratory-program-for Being marketed to 6,500+ Corexa Health Pharmacy Network of independent pharmacies To be launched first at Corexa Pharmacy in Lakeland, FL retail location in Q4/2026 Program will aim to bring best practices for respiratory season to community pharmacies Nuvaxovid COVID vaccine (protein-based / non-mRNA) prioritized for campaign rollout Improve telehealth availability in the pharmacy through Health Lives Here mobile app Tests to include COVID neutralizing antibodies, antibodies & acute respiratory infections Long COVID-related biomarkers (cardiovascular, incl microclots; immune; metabolic; etc) Immune profiling for other circulating respiratory diseases (influence, RSV, strep, others) Improve access to FDA-approved antivirals Pharmacist education on Tollo Health medical foods and dietary supplements ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Commentary on URA Q3 2026 statistics - Office, Retail, and Residential 2026-10-23 · MarketersMEDIA · Retail https://news.marketersmedia.com/commentary-on-ura-q3-2026-statistics-office-retail-and-residential/89207130 The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Office Rental Index for the Central Region rose 0.8% q-o-q in Q3 2026, the same pace as in Q2 2026 and the second consecutive quarterly increase. -- By Tricia Song (宋明蔚), Head of Research, Singapore and Southeast Asia, CBRE Office The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Office Rental Index for the Central Region rose 0.8% q-o-q in Q3 2026, the same pace as in Q2 2026 and the se ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mike Pagel Named Vice President of HazMat Safety Consulting 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Energy, Retail, Cloud & data centers, Consumer goods https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951260433/mike-pagel-named-vice-president-of-hazmat-safety-consulting Mike Pagel, Vice President of HazMat Safety Consulting HSC’s Senior Consultant brings battery safety and regulatory expertise across data centers, vehicles and consumer products to the firm’s leadership team My job is to help clients understand not just what the rules say, but why they say it, so they can make sound decisions before a shipment is stopped or an incident happens.” — Mike Pagel, Vice President of HazMat ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Logile Hosts Inaugural Connect EMEA Event, Bringing UK Retailers Together Around Connected Stores 2026-10-23 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387097/0/en/logile-hosts-inaugural-connect-emea-event-bringing-uk-retailers-together-around-connected-stores.html Logile hosted its first Connect EMEA event, bringing together UK and EMEA retail leaders to explore more connected store planning and operations. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Entries open for the RBI Asia Trailblazer Awards 2027 with expanded categories and new technology implementation awards 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Banking https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951731534/entries-open-for-the-rbi-asia-trailblazer-awards-2027-with-expanded-categories-and-new-technology-implementation-awards RBI 2027 Entries Open Retail Banker International Asia Trailblazer Awards 2027 The 18th edition broadens recognition across digital banks and specialist finance providers The expanded awards reflect how the industry is changing, both in terms of the institutions serving retail customers and the partnerships delivering banking transformation” — Sarah Rizvi, editorial and programme director for RBI SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Abbott Brothers Plumbing & Heating of Maryland Named People's Choice in Baltimore 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Retail https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951231793/abbott-brothers-plumbing-heating-of-maryland-named-people-s-choice-in-baltimore Family-owned Baltimore plumbing company recognized by the Consumer Ratings Institute for a 4.8-star rating across 405 consumer reviews. MD, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Abbott Brothers Plumbing & Heating of Maryland, a small, family-owned plumbing company serving Baltimore City and the surrounding counties, has been named People's Choice — Baltimore in the Plumbers category by the Consumer ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Furniture Market Trends Transforming Modern Home Interiors 2026-10-23 · Express Press Release · Real estate, Retail, Consumer goods https://express-press-release.net/news/2026/10/23/1778183 The global furniture market is evolving alongside changing lifestyles, expanding housing infrastructure, and rising consumer expectations for comfort, functionality, and design. Furniture Market Valued at [read full press release...] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Book Profits Announces 10 Years of Helping Entrepreneurs Find Profitable Books to Resell on Amazon Without Manual Research 2026-10-23 · PR Now · SaaS, Retail, Software & IT https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/book-profits-announces-10-years-of-helping-entrepreneurs-find-profitable-books-to-resell-on-amazon-without-manual-research The Braselton, Georgia, platform has spent a decade solving the one problem that stops most beginners before they ever make their first sale: knowing what to buy. Braselton, GA, September 7, 2026 - Book Profits, an online training program and software platform, is marking its 10t… ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Book Profits Fall 2026 Update Targets the Research Bottleneck That Stops Most Amazon Book Sellers Before They Profit 2026-10-23 · PR Now · SaaS, Retail https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/book-profits-fall-2026-update-targets-the-research-bottleneck-that-stops-most-amazon-book-sellers-before-they-profit The latest platform release automates candidate screening and margin verification, so work-from-home entrepreneurs can move from sourcing to purchase without the manual research grind that kills momentum early. BRASELTON, GA, September 7, 2026 - Book Profits, the book arbitrage t… ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kingdom Watch Company Earns 2026 Gold Standard in Craftsmanship & Customer Trust in Cullman 2026-10-23 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951707269/kingdom-watch-company-earns-2026-gold-standard-in-craftsmanship-customer-trust-in-cullman Veteran-owned, family-run pre-owned luxury watch dealer recognized for its transparent inspection standards and a 5.0-star overall rating. CULLMAN, AL, UNITED STATES, October 23, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Kingdom Watch Company , a veteran-owned, family-run dealer of pre-owned luxury watches, has received the Consumer Ratings Institute ’s 2026 Gold Standard in Craftsmanship & Customer Trust recognition for Cullman ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fermented Dairy Products Market: Trends Driving Growth in Functional Nutrition 2026-10-23 · PR News Releaser · Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/477102 The fermented dairy products market is expected to witness significant growth through 2034, driven by rising consumer interest in health-focused food products, increasing awareness of digestive wellness, and growing demand for functional nutrition. Fermented dairy products, including yogurt, kefir, cultured ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Airwheel Extends Smart Rideable Carry-On Hand Scooter Ai Wheel Robot 20inch Cabin Luxury Suitcase Momentum at the 140th Canton Fair 2026-10-23 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Industrial, Consumer electronics, Entertainment https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/111024/ Guangzhou, China, Oct 23, 2026 - Airwheel, an intelligent mobility brand specializing in smart rideable suitcases, is continuing its showcase at the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair), following strong buyer interest, orders and cooperation discussions during Phase 1. At Phase 2, Airwheel is presenting a range of smart rideable 20inch luxury suitcase and engaging with international buyers to explore new market opportunities. Phase 2: Booth 20.2F19–20 Airwheel will also participate in Phase 3, extending its exhibition presence and presenting its broader smart rideable suitcase portfolio alongside its latest product innovations. Phase 3: Booths 20.2J37–38, 20.2K11–12 and 18.1K04 As one of the world's major international trade exhibitions, the Canton Fair provides a platform for businesses to connect with global buyers, exchange market insights and explore new product opportunities. For Airwheel, the response during Phase 1 highlighted growing international interest in smart rideable luxury cabin suitcase as an emerging category of travel equipment. Strong Phase 1 Interest Paves the Way for Continued Engagement During Phase 1 of the 140th Canton Fair, Airwheel showcased multiple smart rideable suitcase models, attracting visitors through live demonstrations, product presentations and hands-on riding experiences. Unlike conventional luggage, Airwheel's smart rideable suitcases integrate electric drive technology, riding controls and intelligent features into a travel-oriented design. By allowing visitors to experience the products firsthand, Airwheel makes their functionality and potential applications easier to understand. Throughout the exhibition, visitors could be seen riding the suitcases around the Airwheel booth and through designated exhibition areas, creating a distinctive presence on the show floor. For many international buyers encountering this product category for the first time, the ability to ride a hand suitcase offered an immediate introduction to Airwheel's approach to travel innovation. The demonstrations prompted product inquiries and further discussions about potential commercial cooperation. Airwheel received positive feedback from buyers across different markets and secured orders and expressions of cooperation interest during Phase 1. These interactions also provided valuable insights into customer expectations and market-specific requirements. Building on this initial response, Airwheel is continuing its engagement with international buyers throughout Phases 2 and 3. Phase 2: Bringing Smart Travel Experiences Closer to Global Buyers From October 23 to 27, Airwheel is exhibiting at Booth 20.2F19–20, presenting several smart rideable suitcase models to international buyers, distributors and trade visitors. The Phase 2 showcase focuses on electric riding, intuitive controls and practical travel applications, giving visitors opportunities to explore the products and discuss their potential in different markets. Among the featured products, the Airwheel SE3SXD Full-Intelligent Ai Electric Cabin Luxury Suitcase represents the brand's latest efforts to advance intelligent functionality and user experience. The SE3SXD supports one-touch riding-mode activation, with an automated mechanism that extends the front wheel and smart riding handle to facilitate the transition into riding mode. Companion app controls and Apple Find My support further expand its connected features, helping position the suitcase as more than a conventional luggage product. From live riding demonstrations to product consultations and business discussions, Airwheel aims to help international buyers better understand the evolving smart rideable suitcase category and evaluate its potential across different travel scenarios. Beyond the Riding Experience: Engineering for Practical Travel While the ability to ride a suitcase is an immediately recognizable feature, its suitability for everyday travel also depends on battery design, structural engineering, storage capacity and charging convenience. Airwheel's smart rideable suitcase is equipped with a removable modular 73.26Wh lithium battery. The battery holds multiple international certifications and complies with global standards, and is permitted for carriage as carry-on baggage on flights. Its detachable design allows users to separate the battery to meet airline and railway regulations for easier security checks before travel. The suitcase bodies use ABS and polycarbonate (PC) composite materials, with structural designs intended to balance riding functionality, everyday storage and luggage protection. Selected models also feature USB output interfaces to provide a convenient way to charge compatible personal electronic devices while traveling. Together, these design considerations support Airwheel's broader effort to develop smart rideable Cabin Luxury suitcases that combine distinctive functionality with practical travel requirements. A Broader Product Portfolio for Different Travel Needs As travel preferences and consumer expectations vary across markets, Airwheel continues to expand its smart rideable suitcase portfolio to address different users, trip lengths and travel scenarios. The range includes compact cabin suitcase models, larger-capacity rideable luggage and products designed for children. SE3S Series: Smart Luxury Cabin Suitcases For travelers who prioritize portability and flexibility, Airwheel's 20-inch smart rideable suitcases form a key part of the portfolio. The Airwheel SE3SL+, SE3SX and SE3SXD offer a combination of electric riding and connected features. Their riding speeds can reach up to 9.9 km/h under specified operating conditions, while Apple Find My support helps users locate compatible luggage through Apple's ecosystem. Depending on the model, the companion app also provides functions such as speed adjustment, riding-structure control and lighting settings. Positioned across the smart cabin suitcase, electric carry-on and luxury suitcase categories, the SE3S series brings together mobility, travel-oriented design and intelligent functionality in a compact format. SE3T: A 24-Inch Rideable Ai Wheel Suitcase for Larger Packing Needs For travelers who need additional storage capacity, the Airwheel SE3T offers a larger-format alternative. Featuring a 24-inch suitcase body and approximately 48 liters of storage space, the SE3T combines increased packing capacity with electric riding functionality. Its riding speed can reach up to 13 km/h under specified operating conditions. The model provides another option for travelers whose journeys require more luggage space, extending Airwheel's portfolio beyond compact cabin-oriented designs. SQ3S Kids Suitcase: A Smart Rideable Suitcase for Children Airwheel also addresses family travel through products designed for younger users. The Airwheel SQ3S is designed for children's travel scenarios, with a riding speed of up to 6.5 km/h and interactive features that include audio functionality. It combines rideable design with travel-oriented entertainment, offering families another option for making journeys more engaging. From compact cabin suitcases to larger travel luggage, and from adult-oriented products to children's models, Airwheel continues to develop a differentiated portfolio for diverse consumer needs. Technology Development and International Design Recognition Product innovation depends not only on external design but also on sustained research and development, engineering expertise and industrial design capabilities. Airwheel continues to develop technologies across motion control, electric drive systems, intelligent sensing and structural engineering. The company has accumulated more than 600 global patents, while its trademark portfolio extends across 168 countries and regions, supporting its ongoing development of intelligent mobility products and international brand presence. Airwheel's products have also received recognition in international design competitions. Its smart rideable suitcases and children's smart luggage have earned awards and distinctions from a range of design organizations, including the Creative Design Awards, iLuxury Awards, Asia Design Prize, French Design Awards and MUSE Design Awards. These recognitions reflect the brand's continued engagement with industrial design and product innovation across international markets. By combining technical development, product design and a broader portfolio, Airwheel is exploring how intelligent mobility technologies can be integrated into familiar travel products to address evolving consumer expectations. About Airwheel Airwheel is an intelligent mobility brand developing smart rideable suitcases and personal mobility products for modern travel and everyday transportation. Its product portfolio combines electric drive technology, intelligent controls and contemporary industrial design to explore new possibilities in personal mobility and travel equipment. Through continued research and development, product innovation and international market expansion, Airwheel aims to transform familiar travel products into more adaptable and intelligent mobility companions. Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mobo Makes Global Debut and Opens Pre-Orders as AiMOGA Unveils Its New Path to Industrialization 2026-10-23 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/23/3387030/0/en/mobo-makes-global-debut-and-opens-pre-orders-as-aimoga-unveils-its-new-path-to-industrialization.html AiMOGA Robotics unveiled Mobo, its first consumer-grade family companion humanoid robot, and opened pre-orders worldwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LianLian Global and PayPal Power Cross-Border Payouts for Social Commerce, Marketplace, and eCommerce Customers 2026-10-23 · PR Newswire · Retail, Payments & fintech, Marketing & advertising https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lianlian-global-and-paypal-power-cross-border-payouts-for-social-commerce-marketplace-and-ecommerce-customers-302917635.html Social commerce, marketplaces and eCommerce players served by LianLian Global can now pay creators, influencers, developers, and independent contractors directly to their PayPal and Venmo wallets. NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 -- LianLian Global today announced it has partnered... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— My MMJ Doctor Launches Partner Program to Help Dispensaries Earn Commissions & Reward Customers 2026-10-23 · Newsworthy.ai · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Marketing & advertising, Software & IT, Consumer electronics https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610233090/my-mmj-doctor-launches-partner-program-to-help-dispensaries-earn-commissions-and-reward-customers California Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 8:00 PM Central — My MMJ Doctor, a leading telehealth platform in the US connecting patients with state-licensed medical cannabis physicians, announced the launch of its Dispensary Partner Program. The program is designed to empower licensed cannabis retailers to earn affiliate commissions on every patient evaluation while offering exclusive discounts and rewards. As cannabis dispensaries face falling product prices and tighter profit margins, many are looking for new ways to generate revenue without adding high costs. My MMJ Doctor’s Partner Program offers dispensaries another potential income source through recurring referral commissions on qualifying medical marijuana card evaluations and renewals, without requiring upfront program fees.  Under the new program, participating dispensaries receive customized promotional portals, QR code displays, and co-branded digital collateral. When dispensary customers sign up to obtain or renew their medical marijuana card, the dispensary earns a competitive affiliate commission for every completed evaluation. Simultaneously, customers benefit from discounted evaluation rates and gain access to the financial advantages of holding a state medical card-including state excise tax exemptions, higher daily possession limits, and access for qualifying young adults. This way, both dispensaries and customers benefit from this alliance. Program Highlights for Dispensary Partners: Recurring Affiliate Commissions: Every patient who evaluates or renews their medical marijuana card via the dispensary's dedicated portal earns direct commissions. With MyMMJDoctor, participating dispensaries can earn 10-15 % for each qualifying referral. Customer Loyalty & VIP Perks: Store Customers get rewarded with discounted online evaluations, creating immediate goodwill and trust. It positions the dispensary as a trusted patient advocate. Increased Customer Lifetime Value: Anyone who holds a medical marijuana card has benefits like tax savings, higher purchase limits, etc. This leads to high visit frequency and comparatively larger purchases from dispensaries  No Upfront Program Fee: Requires no upfront fees, software integration costs, or inventory risk, maintaining complete clinical independence and healthcare compliance. Full-Circle Patient Shopping Journey: Bridges online medical evaluations directly with physical and online dispensary retail, turning health-conscious consumers into active buyers. Patients complete their online physician evaluation via smartphone or desktop and return directly to the partner dispensary to purchase products tailored to their qualifying conditions.  “Dispensary operators today are working harder than ever to protect their margins while providing exceptional care to their communities, " said the Director of Partnerships at My MMJ Doctor.. Our Affiliate Program is built to solve that exact equation. By removing financial friction and automating the medical certification journey, we give dispensaries a turnkey strategy to increase patient foot traffic, elevate customer lifetime value, and build a sustainable healthcare bridge in their local markets." The My MMJ Doctor Affiliate Partnership Program is now open to licensed medical and dual-use dispensaries across all active medical cannabis states. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Boxery stocks more of the 20 x 12 x 4 box for shipping framed items 2026-10-22 · PR Now · Finance, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/the-boxery-stocks-more-of-the-20-x-12-x-4-box-for-shipping-framed-items The Boxery, a Lyndhurst, NY packaging supplier, has expanded in-stock availability of the 20 x 12 x 4 box, a low-profile corrugated option for ecommerce sellers shipping framed items, apparel sets, and tablets. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Genie Energy to Report Third Quarter 2026 Results 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Energy, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386981/0/en/genie-energy-to-report-third-quarter-2026-results.html NEWARK, NJ, Oct. 22, 2026 -- Genie Energy Ltd., (NYSE: GNE), a leading retail energy supplier and a provider of renewable energy solutions, will announce financial and operational results for the three months ended September 30, 2026 on Thursday, November 5, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sharpen Your Memory in a Minute a Day: Resona Health Launches Memory Room, a Free Daily Memory Game 2026-10-22 · ACCESS Newswire · Healthcare, Retail, Gaming https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/sharpen-memory-minute-day-resona-223500990.html From the author of #1 Amazon bestseller The Memory Room comes a new room to explore every day - free, in any browser, no download required. COCOA BEACH, FL / October 22, 2026 / Resona Health today announced the launch of Memory Room, a free daily game designed to help players sharpen their memory and att ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— REACH Board Member Gayla Huber Appointed to CFPB Consumer Advisory Board 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Banking, Marketing & advertising https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951589479/reach-board-member-gayla-huber-appointed-to-cfpb-consumer-advisory-board Gayla Huber, Member, CFPB Consumer Advisory Board Appointment follows nomination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and brings a practitioner's eye on deceptive online marketing to federal advisory work Consumer harm rarely starts with the offer itself, it starts with how the offer is described.” — Gayla Huber, President and Founding Partner, IntegriShield WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EIN ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FlyersRights Demands DOT Withdraw Rule Exempting Airlines from Responsibility for 10 Causes of Delay, Issued Without Required Public Comment 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Retail, Travel https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flyersrights-demands-dot-withdraw-rule-exempting-airlines-from-responsibility-for-10-causes-of-delay-issued-without-required-public-comment-302917486.html WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2026 -- FlyersRights, the National Consumers League, the American Economic Liberties Project, Travelers United, and Consumer Action have formally requested the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) withdraw its direct final rule implementing Section... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Aptar Taps Pharma Packaging Veteran Virginie Maes as President of its Pharma Business 2026-10-22 · Business Wire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Biotech & pharma https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/aptar-taps-pharma-packaging-veteran-213000960.html CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill., October 22, 2026--AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE: ATR), a global leader in drug delivery, dosing and protection technologies, and consumer product dispensing, today announced the appointment of Virginie Maes as President of Aptar Pharma, effective January 1, 2027. Maes joins Aptar from Amco ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Post Holdings Schedules Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2026 Conference Call 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail, Consumer goods https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/post-holdings-schedules-fourth-quarter-and-fiscal-year-2026-conference-call-302915511.html ST. LOUIS, Oct. 22, 2026 -- Post Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, today announced it will hold a conference call on Friday, November 20, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET to discuss financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2026 and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FRANK IGWEALOR’S NEW BOOK “FEEDING THE WOLF” NOW LAUNCHING IN EBOOK AND PRINT ON AMAZON, AND AUDIOBOOK ON ELEVENREADER 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951535133/frank-igwealor-s-new-book-feeding-the-wolf-now-launching-in-ebook-and-print-on-amazon-and-audiobook-on-elevenreader Feeding The Wolf “FEEDING THE WOLF” Launching in Kindle eBook and print editions through Amazon, alongside an audiobook edition through ElevenReader LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Launching in Kindle eBook and print editions through Amazon, alongside an audiobook edition through ElevenReader, the book examines one of the most consequential yet frequently overlooked dangers in ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 7SEA Marketing Unifies Shopify Development, CRO and Social Media Management for U.S. D2C Brands 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Food & drink, Fashion & luxury, Marketing & advertising, Internet & apps https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951560988/7sea-marketing-unifies-shopify-development-cro-and-social-media-management-for-u-s-d2c-brands 7SEA Marketing, Shopify Select Partner Agency for D2C Brands Shopify CRO Results: Before and After Instagram Feeds Managed by 7SEA Marketing for Fashion, Jewelry and Beverage Brands Shopify Select Partner 7SEA Marketing combines store development, CRO and social media management for U.S. D2C brands under one accountable team. Founders don’t need five vendors pointing fingers at each other. They need one team that bui ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BrandRank.AI to Share Holiday AI Shopping Findings and 10-Move Recommendation Playbook in November 5 Webinar 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · AI, Retail https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951588631/brandrank-ai-to-share-holiday-ai-shopping-findings-and-10-move-recommendation-playbook-in-november-5-webinar Who's Winning The Holiday AI Shelf - And Who's Missing? New holiday research reveals AI engines disagree sharply on gifts, smaller brands are breaking through, and human trust remains a competitive advantage AI may be doing more of the recommending, but the consumer hasn't disappeared from the equation” — Pete Blackshaw, Co-Founder & CEO, BrandRank.AI CINCINNATI, OH, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BranchOut Food Inc. Announces Proposed Public Offering 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Marketing & advertising https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386942/0/en/branchout-food-inc-announces-proposed-public-offering.html BEND, Ore., Oct. 22, 2026 -- BranchOut Food Inc. (Nasdaq: BOF) (“BranchOut” or the “Company”), a growth-stage consumer packaged foods company focused on developing, manufacturing, marketing and distributing clean-label, plant-based dried fruit and vegetable snacks, today announced that it has commenced an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of shares of its common stock to multiple investors. All of the shares in the Offering are to be sold by the Company. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Compass Diversified Announces Third Quarter 2026 Earnings and Conference Call Information 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386903/0/en/compass-diversified-announces-third-quarter-2026-earnings-and-conference-call-information.html WESTPORT, Conn., Oct. 22, 2026 -- Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI) (“CODI” or the “Company”), an owner of leading middle-market branded consumer and industrial businesses, announced today that it plans to report financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026 on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 after market close. The Company has scheduled a conference call at 5:00 p.m. ET on November 4, 2026 to review its third quarter financial results and provide an update on its 2026 business outlook. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— lululemon Announces Appointment of Tara Poseley to Board of Directors 2026-10-22 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/lululemon-announces-appointment-tara-poseley-200500235.html Independent director brings more than 30 years of experience in product innovation and building global consumer and retail brands VANCOUVER, British Columbia, October 22, 2026--lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) today announced the appointment of Tara Poseley to its Board of Directors, effective Oc ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Gayla Huber Nominated by Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Appointed to CFPB Consumer Advisory Board 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Banking https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951586886/gayla-huber-nominated-by-federal-reserve-bank-of-kansas-city-appointed-to-cfpb-consumer-advisory-board Gayla Huber, Member, CFPB Consumer Advisory Board IntegriShield president joins federal advisory board on emerging consumer financial products and practices, representing the Tenth Federal Reserve District Technology did not invent deception, but it gave deception reach and speed that consumers cannot outrun on their own.” — Gayla Huber, President and Founding Partner, IntegriShield OVERLAND PARK, KS, UNITED STATES, ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cosmos Health Expands E-Commerce and Subscription Business to Australia, New Zealand and the Broader Oceania Region, With Sales Already Underway 2026-10-22 · ACCESS Newswire · Healthcare, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/cosmos-health-expands-e-commerce-195500735.html Now live in Oceania: e-commerce subscription business operating across Australia, New Zealand and the broader Oceania region, with sales already underway Attractive markets: together, Australia and New Zealand represent multibillion-dollar, well-established health and wellness markets with strong consumer demand and high ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— #paid Names Jodie Kennedy as Chief Commercial Officer to Drive the Next Phase of Growth and Tech Innovation 2026-10-22 · ACCESS Newswire · Retail, Marketing & advertising, Consumer goods https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/paid-names-jodie-kennedy-chief-195000897.html With over 20 years of experience, Jodie will advance #paid's upward trajectory while overseeing the company's entire commercial operations. NEW YORK CITY, NY / October 22, 2026 / #paid , the leading creator infrastructure for enterprise consumer brands, today announced that Jodie Kennedy has been appointed Chief Commercial Officer (CCO). Jodie brings over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Seenergy Foods Takes the Stage with Keynote at SIAL Paris 2026, Challenging Conventional Thinking on Food Innovation 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951565662/seenergy-foods-takes-the-stage-with-keynote-at-sial-paris-2026-challenging-conventional-thinking-on-food-innovation Seenergy Foods Keynote at SIAL Paris Seenergy Foods’ Ashley Ebner delivered “The Next Chapter of Food” keynote at SIAL Paris 2026, exploring food innovation and evolving consumer demand. NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Seenergy Foods took the stage at SIAL Paris 2026 to challenge how the food industry thinks about innovation, making the case that the next generation of food produ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Nordic Naturals Experts Share the Four Questions Every Consumer Should Ask About Their Supplements 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386814/0/en/nordic-naturals-experts-share-the-four-questions-every-consumer-should-ask-about-their-supplements.html Not all supplements are created equal; No. 1 omega-3 brand‡ sets the bar for standards on purity, potency, freshness, and absorption Not all supplements are created equal; No. 1 omega-3 brand‡ sets the bar for standards on purity, potency, freshness, and absorption ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Forum Announces Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Release Date and Webcast Details 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/forum-announces-third-quarter-2026-earnings-release-date-and-webcast-details-302917255.html PALM BEACH, Fla., Oct. 22, 2026 -- Forum Markets, Incorporated (Nasdaq: FRMM), an innovator in sourcing and operating cash-generating assets in AI infrastructure, commercial aerospace and AI-powered consumer finance, today announced it expects to release its financial results... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Beacon Performing Arts Named Best Performing Arts Theater in Wise County 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Nonprofits https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951512982/beacon-performing-arts-named-best-performing-arts-theater-in-wise-county Bridgeport nonprofit community theater recognized by the Consumer Ratings Institute after earning a perfect 5.0-star rating from its audiences. TX, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Beacon Performing Arts , a nonprofit community theater based in Bridgeport, Texas, has been named Best Performing Arts Theater in Wise County in the Theaters category by the Consumer Ratings Institute . The recogniti ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Designkit Launches Free Image Background Remover for Ecommerce and Creative Workflows 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Media https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/designkit-launches-free-image-background-remover-for-ecommerce-and-creative-workflows-302915022.html Designkit's browser-based Free Image Background Remover combines batch processing, background color options, and marketplace-ready export sizes. Video background removal is also available on the Designkit platform. SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22, 2026 -- Designkit has launched the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— United Kingdom Financial Advisory Market Size, Share, Growth, and Forecast 2026-2035 | ESG, Digital Wealth, and Consumer Duty Drive 5.5% CAGR to USD 12.58 Billion 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386734/28124/en/united-kingdom-financial-advisory-market-size-share-growth-and-forecast-2026-2035-esg-digital-wealth-and-consumer-duty-drive-5-5-cagr-to-usd-12-58-billion.html Digital wealth platforms, ESG advisory and Consumer Duty transparency are reshaping UK financial advice, while London leads sophisticated wealth services. Digital wealth platforms, ESG advisory and Consumer Duty transparency are reshaping UK financial advice, while London leads sophisticated wealth services. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Teledermatology Market Size, Share, Trends, Growth and Forecast 2026-2035 | AI, Hybrid Care and DTC Models Fuel 14.10% CAGR to USD 60.96 Billion by 2035 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386728/28124/en/global-teledermatology-market-size-share-trends-growth-and-forecast-2026-2035-ai-hybrid-care-and-dtc-models-fuel-14-10-cagr-to-usd-60-96-billion-by-2035.html Direct-to-consumer and hybrid models, AI-based personalisation, blockchain security, and mobile access are expanding convenient dermatology care in underserved areas. Direct-to-consumer and hybrid models, AI-based personalisation, blockchain security, and mobile access are expanding convenient dermatology care in underserved areas. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Let "Resolve" shine in your eyes! JINS x JoJo's Bizarre Adventure launches Thursday, October 29th. 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Entertainment https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951348701/let-resolve-shine-in-your-eyes-jins-x-jojo-s-bizarre-adventure-launches-thursday-october-29th JINS x JoJo's Bizarre Adventure LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- JINS will release a special collaboration eyewear collection with the globally acclaimed anime series JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure , available starting Thursday, October 29, 2026, at JINS retail stores and at the official JINS website (us.jins.com). Wear the World of JoJo in Style JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure tells an epi ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Boxery explains why subscription box companies are choosing colored poly mailer bags for shipments 2026-10-22 · PR Now · Retail, Consumer goods https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/the-boxery-explains-why-subscription-box-companies-are-choosing-colored-poly-mailer-bags-for-shipments The Boxery, a Lyndhurst, NY packaging supplier, examines how colored poly mailer bags help subscription box and direct-to-consumer brands build a consistent, branded unboxing experience without custom printing. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— WILDE Raises $40 Million from S2G Investments to Accelerate Its Rise in Protein Snacking 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wilde-raises-40-million-from-s2g-investments-to-accelerate-its-rise-in-protein-snacking-302917127.html Investment will expand production and innovation as WILDE builds on more than $100 million in sales and a footprint of 35,000+ retail locations nationwide LEXINGTON, Ky., Oct. 22, 2026 -- WILDE, the brand challenging the traditional snack aisle by building salty, craveable... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Dr. Carlos Sanchez and Calmara Beverage to Be Featured at Sip - Smoke - Savor in San Diego 2026-10-22 · ACCESS Newswire · Retail, Food & drink, Consumer goods https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/dr-carlos-sanchez-calmara-beverage-150000444.html Physician-Founded Functional Beverage Brand Brings Wellness-First Innovation to FMCG's Exclusive Lifestyle Event SAN DIEGO, CA / October 22, 2026 / Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Inc. (FMCG) along with Keg N Bottle are proud to announce the latest installment of its experiential tasting series, Sip • Smoke ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New Global Initiative Seeks to Modernize Health Workforce Mobility 2026-10-22 · ACN Newswire · Healthcare, Retail, Automotive, Education, Nonprofits, Jobs & workplace https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/111004/ PHILADELPHIA, PA, TORONTO, ON AND GRONINGEN, NETHERLANDS , Oct 22, 2026 - TruMerit® and Centennial College, with support of the Groningen Declaration Network (GDN Network), have unveiled a new vision for the future of global health workforce mobility, introducing a framework designed to help health professionals carry trusted, verifiable records of their qualifications and competencies across borders. The initiative is detailed in a newly published paper titled "Toward a Global Digital Credential Mobility Ecosystem for Migrating Health Professionals." As healthcare systems worldwide face persistent workforce shortages, internationally educated health professionals often encounter lengthy, duplicative, and inconsistent credential recognition processes that can delay entry into practice. The paper proposes a new approach centered on a Global Competency Record (GCR). This portable digital record could securely bring together verified evidence of a professional's education, training, work experience, certifications, and demonstrated competencies throughout their career. "Healthcare has become increasingly global, but the systems used to recognize qualifications across borders have not kept pace," said Peter Preziosi, PhD, RN, CAE, FAAN, President and CEO of TruMerit and lead author of the paper. "Qualified professionals can spend months or even years navigating fragmented processes that require the same information to be verified repeatedly. We have an opportunity to modernize credential mobility around trusted digital information, verified competencies, and interoperability while preserving regulatory authority and protecting the public." "Any one organization or sector cannot solve the challenges facing workforce mobility," said Charmaine Hack, Vice President, Partnerships, Enrollment & External Relations of Centennial College, Vice President of the GDN Network Board, and co-author of the paper. "Creating a trusted ecosystem for credential mobility will require collaboration across education, workforce, regulatory, and technology communities." "Trusted digital credentials have enormous potential to support individuals as they move across borders for education and work," said Joanne Duklas, Executive Director of the GDN Network and co-author of the paper. "This initiative explores how we can better connect education, credentials, and demonstrated competencies in ways that work for individuals, regulators, and employers." Unlike a global license or replacement for national regulatory systems, the proposed GCR would provide regulators, employers, and other authorized stakeholders with access to trusted, verified information that can be evaluated against local requirements and standards. For health professionals, it offers a more portable way to demonstrate qualifications. For regulators and employers, it could provide more transparent and reliable information for decision-making. While the initial application focuses on healthcare, the long-term vision is for the GCR to serve as a model that could be adapted for other sectors facing similar credential mobility challenges. As healthcare systems around the world grapple with workforce shortages, the opportunity extends beyond improving credential verification. It is about creating a future where qualified health professionals can move more efficiently between jurisdictions, while regulators and employers have access to trusted information on which to base decisions. The Global Competency Record is intended as a blueprint for a more connected, transparent, and responsive approach to workforce mobility. About TruMerit® TruMerit is a worldwide leader in healthcare workforce development with nearly 50 years of experience supporting the mobility of nurses and other healthcare workers. Formerly CGFNS International, TruMerit validates the education, training, and professional experience of internationally educated health professionals seeking authorization to practice in the United States and other countries. Through its expanded mission and the Global Health Workforce Development Institute, TruMerit advances research, standards, and certifications that strengthen the global health workforce and promote equitable, sustainable career mobility. More about TruMerit. About Centennial College Centennial College, founded in 1966, is Ontario's first public college. Anchored primarily in the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area, the College is renowned for its outstanding teaching, creative curriculum, and robust network of partnerships. Centennial annually welcomes thousands of full-time and part-time students from across the GTA, Canada, and the world. These students pursue their education in diploma, certificate, and degree programs across various fields, including business, media, arts, community and consumer services, engineering technology, health care, and transportation. More about Centennial College. About The GDN Network The GDN Network is an international, non-profit federated trust located in the Netherlands. It represents a voluntary network of like-minded organizations and individuals that seek to make digital student data portability happen. Its network of thought leaders from around the globe are collaborators who seek to support, advise, and offer innovative changes in the ways we share artifacts of academic learning. The GDN Network seeks common ground in best serving the academic and professional mobility needs of citizens worldwide by bringing together stakeholders in the digital student data ecosystem. It seeks to develop and support best practices and globally accepted standards for safe and citizen-oriented convenings and information exchanges. Learn more about the GDN Network at: groningendeclaration.org. Media Contacts TruMerit Emma Wright ewright@trumerit.org Centennial College Media@centennialcollege.ca SOURCE: TruMerit ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Eco-Friendly Water Bottle Market Analysis: Consumer Demand and Industry Innovations 2026-10-22 · PR News Releaser · Healthcare, Retail, Sustainability, Chemicals & materials https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/477065 The eco-friendly water bottle market is expected to witness substantial growth through 2034 as consumers increasingly prioritize sustainability, convenience, and health-conscious living. The growing movement toward reducing single-use plastics has accelerated demand for reusable water bottles made from stainless steel, ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New Book - The Awakened Guide to Self-Esteem and Confidence by Guru Rajesh Ananda 2026-10-22 · Pressat · Retail https://pressat.co.uk/releases/new-book-the-awakened-guide-to-self-esteem-and-confidence-by-guru-rajesh-ananda-0eaa9611277ca5f13bcf05e4b37588cf/ Thursday 22 October, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE New Book - The Awakened Guide to Self-Esteem and Confidence  Arrives in late November 2026 This forthcoming personal-development guide offers a compassionate path to greater self-worth, inner confidence, and authentic living, with exercises to support your journey. London, 22nd October 2026 — The Awakened Guide to Self-Esteem and Confidence, a new addition to The Awakened Guide series, will be published in late November 2026. Written for anyone who has struggled with self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, or low confidence, the forthcoming book explores how readers can build a healthier, more supportive relationship with themselves. Rather than presenting confidence as something to perform or prove to others, The Awakened Guide to Self-Esteem and Confidence encourages readers to cultivate it from within. The book examines how past experiences, limiting beliefs, comparison, criticism, and negative self-talk can affect self-esteem—and how greater awareness can begin to shift those patterns. “True confidence is not about believing that we are better than other people,” says author Guru Rajesh Ananda. “It is about recognising our own worth, trusting ourselves, and no longer allowing fear or self-doubt to determine the life we are willing to live.” Through accessible guidance and thoughtful reflection, the book will help readers explore: The difference between self-esteem and confidence The book’s central message is that self-worth need not be earned through perfection, achievement, appearance, or the approval of others. You can recognise, strengthen, and express it through conscious choices. The Awakened Guide to Self-Esteem and Confidence is for readers beginning their personal-development journey, as well as those who already understand the importance of self-awareness but want practical support applying it to everyday life. The book will be available in late November 2026, with further details on the publication date and purchasing options to be announced. Guru Rajesh Ananda also wrote “The Science of Stillness”, launched in June 2026, and it currently has 33 5-star reviews on Amazon. About The Awakened Guide Series The Awakened Guide series explores personal and spiritual development through accessible, compassionate guidance. Each book focuses on a key aspect of inner growth, helping readers understand themselves more deeply, release limiting patterns, and live with greater awareness and intention. Book Information Title: The Awakened Guide to Self-Esteem and Confidence Author: Guru Rajesh Ananda Publication: November 2026 Format: Paperback / Hardcover / Kindle & Ebook ISBN: 978-1-9193520-4-6 (Paperback) Website: www.rajeshananda.guru Media Contact [CONTACT NAME] Email: contact@rajeshananda.guru Website: www.rajeshananda.guru End ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Dairy Starter Culture Market: Key Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunities 2026-10-22 · PR News Releaser · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/477043 The dairy sector continues to evolve with increasing consumer demand for premium-quality fermented products, enhanced food safety standards, and innovative production processes. Dairy starter cultures play a critical role in improving flavor, texture, consistency, and shelf life across a wide ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— McLane Company Names Chris Smith as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer 2026-10-22 · Business Wire · Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/mclane-company-names-chris-smith-141500140.html Expanded role will support the company's growth, technology advancements and strategic partnerships TEMPLE, Texas, October 22, 2026--McLane Company Inc. , one of the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant brands, today announced the promoti ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Trial Lawyer Daniel J. Voelker Releases "Shaken, Not Stirred: A Gentleman's Guide to Living Like Bond," Available on Amazon October 22, 2026 2026-10-22 · PR.com · Retail, Legal, Entertainment https://www.pr.com/press-release/982544 Drawing on Ian Fleming's original novels rather than the films, "Shaken, Not Stirred" translates what Bond does well into things any reader can do himself, starting the same day. "Bond was a fictional spy," Voelker writes. "The poise he carried is real, and it is available to anyone willing to learn it. "As a trial lawyer, my job is to read a room, size up the opposition and keep my composure when everything is on the [PR.com] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Woods Distribution Unites Warehousing, Fulfillment, and Transportation to Simplify Retail Logistics for Brands and Retailers 2026-10-22 · Newswire.com · Retail, Logistics https://www.newswire.com/news/woods-distribution-unites-warehousing-fulfillment-and-transportation-22874921 Fort Worth 3PL supports retail brands with omnichannel distribution, vendor compliance, value-added services, and integrated freight on a single invoice ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— EPIC® Enters Growing Meat Sticks Category with the Launch of EPIC® Sticks in Original Beef, Wagyu Beef, Rotisserie Chicken and Hot Honey Chicken Varieties 2026-10-22 · WebWire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363205 Key Takeaways: - - - • EPIC is launching its first line of meat sticks in four varieties: Original Beef, Wagyu Beef, Rotisserie Chicken and Hot Honey Chicken. - - • EPIC Sticks are gluten-free, dairy-free and Paleo-friendly, contain up to 10g of protein per stick and are made with 100% grass-fed beef or free-range chicken. - - • EPIC Sticks are available now on Amazon and at Sprouts, and will be at retailers nationwide in 2027. - - - - Protein-rich diets are on the rise — with the cat... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363205 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Planet Coaster 2 2026-10-22 · Games Press · Retail, Gaming, Consumer electronics https://www.gamespress.com/TRADE-THRILLS-FOR-CHILLS-IN-THE-PLANET-COASTER-2-SPOOKTACULAR-PACK 'Spooktacular Pack' brings new attraction, 700 scenery pieces and 7 rides. Cambridge, UK – 22 October 2026 – Frontier Developments are excited to announce the Planet Coaster 2: Spooktacular Pack coming to PC, PlayStation®5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 29 for a suggested retail price of £14.99/$18.99/€18.99... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CarParts.com to Launch CarParts Connect, an Automotive and Auto-Adjacent Ecommerce Marketplace, Powered by Mirakl 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Automotive, Travel https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951063508/carparts-com-to-launch-carparts-connect-an-automotive-and-auto-adjacent-ecommerce-marketplace-powered-by-mirakl New marketplace will expand CarParts.com’s selection offering vehicle, journey, and destination products including accessories, travel and road trip essentials CarParts Connect gives our customers more of what they need for their vehicles and their time on the road, from more sellers, in one place they already trust.” — David Meniane, CEO of Carparts.com LONG BEACH, CA, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— P&G, Nestle, Mars, AstraZeneca, ITC and Bekaert win OMP Supply Chain Awards 2026-10-22 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics, Biotech & pharma, Sustainability, Consumer goods, Chemicals & materials https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110995/ ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM, Oct 22, 2026 - OMP, a leader in AI-powered supply chain solutions, recently honored six global brands at its conferences held earlier this month in Singapore and Shanghai. The recognized companies - Procter & Gamble (P&G), Nestlé, Mars, AstraZeneca, ITC, and Bekaert - were celebrated for driving decision velocity, co-innovation, and impactful business results. Supply Chain Innovation & Excellence Award: Nestlé and Bekaert Nestlé, one of the world's largest food and beverage companies, and Bekaert, a global market and technology leader in material science of steel wire transformation and coating technologies, received OMP's Supply Chain Innovation & Excellence award for their breadth of deployment and depth of co-innovation. Nestlé aligns its supply network at the strategic, tactical, and operational levels on OMP's Unison Planning™ platform, connecting forecasting, planning, and replenishment end-to-end. As more routine work becomes touchless, planners can focus on the decisions that drive the business, and Nestlé continues to roll out best practices throughout the organization. Bekaert integrated scenario planning directly into its S&OP, shifting teams from reactive firefighting to proactive, value-driven conversations. In its green hydrogen business, what-if modeling protects mid- and long-term strategic control. Furthermore, planners use Unison Companion, OMP's generative AI assistant, to generate tables, compare scenarios, and retrieve information in natural language. "This award recognizes the ongoing transformation of our end-to-end supply chain planning," says Bo Yang, Senior Manager, Global Supply Chain Process Management at Bekaert Rubber Reinforcement. "We've moved from manual Excel calculations and individual experience to standardized planning on OMP's Unison Planning™ platform. Our decisions are now backed by data, and our planning accuracy has improved significantly." Long-Term Partnership Award: P&G and AstraZeneca P&G, with operations in approximately 70 countries, joins global biopharma leader AstraZeneca in accepting the award for proving that value compounds the longer the partnership runs. P&G celebrates 27 years of partnership with OMP dating back to 1999, and operates a planning network spanning more than 100 manufacturing sites and 200 distribution centers. The company has consolidated overlapping planning processes, with the majority of planning now handled touchlessly. "Receiving OMP's Long-Term Partnership Award reflects years of trust and teamwork between our teams," says Jen Aberilla, Director, Regional Supply Network Operations Planning at P&G. "We're proud of what we've achieved together and look forward to building on it." AstraZeneca has been working with OMP since 2021, replacing siloed, spreadsheet-based planning with a single capacity-constrained network plan. Most recently, the company has been collaborating with OMP on AI‑driven planning and advanced scenario modeling, allowing planners to focus on scenarios and exceptions. This has resulted in improved supply reliability and service levels, inventory reduction, and productivity savings. Community Engagement Award: Mars and ITC ITC's Paperboards & Specialty Papers Division, part of the Indian multi-business enterprise ITC Limited, and Mars, a global giant in confectionery, food products, and pet care services, received the Community Engagement Award for their active role in OMP Community events and councils. ITC was recognized for its commitment to openly sharing its planning transformation with the wider supply chain community. By presenting its experience to industry peers, ITC has given them a candid look at how its journey unfolds in practice, with lessons other planning teams can apply. Mars is a committed participant in the OMP Community councils and in governance through the executive board. Working with OMP, Mars has lowered inventory, consolidated its warehouse network, improved factory equipment effectiveness, and increased forecast accuracy. "The world's most demanding manufacturers plan with OMP, and it is a privilege to see those relationships deepen over 10, 20, and 27 years. The results they achieve through this community are concrete: inventory goes down, forecast accuracy goes up, and decisions happen faster. Congratulations to each of them!" says Philip Vervloesem, Chief Commercial and Markets Officer at OMP. About OMP OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow and thrive by offering the best digitized supply chain planning solution on the market. Hundreds of customers in a wide range of industries - spanning consumer goods, life sciences, chemicals, metals, paper and packaging - benefit from using OMP's unique Unison Planning™. Solution and product inquiries Contact OMP +32 3 650 22 11 Media inquiries Kira Perdue (Carabiner) SOURCE: OMP ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CPS to Host Conference Call on Third Quarter 2026 Earnings 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386410/13171/en/cps-to-host-conference-call-on-third-quarter-2026-earnings.html LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 22, 2026 -- Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSS) (“CPS” or the “Company”) today announced that it will hold a conference call on Monday, October 26, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2026 operating results. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bakery Mixer Market to Reach USD 8.11 Billion by 2034, Growing at a 5.51% CAGR 2026-10-22 · PR News Releaser · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/476923 The global bakery mixer market is experiencing steady momentum, driven by expanding commercial bakery operations, rapid urbanization, changing consumer dietary habits, and technological advancements in food processing equipment. According to the latest market intelligence report, the global Bakery Mixer Market size is ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 85% of Marketers Measure ROI, but Only 32% Track It Across Traditional and Digital Mediav 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Marketing & advertising, Internet & apps https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951440713/85-of-marketers-measure-roi-but-only-32-track-it-across-traditional-and-digital-mediav Trackier PR Banner 85% of marketers measure ROI, but only 32% track it across traditional and digital channels. Discover why e-commerce brands need better attribution. NEW DELHI, DELHI, INDIA, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- E-commerce marketing teams operate through paid search, social media, affiliate networks, display advertising, and e-mail channels. Each channel generates performance data, but consolida ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LatentView Analytics Strengthens European Leadership with Appointment of Amith Patalay 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386308/0/en/latentview-analytics-strengthens-european-leadership-with-appointment-of-amith-patalay.html LatentView Analytics appointed Amith Patalay as Head of Europe & UKI, Consumer Ecosystem to lead growth strategy across the region. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— American Express and Airbnb Launch Exclusive Partnership, Bringing Over 1 Million Listings to American Express Travel® 2026-10-22 · Business Wire · Retail, Travel, Payments & fintech https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/american-express-airbnb-launch-exclusive-120000854.html American Express and Airbnb Launch Exclusive Partnership Eligible Card Members can earn Membership Rewards ® points when booking with Airbnb through Amex Travel online with additional benefits available for U.S. Consumer and Business Platinum Card ® Members for eligible Airbnb Luxe bookings NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO, Octob ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New Jersey Corrections Officer J. Gonzalez Publishes Horror Thriller The Devil's Transfer 2026-10-22 · MarketersMEDIA · Retail https://news.marketersmedia.com/new-jersey-corrections-officer-j-gonzalez-publishes-horror-thriller-the-devils-transfer/89206960 The Devil's Transfer draws on years working in corrections to build a story about a routine transfer that goes wrong. -- J. Gonzalez, a corrections officer in New Jersey, has published The Devil's Transfer , a horror thriller laced with slight dark humor, which follows two officers and the felon they are transporting after a routine job breaks down. The book is available now on Amazon as a Kindle edition and via Barn ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Replit Expands Government Business Worldwide, Taps Former Amazon Executive to Lead Corporate Affairs 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Government & policy, Software & IT, Cloud & data centers, Construction & engineering https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/replit-expands-government-business-worldwide-taps-former-amazon-executive-to-lead-corporate-affairs-302916206.html SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 22, 2026 -- Replit, the agentic software creation platform used by builders in 85% of the Fortune 500 companies, today announced the expansion of its government business and the appointment of former U.S. Treasury diplomat and Amazon Web Services (AWS)... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Event Cinemas brings session search and booking to ChatGPT, an Australian cinema first 2026-10-22 · MarketersMEDIA · AI, Retail, Entertainment https://news.marketersmedia.com/event-cinemas-brings-session-search-and-booking-to-chatgpt-an-australian-cinema-first/89206994 Event Cinemas is the first cinema chain in Australia to launch an app in ChatGPT, giving moviegoers another way to find sessions and book tickets. -- Event Cinemas is the first cinema chain in Australia to launch an app in ChatGPT, giving moviegoers another way to find sessions and book tickets. The launch creates a more seamless consumer journey, allowing customers to go from “what’s on at the movies tonight?” to bo ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PreciseAI, LLC Launches ToolCorral.com, Where Desktop Apps are Built and Sold, Including Yours 2026-10-22 · ACCESS Newswire · Retail, Software & IT https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/preciseai-llc-launches-toolcorral-com-104500061.html HUGHES SPRINGS, TX / October 22, 2026 / PreciseAI, LLC is proud to announce the launch of their next hit named ToolCorral.com, which aims to eventually become the Amazon for desktop applications. ToolCorral.com sells software tools for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu, all built by the ToolCorral team, includin ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Five Reputable PCR PP Manufacturers in China 2026: Advancing Sustainable Plastics 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · Retail, Media, Food & drink, Sustainability, Chemicals & materials https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951468619/five-reputable-pcr-pp-manufacturers-in-china-2026-advancing-sustainable-plastics Logo for re-mall PCRPP A 2026 guide to five reputable Chinese manufacturers of PCR PP materials. CALIFORNIA, CA, UNITED STATES, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- SHANGHAI, Oct. 22, 2026 — China's post-consumer recycled polypropylene ( PCR Polypropylene ) sector is entering a more regulated phase, as food-contact approvals, brand recycled-content targets and carbon reporting reshape what buyers can accept from ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FirstCash Reports Record Third Quarter Operating Results; Revenues and Earnings from Pawn Segments Grow 28%; Declares 10% Increase in Quarterly Cash Dividend 2026-10-22 · PressReach · Finance, Retail, Investing & markets https://pressreach.com/firstcash-reports-record-third-quarter-operating-results-revenues-and-earnings-from-pawn-segments-grow-28-declares-10-increase-in-quarterly-cash-dividend FORT WORTH, Texas, Oct. 22, 2026 — FirstCash Holdings, Inc. (“FirstCash” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FCFS), the leading international operator of more than 3,300 retail pawn stores, today announced record revenue and earnings results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2026. The Company also announced that the Board of … Continue reading "FirstCash Reports Record Third Quarter Operating Results; Revenues and Earnings from Pawn Segments Grow 28%; Declares 10% Increase in Quarterly Cash Dividend" ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fashion Retail Market Size to Reach USD 3.76 Tn by 2031 as Digital Commerce Drives Growth, Says Mordor Intelligence 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386134/0/en/fashion-retail-market-size-to-reach-usd-3-76-tn-by-2031-as-digital-commerce-drives-growth-says-mordor-intelligence.html Fashion retail market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.77% through 2031, with Asia-Pacific leading regional growth at 5.16% after accounting for 37.46% of revenue in 2025. Fashion retail market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.77% through 2031, with Asia-Pacific leading regional growth at 5.16% after accounting for 37.46% of revenue in 2025. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vitaquest International Appoints Martin Gargiule as Chief Financial Officer 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Healthcare, Retail, Industrial, Biotech & pharma https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386118/0/en/vitaquest-international-appoints-martin-gargiule-as-chief-financial-officer.html Vitaquest names Martin Gargiule CFO, adding 25+ years of consumer health, pharma, and manufacturing finance expertise to its growing leadership team. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Zhipu, Jiangmen, QuantGroup and Other Investors Join Forces to Back RMB 1 Billion Cognitive Intelligence Venture Capital Fund for Physical AI Ecosystem Development 2026-10-22 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Food & drink, Industrial, Investing & markets, Government & policy, Internet & apps, Oil & gas https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110993/ Hong Kong, Oct 22, 2026 - Competition in AI has evolved from contests over individual technologies into a new phase defined by coordination across foundational ecosystems and industry value chains. Zhipu, a leading large-model developer, has again expanded its footprint as a limited partner (LP) in the primary market by teaming up with Jiangmen Ventures to establish a cognitive intelligence venture capital fund. QuantGroup (02685.HK), a provider of world foundation models for Physical AI, is among the fund's LPs. Corporate registration records show that Zhejiang Zhipu Jiangmen Cognitive Intelligence Venture Capital Partnership (Limited Partnership) was incorporated in Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, on 24 September with total subscribed capital of RMB 1 billion. Its business scope covers venture capital, limited to investments in unlisted companies. The fund combines local state-owned capital, industrial investors and specialist investment firms. Two local government-backed limited partners, Hangzhou Shangcheng Linghang Venture Capital Co., Ltd. and Hangzhou Urban Investment Industry Development Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership), hold a combined 60% interest. The other partners are Zhejiang Zhipu Xinpian Technology Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Zhipu; Hainan QuantGroup Technology Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Hong Kong-listed QuantGroup (02685.HK); Hainan Hezun Investment Co., Ltd.; and Hangzhou Jizhi Enterprise Management Consulting Co., Ltd. The latter also serves as the fund's executive partner, and its appointed representative is Du Feng, a founding partner of Jiangmen Ventures. The deadline for partners to pay in their subscribed capital is September 2031. Industry observers generally expect that collaboration among leading companies raises the success rate of ecosystem-building, reinforcing a Matthew effect in which the strong become stronger. Companies that are first to form ecosystem alliances can secure early access to downstream use cases and early-stage projects. Zhipu has pursued precisely this approach. In 2025, it partnered with Unilumin Group (300232.SZ), a leader in optoelectronic smart display technology, and MetaView to establish Shenzhen Zhixian Robot Technology Co., Ltd., building an innovation ecosystem for AI-powered smart terminals. In the energy sector, iFlytek worked with PetroChina, China Mobile and Huawei to develop the Kunlun large model,  helping PetroChina set a new benchmark for AI in energy. QuantGroup's presence among the LPs has attracted considerable attention. As Hong Kong's first listed "intelligent species" company, QuantGroup positions itself as a provider of world foundation models for Physical AI. It has pursued a two-pillar strategy combining AI-enabled e-commerce solutions with Physical AI, using cash flow from its established consumer business to fund frontier R&D. For infrastructure providers, ecosystem building is a core capability: connecting upstream model developers, midstream embodied-robotics developers, downstream use cases and capital providers to secure a central position in the Physical AI ecosystem during its early development. At the ecosystem level, QuantGroup works with partners including ByteDance's Volcengine, Beijing Ruihong Embodied Intelligence Robot Technology Co., Ltd., an affiliate of Tungkong Inc. (002117.SZ), and Chewujie to build an embodied AI ecosystem. This has extended its commercial reach from restaurant kitchens to brick-and-mortar venues such as car showrooms. Its role as an LP in the cognitive intelligence fund established by Zhipu and Jiangmen Ventures marks another step toward moving upstream in the Physical AI value chain and gaining earlier access to large-model capabilities and early-stage projects. Building an ecosystem with the first publicly listed large-model company naturally improves the odds of success, as the two sides can combine their strengths, complement one another and develop benchmark industry solutions quickly. Zhipu (02513.HK) listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 8 January, becoming the world's first publicly listed large-model company. In May, Beijing Zhipu Future Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhipu, and Guotai Junan Innovation Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Guotai Haitong, jointly established an RMB 540 million AI industry fund in Zhangjiang, Shanghai. Earlier, in 2024, Zhipu led the establishment of the Z Fund (LinkX Capital), an AGI ecosystem fund with RMB 1.5 billion of assets under management at its first close. According to Zhipu's 2025 financial report, LinkX Capital (Z Fund) had an aggregate value of RMB 1.3027 billion at the end of 2025 and had invested in more than 30 AI companies. Jiangmen Ventures, which is partnering with Zhipu on the new fund, is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on discovering technology-driven start-ups. It primarily invests in foundational AI technologies and their industrial applications, and was one of Zhipu's Series A investors. The two organizations have a long-standing relationship. The "cognitive intelligence" in the fund's name aligns with Zhipu's large-model technology roadmap. The fund's location in Hangzhou also builds on Zhipu's ties with the city. In March 2025, Zhipu raised more than RMB 1 billion in strategic financing, with participation from Hangzhou municipal state-owned investors including Hangzhou City Investment Industrial Fund and Shangcheng Capital. Venture capital professionals note that, for companies expanding into Physical AI, investing as an LP in an industry fund led by a leading large-model company can generate financial returns and provide early access to upstream model capabilities and early-stage projects. As large-model competition shifts from pure performance to ecosystem strength, more industrial companies are entering the primary market as investors. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wolfson Group Brings Men's Wellness Brand TestoPrime to OneLavi 2026-10-22 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Sports, Marketing & advertising https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610223072/wolfson-group-brings-mens-wellness-brand-testoprime-to-onelavi Boca Raton, Florida Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — Wolfson Group, a Scotland-based international consumer wellness company, today announced that TestoPrime, its established men's wellness brand, is now available to U.S. consumers through OneLavi.com, expanding the brand's online retail presence beyond Amazon. The addition of TestoPrime to One Lavi represents another step in Wolfson Group's ongoing U.S. expansion strategy, which focuses on increasing consumer access to its portfolio through additional online retailers and brick-and-mortar distribution opportunities. TestoPrime serves the men's wellbeing category, with a focus on vitality, everyday performance and healthy ageing. The brand is part of Wolfson Group's broader portfolio of wellness products designed around different consumer lifestyles and priorities. "Men's wellness is an important part of our portfolio, and we're pleased to expand access to TestoPrime through another U.S. retail channel," said the founder and CEO of Wolfson Group. "Our focus is on building a stronger retail presence while making our established brands easier for consumers to find." The expansion comes as conversations around men's wellness increasingly encompass a broader range of lifestyle priorities, including physical activity, nutrition, maintaining vitality and healthy ageing. Wolfson Group believes this broader approach reflects changing consumer interests, with more men considering everyday wellbeing as part of their long-term lifestyle goals rather than focusing on a single aspect of health. TestoPrime is already available to U.S. consumers through Amazon. Its new availability on OneLavi provides another online purchasing option while supporting Wolfson Group's strategy of expanding its distribution network across multiple retail channels. The company recently participated in the ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where it presented its portfolio during scheduled meetings with U.S. retail industry participants. TestoPrime is part of Wolfson Group's multi-category portfolio, which also spans weight management, cognitive wellness and gut health. The company continues to develop its U.S. retail presence while investing in consumer education and science-led brand development. "Expanding into additional online retail channels is an important part of our long-term strategy," the founder said. "We want to create more opportunities for consumers to discover our brands while continuing to build relationships across the U.S. retail marketplace." Wolfson Group said it plans to continue broadening its U.S. distribution footprint as it develops additional retail relationships and supports growth across its consumer wellness portfolio. About Wolfson Group Wolfson Group is an international consumer wellness company focused on building science-led brands that help people live healthier lives. Its portfolio spans weight management, cognitive health, gut health, men's wellness, beauty and healthy ageing, serving millions of consumers worldwide through direct-to-consumer, marketplace and retail channels. Wolfson Group's portfolio includes the established wellness brands PhenQ, TestoPrime, NooCube and YourBiology, spanning categories such as weight management, cognitive wellness, gut health and men's wellbeing. The brands are currently available to U.S. consumers through Amazon while the company pursues broader retail opportunities nationwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AgeReverse RESURGE Now Available on OneLavi.com 2026-10-22 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Sports, Biotech & pharma, Marketing & advertising, Internet & apps, Consumer goods https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610223065/agereverse-resurge-now-available-on-onelavicom Boca Raton, Florida Thursday Oct 22, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — AgeReverse, a Canadian longevity company focused on healthy aging and cellular vitality, today announced that its flagship RESURGE formulation is now available to U.S. consumers through OneLavi.com, marking another milestone in the company's expanding U.S. retail presence. The One Lavi launch follows the recent availability of RESURGE on Amazon and reflects AgeReverse's strategy to build a broader U.S. distribution network through multiple retail and e-commerce channels. "Expanding our availability through OneLavi is another important step in introducing AgeReverse to more consumers across the United States," said Kubi Turkmen, Founder and CEO of AgeReverse. "Our goal is to make RESURGE accessible through established retail destinations while continuing to build awareness of our comprehensive approach to healthy aging." AgeReverse developed RESURGE around the scientific framework of the 12 Hallmarks of Aging, which describes interconnected biological processes associated with aging. Rather than emphasizing a single ingredient or isolated wellness benefit, the company designed its flagship formulation to bring together multiple ingredients in a simplified daily regimen. The 90-capsule RESURGE formulation includes NMN, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Fisetin, CoQ10, Astragalus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Aronia Extract and Noni Berry. Key features of RESURGE include: Developed around the scientific concept of the 12 Hallmarks of Aging Combines multiple ingredients associated with antioxidant support and everyday wellness Supports nutrient metabolism, cardiovascular health and immune function Helps support collagen formation, connective tissue development and joint health Simplifies what the company describes as 12 or more individual products and 15 or more capsules per day into a three-capsule daily regimen Manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in Ontario, Canada using vegan capsules Registered as a Natural Health Product with Health Canada under NPN 80130202 The expansion onto OneLavi comes as AgeReverse continues developing its presence in the U.S. longevity and healthy aging market. The company recently participated in the ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where it introduced RESURGE and its broader product strategy during scheduled meetings with retail buyers across health, specialty, food, drug and mass retail channels. Beyond RESURGE, AgeReverse is developing a range of products focused on both internal wellness and external skin aging. Its broader plans include biological age testing, daily skincare, professional aesthetic formulations and non-invasive mesotherapy technology. "Our long-term strategy is about more than a single product or sales channel," Turkmen added. "We are building a complete range of healthy aging solutions while expanding the ways consumers can access the AgeReverse brand." The OneLavi availability represents another step in that strategy, complementing the company's existing Amazon presence and its ongoing efforts to develop additional U.S. retail relationships. RESURGE is now available on OneLavi.com and Amazon. Visit the AgeReverse Website and follow the company on Instagram and LinkedIn. About AgeReverse AgeReverse is a Canada-based longevity wellness company focused on developing science-driven products designed to support healthy aging and cellular vitality. Founded by Kubi Turkmen, who has more than 30 years of experience in anti-aging innovation, the company’s approach combines longevity research, telomere science, and wellness innovation to create comprehensive healthy aging solutions. The company’s expanding AgeReverse platform includes longevity supplements and other wellness technologies designed to support multiple biological pathways associated with aging and long-term vitality. Products are manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in Ontario, Canada. Learn more at the company’s website.  FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FAU Poll: Hispanic Consumer Confidence Slips Despite 50% Reporting Improved Finances 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Education https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386089/0/en/fau-poll-hispanic-consumer-confidence-slips-despite-50-reporting-improved-finances.html BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 22, 2026 -- Hispanic consumer confidence edged down in the third quarter of the year as fewer Hispanic consumers anticipated good business conditions over the next 12 months, according to a poll from Florida Atlantic University’s Business and Economic Polling Initiative (BEPI). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Brady King Develops Integrated Technology Stack to Scale The Bureau Fashion Week 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Media, Fashion & luxury https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386073/0/en/brady-king-develops-integrated-technology-stack-to-scale-the-bureau-fashion-week.html Brady King develops an integrated technology stack to scale Bureau Fashion Week, connecting ticketing, digital content, e-commerce and audience engagement. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— UK CMOs are using less AI but reporting more value from it, while overestimating consumer comfort: Censuswide report 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · AI, Retail, Marketing & advertising https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951400946/uk-cmos-are-using-less-ai-but-reporting-more-value-from-it-while-overestimating-consumer-comfort-censuswide-report Censuswide logo The 2026 Voice of the UK CMO report finds concern about brand backlash nearly doubled, and integrated marketing & PR teams report stronger internal backing. CMOs are being more deliberate about where AI earns its place, and our consumer data shows that acceptance can’t be assumed.” — Nicky Marks, CEO, Censuswide LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- UK marketing leaders are ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Jameel Finance – Egypt, Accelerates its Digital Transformation with Intellect’s eMACH.ai Lending Platform 2026-10-22 · EIN Presswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Banking, Software & IT https://www.einpresswire.com/article/951437323/jameel-finance-egypt-accelerates-its-digital-transformation-with-intellect-s-emach-ai-lending-platform We are immensely proud of our team’s exceptional talent and expertise, which enabled the successful transformation of Jameel Finance – Egypt lending platform in just 16 weeks.” — Rajesh Saxena, CEO of Intellect Consumer Banking CAIRO, EGYPT, October 22, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / -- Intellect Design Arena Ltd., a global leader in AI-First, enterprise-grade financial technology , today announced that Jameel Finance – E ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Upscayl Expands Image Upscaling Workflow for Product Photos and Digital Content 2026-10-22 · 24-7 Press Release · Retail, Media, Internet & apps https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539805/upscayl-expands-image-upscaling-workflow-for-product-photos-and-digital-content The online tool helps ecommerce teams, designers and content creators prepare clearer product photos, campaign assets and social visuals from low-resolution source images. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BIT Asset Management Receives FINMA Approval for Switzerland's First and Europe's Only Spot Bitcoin ETF 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Crypto, Retail, Investing & markets https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bit-asset-management-receives-finma-approval-for-switzerlands-first-and-europes-only-spot-bitcoin-etf-302916611.html The first exchange-traded fund under Swiss law to invest directly in bitcoin, approved for retail investors in Switzerland ZURICH, Oct. 22, 2026 -- BIT Asset Management AG ("BIT AM"), the wholly owned Swiss asset management subsidiary of BIT (www.bit.com), announced that the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bigbank's Unaudited Financial Results for Q3 2026 2026-10-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/22/3386043/0/en/bigbank-s-unaudited-financial-results-for-q3-2026.html At the end of the third quarter, loans to customers stood at a record high of 3.3 billion euros, having increased by 271 million euros (+9%) over the quarter and by 688 million euros (+27%) year on year. Compared to the end of the previous quarter, the business loan portfolio grew by 201 million euros (+16%) to 1.4 billion euros, the home loan portfolio by 47 million euros (+5%) to 933 million euros and the consumer loan portfolio by 22 million euros (+3%) to 881 million euros. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New research reveals growing consumer preference for natural fibres as Woolmark launches Return to Real 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-reveals-growing-consumer-preference-for-natural-fibres-as-woolmark-launches-return-to-real-302916479.html SYDNEY, Oct. 22, 2026 -- As consumers become more selective about what they wear, new Ipsos research commissioned by Woolmark across the United States, France, Germany, Italy and China reveals a growing preference for natural fibres. On average across five markets, 82% of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NVIDIA Transforms European Retail, From Digital Discovery to Physical Operations 2026-10-22 · NVIDIA · SaaS, Retail https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/european-retail-open-models-robotics/ European retailers are using open models and physical intelligence across use cases — from a commerce platform cutting inference costs by 90% to to a fulfillment center where collaboration of different robotic fleets is simulated inside a digital twin. Frontier Results With Open Models Retail leaders and technology companies across Europe are using NVIDIA-accelerated open […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OptionMetrics Exhibiting at Asia EQD 2026-10-22 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/options/articles/optionmetrics-exhibiting-asia-eqd-023000916.html As APAC options volume increases and retail options trading intensifies overall, leading options data and analytics provider offers derivatives professionals insights on leveraging options data to assess alpha and risk NEW YORK, October 22, 2026--OptionMetrics , the leading historical options data and ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Jury Has Reached a $9 Million Verdict in the Trial of Former OB/GYN Arthur Park, Says Consumer Watchdog 2026-10-22 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jury-has-reached-a-9-million-verdict-in-the-trial-of-former-obgyn-arthur-park-says-consumer-watchdog-302916163.html BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Oct. 21, 2026 -- The jury reached a verdict this afternoon in the trial for the deaths of Demi Dominguez and baby Malakhi De Leon. The jury voted that Arthur Park was negligent in the care of Demi Dominguez, that Tracy Dominguez should receive... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Atlanta Holistic Family Law Founder Jeanette Soltys Publishes Holistic Divorce, a Book on Keeping Families Out of Court 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385978/0/en/atlanta-holistic-family-law-founder-jeanette-soltys-publishes-holistic-divorce-a-book-on-keeping-families-out-of-court.html The firm's founder released Holistic Divorce on October 2, reaching #1 on three Amazon bestseller lists: Divorce & Separation (Kindle) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (print and Kindle). The firm's founder released Holistic Divorce on October 2, reaching #1 on three Amazon bestseller lists: Divorce & Separation (Kindle) and Alternative Dispute Resolution (print and Kindle). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kingfluencers and naoo Present New Perspectives on Influencer Marketing at the Swiss Omnichannel Forum 2026 2026-10-21 · NewMediaWire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Media https://www.newmediawire.com/news/kingfluencers-and-naoo-present-new-perspectives-on-influencer-marketing-at-the-swiss-omnichannel-forum-2026-7090786 Switzerland’s largest influencer marketing agency demonstrates how influencer campaigns can be combined with innovative technologies to help brands acquire and retain customers more effectively. ZUG and ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - October 21, 2026 - naoo AG (Dusseldorf: Ticker: NAO; ISIN: CH1323306329), operator of the naoo social media and commerce platform together with its subsidiary Kingfluencers AG, will present new perspectives on influencer marketing in retail at the Swiss Omnichannel Forum on 21 October 2026 at The Dolder Grand in Zurich. Dr. Thomas Wolfensberger, founder of naoo and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kingfluencers AG, will demonstrate how influencer marketing can be leveraged across the entire customer journey – from initial inspiration to purchase and long-term customer loyalty. The Swiss Omnichannel Forum brings together leading representatives from the retail and technology sectors, including companies such as Zalando, Manor, Globus and SAP. The event focuses on the future of retail and the increasing convergence of digital and physical customer experiences. Kingfluencers is Switzerland’s largest influencer marketing agency and one of the largest in the DACH region. With a network of more than 4,000 creators, over 300 brand clients and extensive experience in developing and executing successful campaigns, Kingfluencers helps companies authentically engage their target audiences, build brand awareness and achieve measurable marketing objectives. In his presentation entitled “From Feed to Store. From Store to Loyal Customer,” Wolfensberger will demonstrate how the impact of influencer campaigns can extend beyond traditional social media channels. By combining creator content, community building and targeted customer activation, brands can unlock new opportunities not only to inspire consumers but also to drive purchasing decisions and visits to physical stores. The naoo social media platform complements Kingfluencers’ service offering. Through its so-called naoo Worlds, brands can build their own digital communities, connect creator content with products, offers and events, and engage with their target audiences over the long term. Dr. Thomas Wolfensberger explains: “Influencer marketing has become one of the most powerful tools in modern brand communication. Kingfluencers combines creative excellence with extensive experience and a unique creator network. Through innovative approaches and technologies such as naoo, we aim to offer our clients even more opportunities to turn attention into lasting customer relationships and measurable business results.” With their participation at the Swiss Omnichannel Forum, Kingfluencers and naoo underline their ambition to actively shape the future of influencer marketing and provide brands and retailers with innovative solutions for an increasingly connected customer journey. About naoo naoo AG is building the future of creator-led media, social interaction and local activation in a business model designed to connect digital attention with measurable real-world outcomes. At the core of the Group stands the naoo platform – a next-generation social media and activation ecosystem that connects digital attention with geographic relevance and merchant interaction. The platform delivers a unique user experience through personalized content, gamification, and an innovative points-and-rewards system, while creating unique value through local incentives, measurable activation around physical places and new forms of real-world interaction enabled by naoo business. Business customers can create individualized offers tailored to user needs and incentivize visits to physical locations through naoo points, which can be redeemed for a variety of rewards. Together with Kingfluencers AG - the largest influencer agency in Switzerland and one of the largest in the DACH region - naoo combines platform innovation with industry-leading expertise in creators, campaigns, and brand storytelling, creating new funnel extension opportunities between digital campaigns and real-world interaction. In addition, naoo continues to expand its ecosystem through proprietary creator-driven media formats such as vertical shorts and content hubs that broaden reach, deepen engagement and support a diversified, IP-driven business model. naoo AG is headquartered in Zug, employs 41 people across the group, and is listed on the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange (ticker: NAO, ISIN: CH1323306329). Contact for Media and Investors  Karl Fleetwood Chief Operating Officer E-Mail: karl.fleetwood@naoo.com Phone: +41 (0)79 867 10 10 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Circus Q3 2026: AI Robotics Fleet Scales Across Europe as Ecosystem and Operations Reach Maturity 2026-10-21 · NewMediaWire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink https://www.newmediawire.com/news/circus-q3-2026-ai-robotics-fleet-scales-across-europe-as-ecosystem-and-operations-reach-maturity-7090784 MUNICH, GERMANY - October 21, 2026 - Circus SE (WKN: A2YN35 / ISIN: DE000A2YN355 / XETRA: CA1), a German Physical AI company developing civilian and defence applications, today published key highlights from its Q3 2026 Operational Update Call – nearly exactly one year after the commercial launch of its patented AI robotics technology. Following a deliberate slowdown in the middle of this year to address early-stage operational challenges, Circus has regained full deployment momentum. With the operational foundation now proven at scale, the company has entered Q4 as the operator of Europe’s largest fleet of autonomous meal production robots – and is accelerating further. Twelve months after its first deployments at REWE and Meta, Circus has over 30 systems deployed across 19 enterprise customers in 8 countries - with a target of more than 50 systems by year-end. Revenue guidance for FY2026 stands at EUR 5.2 million, representing 233% growth year-over-year. Data on more than 230,000 robot-made meals produced over time continuously strengthens the company’s proprietary Culinary AI. System uptime at mature sites rose from 70% at the start of the year to above 93% in Q3, validating enterprise-scale readiness across retail, healthcare and defence environments. Total operating costs were cut by nearly 25% quarter-on-quarter while deployment pace tripled – Circus scales faster at lower cost as the business matures. Q3 marked the company’s first CA-1 deployment outside Europe, launching in Abu Dhabi with Royal Catering. Circus Pods, the proprietary ingredient platform and infrastructure, is now live across nearly all customer accounts, reducing daily handling time for clients by up to 80% and building additional recurring revenue streams for Circus. The CA-A robotic system entered volume production just three months after the acquisition closed; the CA-M completed its functional prototype and commenced first module production. “Twelve months ago, we served our first robot-made meals at customer sites. Today we operate the largest autonomous fleet in Europe, trusted by enterprise customers across commercial and defence sectors alike – in a market that remains less than 4% automated. The opportunity ahead is larger than ever,” said Nikolas Bullwinkel, Founder & CEO. The full presentation and transcript are available at www.circus-group.com/quarterly-update. In addition, the Company and CEO Nikolas Bullwinkel will be present at the Bank of America Transforming World Conference (London, 10 Nov), MKK Munich Capital Market Conference (11 Nov), EKF German Equity Forum (Frankfurt, 23 Nov) and Goldman Sachs AI Symposium (London, 25 Nov). ABOUT CIRCUS SE Circus SE (XETRA: CA1) is a German dual-use technology company developing proprietary AI models, autonomous robotic sustainment systems, and a central operating platform for civilian and defence applications. With a globally active portfolio of autonomous meal supply robotics and high-volume serial production live, Circus is building the infrastructure for autonomous food supply - on a mission to fuel humanity. IR CONTACT Elena Coles Head of Investor Relations Circus SE Email: ir@circus-group.com Website: www.circus-group.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Leifheit Aktiengesellschaft: Leifheit Revises Its Forecast for 2026 and Accelerates the Consistent Implementation of the FOCUS Performance Program 2026-10-21 · NewMediaWire · Finance, Retail, Logistics https://www.newmediawire.com/news/leifheit-aktiengesellschaft-leifheit-revises-its-forecast-for-2026-and-accelerates-the-consistent-implementation-of-the-focus-performance-program-7090783 Preliminary financial results for the first nine months continue to be characterised by weak consumer and market trends Consistent implementation of the measures under the FOCUS performance program and the associated cost-cutting program Reduction of the Management Board to two members Continuation of growth initiatives in the final quarter Forecast for the full year 2026 adjusted NASSAU, GERMANY - October 21, 2026 - The Management Board of Leifheit AG (ISIN DE0006464506) has today reassessed its expectations for the full year 2026 based on the preliminary financial results for the first nine months of 2026, and in the light of the accelerated implementation of the FOCUS performance program and the early termination of the employment contract of the Chief Operating Officer with effect from 31 December 2026. Preliminary financial results for the first nine months of 2026 Despite a market environment that continues to be characterised by decline, Leifheit was able to gain market share in its core business and strengthen its competitive position. However, the continuing noticeable consumer reluctance weighed on demand and led to a decline in turnover in the third quarter as well. According to preliminary calculations, the Leifheit Group generated turnover of EUR 169.1 million in the first nine months of the 2026 financial year (9M 2025: EUR 179.0 million). Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to EUR -2.9 million (9M 2025: EUR 5.4 million). Earnings inlcude special items from the FOCUS program amounting to EUR 2.0 million. In the third quarter of 2026, Group EBIT stood at EUR -0.2 million (Q3 2025: EUR 3.4 million). 2026 Forecast Against the backdrop of continued market decline, the Management Board is slightly adjusting its forecast for Group turnover in the 2026 financial year. Despite positive momentum in the fourth quarter, a decline in turnover in the mid-single-digit percentage range compared with the previous year (EUR 232.6 million) is now expected. The Management Board now expects Group EBIT to be between EUR -5 and -6 million. Previously, EBIT of EUR 0 million had been anticipated. The forecast result includes special items of approximately EUR 7 million relating to the implementation of the FOCUS performance program and provisions in connection with the early termination of the contract of the Chief Operating Officer. Excluding these one-off effects, EBIT before special items is now expected to be around EUR 1 to 2 million. Free cash flow for the full year 2026 is expected to be between EUR -1 and -2 million. Most recently, a figure of EUR 0 million had been anticipated (previous year: EUR 6.4 million). Reduction in the size of the Management Board The Supervisory Board has resolved to reduce the size of the Mangaement Board of Leifheit AG from three to two members. Igor Iraeta Munduate (Chief Operating Officer) and the Supervisory Board of Leifheit AG have mutually agreed to the early termination of his employment as of 31 December 2026. Stefan De Loecker, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Leifheit AG, explains: “Consolidating responsibilities at Management Board level streamlines decision-making processes, increases organisational agility and contributes to sustainable cost reduction. Over the past few years, Mr Iraeta Munduate has played a key role in further developing the Operations division and driving important initiatives in the areas of efficiency, the supply chain and digitalisation. Mr Iraeta Munduate has thus made a significant contribution to the company’s competitiveness. We thank him for this, as well as for his great commitment, and wish him all the best for his personal and professional future.” Accelerated implementation of the FOCUS performance program Alexander Reindler, CEO of Leifheit AG, explains: “Precisely because the market environment remains challenging, we are accelerating Leifheit’s transformation. The implementation of the measures under the FOCUS performance program for the structural transformation of the Group and the associated cost-cutting program is proceeding according to plan. We will continue to pursue the strategic initiatives we have launched consistently in the fourth quarter of the 2026 financial year.” FOCUS lays the foundation for a sustainably improved level of profitability for the Group. In particular, the program comprises the introduction of a new operating model, the streamlining of Group structures, the targeted digitalisation of key processes and the reduction of staff numbers. The implementation of the program will result in one-off personnel and non-personnel expenses totalling up to EUR 9.6 million. This will be offset by initial positive effects from the 2027 financial year onwards and, from the 2028 financial year onwards, by permanent recurring annual cost savings expected to exceed EUR 8 million. Essentially, the FOCUS program lays the foundations for a sustainable strengthening of the Group’s competitiveness and profitability in the coming years. In parallel with the organisational transformation, Leifheit is continuing to drive forward the brand relaunch that has already begun. To this end, product presentation at the Point of Sale - both in-store and online - is being consistently modernised, and the marketing of innovations is being tailored to changing consumer needs. By implementing these strategic initiatives, Leifheit is laying the foundations for a more efficient organisation, greater competitiveness and a sustainable improvement in profitability in the coming years. About Leifheit Leifheit AG, founded in 1959, is one of the leading European brand suppliers of household items. The Leifheit Group divides its operating business into the Household, Wellbeing and Private Label segments. Leifheit and Soehnle products – two of Germany’s best-known household brands - are known for high quality and great utility for consumers. Its French subsidiaries Birambeau and Herby are active in the service-oriented Private Label segment with a selected product range. In each segment, the company focuses on its core product categories of cleaning, laundry care, kitchen goods and wellbeing. More information on Leifheit is available online at www.leifheit-group.com, www.leifheit.de and www.soehnle.de. Leifheit AG D-56377 Nassau ir@leifheit.com +49 2604 977218 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sage Dispensary Brings New Life To Mount Laurel Landmark With Grand Opening At Former Sage Diner 2026-10-21 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Education https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610213085/sage-dispensary-brings-new-life-to-mount-laurel-landmark-with-grand-opening-at-former-sage-diner Mount Laurel, NJ Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 @ 1:30 PM Pacific — A familiar South Jersey landmark is getting a new chapter. Sage Dispensary has officially opened its doors at 1170 Route 73 in Mount Laurel, transforming the former Sage Diner into a locally rooted cannabis destination while preserving the character and name of the property that has long been part of the community. For founder and managing partner Alex Kardos, the opening represents something more personal than the launch of another cannabis retailer. Raised in the Cherry Hill area, Kardos grew up just a few miles from the diner and remembers visiting Sage with his parents as a child. When he returned to South Jersey after more than a decade building his career in the cannabis industry on the West Coast, the opportunity to bring new life to the familiar property felt like a natural homecoming. “The Sage Diner was part of the landscape I grew up with, so being able to bring this building back to life while keeping the Sage name means a lot to me,” said Kardos. “I’ve spent nearly two decades learning every side of this industry, and I wanted to bring all of that experience home and create a place where people can find great cannabis, get honest guidance and feel comfortable whether they’ve been shopping for years or are completely new to it.” Sage occupies the existing approximately 5,700-square-foot former diner property, retaining the distinctive setting rather than replacing it with a conventional retail buildout. The location sits at the Route 73 and Church Road intersection, a prominent Mount Laurel location. Today, Sage offers adult-use cannabis products selected with an emphasis on quality, variety and knowledgeable customer service. The dispensary is designed to serve a broad range of consumers, from experienced flower enthusiasts interested in growers, cultivation and new genetics to customers looking for convenient formats such as pre-rolls and edibles, as well as those who appreciate additional guidance when navigating an increasingly diverse cannabis market. That experience informs Sage’s approach to product selection and education, as the dispensary  aims to create an environment where customers can ask questions, explore products and develop relationships with knowledgeable staff. “We’re not trying to make cannabis complicated,” Kardos said. “There is an incredible amount of choice available today, and that can be exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. Our job is to know the products, understand what makes them different and help customers find what makes sense for them.” Sage’s current operation reflects that emphasis on accessibility and convenience. The dispensary is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and offers in-store shopping, curbside pickup and delivery. The opening also marks the realization of a project that began with Kardos’s recognition that the former diner’s zoning and distinctive physical space presented an unusual opportunity. Sage was conceived as a way to give the landmark a new purpose while retaining the name and character that connected it to the surrounding community. Sage’s philosophy extends beyond the products on its shelves. The company describes its mission as reshaping cannabis culture through community connection, education and giving back, with an emphasis on becoming part of the communities it serves. For Kardos, that community connection is ultimately what brings the story full circle: a South Jersey native returning home with nearly 20 years of cannabis experience and opening a business in a place he remembers from childhood. “I’ve worked in cannabis in a lot of different places and in a lot of different roles,” Kardos said. “Coming back to where I grew up and building something in a place that was already meaningful to the community is incredibly rewarding. The Sage location has a history here. We’re excited to add the next chapter.” Sage Dispensary is located at 1170 NJ-73, Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. For more information, visit Sage Dispensary. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Consumer Insights Shape La-Z-Boy's Latest Innovations, Including The New PowerLift Chair Collection And AudioLuxe 2026-10-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-insights-shape-la-z-boys-latest-innovations-including-the-new-powerlift-chair-collection-and-audioluxe-302915974.html Key Highlights: Consumer insights are driving an expanded La-Z-Boy assortment of PowerLift recliners with four new styles offering enhanced comfort, functionality, and weight capacity New opening-price-point seating, space-conscious motion furniture, sectionals and occasional tables... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Pattern Recognized as a 2026 Inc. Power Partner Award Winner for the Fifth Consecutive Year 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/pattern-recognized-2026-inc-power-201000180.html LEHI, Utah, October 21, 2026--Pattern Group Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRN) ("Pattern"), a leader in accelerating brands on global ecommerce marketplaces, has been named a 2026 Inc. Power Partner Awards winner, its fifth consecutive year receiving the honor. The award recognizes the company among the leading B2B p ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OTTICA.com Expands Lineup of World's Finest Luxury Brands in Prescription Eyewear 2026-10-21 · PRWeb · SaaS, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prweb.com/releases/otticacom-expands-lineup-of-worlds-finest-luxury-brands-in-prescription-eyewear-302915785.html Expansion includes Valentino, Victoria Beckham, Tiffany & Co., Off-White™, Cutler and Gross, Palm Angels® and DITA Lancier ATLANTA, Oct. 21, 2026 -- OTTICA, the multi-brand luxury e-commerce platform designed to redefine the high-end prescription eyewear shopping... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CPS Announces $767.85 Million Senior Subordinate Asset-Backed Securitization 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385836/13171/en/cps-announces-767-85-million-senior-subordinate-asset-backed-securitization.html LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 21, 2026 -- Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSS) (“CPS” or the “Company”) announced the closing of its fourth term securitization in 2026 on Wednesday October 21, 2026. The transaction is CPS's 61st senior subordinate securitization since the beginning of 2011, and the 44th consecutive securitization to receive a triple “A” rating from at least two rating agencies on the senior class of notes. It also marks the 111th securitization in the history of the Company. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— IronSight AI and Fast Iron Partner to Bring AI-Powered Inventory Capture to Caterpillar, Komatsu and Volvo Equipment Dealers 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385815/0/en/ironsight-ai-and-fast-iron-partner-to-bring-ai-powered-inventory-capture-to-caterpillar-komatsu-and-volvo-equipment-dealers.html Integration of IronSight AI's image recognition with Fast Iron's inventory management and e-commerce platform lets heavy equipment dealers identify, list and sell used parts and attachments from a single smartphone photo. Integration of IronSight AI's image recognition with Fast Iron's inventory management and e-commerce platform lets heavy equipment dealers identify, list and sell used parts and attachments from a single smartphone photo. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bloomreach Opens Its Platform to the Agentic Era: More Than 200 Agents Have Already Been Built on Loomi Connect by Marketers, Ecommerce Teams, and Technology Partners Worldwide 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/bloomreach-opens-platform-agentic-era-173900121.html MOUNTAIN VIEW, Ca., October 21, 2026--Bloomreach , the AI company for personalized customer engagement, today announced that brands, technology partners, and agencies around the world have already built more than 200 agents using Loomi Connect , the integration foundation for its Loomi intelligence la ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Octane AI Launches Phoenix, an AI Quiz Builder That Builds, Checks and Improves Quizzes for Shopify Brands 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/octane-ai-launches-phoenix-ai-171500352.html Phoenix builds a full quiz from a prompt or a document, catches broken logic before shoppers do and shows what every answer earns in Shopify revenue. SAN FRANCISCO, October 21, 2026--Octane AI , the quiz and zero-party data platform for Shopify brands, launched Phoenix in October, its biggest release ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Survey Reveals Top Reasons Why Shoppers Choose Real Christmas Trees 2026-10-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-reveals-top-reasons-why-shoppers-choose-real-christmas-trees-302915771.html 94% of buyers agree that having a real Christmas tree makes the holiday season feel more special HOWELL, Mich., Oct. 21, 2026 -- Ask people what buying a real Christmas tree means to them, and the answers go beyond a simple preference in décor. An annual consumer survey1... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ExchangeRight Announces Full Subscription of $17.80 Million Net-Leased All-Cash 20 DST 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Real estate, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/exchangeright-announces-full-subscription-17-163000674.html PASADENA, Calif., October 21, 2026--ExchangeRight, one of the nation's leading providers of diversified DST and REIT investments, has announced the full subscription of Net-Leased All-Cash 20 DST, a debt-free, $17.80 million portfolio of net-leased necessity-based retail properties that adds to the gro ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Rancher's Premium Smokehouse Announces Plans to Double Production Capacity to Support Surging Nationwide Demand 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/ranchers-premium-smokehouse-announces-plans-162500619.html Texas-Based Meat Manufacturer Accelerates Growth Following Major Retail Expansion, New Product Launches, and Increased Demand Across the Country DALLAS, October 21, 2026--Rancher's Premium Smokehouse announced plans to double its production capacity, supporting the company's rapid growth and retail expansions. The investment comes amid increasing consumer demand, retail partnerships, and an expand ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bob's Red Mill Promotes Daniel Barba to Chief Commercial Officer 2026-10-21 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bobs-red-mill-promotes-daniel-barba-to-chief-commercial-officer-302915386.html New role connects commercial strategy, innovation and consumer insights to drive continued growth at the employee-owned company PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 21, 2026 -- Bob's Red Mill, a leader in the homemade food movement for nearly 50 years, today announced the promotion of Daniel... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Plum Market Named Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Miami Beach Food & Beverage Expo, Launches Retail Innovation Award for Breakthrough CPG Brands Winning Brand 2026-10-21 · Newswire.com · Retail, Food & drink https://www.newswire.com/news/plum-market-named-presenting-sponsor-of-the-2026-miami-beach-food-22876569 Winning Brand to Secure Shelf Placement Across All Plum Market Full-Service Stores Alongside Strategic Marketing, Merchandising and Social Media Mentorship. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How to Spot Unbiased Product Reviews - New Consumer Guide Released 2026-10-21 · MarketersMEDIA · Retail https://news.marketersmedia.com/how-to-spot-unbiased-product-reviews-new-consumer-guide-released/89206906 BIWEEKLY REVIEWS releases a consumer guide on spotting unbiased product reviews, covering disclosures, review methods, brand comparisons, and manipulation warning signs to help shoppers evaluate big-ticket purchases with confidence. -- BIWEEKLY REVIEWS has published a consumer guide that helps shoppers work out whether online product reviews are genuinely independent before committing to a costly purchase. The guide ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Citrus Water Market Size, Share, and Revenue Forecast 2034 2026-10-21 · PR News Releaser · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/475802 The Citrus Water Market is expected to witness substantial growth through 2034, driven by increasing consumer awareness regarding healthy hydration, growing demand for low-calorie beverages, and rising interest in functional drinks. Citrus water products, infused with natural citrus extracts and ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cold Cereal Market Functional Food Demand Outlook 2034 2026-10-21 · PR News Releaser · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/475800 The Cold Cereal Market is projected to witness significant growth through 2034, supported by changing consumer lifestyles, increasing awareness of healthy eating habits, and growing demand for convenient breakfast solutions. Cold cereals remain one of the most popular breakfast categories ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— National Advertising Division Finds Royal Caribbean’s Modified Gratuities Disclosures Supported; Recommends Further Disclosure Modifications 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385719/0/en/national-advertising-division-finds-royal-caribbean-s-modified-gratuities-disclosures-supported-recommends-further-disclosure-modifications.html As part of its routine, ongoing monitoring program, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division determined that Royal Caribbean Group’s voluntarily modified advertising is supported but recommended further changes to the company’s disclosures regarding optional pre-payment of gratuities to avoid potential consumer confusion. As part of its routine, ongoing monitoring program, BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division determined that Royal Caribbean Group’s voluntarily modified advertising is supported but recommended further changes to the company’s disclosures regarding optional pre-payment of gratuities to avoid potential consumer confusion. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Allure Brings 30 Years of Best of Beauty to Life 2026-10-21 · WebWire · Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363148 Allure brought the Best of Beauty Awards to life through an immersive experience featuring product discovery, sampling, masterclasses and conversations with beauty experts. Allure hosted its fourth annual Best of Beauty Live Event in New York City, bringing the awards to life through an immersive, consumer-facing experience featuring product discovery, sampling, masterclasses and conversations with Allure editors and beauty experts. - - Throughout the evening guests had the opportunity to... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363148 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— All Purpose Cleanser Market Geographic Growth Assessment 2034 2026-10-21 · PR News Releaser · Retail https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/475790 The All Purpose Cleanser Market is expected to witness substantial growth through 2034, driven by increasing consumer awareness regarding hygiene, sanitation, and household cleanliness. All purpose cleansers are widely utilized across residential, commercial, and institutional settings due to their versatility ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KUIU Goes All In On Brick-and-Mortar with Opening of Sixth Store in Tempe, AZ 2026-10-21 · PR Newswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kuiu-goes-all-in-on-brick-and-mortar-with-opening-of-sixth-store-in-tempe-az-302915522.html The leader in high-performance hunting apparel and gear expands its U.S. retail footprint and its patented performance design with fast-growing Workwear line DIXON, Calif., Oct. 21, 2026 -- KUIU, the technical leader in ultralight hunting apparel and gear, doubles down on its... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Brand Trust Softens as Customers Look for Clearer Value From Texas Retail Electric Providers 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385693/0/en/brand-trust-softens-as-customers-look-for-clearer-value-from-texas-retail-electric-providers.html Escalent’s 2026 study finds Texas REP Brand Trust softening as customers seek affordability, better service and easier ways to manage costs ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— RayNeo Announces Canadian Retail Rollout for Its Next-Generation AR Entertainment and AI Glasses 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385684/0/en/rayneo-announces-canadian-retail-rollout-for-its-next-generation-ar-entertainment-and-ai-glasses.html GT MAX brings a virtual screen of up to 307 inches, while RayNeo iO Smart Glasses puts everyday AI in view, as part of a full Canadian lineup with glasses starting at $429 GT MAX brings a virtual screen of up to 307 inches, while RayNeo iO Smart Glasses puts everyday AI in view, as part of a full Canadian lineup with glasses starting at $429 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Appoints Stephen Sarnocinski to President - End User Research, Sales and Service - OPE Commercial Landscaping Market Global 2026-10-21 · ACN Newswire · Energy, Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110956/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 21, 2026 - Stephen (Sarno) Sarnocinski is named President - End User Research, Sales and Service - OPE Commercial Landscaping Market Global, effective October 20, 2026, reporting to Joe Galli, CEO. Sarnocinski brings 21+ years of extraordinary experience, performance and leadership to Chervon. He is a high-potential senior executive with an exciting future ahead at Chervon. Sarno will now assume a new role at Chervon focused on pioneering and developing the OPE Commercial Landscaper User Vertical. Sarno was most recently a Senior Vice President - Job Site Solutions for TTI/Milwaukee, leading the Utility, Energy, Communications and Mining Verticals. Over the past 10 years he has held increasingly responsible JSS positions in the Eastern USA. Before his JSS role, he was responsible for Milwaukee East Coast Service Operations. He started his TTI/Milwaukee career rising through a series of store coverage and territory management positions. Before joining TTI, Sarno served in the US Army for 4+ years where he became a Commissioned Officer responsible for 250+ soldiers. He was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sarno was awarded the Bronze Star for leadership in combat. "Sarno is the quintessential example of the inspired high-performance culture we are building at Chervon," said Joe Galli. "His world-class strategic leadership, team-building, and end-user sales skills make him a high-impact Chervon senior executive." "I believe my experience in the US Army and at TTI/Milwaukee prepared me for the aggressive growth mandate we have at Chervon," said Stephen Sarnocinski. "I am looking forward to working closely with our Chairman, Peter Pan, and Joe as we build Chervon into a position of global leadership in the exciting years ahead." Sarno is a graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA. He has an MBA from Temple University. ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com, +1 (331) 231-2360 SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Scan and Groove Lands Its First Consumer Packaged Good: Bucha Booch Kombucha 2026-10-21 · Newswire.com · Retail https://www.newswire.com/news/scan-and-groove-lands-its-first-consumer-packaged-good-bucha-booch-kombucha Sussex County kombucha maker adds a scannable label to its bottles, so every purchase comes with a free song from an independent artist ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Featured Brings Newsjacking to Local TV News 2026-10-21 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Retail, Sports https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610213075/featured-brings-newsjacking-to-local-tv-news Scottsdale, AZ Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 @ 7:04 AM Mountain — Featured, the AI co-pilot for PR, today added U.S. local TV stations to its platform. With Featured Newsjacking flagging breaking stories in a client’s beats and cities, PR teams can now find the stations covering that client’s market and draft a pitch to the news desk while the story is still moving. The new capability, Find TV Stations, runs inside the same Featured chat used for Newsjacking, so the workflow stays in one place: Set up Newsjacking with the client’s beats and city markets. When a story card arrives, open it in chat and ask for the TV stations in the client’s market, for example “Find TV stations in New York.” Draft the pitch to the news desk from a station card, leading with the local angle and the person who can be on camera today. Find TV Stations and Newsjacking are available on every Featured plan, including Free. Local news desks look for a local angle on national stories every day. Muck Rack’s State of Journalism 2026 survey found that 78% of journalists say a pitch is relevant when it directly affects the community their audience belongs to, and only 16% say the pitches they receive usually reflect that community. Local television is where that audience is. The Pew Research Center reports that 65% of Americans get local news from local TV stations at least sometimes, and in the Reuters Institute’s 2026 Digital News Report, 56% of U.S. respondents rated local TV news trustworthy, ahead of every national brand in the survey. The RTDNA/Newhouse survey published in September 2026 counted 26,458 full-time local TV news employees in 2025, down 2.2% in a year, with nearly two-thirds of stations relying on multimedia journalists who shoot, write and edit their own stories. “Every national story has a local version, and the local news desk usually wants it the same day,” said Brett Farmiloe, Founder and CEO of Featured. “Newsjacking finds the story and the angle. Now the stations in your client’s market are one more question in the same chat.” Featured’s TV station database covers 1,757 U.S. TV stations and carries newsroom contacts for 470 of them across 195 TV markets, including news desk emails for 365 stations and news desk phone numbers for 332. It also holds 269 department desk addresses for weather, sports, consumer and investigative teams. Contacts were collected from station websites in September 2026. Users can search by state, TV market, city, or call sign, and Featured shows which stations it can draft a pitch to. Find TV Stations is live now at featured.com. Free to start. No credit card. About Featured Featured is the AI co-pilot for PR, a platform that helps PR professionals and subject-matter experts land media placements, build brand authority, and grow AI visibility. The company owns and operates HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Connectively as standalone products within its portfolio. Learn more at featured.com. Press Inquiries Brett Farmiloe Email Contact https://featured.com Terkel, Inc. (dba Featured) 7014 E Camelback Rd, Suite B100A Scottsdale, AZ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Pokémon Center 2026-10-21 · Games Press · Retail https://www.gamespress.com/Media-Alert-New-Physical-Pokemon-Retail-Destination-Coming-to-London Head down to London and enter the first permanent physical retail space outside of Asia. London, United Kingdom - October 21, 2026. The Pokémon Company International has unveiled plans to open a permanent, physical Pokémon store in London, United Kingdom. The new store will be the ultimate destination for Pokémon fans and include a variety of exclusive merchandise and one-of-a-kind experiences for Trainers of all ages... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Klarna Launches Consumer FX: Shop From Klarna Merchants Worldwide, Regardless of Currency 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/currencies/articles/klarna-launches-consumer-fx-shop-124700454.html NEW YORK, October 21, 2026--Klarna Group Plc (NYSE: KLAR), the everyday finance network, today launched Consumer FX, which allows shoppers to buy from any participating Klarna merchant in the world and pay in their own currency, with no exchange fee. The price and rate are shown upfront and stay visibl ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Presidio Group Exclusively Advised Asbury Automotive Group on the Sale of Kia of Owings Mills to Stivers Automotive Group 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Automotive https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/presidio-group-exclusively-advised-asbury-123400373.html OWINGS MILLS, Md., October 21, 2026--The Presidio Group LLC ("Presidio"), an independent merchant banking firm focused on mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and investments in the automotive retail and consumer mobility sectors, exclusively advised Asbury Automotive Group Inc. ("Asbury") (NYSE: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Evolus to Report Third Quarter Financial Results on November 4, 2026 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/evolus-report-third-quarter-financial-123000605.html NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., October 21, 2026--Evolus, Inc. (NASDAQ: EOLS), a performance beauty company with a focus on building an aesthetic portfolio of consumer brands, today announced that it will report its third quarter 2026 financial results on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, after the U.S. financial m ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Alpha Modus Highlights Bitcoin Holdings with Value Exceeding $250 Million*, Potential $225 Million in Additional Cash Proceeds, ARIA Expansion Targeting Over 20,000 Retail Locations and Significant Federal Patent Litigation Milestones 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385504/0/en/alpha-modus-highlights-bitcoin-holdings-with-value-exceeding-250-million-potential-225-million-in-additional-cash-proceeds-aria-expansion-targeting-over-20-000-retail-locations-and.html Alpha Modus highlights $250M+ in Bitcoin, $225M in potential warrant proceeds, ARIA's 20,000+ retail pipeline and federal patent litigation progress. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MindWalk Screens 890,634 Antibody Sequences for Immune Risk in Under Five Hours 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · AI, Retail, Biotech & pharma, Semiconductors https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/mindwalk-screens-890-634-antibody-120100487.html New white paper shows LensAI™ immunogenicity screening running at up to 43% lower cost per sequence on Amazon EC2 Hpc8a instances powered by AMD EPYC processors, making a critical drug-safety check practical at the scale AI-driven discovery now demands AUSTIN, Texas, October 21, 2026--MindWalk Holdings ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Top Trends Shaping the Global PPG Biosensors Market Through 2034 2026-10-21 · PR News Releaser · Healthcare, Retail https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/475606 The Ppg Biosensors Market was valued at US$ 1.33 billion in 2025 and is Expected to reach US$ 2.67 billion by 2034; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 8.05% during 2026-2034. PPG biosensors are increasingly important in consumer health electronics ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cibolo Texas EDC Awards Over $200,000 in FY2026 Grants 2026-10-21 · Newsworthy.ai · Finance, AI, SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Education, Food & drink https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610213074/cibolo-texas-edc-awards-over-dollar200000-in-fy2026-grants Cibolo, Texas Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 @ 7:00 AM Eastern — The Cibolo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) announced that it awarded more than $200,000 in business development grants during fiscal year 2026, which ended September 30. The milestone comes during the first fiscal year of the EDGE Grant Program, an initiative designed to encourage business investment, commercial property improvements, and continued economic growth throughout Cibolo. Building on that progress, CEDC has consolidated its business grant offerings into a single program for fiscal year 2027: the Economic Development for Growth & Enhancement (EDGE) Grant Program. The updated program provides two funding tiers, allowing CEDC to support both smaller commercial improvement projects and larger business investments. Two Grant Opportunities for FY2027 The EDGE Grant Program now includes: Standard EDGE Grant: A 50/50 matching reimbursement grant of up to $15,000 for eligible commercial property improvements. Businesses can use the funding for qualifying projects such as façade enhancements, signage, exterior construction, lighting, and parking improvements. Special Circumstances EDGE Grant: Grants of up to $50,000 for qualifying projects involving an investment of $1 million or more. This tier is designed to provide additional support for larger business investments that contribute to Cibolo's economic development goals. By bringing its grant offerings together under the EDGE program, CEDC aims to simplify the process for businesses seeking financial assistance while providing greater flexibility to support projects of different sizes. “The EDGE Grant Program helps Cibolo businesses invest, grow, and strengthen our local economy,” said Clancy Hardin, Assistant Director of Economic Development, City of Cibolo. “The program’s first-year results demonstrate strong momentum, and the updated structure will allow us to support projects of all sizes.” Supporting Business Growth in Cibolo Originally introduced in July 2025, the EDGE Grant Program was created to help existing and new businesses invest in commercial properties, improve their facilities, and strengthen their presence in the community. Local businesses across retail, restaurants, and personal services have received grant awards, including River City ACE, CRUST Pizza, Max & Louie's New York Diner, and other Cibolo establishments. These awards demonstrate the program's reach across different business sectors and its role in encouraging local investment. "The Edge Grant signaled to us that the City of Cibolo was invested in supporting and helping us bring our dream of opening our restaurant to reality,” said Derek Campbell, Owner of Crust Pizza in Cibolo, Texas. “The grant showed us we picked the right city and how important we as small business owners are to the City of Cibolo!  They have continued to support us throughout our entire -process and have shown they are committed to our success.”  "Receiving the EDGE Grant means so much to our family,” said Shannon Eklund from River City Ace Hardware in Cibolo, Texas. “Opening River City Ace has been a labor of love, and we are incredibly grateful to the City of Cibolo for believing in our vision and supporting our investment in this community. From the beginning, our goal has been to create more than just a hardware store, we wanted to build a place where neighbors feel welcome, relationships are formed, and the community comes together. We are so proud to call Cibolo home and look forward to growing alongside this wonderful community for many years to come."   “The City of Cibolo’s EDGE Grant program was instrumental in helping bring Max & Louie’s NY Diner to life in Cibolo, Texas," said Drew Glick, Owner of Max & Louie’s NY Diner, Cibolo, Texas. “The amazing team, led by Clancy Hardin, was incredibly helpful throughout the process, and the availability of this grant to local business owners is truly immeasurable. The funding helped us install the drop-down blinds on our patio, enhancing the comfort and usability of our outdoor dining space, while also helping offset the cost of installing our incredible Max & Louie’s building signs. Programs like the EDGE Grant demonstrate the City’s commitment to supporting local businesses, strengthening the community, and helping businesses create inviting spaces for residents and visitors alike. We are extremely grateful to the City of Cibolo and its outstanding team for their support.” The more than $200,000 in grants awarded during FY2026 reflects CEDC's ongoing efforts to encourage private investment and support the local business community. The program also supports Cibolo's broader economic development strategy, which emphasizes business retention, expansion, and attracting new investment. With the introduction of the two-tier EDGE program for FY2027, CEDC is expanding the range of projects that may qualify for assistance while maintaining its focus on responsible economic development and long-term community growth. Businesses interested in learning more about the EDGE Grant Program, eligibility requirements, or the application process can visit www.cibolotx.gov/EDC or contact the Cibolo Economic Development Corporation at Email Contact. About the Cibolo Economic Development Corporation The Cibolo Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) supports economic growth and business development in Cibolo, Texas. Through business assistance programs, strategic investment initiatives, and partnerships with the local business community, CEDC works to encourage business retention, expansion, and new investment while supporting Cibolo's long-term economic vitality. For more information, visit www.cibolotx.gov/EDC. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tastewise and NIQ Connect Consumer Demand with Trusted Retail Performance for Food and Beverage Brands 2026-10-21 · PRWeb · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prweb.com/releases/tastewise-and-niq-connect-consumer-demand-with-trusted-retail-performance-for-food-and-beverage-brands-302915279.html Through the NIQ Partner Network, Tastewise clients can now access NIQ's trusted consumer and market intelligence to connect emerging consumer demand with verified marketplace performance NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2026 -- Today, Tastewise, an agentic intelligence system for... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lithia & Driveway (LAD) Reports Third Quarter Results, Achieves 54% Increase in Diluted Earnings Per Share, 9% Increase in Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, and Raises Quarterly Dividend 7% 2026-10-21 · PressReach · Finance, Retail, Semiconductors https://pressreach.com/lithia-driveway-lad-reports-third-quarter-results-achieves-54-increase-in-diluted-earnings-per-share-9-increase-in-adjusted-diluted-earnings-per-share-and-raises-quarterly-dividend-7 Key Highlights Record third quarter revenues of $9.9 billion Used retail GPUs increased $197, or 11%, year over year Aftersales gross profit increased by 2.4% and gross margin was 59.5%, a 100-basis point increase, on a same-store basis Financing Operations income of $32.3 million, a 69% increase year over year, with record originations of $937 … Continue reading "Lithia & Driveway (LAD) Reports Third Quarter Results, Achieves 54% Increase in Diluted Earnings Per Share, 9% Increase in Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share, and Raises Quarterly Dividend 7%" ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— North America Forklift Battery Market Size, Share, and Forecast (2021 - 2031) | E-Commerce and Lithium-Ion Adoption Fuel 6.7% CAGR and a US$2.17 Billion Opportunity 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Energy, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385239/28124/en/north-america-forklift-battery-market-size-share-and-forecast-2021-2031-e-commerce-and-lithium-ion-adoption-fuel-6-7-cagr-and-a-us-2-17-billion-opportunity.html Expansion, product innovation, and mergers and acquisitions capitalize on e-commerce, construction, and demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. Expansion, product innovation, and mergers and acquisitions capitalize on e-commerce, construction, and demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Software-Defined Data Center Market Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Global Forecast to 2031 | Retailers Lean on AI Forecasting as Retail Analytics Heads for $23.21bn 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385228/28124/en/software-defined-data-center-market-size-share-growth-trends-and-global-forecast-to-2031-retailers-lean-on-ai-forecasting-as-retail-analytics-heads-for-23-21bn.html Latest Report Added to Reseach and Markets values the market at $11.82bn in 2026, with operations and supply chain the leading application and Asia Pacific growing fastest, though stitching together physical and digital data remains a stubborn problem for Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Adobe Latest Report Added to Reseach and Markets values the market at $11.82bn in 2026, with operations and supply chain the leading application and Asia Pacific growing fastest, though stitching together physical and digital data remains a stubborn problem for Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Adobe ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Afro Nation Co-Founder Dr Adesegun "Dr King SMADE" Adeosun Jr Joins African Collaborations Group (ACG) Advisory Board to Advance Sport and Entertainment Districts Across Africa 2026-10-21 · APO Group · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Travel, Sports https://africancollaborationsgroupacg.africa-newsroom.com/press/afro-nation-cofounder-dr-adesegun-dr-king-smade-adeosun-jr-joins-african-collaborations-group-acg-advisory-board-to-advance-sport-and-entertainment-districts-across-africa?lang=en African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, today announced the appointment of Dr Adesegun Adeosun Jr, widely known as Dr King SMADE, to its Advisory Board. Dr Adeosun is Founder of SMADE Group, the cultural enterprise powering African creativity worldwide, and Co-Founder of Afro Nation, the world's largest Afrobeats festival. Over more than two decades, he has played a defining role in the global rise of Afrobeats, taking African music from the diaspora underground to the global mainstream, and building the platforms, venues, festivals and campaigns that carried it there. His work spans music, live entertainment, cultural infrastructure and cultural diplomacy across Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and North America. He has promoted and produced headline shows for many of the biggest names in African music, including Wizkid, Burna Boy, Davido and Tiwa Savage, and holds the historic distinction of selling out London's O2 Arena three nights in a row for Wizkid — a first in the arena's history for an African act. He co-launched the Official UK Afrobeats Chart, contributed to the Billboard US Afrobeats Chart, and built cultural infrastructure through venues including SMADE Lounge and programming partnerships with institutions such as The Africa Centre. His current work sits deliberately at the intersection of music, policy, tourism and economic development, using culture as a strategic tool for job creation, investment, exports and long-term nation branding, and building sustainable creative ecosystems anchored on talent pipelines, ownership pathways and global partnerships that ensure culture is economically protected and future-proofed. His appointment to the ACG Advisory Board is strategically foundational to ACG's doctrine. Sport and entertainment districts, at the scale ACG is originating, cannot be conceived as sport infrastructure with entertainment layered on afterwards; they must be designed as integrated sport and entertainment ecosystems from the outset. Entertainment programming — music, festivals, concerts, cultural events — is what fills a district on non-match days, sustains the venue economics that underpin financial bankability, animates the surrounding retail, hospitality and public realm, and turns a stadium project into a lived cultural asset for the city and country that host it. Dr King SMADE's appointment ensures that this integrated logic is embedded into ACG's work from the first conception of a project, not added as an afterthought. His appointment brings to the ACG Advisory Board an unmatched combination of cultural entrepreneurship, festival and venue programming expertise, deep relationships across the artistic, cultural and diaspora communities, and a demonstrated track record of building cultural infrastructure that generates real economic value — capabilities directly relevant to originating and structuring large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the African continent. "You cannot think sport infrastructure without thinking entertainment from the outset, and Dr King SMADE's appointment is a strategic statement of exactly that principle. What he has built with Afro Nation and SMADE Group — a global cultural platform anchored in African creativity — is the very ecosystem thinking that ACG is applying to sport and entertainment districts across the continent. His presence on our Advisory Board ensures that entertainment, culture and creative economy considerations are embedded into every project we originate from the first conception, not added at a later stage. That is what makes district ecosystems financially viable, culturally alive, and genuinely valuable to the cities and communities they serve," said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), Founder and Executive Chairman of ACG. The ACG Advisory Board provides strategic guidance as ACG originates and structures large-scale sport and entertainment district projects across the continent, aligning governments, development finance institutions (DFIs), investors, sport bodies and infrastructure partners to support the development of financially sustainable, mixed-use district ecosystems. Africa's sport economy is projected to reach $20 billion by 2035, yet the continent continues to lack the integrated district ecosystems required to support large-scale development. ACG addresses this gap by originating bankable sport and entertainment district projects, moving beyond single-venue development models towards mixed-use, revenue-generating and financially sustainable district ecosystems. Through its collaborative model, ACG convenes governments, PPP authorities and regulators, development finance institutions, private investors, developers, designers and engineers, legal and transaction advisors, operators, sport federations and leagues, event promoters, media and broadcast partners, academic institutions and host communities, creating structured pathways from concept to feasibility, bankability and delivery. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Collaborations Group (ACG). Media contact: marie@apo-opa.com About African Collaborations Group (ACG): www.ACGafrica.com) is the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems. By convening governments, private-sector partners, development finance institutions, sport and entertainment stakeholders, and academic institutions, ACG creates structured pathways that transform concepts into investable and deliverable district projects across the continent. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TNT Coming Soon to Walmart.com as U.S. Expansion Continues 2026-10-21 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Gaming, Education, Food & drink, Sports, Biotech & pharma https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610213062/tnt-coming-soon-to-walmartcom-as-us-expansion-continues Boca Raton, Florida Wednesday Oct 21, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — True Nutrition Technology (TNT), the German sports nutrition brand serving more than 500,000 customers, is moving forward with plans to make its products available on Walmart.com, marking another step in the company's ongoing expansion into the United States. The upcoming Walmart.com availability will build on TNT's existing presence through Amazon and OneLavi, expanding the online retail options available to American consumers interested in the company's German sports nutrition portfolio. "Walmart.com represents another important opportunity for TNT as we continue building our presence in the United States," said Markus Himmelstoss, Managing Director of TNT. "We've established a strong customer base in Europe, and our goal is to make TNT more accessible to American consumers through the online retail platforms they already know and use." Expanding Access to German Sports Nutrition TNT's U.S. retail strategy is focused on introducing its established European sports nutrition portfolio to a broader American audience through recognized retail platforms. The company's product lineup includes Creatine Monohydrate Creapure®, CLEAR WHEY protein isolate, Synapsensause Pre-Workout, and Game Changer, a carbohydrate and electrolyte formulation. TNT has developed its brand around German product development, quality standards, and a focus on athletes and active consumers. As the company expands in the United States, its retail strategy emphasizes both product availability and building awareness of TNT as an established international sports nutrition brand. "We believe American consumers appreciate quality, transparency, and brands with a clear identity," Himmelstoss said. "TNT has spent years building that foundation in Germany and Europe. Our U.S. expansion is about introducing that same commitment to a new market." Building on Recent U.S. Retail Activity The planned Walmart.com availability follows TNT's participation in the September ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where the company introduced its product portfolio to U.S. retail buyers. That participation was part of TNT's broader effort to develop relationships within the American retail marketplace while continuing to expand its online distribution. With Amazon and OneLavi already providing access to TNT products in the United States, Walmart.com represents another opportunity to broaden the brand's reach. The company views its U.S. expansion as a long-term effort that combines established retail platforms, brand education, and continued introductions to American consumers. Continuing TNT's U.S. Growth TNT's expansion reflects its strategy of building on an established European customer base while adapting to the opportunities of the American sports nutrition marketplace. The company plans to continue supporting its existing U.S. retail presence while preparing for its upcoming Walmart.com availability. "Every new retail platform gives us another opportunity to introduce TNT to consumers who may not yet be familiar with our brand," Himmelstoss said. "We're excited about the progress we're making and look forward to continuing that growth in the United States." TNT products are currently available to U.S. consumers through Amazon and OneLavi, with Walmart.com availability planned. Where American Consumers Can Purchase TNT Products TNT Creatine Monohydrate Creapure®  Powder on OneLavi TNT Synapsensause Pre-Workout "Wild Berry" Pre-Workout Booster on Amazon TNT Synapsensause Pre-Workout "Wild Berry" Pre-Workout Booster on OneLavi TNT Clear Whey Protein Isolate - Peach Iced Tea on OneLavi About TNT (True Nutrition Technology) Founded in Germany by former athletes Michael Weigl and Markus Himmelstoss, TNT (True Nutrition Technology) is a leading sports nutrition brand trusted by more than 500,000 customers. Since 2012, TNT has produced premium supplements under strict German quality standards, with every product independently lab-tested for safety, purity, and transparency. TNT’s core product lineup includes Creatine Monohydrate Creapure®, CLEAR WHEY Protein, and Synapsensause Pre-Workout-three performance-focused supplements widely used by athletes to support strength, recovery, energy, and training intensity. From advanced protein blends to innovative vegan formulations, TNT develops evidence-based nutrition designed to help athletes and everyday individuals perform at their best. More than just supplements, TNT represents a passion for sport, health, and performance. Built on German precision and a culture of honesty, TNT continues to expand globally with one mission: delivering the highest quality nutrition-for us, and for you. FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Molded Interconnect Device (MID) - Global Strategic Business Report 2026 | Secure Share as Market Surges 141% to $5.3B by 2032; Benchmark Amphenol, HARTING, KYOCERA, Molex and TE Connectivity 2026-10-21 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/21/3385148/28124/en/molded-interconnect-device-mid-global-strategic-business-report-2026-secure-share-as-market-surges-141-to-5-3b-by-2032-benchmark-amphenol-harting-kyocera-molex-and-te-connectivity.html Miniaturization, lower assembly costs and design flexibility fuel MID adoption across automotive, consumer electronics and healthcare Miniaturization, lower assembly costs and design flexibility fuel MID adoption across automotive, consumer electronics and healthcare ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NIQ Announces 2026 Western Europe NIQ BASES Breakthrough Innovation Award Winners 2026-10-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/niq-announces-2026-western-europe-080000288.html Annual awards recognize the products reshaping FMCG categories across Western Europe's largest markets LONDON, October 21, 2026--NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, today announced the winners of its 2026 Western Europe NIQ BASES Breakthrough Innovation Awards , recognizing ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— QNX Research Finds Automotive Developers Spend More than a Third of Their Time on Software "Plumbing" Slowing SDV Innovation 2026-10-21 · Newswire.com · AI, SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Cybersecurity https://www.newswire.com/news/press-release-qnx-research-finds-automotive-developers-spend-more-than-22876192 Second annual global study of 1,100 automotive software developers finds persistent integration challenges, rising security concerns and a more practical view of AI in SDV development Key Findings from the 2026 Under the Hood: SDV Developer Report: 35% of developer effort is spent, on average, on software integration work below the vehicle application layer rather than building differentiating consumer features with 19% spending at least half their time on that integration work. 76% agree that OEMs should prioritize application-layer innovation over software infrastructure, highlighting the continued importance of focusing on delivering differentiating customer experiences. 75% say the lack of a common, reusable software foundation slows SDV development. Security is now the number one future concern among developers (48%), and 83% believe SDVs will become a major cyberattack target within the next three years. AI expectations are becoming more practical: only a quarter think AI will be ‘transformational' (down from 36%), while those seeing it as significant and integrated into workflows rose to 62%. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Collingwood Press Releases "A Day in the Life of Root Beer (The Dachshund)" by Mark Eggers 2026-10-21 · 24-7 Press Release · Retail, Food & drink https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539780/the-collingwood-press-releases-a-day-in-the-life-of-root-beer-the-dachshund-by-mark-eggers A children's picture book that follows one dachshund from his morning crate to bedtime is now available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) equips African library professionals to navigate the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era 2026-10-21 · APO Group · AI, Retail, Education, Sustainability https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/economic-commission-for-africa-eca-equips-african-library-professionals-to-navigate-the-artificial-intelligence-ai-era?lang=en As artificial intelligence transforms how information is produced, accessed and used, African libraries and information professionals have a growing role to play in ensuring that knowledge remains accessible, reliable and relevant to the continent's development. This was at the centre of a three-day training on “Empowering African Libraries and Information Professionals for the AI Era,” bringing together participants from universities, libraries and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Opening the training, ECA's Director of Strategic Planning, Oversight and Results Division (SPORD), Said Adejumobi, highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between African institutions and expertise across the diaspora. “The collaboration between African institutions and the diaspora should be highly encouraged if Africa is to tap into its knowledge base, compete with the rest of the world, and accelerate its development agenda,” he said. Led by experts from Solent University and Dublin City University, the training covers metadata and resource discovery, artificial intelligence and data literacy, user-centred library services, practical applications of AI and planning for the future of library and information services. The programme comes as libraries increasingly navigate both the opportunities and challenges created by artificial intelligence. While AI can improve access to information, resource discovery and knowledge services, its growing use also raises concerns around misinformation, bias, copyright and the reliability of information. For libraries, this makes strong information management systems, quality metadata and professional oversight increasingly important in ensuring that knowledge can be accurately discovered, interpreted and used. Getaneh Alemu, a systems and data librarian at Solent University, said the training “underscores ECA's commitment to building future-ready libraries that leverage emerging technologies, enhance access to knowledge, and support Africa's sustainable development agenda.” ECA Senior Librarian Solomon Weldetensay said the training aims to equip African library and information professionals with the skills to harness AI responsibly, improve resource discovery and strengthen library services, while supporting greater knowledge sharing across the continent. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in research, education and professional life, strengthening the capacity of African knowledge institutions will be essential to ensuring that the continent is not only a consumer of emerging technologies, but is equipped to shape how knowledge is organized, accessed and used in the AI era. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PunchDrunk Digital Named Top Three Ad Age Finalist for Best Use of Research with GUS Audience Intelligence Platform 2026-10-20 · Newswire.com · SaaS, Retail https://www.newswire.com/news/punchdrunk-digital-named-top-three-ad-age-finalist-for-best-use-of-research National recognition highlights the independent agency's innovative approach to understanding consumer behavior and building smarter advertising strategies. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NCLA Sues CPSC and Commissioner Feldman for Illegally Banning Lobbyist from Agency Buildings 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3385036/0/en/ncla-sues-cpsc-and-commissioner-feldman-for-illegally-banning-lobbyist-from-agency-buildings.html Edward D. Krenik v. Peter A. Feldman, Consumer Product Safety Commission, James Webb, et al. Edward D. Krenik v. Peter A. Feldman, Consumer Product Safety Commission, James Webb, et al. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon commits 30,000 jobs to young people in the UK by 2030—no experience required 2026-10-20 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-youth-promise-uk?utm_source=rss The Amazon Youth Promise will also see 10,000 work experience places open to young people in the UK. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Trading Central and TMX Datalinx Close the Market 2026-10-20 · Newsfile · Retail, Media https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/320074/Trading-Central-and-TMX-Datalinx-Close-the-Market Toronto, Ontario--(October 20, 2026) - Michelle Tran, President, TMX Datalinx, TMX Group, along with members of TMX Datalinx, joined Trading Central to close the market and celebrate their inaugural summit: Empowering the Modern Investor: Next-Gen Technology and Evolving Retail Dynamics.Cannot view this video? Visit:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GksQfyAHUA8Sponsored by Quest Media, the event brought together North American brokerages to explore how cutting-edge technology,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Newegg Closes $100 Million Senior Credit Facility Led by East West Bank 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/newegg-closes-100-million-senior-210000911.html DIAMOND BAR, Calif., October 20, 2026--Newegg Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEGG), a leading global technology e-commerce retailer, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a $100 million senior credit facility led and arranged by East West Bank with participation from a syndicate of lenders. This fa ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Renue By Science Releases White Paper on Liposomal NAD+ and Methylene Blue Body Cream for Aging and Crepey Skin 2026-10-20 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/renue-by-science-releases-white-paper-on-liposomal-nad-and-methylene-blue-body-cream-for-aging-and-crepey-skin-302914639.html JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 -- Renue By Science, a longevity-focused wellness company specializing in NAD+ formulations, today announced the release of its latest whitepaper on Renue Blue Moisturizing Body Cream. The whitepaper reports results from a four-week consumer... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chatsi Announces $2.5 Million Seed Financing Commitment to Expand AI Sales Agents for Ecommerce 2026-10-20 · PR.com · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.pr.com/press-release/981717 Chatsi announced a $2.5 million seed round led by DealerSocket co-founder Jonathan Ord to expand its AI sales agent platform. Serving top global brands across B2C, D2C and B2B commerce, Chatsi integrates with existing websites to help shoppers compare products, get answers and buy with confidence. [PR.com] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ROLLINS, INC. INCREASES REGULAR QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND 2026-10-20 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rollins-inc-increases-regular-quarterly-cash-dividend-302914529.html ATLANTA, Oct. 20, 2026 -- Rollins, Inc. (NYSE: ROL), a premier global consumer and commercial services company, announced that the Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on its common stock of $0.20 per share payable December 10, 2026 to shareholders of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Inc. Names Recom a Global Power Partner 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/inc-names-recom-global-power-191200773.html Recom recognized for its unmatched ability to help consumer brands accelerate their ecommerce growth as AI reshapes the way people discover and buy. DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla., October 20, 2026--Recom has been named to the 2026 Inc. Power Partners List — a data-driven initiative to identify the companies ar ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vadzo Imaging Validates Low Power Performance on Falcon-830CRS: Onsemi HyperLux LP AR0830 8MP Color USB Camera for Power Efficient Embedded Vision 2026-10-20 · Newswire.com · Energy, Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.newswire.com/news/vadzo-imaging-validates-low-power-performance-on-falcon-830crs-onsemi-22876003 The Falcon-830CRS is an 8MP Color USB Camera built on the Onsemi HyperLux LP AR0830 sensor, and Vadzo has validated its super-low-power performance for power-efficient embedded vision. Battery-powered and always-on devices cannot afford a camera that streams all day to catch a few seconds of activity. They need a module that idles at very low power, wakes when something moves, and then captures a frame that holds detail in both bright and dark regions. As a 4K Super Low Power USB Camera, the Falcon-830CRS combines a super low power mode with wake on motion, and two dynamic range modes, line interleaved HDR and enhanced dynamic range, for scenes of different contrast. Auto exposure and auto white balance keep the picture usable from the first frame. As an 8MP Low Power USB Camera and a 4K Color USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera, it connects over a standard cable. Designed for smart security, retail in-store, kiosk, and drone systems, the module helps designers spend power only when there is something to see. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Greenland Mines (GRML) Begins Trading on Xetra to Expand Global Investor Access 2026-10-20 · NewMediaWire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Industrial https://www.newmediawire.com/news/greenland-mines-grml-begins-trading-on-xetra-to-expand-global-investor-access-7090760 LOS ANGELES, CA - October 20, 2026 - Greenland Mines (NASDAQ: GRML) (FSE: HK6), a Greenland-focused critical-minerals developer, announced that its common stock has begun trading on Xetra, the electronic trading platform operated by Deutsche Borse AG in Germany. MWB Fairtrade AG will serve as designated sponsor, supporting trading liquidity and turnover. The addition of Xetra is intended to broaden the company’s investor base, improve liquidity and enhance price discovery by providing greater access to European institutional and retail investors. Xetra’s international trading network also provides access to investors in Asia and the Middle East, including through trading participants in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. The platform enables investors to trade Greenland Mines shares in euros during European market hours, expanding accessibility beyond U.S. trading hours. Nasdaq will remain the company’s principal trading market, and Greenland Mines will continue to operate as a Nasdaq-listed, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission-reporting issuer. To view the full press release, visit https://ibn.fm/fKTD0 About Greenland Mines Ltd. Greenland Mines Ltd. is a Nasdaq-listed resource development and mining company focused on the development of the Skaergaard Project in southeast Greenland and the Sarfartoq neodymium-praseodymium rare earths project in southwest Greenland. The Company’s strategy is centered on building a multi-asset platform with exposure to rare earth magnet materials, precious metals and select midstream processing opportunities, while advancing its assets and broader North Atlantic Critical Metals Corridor vision linking Greenland resources with allied downstream jurisdictions and industrial infrastructure. Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the InvestorBrandNetwork website applicable to all content provided by IBN, wherever published or re-published: https://IBN.ai/Disclaimer The latest news and updates relating to GRML are available in the company’s newsroom at https://ibn.fm/GRML Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this article are forward-looking, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and may not be indicative of future results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, various factors beyond management's control, including the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" discussed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or any updates discussed under the caption "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part II of the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in the Company's other filings with the SEC. Undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements in this article in making an investment decision, which are based on information available to us on the date hereof. All parties undertake no duty to update this information unless required by law. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Creates Over 300,000 New U.S. Jobs This Holiday Season with Increased Pay and Expanded Benefits 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/amazon-creates-over-300-000-183100154.html Starting January 1, 2027, eligible seasonal employees will have access to healthcare coverage from their first day on the job SEATTLE, October 20, 2026--Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced it is hiring over 300,000 people for seasonal, part-time, and full-time roles across its U.S. core operations ne ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LISNR Launches on Samsung VXT to Enable Ultrasonic Proximity Engagement via Digital Signage 2026-10-20 · PRWeb · SaaS, Retail, Travel https://www.prweb.com/releases/lisnr-launches-on-samsung-vxt-to-enable-ultrasonic-proximity-engagement-via-digital-signage-302914462.html New collaboration transforms Samsung's cloud-native platform into an active commerce layer, enabling secure, hardware-free proximity engagement across retail, QSR, hospitality, transit and venues. CINCINNATI, Oct. 20, 2026 -- LISNR, the global leader in ultrasonic... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Publix Recognized on Fortune’s Best Workplaces in Retail List for the 13th Consecutive Year 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/publix-recognized-fortune-best-workplaces-173000393.html LAKELAND, Fla., October 20, 2026--Publix has been named on the 2026 Best Workplaces in Retail list by Fortune , ranking No. 5 of the 20 best large retail workplaces. Associates say that the company's support of its workers, its promote-from-within culture and commitment to the community are among the r ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fortune Media and Great Place To Work Name White Castle to 2026 Best Workplaces in Retail List, Ranking No. 11 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/fortune-media-great-place-name-171900536.html COLUMBUS, Ohio, October 20, 2026--Great Place To Work® and Fortune magazine have selected White Castle for the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail™ list. This is White Castle's fifth consecutive year being named to this prestigious list, this year coming in at 11th place in the large category. Earni ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vadzo Imaging Validates Bolt-234CGS Camera Compatibility with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin: Onsemi AR0234 2MP Color MIPI CSI-2 Camera with Global Shutter and Onboard ISP 2026-10-20 · Newswire.com · SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Logistics https://www.newswire.com/news/vadzo-imaging-validates-bolt-234cgs-camera-compatibility-with-nvidia-22875327 The Bolt-234CGS is a 2MP Color MIPI CSI-2 Camera built on the Onsemi AR0234 sensor, and Vadzo has validated its compatibility with NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin. Jetson AGX Orin is a platform for multi-camera robots, retail systems, and surveillance nodes, and the camera modules attached to it decide how well that compute is used. Two choices matter most. A global shutter exposes every pixel at the same instant, so a moving robot, a passing shopper, or a vehicle appears undistorted. An on-board image signal processor finishes the image inside the module, so the Jetson receives a processed YUV image and its own ISP does not need to be tuned for the sensor. As a 2MP Global Shutter MIPI Camera and a 2MP AGX Orin MIPI Camera, the Bolt-234CGS delivers Full HD at up to 60 frames per second, with auto exposure and auto white balance applied in the module. Designed for warehouse robotics, smart surveillance, and retail analytics and automation, it gives AGX Orin systems consistent color and distortion-free frames. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cosmos Health CEO Greg Siokas Issues Letter to Shareholders Highlighting Record 2026 Revenue, U.S. Subscription Growth and Global Expansion 2026-10-20 · Newswire.com · Finance, Healthcare, Real estate, Retail, Industrial, Biotech & pharma https://www.newswire.com/news/cosmos-health-ceo-greg-siokas-issues-letter-to-shareholders-highlighting-record Key Highlights Record revenue: preliminary nine-month 2026 revenue of approximately $54.3 million, up 19%, with every quarter of 2026 setting a record 2026 outlook reaffirmed: full-year revenue expected to surpass $90 million, up approximately 38%, the largest single-year revenue increase in the Company's history Record fourth quarter expected: revenue of approximately $35.7 million or more, up approximately 81% from the fourth quarter of 2025 Multiple engines of growth: pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and distribution, proprietary brands and U.S. e-commerce all expected to contribute U.S. e-commerce scaling rapidly: 8,940 active U.S. subscriptions as of October 19, 2026, up 42% in five days, with approximately $15 million in revenue and $10.5 million in gross profit expected in the fourth quarter Record CMO pipeline: more than 32.7 million units at Cana Laboratories, up sixfold since mid-2024 Record distribution volumes: CosmoFarm serving more than 1,500 pharmacies, with revenue up approximately 4.3 times under Cosmos Health ownership Global brand expansion: proprietary brands sold in more than 40 countries, with particular momentum in Europe and the Gulf Diversified balance sheet: approximately $20 million in non-core assets, including real estate and digital assets, and total liabilities down 13.3% in the first half of 2026 Share repurchases: more than 5.1 million shares repurchased for approximately $1.1 million R&D in weight management: advancing CCX0722, a hydrogel-based weight-management device with patent applications in four major markets Path to 2029: < ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Oncourse Home Solutions Appoints Julie Ann Szudarek as President and Chief Operating Officer 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/oncourse-home-solutions-appoints-julie-150000520.html Szudarek brings deep executive experience across consumer, tech, and subscription platforms to drive growth and operational excellence NAPERVILLE, Ill., October 20, 2026--Oncourse Home Solutions , a leading provider of home protection plans and a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, today announced t ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Synthflow AI'S Voice Technology Goes Live on Zoom Phone and Zoom Contact Center, Powering Conversational CX at Scale 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/synthflow-ais-voice-technology-goes-140000173.html The integration is live across more than 700 Batteries Plus locations, showcasing how the partnership scales AI-powered customer experience for multi-location retail brands. BERLIN & HARTLAND, Wis., October 20, 2026--Synthflow AI, an enterprise AI agent platform for customer conversations, today announ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CarMax Recognized as a Fortune 2026 Best Workplaces in Retail 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384616/0/en/carmax-recognized-as-a-fortune-2026-best-workplaces-in-retail.html RICHMOND, VA, Oct. 20, 2026 -- CarMax (NYSE: KMX) has been named as one of the 2026 Fortune Best Workplaces in Retail™ for the 12th consecutive year, ranking #6 in the large company category. This award underscores CarMax’s commitment to creating a workplace where associates feel valued and supported, empowering them to grow, contribute, and do their best work. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Destination Dining, Food Experiences Drive Restaurant Leasing Momentum Across Macerich Portfolio of Class A Retail Properties 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384600/0/en/destination-dining-food-experiences-drive-restaurant-leasing-momentum-across-macerich-portfolio-of-class-a-retail-properties.html First-to-market Eataly, Seafood City and Din Tai Fung locations highlight growing roster of experience-forward dining and food-related concepts First-to-market Eataly, Seafood City and Din Tai Fung locations highlight growing roster of experience-forward dining and food-related concepts ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Garanti BBVA Named Turkey's Best Consumer Digital Bank by Global Finance 2026-10-20 · WebWire · AI, Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363082 Garanti BBVA has been named 'Best Consumer Digital Bank in Turkey at Global Finance's World's Best Digital Bank Awards. In 2025, Garanti BBVA delivered a digital banking experience powered by artificial intelligence, real-time data, and personalization technologies to its 17.9 million active mobile banking clients. - - Garanti BBVA has received the 'Best Consumer Digital Bank in Turkey' award as part of Global Finance's World's Best Digital Bank Awards program. The award recognizes excell... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363082 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GEODIS establishes new European distribution hub for Lovevery in Germany 2026-10-20 · WebWire · Retail, Education, Logistics https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363080 GEODIS has established its multi-user facility in Malsfeld, Germany, as the new European distribution hub for Lovevery, a global early childhood development company specialising in educational toys, books and learning programs designed to support children and parents. The site became the central hub for Lovevery's European e-commerce logistics following the relocation of its operations from Hamburg at the beginning of 2025. - - Lovevery's operations are based at the Malsfeld facility, whe... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363080 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ShipMonk Named 2026 Inc. Power Partner Award Winner 2026-10-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/shipmonk-named-2026-inc-power-134800785.html Recognition highlights ShipMonk's technology-driven approach to helping ecommerce brands scale, adapt, and navigate operational complexity. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., October 20, 2026--ShipMonk, a technology-driven fulfillment partner for mid-market and enterprise ecommerce brands, has been named a winner ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kaspersky identifies vulnerabilities in barcode scanners, posing potential threat for the warehouse industry 2026-10-20 · APO Group · SaaS, Retail, Industrial, Logistics, Cybersecurity https://kaspersky.africa-newsroom.com/press/kaspersky-identifies-vulnerabilities-in-barcode-scanners-posing-potential-threat-for-the-warehouse-industry?lang=en Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) experts have discovered a new cyber-attack vector via a widely used barcode scanner model that could expose e-commerce supply chains to cyberattacks. The findings, presented at the Security Analyst Summit 2026 in Bali, are part of a security audit of a warehouse digital ecosystem. Modern warehouses are far more than simple storage spaces, they constitute complex ecosystems built upon multiple technologies and devices. With global e-commerce sales nearly doubling (https://apo-opa.co/4yxQIhZ) since 2019 to over $6 trillion, any disruption or delay in the delivery chain can result in massive financial and reputational losses. To identify possible risks Kaspersky Security Services researchers have examined multiple cyber-attack vectors on warehouse infrastructure, including attacks conducted using various devices in warehouse systems, and have found a new attack vector exploiting a vulnerability in a barcode scanner model from a major manufacturer. Such devices are widely used in warehousing, retail, and multiple other sectors. A typical setup has handheld scanners communicating with a base station, which is in turn connected to a workstation or another business system. The main weak point is that there is no authentication between the base station and the scanners. Kaspersky research reveals that these scanners might serve as an entry point into the warehouse OT network. The attack could be conducted through the scanner’s wireless link. Kaspersky researchers found that an attacker within range could inject keystrokes into the connected device and potentially achieve remote code execution without requiring user interaction. In a hypothetical attack, a user may be carrying out their normal daily work using a wireless barcode scanner connected to a base station, while an attacker obtains the Bluetooth address of the base station, for example, through passive eavesdropping on Bluetooth traffic. Through the established Bluetooth connection, the attacker sends a malicious payload to the base station, simulating keyboard keystrokes. The base station forwards these keystrokes to the connected PC, where they are interpreted as legitimate user input and may be used to execute unauthorised commands. This attack pattern was observed across devices from multiple vendors. As a result, the attacker could gain an initial foothold on a computer within the warehouse network. The scanner serves only as the entry point. The significance of this foothold lies in the computer’s trusted position within the operational environment and its connectivity to critical systems. These attack vectors may pose a significant threat not only to the warehouse industry but also to the retail sector and any other domain where such devices are actively used. Kaspersky researchers believe that the same attack scenarios might be used for other warehouse devices like Portable Data Terminals (PDR) or thermal printers to gain access to infrastructure, such as Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). “Modern retail and logistics are profoundly digital, from enterprise-wide management platforms down to every device in a worker’s hands. This pervasive connectivity means that any technology at any tier can become an entry point for a cyberattack capable of destabilising the entire ecosystem – as our research shows, even a single barcode scanner. The warehouse sector, and the broader retail industry, should treat cybersecurity as a top priority across every layer of their operations,” said Sergey Sidorov, Head of Industrial Security Services at Kaspersky. To enhance security in warehouse environments, Kaspersky experts recommend verifying every new device before it connects to the network, disabling any unused Bluetooth interfaces and enforce strong authentication mechanisms, segmenting warehouse networks so that only essential connections are permitted, promptly applying security updates to both devices and the WMS, while restricting account permissions to the minimum required, and regularly conduct full‑scale attack‑path exercises that include scenarios involving insiders with legitimate credentials. Kaspersky offers a comprehensive assessment of industrial environments: uncovering weaknesses in ICS, OT, and networked devices, evaluating configurations and access paths, and mapping vulnerabilities to reveal actionable risks. By assessing systems on-site, Kaspersky ICS Security Assessment (https://apo-opa.co/3W06Wmq) uncovers hidden risks and delivers actionable insights without disrupting operations. These measures can be reinforced with purpose-built solutions such as Kaspersky Industrial Cyber Security (KICS) (https://apo-opa.co/3WB0TVC), designed to protect industrial organisations, including logistics companies. The platform helps enhance visibility across the corporate infrastructure and strengthen cybersecurity without disrupting operations or compromising system availability. Read the full security audit of the warehouse digital ecosystem on the Securelist.com (https://apo-opa.co/4k78KE8). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky. For further information please contact: nicole@inkandco.co.za Social Media: https://apo-opa.co/4BetxM6 https://apo-opa.co/4slhSr6 https://apo-opa.co/3WC9U0A https://apo-opa.co/4sbqkZD https://apo-opa.co/4BfwwE7 About Kaspersky Security Services: About Kaspersky: www.Kaspersky.co.za. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Investor Alert: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Is Investigating Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (CDNL) 2026-10-20 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/319192/Investor-Alert-ScottScott-Attorneys-at-Law-LLP-Is-Investigating-Cardinal-Infrastructure-Group-Inc.-CDNL New York, New York--(October 20, 2026) - Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), a shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm, alerts investors that it is investigating potential violations of U.S. federal securities laws involving Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNL).CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL CLASS ACTIONWhat is Cardinal Infrastructure?Cardinal Infrastructure is a North Carolina-based infrastructure... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Roster Adds TikTok Creator Discovery and Spark Ads, Giving Social, Brand and Paid Media Teams One Platform for Creator Marketing 2026-10-20 · PRWeb · SaaS, Retail https://www.prweb.com/releases/roster-adds-tiktok-creator-discovery-and-spark-ads-giving-social-brand-and-paid-media-teams-one-platform-for-creator-marketing-302912312.html Built on official TikTok APIs, the new features let DTC and ecommerce brands find creators who fit in the TikTok Creator Marketplace and turn their best videos into Spark Ads, with every creator permission tracked in Roster. LEHI, Utah, Oct. 20, 2026 -- Roster, the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Claritas Releases 2026 Hispanic Market Report: Finds Hispanic Households Lead in AI Adoption 2026-10-20 · PRWeb · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.prweb.com/releases/claritas-releases-2026-hispanic-market-report-finds-hispanic-households-lead-in-ai-adoption-302913016.html The 2026 annual report examines how AI adoption, population growth, and shifting consumer dynamics are reshaping the U.S. Hispanic market. CINCINNATI, Oct. 20, 2026 -- Claritas, a leading marketing optimization platform, today released its 2026 U.S. Hispanic Market... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lex Machina 2026 Consumer Protection Litigation Report: Federal Filings Jump 31% to a Ten-Year Peak 2026-10-20 · iCrowdNewswire · Retail https://icrowdnewswire.com/2026/10/20/lex-machina-2026-consumer-protection-litigation-report-federal-filings-jump-31-to-a-ten-year-peak/ New report finds TCPA filings rose 63%, FCRA filings increased 44%, and damage awards climbed 35% to $7.5 billion in 2025 San Jose, CA, October 20, 2026 — LexisNexis® Legal & Professional today released the Lex Machina® 2026 Consumer Protection […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Routific brings smart delivery route optimization to Shopify merchants 2026-10-20 · PRWeb · Retail https://www.prweb.com/releases/routific-brings-smart-delivery-route-optimization-to-shopify-merchants-302910990.html New Routific app in the Shopify App Store turns online orders into optimized routes drivers trust, with live tracking and customer notifications built in VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 20, 2026 -- Just ahead of the holiday rush, when local delivery volumes spike, Routific, the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MAHY Khoory Automotive Brings DONGFENG 008 to the UAE, Redefining Premium Family SUV for Longer Journeys 2026-10-20 · Arab Newswire · Retail, Automotive https://arabnewswire.com/mahy-khoory-automotive-brings-dongfeng-008-to-the-uae-redefining-premium-family-suv-for-longer-journeys/ Strategically located on Sheikh Zayed Road, the new destination brings Dongfeng’s latest models and mobility offerings closer to customers in one of Dubai’s key retail locations ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon is creating over 300,000 new US jobs this holiday season with increased pay and expanded benefits 2026-10-20 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-holiday-jobs-2026-seasonal-hiring-healthcare?utm_source=rss Amazon offers industry-leading benefits based on role and tenure, and starting January 1, 2027, eligible seasonal employees will have access to healthcare coverage from their first day on the job. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Yaoohe Advances Global B2B E-Commerce and Supply Chain Innovation with New AI-Powered Livestream Technology 2026-10-20 · PRWeb · AI, SaaS, Retail, Logistics https://www.prweb.com/releases/yaoohe-advances-global-b2b-e-commerce-and-supply-chain-innovation-with-new-ai-powered-livestream-technology-302912489.html Yaoohe, a global cross-border e-commerce platform led by CEO Alexander Hayes, announces its next-generation AI virtual livestream commerce initiative. With over a decade of industry experience, extensive international supply chain resources, and more than $5 billion in reported annual... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Coca-Cola System Drives USD 3.6 Billion Economic Impact and Supports over 458,200 Jobs Across COMESA Region, Study Reveals 2026-10-20 · APO Group · SaaS, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://cocacola.africa-newsroom.com/press/the-cocacola-system-drives-usd-36-billion-economic-impact-and-supports-over-458200-jobs-across-comesa-region-study-reveals?lang=en In 2024, the Coca-Cola system contributed USD 3.6 billion in value-added economic activity across the COMESA region. The Coca-Cola system and its value chain supported over 458,200 direct and indirect jobs across the region in sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, retail, transport, and services. The system spent almost USD 1.5 billion on goods and services from suppliers in COMESA member countries, driving local industry growth and economic resilience. During the 19th COMESA Business Forum, a major economic platform for promoting trade and regional integration, the Coca-Cola (www.Coca-ColaCompany.com) system unveiled the results of a new study showcasing its significant economic contributions to the COMESA region. The study was conducted by global consultancy Steward Redqueen and highlights the transformative role Coca-Cola plays in fostering economic progress, creating employment, and supporting local industries. “As this study shows, the Coca-Cola system continues to deliver substantial economic impact in COMESA, creating opportunities through local partnerships, investments, and supply chains,” said Luis Felipe Avellar, President of Coca-Cola's Africa Operating Unit. “The 19th COMESA Business Forum is an important platform to highlight how businesses like those that comprise the Coca-Cola system contribute to sustainable economic development in Africa.” The 19th COMESA Business Forum has brought together leaders from across the region to discuss trade, innovation, and economic growth. Coca-Cola’s active participation as a key collaborator demonstrates its alignment with the forum’s mission of building stronger economic ties across the region’s 21 member countries. The study revealed that the Coca-Cola system, incorporating its network of bottlers, suppliers, distributors, and retailers, contributed USD 3.6 billion to the region’s combined GDP in 2024, representing 0.3% of COMESA’s GDP. Through direct employment and its value chain, the system supported over 458,200 jobs. “For every direct job created by the Coca-Cola system in COMESA, an additional 28 jobs are supported throughout the regional economy,” noted Avellar. In addition to its employment multiplier, the Coca-Cola system’s integration within local economies fuels industrial and community advancement. The report highlighted that Coca-Cola spent almost USD 1.5 billion on suppliers across the COMESA region in 2024, benefitting industries like sugar production, manufacturing, packaging, and logistics. “The Coca-Cola system operates as a critical economic engine across the COMESA region, empowering local suppliers, retailers, and distributors to thrive,” said Alfred Olajide, Vice President of East and Central Africa Operations at Coca-Cola. “The 19th COMESA Business Forum provides a meaningful opportunity to underscore our commitment not just to delivering beverages, but also driving innovation, collaborations, and sustainable development in the region.” Beyond economic contributions, the Coca-Cola system continues to champion sustainability and community development initiatives in the region. Several COMESA member states benefit directly from the Coca-Cola system’s Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, a nearly USD 25 million program that addresses water-related challenges across 20 African countries by 2030. The study leveraged a robust Multi-Regional Input-Output (MRIO) model to capture the Coca-Cola system’s impact across its activities, including operations, local procurement, and extensive value chain linkages. The findings demonstrate how Coca-Cola drives ripple effects through the economy, from agriculture to retail, illustrating the company’s strategic role in driving regional development. Avellar concluded: “The 19th COMESA Business Forum reaffirms the importance of collaboration in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth. We are proud to collaborate with COMESA in building stronger economies and better futures for the communities we serve.” Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Coca-Cola. About The Coca-Cola Company: www.Coca-ColaCompany.com and follow us on Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4yvt8SS), Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3U1sped) and LinkedIn (https://apo-opa.co/3U1srTn). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vadzo Imaging Validates 120+dB High Dynamic Range on Falcon-821CRS 8MP AR0821 4K HDR USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera 2026-10-20 · Newswire.com · Retail, Automotive, Logistics https://www.newswire.com/news/vadzo-imaging-validates-120-db-high-dynamic-range-on-falcon-821crs-8mp-22875326 The Falcon-821CRS is an 8MP AR0821 4K HDR USB 3.2 Gen 1 Camera, and Vadzo has validated it for 120+dB high dynamic range. Real scenes are rarely evenly lit. A vehicle leaves a tunnel into direct sun, a warehouse door opens onto a bright yard, a storefront window floods a lobby with daylight, and a robot turns from a dark aisle toward a lit dock. Each of these scenes can span 120dB or more from the darkest shadow to the brightest highlight, far more than a single exposure records. The Falcon-821CRS captures that span on the sensor and then finishes the image with an on-board image signal processor that performs debayering, color correction, gamma correction, denoising, auto exposure, and auto white balance before the frame reaches the USB port. As an HDR USB 3.2 Gen1 Camera and a High Contrast Imaging USB Camera, it delivers a usable image straight to the host. Designed for telematics, surveillance, robotics, and retail automation, the module keeps both highlights and shadows in a single frame. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Alternative Ballistics Corporation (OTCQB: ALBC) Announces New Purchase Orders from U.S. Retailer Botach and a New Abu Dhabi Distributor 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384213/0/en/alternative-ballistics-corporation-otcqb-albc-announces-new-purchase-orders-from-u-s-retailer-botach-and-a-new-abu-dhabi-distributor.html Botach becomes the Company's first online wholesale dealer for The Home Defense™, further expanding its U.S. retail distribution following its e-commerce launch ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Heineken® teams up with Amazon to launch “Pubscription”… The world’s first streaming service for nights out 2026-10-20 · PressReach · Retail, Media https://pressreach.com/heineken-teams-up-with-amazon-to-launch-pubscription-the-worlds-first-streaming-service-for-nights-out New Fire TV experience uses the familiar mechanics of streaming discovery to help people find their next night out Users can browse participating pubs and bars by “genre”, invite friends and receive a weekly credit for a Heineken or Heineken 0.0 The launch comes as over half of adults worldwide say they would go out … Continue reading "Heineken® teams up with Amazon to launch “Pubscription”… The world’s first streaming service for nights out" ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Watch Market Size, Share, Growth Trends, Competitive Landscape, and Forecast, 2026 to 2034 | Smartwatches, Luxury Demand, and E-commerce Drive 5.2% CAGR 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384145/28124/en/global-watch-market-size-share-growth-trends-competitive-landscape-and-forecast-2026-to-2034-smartwatches-luxury-demand-and-e-commerce-drive-5-2-cagr.html Drive ROI through smart features, premium positioning, limited-edition launches, direct-to-consumer sales, omnichannel retail and Asia-Pacific expansion Drive ROI through smart features, premium positioning, limited-edition launches, direct-to-consumer sales, omnichannel retail and Asia-Pacific expansion ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LetPot Expands U.S. Retail Presence With Launch on TractorSupply.com 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384144/0/en/letpot-expands-u-s-retail-presence-with-launch-on-tractorsupply-com.html LetPot expands its U.S. retail presence with four smart gardening products now available online at TractorSupply.com, with more US retail launches planned. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Retail Analytics Market Size, Share, Trends, and Global Forecast, 2026-2032 | Retailers lLan on AI Forecasting as Retail Analytics Heads for $23.21bn 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384138/28124/en/retail-analytics-market-size-share-trends-and-global-forecast-2026-2032-retailers-llan-on-ai-forecasting-as-retail-analytics-heads-for-23-21bn.html New Report values the market at $11.82bn in 2026, with operations and supply chain the leading application and Asia Pacific growing fastest, though stitching together physical and digital data remains a stubborn problem for Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Adobe New Report values the market at $11.82bn in 2026, with operations and supply chain the leading application and Asia Pacific growing fastest, though stitching together physical and digital data remains a stubborn problem for Oracle, Salesforce, SAP and Adobe ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon announces plan to invest €16 billion in Germany in 2027 2026-10-20 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/company-news/amazon-germany-investment?utm_source=rss Since 2010, Amazon has invested over €100 billion in Germany, underscoring the country as one of the most important to Amazon worldwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Clear Aligners Market Size, Share, Trends, and Forecast to 2031 | Image-Conscious Adults Set to Nearly Double the Clear Aligner Market to $11bn Market Value 2026-10-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/20/3384135/28124/en/global-clear-aligners-market-size-share-trends-and-forecast-to-2031-image-conscious-adults-set-to-nearly-double-the-clear-aligner-market-to-11bn-market-value.html New Report values clear aligners market at $6.09bn in 2026, with dental service organisations and digital orthodontics widening access — though cut-price direct-to-consumer rivals and complex cases test Align Technology, Straumann, Dentsply Sirona and Envista New Report values clear aligners market at $6.09bn in 2026, with dental service organisations and digital orthodontics widening access — though cut-price direct-to-consumer rivals and complex cases test Align Technology, Straumann, Dentsply Sirona and Envista ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PETADD Launches Free B2B Marketplace Connecting Pet Product Suppliers and Pet Retailers Worldwide 2026-10-20 · 24-7 Press Release · SaaS, Retail https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539701/petadd-launches-free-b2b-marketplace-connecting-pet-product-suppliers-and-pet-retailers-worldwide PETADD is a new free B2B wholesale marketplace for the global pet industry. The platform connects pet product suppliers and retail shops directly , no subscription fees, commission-only model, built-in messaging and payments. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AI Has No Single Answer About Your Brand: Why 43% of AI Answers Swap Leading Banks and Single Visibility Scores Fail Banking Leaders 2026-10-20 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110918/ PRecious Communications' Banking AI Authority Index 2026 shows how visibility changes by question, service and language across six markets and 11 AI services / LLMs. 43%: Same question. Different banks first. Across AI-route comparisons, the first-mentioned bank changed. 34%: Business questions bring more banks into the answer. Business-banking responses named 34% more banks on average than consumer-banking answers. Six ASEAN markets: Being mentioned isn’t the same as being named first. The study maps both across Southeast Asian banking. Across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, the study tracks 13 priority banks - and shows why appearing in an AI answer is not the same as being named first. SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2026 - PRecious Communications, an award-winning multi-market integrated communications consultancy, today released the regional findings of its flagship research study, the PRecious AI Authority Index: Southeast Asia Banking 2026. The research reveals that a bank prominent in one AI service may be far less visible or entirely absent in another. Across 1,628 eligible matched service comparisons, 706 pairsor 43%, produced a different first-mentioned bank when the tested AI service changed. The research establishes why corporate communications, and marketing leaders cannot rely on a single AI platform, dashboard score, or generic brand search to assess digital reputation. Powered by PRecious Pulse, the agency’s proprietary measurement and research platform, the study evaluated 2,740 response records spanning six Southeast Asian markets (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam), eight languages, and 11 AI and search service proxies. The index also revealed that decision context significantly impacts competitive density: business-banking answers named 4.73 banks on average, compared with 3.52 for consumer-banking answers, a 34% wider competitive field. "AI has made comparisons instant, but not consistent. Any brand - like banks in our study - can lead one answer and disappear from the next," said Lars Voedisch, Founder and Group CEO of PRecious Communications. "The job for communicators and marketers is not to chase one specific AI engine or manipulate a single metric. It is to build a clear, evidence-backed story across owned content, customer proof, and earned media that holds up regardless of the service, market, or language a buyer uses." Six Markets, Six Distinct AI Competitive Landscapes The study demonstrates that Southeast Asia cannot be treated as a single information environment. While DBS and Maybank demonstrated consistent dominance across tested answers in Singapore and Malaysia respectively, and Vietcombank led across all question groups in Vietnam, markets like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand showed divided or highly question-dependent results: Indonesia: BCA achieved the highest overall answer presence (86%), but BCA and Bank Mandiri tied on overall first mentions (34%), with leadership shifting based on whether the query addressed personal banking (BCA 63% first) or business banking (Bank Mandiri 56% first). Philippines: BPI led total answer reach across consumer (73%), business (96%), and trust questions (92%), yet BDO dominated first-mention prominence across all four tested question categories (up to 75% in business banking). Thailand: Kasikornbank led consumer banking first mentions (65%), while Bangkok Bank led business banking first mentions (60%). Language testing revealed that English and Thai prompts generated different first-mentioned banks in 60% of eligible matched comparisons (15 of 25 pairs). "In the 'Artificial Intelligence Economy,' executive teams must distinguish between answer presence and first-mention prominence," added Lars. "Being included in an AI response is a baseline requirement; leading the answer requires checkable public proof, consistent corporate reporting, and third-party media validation." Public Proof and Media Verification The Index emphasizes that AI models heavily rely on verifiable public evidence. For brand leaders, priority claims regarding security, digital transformation, or cross-border trade must be explicitly documented and consistent across corporate websites, leadership communications, regulatory filings, and independent earned media. Southeast Asia Is Not One Information Environment The regional study covers Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It found consistent leaders in some markets and divided or question-dependent patterns in others. Different languages, banking structures and customer needs already make Southeast Asia diverse. AI can amplify that diversity by changing the brands, evidence, and answer order shown to different audiences. The study is diagnostic. It does not rank bank quality, trust, safety, customer preference or financial performance. First mention records answer order only. Results are a point-in-time August 2026 snapshot and can change as services, search, and public evidence change. The report is available online: https://pulse.preciouscomms.com/ai-authority-index About the PRecious AI Authority Index - Note to Editors The PRecious AI Authority Index examines what AI says about a brand, which public evidence supports the answer, where the gaps are and what communications teams can change. PRecious Pulse is the measurement, research and insights platform behind the work. Banks tracked (16): 13 priority banks, grouped by home market - Indonesia: BCA and Bank Mandiri; Malaysia: Maybank and CIMB; Philippines: BPI and BDO; Singapore: DBS, OCBC and UOB; Thailand: Kasikornbank and Bangkok Bank; Vietnam: Vietcombank and Techcombank. Plus, three global-bank examples: HSBC, Standard Chartered and Citibank as additional examples from the business-banking analysis. Languages (8): English, Indonesian, Malay, Filipino, Thai, Vietnamese, Tamil and Chinese across the full study. Not every language was tested in every market or on every route. AI test routes (11): ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, Google AI Search, Copilot, Meta AI, Grok, Qwen, DeepSeek and Kimi. Study timeframe: A point-in-time snapshot of tested AI answers from August to September 2026. Results may change as services, search and public evidence change. About PRecious Communications PRecious Communications is an award-winning multi-market integrated communications consultancy specialising in go-to-market strategies and data-driven storytelling across Southeast Asia. Operating an AI-first strategic advisory model, the agency has offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam, alongside partners across the wider Asia-Pacific region. Consistently recognized for setting new digital benchmarks, PRecious Communications secured major AI Transformation and Digital & Social Media honors at the PRCA APAC Awards 2026, alongside global distinction as a Silver Winner at the WCFA Davos Communications Awards 2026. These milestones build upon a highly decorated legacy, which includes being named the Medium-Sized Consultancy of the Year in Southeast Asia at the 2025 International Business Awards and the Most Innovative Public Relations Agency of the Year (APAC) 2025 at the NEXT Awards. Media contact: marketing@preciouscomms.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tailored for Every Home: Samsung “The Brief” Goes Global With AI-Powered Home Appliances 2026-10-20 · Samsung · AI, Retail https://news.samsung.com/global/tailored-for-every-home-samsung-the-brief-goes-global-with-ai-powered-home-appliances Samsung Electronics hosted “The Brief,” a series of home appliance tech seminars across five regions: the US, Europe, Latin America, Southwest Asia, and Southeast Asia. The event showcased AI-powered home appliance experiences reflecting each region’s living environment and consumer needs. Across the five regions, Samsung highlighted AI appliance technologies and how they are applied in […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CropLife Asia Welcomes New BASF, Corteva and FMC Representatives to Board 2026-10-20 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Food & drink, Logistics, Biotech & pharma https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110892/ SINGAPORE, Oct 20, 2026 - CropLife Asia, the regional association representing the plant science industry, today announced the appointment of three new representatives to its Board of Directors: Sergi Vizoso-Sansano of BASF Agricultural Solutions, Subroto Geed of Corteva Agriscience and Sebastià Pons of FMC. Sergi succeeds Simone Barg as BASF's representative on the Board, Subroto succeeds Brook Cunningham as Corteva's representative, while Sebastià succeeds Rahoul Sawani as FMC's representative. The appointments also coincide with a transition in CropLife Asia's leadership, with Paul Luxton, Head of Asia, Syngenta, formerly VicePresident, assuming the presidency, succeeding Simone Barg. Sergi Vizoso-Sansano leads BASF Agricultural Solutions in Asia Pacific. He brings nearly 30 years of international experience with BASF across Europe and the Americas. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions Latin America, based in São Paulo, and also held leadership roles within CropLife associations in Latin America.  Subroto Geed is President, Asia Pacific, at Corteva Agriscience, having previously served as the company's Head of South Asia. He brings extensive experience in business leadership, commercial strategy and operations across multiple industries and markets. Prior to joining Corteva, he held senior leadership positions across consumer healthcare, nutrition and beverages, with responsibilities spanning business growth, marketing, supply chain management and organizational development. His cross-sector experience brings a valuable perspective on business transformation, strategic partnerships and market development. Sebastià Pons is the Executive Vice President and President, FMC Eurasia, leading FMC's business across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific from Geneva. He joined FMC in 2017 and most recently served as President for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Before joining FMC, he spent 20 years with DuPont Crop Protection in regional and global roles across Europe and the United States. He has also served on the Board of CropLife Europe.  Paul Luxton has served as Head of Asia at Syngenta since January 2024, overseeing the company's business across key Asian markets, including Southeast Asia, Bangladesh and Korea. He previously led Syngenta's Australia and New Zealand business, having served as Country Head since 2008. With extensive experience in agricultural business leadership and industry engagement, Paul brings a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing agriculture across the region. He previously served as President of CropLife Australia and was Vice-President of CropLife Asia before assuming the presidency. “We are pleased to welcome Sergi, Subroto and Sebastià to the CropLife Asia Board. Their combined international experience and diverse perspectives will strengthen our work to advance science-based policies, responsible stewardship and agricultural innovation across Asia. We also thank our outgoing Board representatives for their contributions and look forward to working with Paul in his role as President,” said Siang Hee Tan, Executive Director of CropLife Asia.   CropLife Asia extends its sincere appreciation to Simone Barg for her leadership as President of the Board, and to Brook Cunningham and Rahoul Sawani for their contributions as Board representatives. The association thanks them for their service and commitment to its work across Asia. CropLife Asia Board of Directors The CropLife Asia Board leadership and company representatives are now as follows: Paul Luxton, Syngenta – President Malu Nachreiner, Bayer Crop Science – Treasurer Subroto Geed, Corteva Agriscience – Secretary Dai Ito, Sumitomo Chemical – Member Sergi Vizoso-Sansano, BASF Agricultural Solutions – Member Sebastià Pons, FMC – Member About CropLife Asia CropLife Asia is a non-profit society and the regional organization of CropLife International, the voice of the global plant science industry. We advocate for a safe, secure food supply, and our vision is food security enabled by innovative agriculture. CropLife Asia supports the work of 15 member associations across the continent and is led by six member companies at the forefront of crop protection, seeds and/or biotechnology research and development. For more information, visit us at www.croplifeasia.org.   For more information please contact: Cindy Lim Associate Director, Public Affairs & Strategic Partnerships CropLife Asia cindy.lim@croplifeasia.org ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Extension of Lock-up by Management Aligns with Long-Term Growth, Yunji Technology Continues Business Expansion During Nine Months 2026-10-19 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Automotive, Telecom, Travel, Industrial, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110917/ Hong Kong, Oct 20, 2026 - Beijing Yunji Technology Co., Ltd. (“Yunji Technology” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 2670.HK) published a voluntary announcement recently. Ms. Zhi Tao, chairwoman of the Board, executive Director and president of the Company, and Mr. Li Quanyin, executive Director and chief executive officer of the Company, have each voluntarily undertaken to extend the lock-up period applicable to the Shares directly held by them to October 15, 2027. Against  intensifying industry competition, market focus increasingly shifts toward companies with long-term sustainability. The decision of core management to extend the lock-up voluntarily at the expiry date fully demonstrates their confidence in the Group’s long-term growth prospects and their commitment to growing alongside the Group. Concurrently with the lock-up undertakings, Yunji Technology also voluntarily disclosed business progress during the nine months ended September 30, 2026: the Group’s robot operations continued to grow steadily, with the products covering over 45,000 hotels on a cumulative basis. The average daily number of concurrently online robots increased by approximately 20% to 25% year-on-year, while the number of tasks completed during the period rose by approximately 25% to 30%. The newly launched noodle-cooking robot has been included in the new-opening procurement list of a major hotel group customer, extending in-stay services into dining. At the same time, as a supplier of core mobility technology and modules, Yunji Technology is extending its reach into healthcare, manufacturing and property services through ecosystem partners’ products. Deliveries are underway on the Group’s 1,000-robot order under the cooperation with Ye Niao. Meanwhile, the Runyi project involves an order for 100 robots, with deployment across multiple hospitals now underway. As the robot network expands, penetration of the HDOS AI agent assistant into hotels’ daily operations has further deepened. In the first nine months of 2026, total HDOS subscribers exceeded 5,000, up approximately 230% year-on-year, while the number of paying subscribers increased by approximately 220%. The announcement states these day-to-day improvements in service efficiency and quality support further integration of HDOS into hotels’ workflows, with subscriptions and renewals generating recurring service revenue for the Group. In the AI agent ecosystem, the related services cover approximately 400 apartment properties, with the busiest property handling approximately 650 orders per day. Recently, Yunji Technology has signed strategic cooperation agreements with Taobao Instant Commerce and Meituan to connect platform orders to its robot delivery network, rapidly expanding its service coverage. In overseas markets, Yunji Technology continues to expand the distributor network and has recently entered Central Asia and Norway. It expects to sign robot sales orders with distributors in Norway, Greece, Germany and France within the next month, broadening the European sales network. By voluntarily extending the lock-up period, the core managements have closely aligned the interests of management with the Company’s long-term operating performance. Together with the steady expansion of the multiple business lines, Yunji Technology’s commercial closed loop continues to improve. Building on the mobile robotics technology accumulated in hotel scenarios, the Group keeps extending the boundaries of the services and unlocking the potential of AI agents. In the future, it is well positioned to further consolidate the core competitive strengths and open up room for long-term growth. About Beijing Yunji Technology Co., Ltd. Beijing Yunji Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Yunji Technology") was founded in 2014 with the mission of "Robots, for a Happier Humanity," and is committed to building a world-leading ecosystem for service intelligent agents. By deeply serving enterprise clients, Yunji Technology redefines consumer experiences through cutting-edge robotics and intelligent agent services. From robots capable of interacting with the physical world to intelligent software platforms that streamline decision-making, Yunji Technology leverages intelligent agents to deliver adaptive, scalable, consumer-centric, and future-ready products and services, establishing itself as a pioneer in the R&D and commercialization of robotic service agents. To date, the company has deployed its solutions in global scenarios, including 40000+ hotels, 200 hospitals, factories, apartments, and office buildings, covering regions such as the Middle East, the Americas, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand. As of now, Yunji Technology robotics and intelligent agent services have cumulatively completed 1.1 billion interactions and traveled over 90 million kilometers. In 2023, Yunji Technology pioneered a new form of embodied intelligent robotics—the Composite Polymorphic Robot [UP]. As a multi-functional robot capable of using tools, understanding and assigning tasks, and collaborating in groups, it was recognized as one of the first "Comprehensive 5G Application Solution Providers" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) for its integration of "robotics + 5G technology."Yunji Technology has been successively awarded the titles of "Specialized, Refined,Distinctive, and Innovative" (Little Giant) Enterprise by the MIIT and the Beijing Municipal Government. It has also twice received China’s prestigious AI accolade, the "Wu Wenjun Artificial Intelligence Award," and has participated in drafting 26 technical and industry standards, solidifying its leadership in technological innovation and application within the industry. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Curaleaf Challenges Aurora’s Unilateral Rejection of Its Enhanced Proposal 2026-10-19 · PressReach · Healthcare, Retail https://pressreach.com/cannabis/curaleaf-challenges-auroras-unilateral-rejection-of-its-enhanced-proposal/ STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 19, 2026 — Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. (TSX: CURA) (OTCQX: CURLF) (“Curaleaf” or the “Company”), a leading international provider of consumer and medical cannabis products, today responded to Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s (“Aurora”) Notice of Change to its directors’ circular, dated October 14, 2026, in which Aurora’s Board again recommended that shareholders reject … Continue reading "Curaleaf Challenges Aurora’s Unilateral Rejection of Its Enhanced Proposal" ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Julius Baer Appoints Francis Hoefman as Chief Human Resources Officer 2026-10-19 · NewMediaWire · SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education https://www.newmediawire.com/news/julius-baer-appoints-francis-hoefman-as-chief-human-resources-officer-7090737 ZURICH, SWITZERLAND - October 19, 2026 - Julius Baer Group announces today the appointment of Francis Hoefman as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and member of its Global Wealth Management Committee, effective 11 January 2027. She succeeds Guido Ruoss who will pursue another opportunity outside Julius Baer after ensuring a seamless transition.  Francis is an accomplished international HR executive with more than 20 years of experience working at the intersection of people, business strategy, and organisational transformation. She joins Julius Baer from Reckitt, a leading global consumer company with about 36 000 employees operating across more than 80 countries. Most recently, she was responsible for the company’s global talent, leadership development, category capability, and R&D people agenda, leading a global HR organisation of approximately 500 professionals. In this capacity, she played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s leadership, talent and culture agenda, strengthening organisational capabilities, and enabling sustainable business performance. During her tenure at Reckitt, Francis also led the global HR organisation for the company’s Hygiene and Health business divisions and held several senior HR leadership roles across international markets. Prior to Reckitt, she held senior HR roles with H.J. Heinz and Mars Inc, having started her career as Director of VHPP, the association representing senior Philips employees. Francis holds a Master of Laws in Company Law and Labour from Maastricht University and completed a post-master specialisation in Labour Law at Grotius Academy. Stefan Bollinger, Chief Executive Officer of Julius Baer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Francis to Julius Baer. Our people are our most valuable asset, so we set out to find the very best CHRO, regardless of sector or geography. Francis brings us significant experience as a global HR leader at a company renowned for developing high performing teams, a growth mindset in a highly competitive sector, and an entrepreneurial ownership culture that drives business results. She will be a valuable addition to our senior management team, driving our people agenda, unlocking the full potential of our talented employees across the Group, and ensuring Julius Baer is employer of choice and the prime spot for prime talent.” He continued: “I want to thank Guido for his many lasting contributions to the Group across a range of initiatives and programmes over his 18 years with Julius Baer, the last 11 years leading the Group’s HR function. We appreciate his dedication and care for our people, which has significantly contributed to making Julius Baer a great place to work. We wish him every success in the future.” Contacts Media Relations, tel. +41 (0) 58 888 8888 Investor Relations, tel. +41 (0) 58 888 5256 About Julius Baer Julius Baer is the leading Swiss wealth management group and a premium brand in this global sector, with a focus on servicing and advising sophisticated private clients. In all we do, we are inspired by our purpose: creating value beyond wealth. At the end of June 2026, assets under management amounted to CHF 547 billion. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd., the renowned Swiss private bank with origins dating back to 1890, is the principal operating company of Julius Baer Group Ltd., whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: BAER) and are included in the Swiss Leader Index (SLI), comprising the 30 largest and most liquid Swiss stocks. Julius Baer is present in around 25 countries and 60 locations. Headquartered in Zurich, we have offices in key locations including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Dubai, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Mexico City, Milan, Monaco, Mumbai, Santiago de Chile, Shanghai, Singapore, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo. Our client-centric approach, our objective advice based on the Julius Baer open product platform, our solid financial base, and our entrepreneurial management culture make us the international reference in wealth management. For more information visit our website at www.juliusbaer.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Karma Sauce's Mesa Roja Named 2027 sofi Awards Finalist as Company Expands Wholesale Distribution 2026-10-19 · WebWire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363050 The Karma Sauce Company's Mesa Roja hot sauce has been selected as one of three Gold Award finalists in the Sauces category of the 2027 sofi Awards, presented by the Specialty Food Association. The recognition comes as Karma Sauce seeks to expand its retail and distribution relationships in the United States and international markets. - - Mesa Roja brings together smoky chiles, pineapple, honey and bright fruit acidity in a Southwest-inspired sauce built around layered flavor rather than he... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=363050 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Torrid Announces Finance Leadership Update 2026-10-19 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/torrid-announces-finance-leadership-200500006.html CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., October 19, 2026--Torrid Holdings Inc. ("Torrid" or the "Company") (NYSE: CURV), a direct-to-consumer apparel, intimates, and accessories brand in North America for women sizes 8 to 30, announced that Chief Financial Officer, Paula Dempsey, has resigned to pursue another oppor ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tucson General Opens a Vintage Shopping Destination in the Iron Horse District 2026-10-19 · Travel PR News · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://travelprnews.com/article/tucson-general-opens-a-vintage-shopping-destination-in-the-iron-horse-district/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tucson-general-opens-a-vintage-shopping-destination-in-the-iron-horse-district The new 1,300-square-foot boutique combines local makers, curated clothing and a specialist Levi’s fitting and repair studio. KEY TAKEAWAYS Tucson General has opened a 1,300-square-foot vintage and fine-goods boutique in Tucson’s Iron Horse district. Founders Kelly Durand and Gabrielle Smoyer have brought three vintage vendors and two jewellery makers into the retail concept. An on-site... Read the full news article ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Major capital, global hotel brands and operators meet in Casablanca as the Kingdom builds for 2030 and beyond 2026-10-19 · APO Group · SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Travel, Sports, Industrial, Logistics https://apievents.africa-newsroom.com/press/major-capital-global-hotel-brands-and-operators-meet-in-casablanca-as-the-kingdom-builds-for-2030-and-beyond?lang=en As the most-visited country in Africa and the next host of the FIFA World Cup, Morocco is in the midst of an unprecedented era of infrastructure and hospitality development, setting a timely stage for Morocco Showcase to highlight the country’s maturation as a prime destination for global capital investment.    Transactions and signings surge Since 2025, Casablanca-listed owner-operator Risma has completed two major acquisitions (the Tangier Corniche plot and the purchase of CMG – owner of Radisson Blu Marrakech Carré Eden and the adjoining mall) valued at $67 million, and the $46 million sale of Sofitel Casablanca Tour Blanche to Pickalbatros. In April, it strengthened its partnership with Accor for the renovation and repositioning of hotels and the launch of the Tangier Corniche development. Expert-led hospitality sessions at Showcase Morocco will include: Hotel performance: occupancy, ADR and RevPAR in Morocco's key cities against global peers, and the demand effect of mega-events set against Morocco's trajectory to 2030. How local and regional operators are scaling alongside the expansion of international brands. How boutique, high-end luxury and eco-tourism brands are entering the market, including founder economics, fee structures and European boutique operators moving into Morocco. Capital and real estate A capital, product and wealth stream will cover how Moroccan family offices are moving from direct development into co-investment and fund structures, and what turns diaspora interest into committed capital. Mixed-use leaders will set out what a viable precinct needs, including critical size, equity ticket, investor profile and location. The industrial, commercial and alternatives streams will cover logistics demand along the Tangier Med corridor, foreign investment in special economic zones, and office and retail yields. The closing plenary asks Casablanca, Tangier, Marrakech and Rabat to pitch directly to capital on land availability and pricing, the asset classes that suit each city, and where the early-mover window is still open. Event details Date: 26 November Venue: Marriott Hotel, Casablanca Format: In-person, bilingual (English/French) conference, parallel streams, deals room and awards gala Website and Registration: https://apo-opa.co/4zC3UDq Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events. Enquiries: dale@apievents.com Murray Anderson murray@apievents.com About API Events: The group’s high-impact events (across Africa and beyond) span capital-raising, deal-making, retail, multi-family, mixed-use, commercial and industrial, hospitality and lodging, and emerging asset classes. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Trends International Announces Kenneth Smith as President and Chief Executive Officer 2026-10-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trends-international-announces-kenneth-smith-as-president-and-chief-executive-officer-302912992.html Experienced executive to lead company's next phase of retail, digital commerce and strategic growth INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 19, 2026 -- Trends International, LLC, a leading publisher and manufacturer of licensed posters, calendars, stickers, wall art and social stationery... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vadzo Imaging Validates Bolt-544CRS 5MP Onsemi HyperLux LP AR0544 Color MIPI CSI-2 Camera on Rockchip RV1126 for Embedded Vision Applications 2026-10-19 · Newswire.com · Retail, Media https://www.newswire.com/news/vadzo-imaging-validates-bolt-544crs-5mp-onsemi-hyperlux-lp-ar0544-22876004 The Bolt-544CRS is a 5MP low-power MIPI Camera built on the Onsemi HyperLux LP AR0544 sensor, and Vadzo has validated it on the Rockchip RV1126 for embedded vision applications. The RV1126 is a favorite for compact smart camera products because it combines an image signal processor, a neural processing unit, and a video encoder in a low-power chip, and the camera attached to it decides how much of that efficiency survives in the finished device. The Bolt-544CRS pairs wake-on-motion with low power consumption, so a device can sleep through quiet hours and wake only when something moves. Line interleaved HDR (LI-HDR) and enhanced dynamic range (eDR) modes handle scenes that mix bright and dark regions, and auto exposure and auto white balance keep the image consistent. As a 5MP Wake-on-Motion MIPI Camera, a Low Power Embedded MIPI Camera, and an RV1126 5MP Camera, it connects through standard MIPI CSI-2. Designed for automation and robotics, smart security, retail automation, telematics, and kiosk devices, it gives low-power designs a color image with 5MP of detail. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Price isn’t the priority: FulfilQ data reveals what ecommerce brands really want from logistics providers ahead of peak 2026-10-19 · PR Now · AI, Retail, Logistics https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/price-isnt-the-priority-fulfilq-data-reveals-what-ecommerce-brands-really-want-from-logistics-providers-ahead-of-peak Analysis of over 250 brand conversations with Logan, FulfilQ’s AI Logistics Assistant, shows capacity, reliability and returns now outrank cost when choosing a fulfilment partner ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Envisioning the Future, Connecting Home, Mobility, and Everyday Life: AiMOGA to Unveil Its First Consumer-Grade Home Companion Robot 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383782/0/en/envisioning-the-future-connecting-home-mobility-and-everyday-life-aimoga-to-unveil-its-first-consumer-grade-home-companion-robot.html Making its global debut, MOBO brings together a range of embodied intelligence capabilities. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CodeCoin Launches the World's First "Licensed Digital Payment Instrument + Quantum Encryption" Visa-Network-Enabled Consumer Card During the IMF Annual Meetings 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383778/0/en/codecoin-launches-the-world-s-first-licensed-digital-payment-instrument-quantum-encryption-visa-network-enabled-consumer-card-during-the-imf-annual-meetings.html CodeCoin Launches the World's First "Licensed Digital Payment Instrument + Quantum Encryption" Visa-Network-Enabled Consumer Card During the IMF Annual Mee ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Forward Consumer Partners to Acquire Welly 2026-10-19 · Business Wire · Healthcare, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/forward-consumer-partners-acquire-welly-170000637.html GREENWICH, Conn., October 19, 2026--Forward Consumer Partners ("Forward") today announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire Welly Health PBC, a leading first-aid and bandage brand, from Unilever. Created in 2018 by serial entrepreneur Eric Ryan, Welly is a disruptive consumer healthcare brand built on the premise that cuts and scrapes are proof of a life well-lived. Today, Welly offers a ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New Book “How to Get Buyers to Chase You” Shows Business Owners How to Attract Qualified Buyers and Close Faster 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383769/0/en/new-book-how-to-get-buyers-to-chase-you-shows-business-owners-how-to-attract-qualified-buyers-and-close-faster.html Growth consultant Solomon Thimothy releases a practical playbook on authority, trust and lead generation systems, available on Amazon today for $0.99 Growth consultant Solomon Thimothy releases a practical playbook on authority, trust and lead generation systems, available on Amazon today for $0.99 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Wireless Charging IC Market Size, Share, Trends, Applications, and Forecast, 2026 to 2034 | 30.8% CAGR Unlocks Growth in EVs, Consumer Electronics, and IoT 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383737/28124/en/global-wireless-charging-ic-market-size-share-trends-applications-and-forecast-2026-to-2034-30-8-cagr-unlocks-growth-in-evs-consumer-electronics-and-iot.html Fast-charging, miniaturized ICs, multi-device support and strategic OEM partnerships unlock growth across consumer electronics, EVs, medical devices and IoT. Fast-charging, miniaturized ICs, multi-device support and strategic OEM partnerships unlock growth across consumer electronics, EVs, medical devices and IoT. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Unlocking Digital Gold’s US$700bn Opportunity 2026-10-19 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/commodities/articles/unlocking-digital-gold-us-700bn-160000711.html LAS VEGAS, October 19, 2026--The digital gold market, worth US$45–55bn today, could unlock up to US$700bn in latent demand, according to new research from World Gold Council and Boston Consulting Group. The report points to substantial untapped appetite among retail investors, with nearly nine in ten s ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Thunes and Coinbase Join Forces to Drive Next Generation Global Payments 2026-10-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thunes-and-coinbase-join-forces-to-drive-next-generation-global-payments-302912708.html Strategic alliance unites global fiat payout infrastructure with best-in-class stablecoin infrastructure, empowering both platforms to serve new markets across corporate, gig economy, and consumer use cases. LAS VEGAS, Oct. 19, 2026 -- Money20/20 USA: Thunes, the Smart... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Richardson Electronics, Ltd. Expands Global Reach of LaserSlat SAVER® with New E-Commerce Capabilities and European Availability 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383661/0/en/richardson-electronics-ltd-expands-global-reach-of-laserslat-saver-with-new-e-commerce-capabilities-and-european-availability.html New online purchasing capabilities support broader market adoption; Company to showcase LaserSlat SAVER at FABTECH® 2026 and EuroBLECH 2026 New online purchasing capabilities support broader market adoption; Company to showcase LaserSlat SAVER at FABTECH® 2026 and EuroBLECH 2026 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Grow Your Store with Ship2Anywhere Ecommerce Shipping Australia 2026-10-19 · Express Press Release · Retail https://express-press-release.net/news/2026/10/19/1774917 Melbourne, Australia, 2026-10-19 — As online retail continues to reshape how Australians shop, reliable fulfilment has become an increasingly important part of [read full press release...] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— rhino.ai Announces Multi-Year Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Scale End-to-End Agentic Modernization 2026-10-19 · Newsfile · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/319049/rhino.ai-Announces-MultiYear-Strategic-Collaboration-Agreement-with-AWS-to-Scale-EndtoEnd-Agentic-Modernization Washington, D.C.--(October 19, 2026) - rhino.ai today announced a multi-year strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help enterprises understand and modernize complex legacy estates end to end, using governed business logic as the foundation for agentic transformation on AWS.Enterprises cannot modernize what they cannot accurately understand. Critical business rules are buried across decades of custom code, packaged applications, SaaS... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LeadingResponse Launches FetchIQ, a New Growth Management Platform 2026-10-19 · Business Wire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/leadingresponse-launches-fetchiq-growth-management-140000287.html FetchIQ brings AI-guided campaign setup, precision targeting, and real-time tracking across every channel into one platform for LeadingResponse and its clients TAMPA, Fla., October 19, 2026--LeadingResponse, the national leader in consumer engagement, today launched FetchIQ, a new growth management pla ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cotecna Group Acquires Energon Labs, Strengthening Global Pharmaceutical Testing Capabilities and Expanding Its Presence in India 2026-10-19 · NewMediaWire · Finance, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics, Biotech & pharma, Sustainability https://www.newmediawire.com/news/cotecna-group-acquires-energon-labs-strengthening-global-pharmaceutical-testing-capabilities-and-expanding-its-presence-in-india-7090729 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND and HYDERABAD, INDIA - October 19, 2026 - Cotecna, a leading provider of Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) services, today announced the acquisition of Energon Labs, a cGMP-compliant, USFDA-inspected, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17025:2017 certified analytical testing laboratory based in Hyderabad, India. The acquisition strengthens Cotecna's global Life Sciences platform and expands its pharmaceutical testing capabilities across the Pharmaceutical, Biopharmaceutical, Medical Device and Packaging sectors. Serving customers across India, the United States, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East, Energon is recognized for its scientific excellence, regulatory expertise and commitment to quality. Strategically located in Hyderabad, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology hubs, Energon provides Cotecna with access to highly specialized scientific talent, advanced laboratory infrastructure and a well-established pharmaceutical ecosystem. India is also one of the world's fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets and a critical manufacturing hub for global healthcare supply chains. The acquisition enhances the Cotecna's ability to support both Indian and international  customers with high-quality, regulatory-compliant testing services while delivering greater responsiveness, scalability and operational efficiency across key markets. The addition of Energon further complements Cotecna's growing pharmaceutical testing network which includes Cotecna Life Sciences, Shiva Analyticals and Neotron Pharma. Together, this capabilities strengthen the Group's ability to support customers throughout the product lifecycle and address evolving global quality, compliance and regulatory requirements. Energon offers a comprehensive portfolio of analytical testing and quality assurance services, including analytical method development and validation, stability studies, impurity profiling, extractables and leachables, glass delamination studies, peptides and oligonucleotide characterisation, raw material and finished product testing, in-vitro binding studies, packaging compatibility studies, and regulatory support services. These capabilities will further strengthen Cotecna's position as a trusted partner to pharmaceutical manufacturers serving regulated markets worldwide. Sebastien Dannaud, Chief Executive Officer of Cotecna Group, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Energon Labs to the Cotecna Group. This acquisition represents another important step to support our ambition to become one of the largest providers of Life Sciences testing services in India, and strengthens our position in one of the world's most important pharmaceutical markets.” Amit Chopra, CEO South Asia and Middle East, Cotecna Group, added: "I am delighted to welcome Manikanth Reddy and the talented team of Energon Labs to the Cotecna group. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our strategy of building a comprehensive pharmaceutical testing ecosystem across key growth markets. Energon's strong technical capabilities, experienced team and established customer relationships will enhance our ability to serve pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and medical device companies across India and globally. Together, we are creating a stronger platform to support the evolving needs of the pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. " Manikanth Reddy, Founder, Energon, said: "Joining the Cotecna Group opens an exciting new chapter for Energon Labs. Over the years, we have focused on building a laboratory recognized for quality, scientific expertise and reliability. Becoming part of a global organization like Cotecna provides new opportunities to expand our capabilities, strengthen our service offerings and deliver even greater value to our customers. Our team remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of analytical excellence while supporting the continued growth of the life sciences industry.” About Energon Labs Energon Labs is a cGMP-compliant, USFDA-inspected, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17025:2017 certified analytical testing laboratory located in Hyderabad, India. The company provides comprehensive analytical testing, quality assurance and regulatory support services to pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device and packaging industries, serving customers across India, the United States, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. About Cotecna Founded in Switzerland in 1974, Cotecna is a leading provider of Testing, Inspection and Certification services. With operations in more than 55 countries, Cotecna helps clients ensure quality, safety, compliance and sustainability across global supply chains. The Group serves customers across agriculture and food, pharmaceuticals, minerals and metals, consumer products, certification and ESG services through a worldwide network of experts, laboratories and technical specialists. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Inspira Financial Launches Riser Benefits, Personalized Platform Designed to Close the Costly Gap Between Employer Investment and Employee Action 2026-10-19 · Newswire.com · SaaS, Retail, Education https://www.newswire.com/news/inspira-financial-launches-riser-benefits-personalized-platform-designed-to Riser Benefits delivers a consumer-centric experience and intelligent education to help bridge the gap between benefit plan design and how individuals use and pay for care throughout the year. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MoneyGram Launches One Global Experience for Moving and Managing Money 2026-10-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moneygram-launches-one-global-experience-for-moving-and-managing-money-302912636.html Reimagined app and website bring digital money movement, stablecoin-powered functionality and MoneyGram's global cash network together in one place DALLAS, Oct. 19, 2026 -- MoneyGram today launched a new global consumer experience that brings together digital money movement,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Central Garden & Pet Acquires Burpee, an Iconic Brand in the Packet Seed and Young Plant Categories 2026-10-19 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/central-garden-pet-acquires-burpee-130300461.html Acquisition Strengthens Central's Garden Portfolio with a Beloved Heritage Brand WALNUT CREEK, Calif., October 19, 2026--Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) ("Central"), a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries, today announced that it has acquired W. At ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Approval of Jyske Bank’s acquisition of Formuepleje 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383497/0/en/approval-of-jyske-bank-s-acquisition-of-formuepleje.html Further to the Corporate Announcement of 2 September 2026, Jyske Bank A/S hereby announces that the Danish Competition and Consumer Authority has approved Jyske Bank A/S’ acquisition of FP Kapital A/S (Formuepleje). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon opens its AWS Trainium AI chips to every PyTorch developer, no rewrite needed 2026-10-19 · Amazon · AI, Retail, Semiconductors https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/torchneuron-pytorch-aws-trainium-chips-ai?utm_source=rss TorchNeuron lets developers run their existing AI code on AWS Trainium chips with virtually no changes, reducing the friction to adopting new hardware. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AliDropship Wins MarCom Gold Award for Excellence in AI-Powered Advertising 2026-10-19 · Newswire.com · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.newswire.com/news/alidropship-wins-marcom-gold-award-for-excellence-in-ai-powered-advertising Ecommerce platform recognized for integrating AI into its advertising strategy, delivering data-driven campaigns with measurable impact on customer engagement. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Krystle Adams Director of Sales Recruiting 2026-10-19 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110883/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 19, 2026 - Krystle Adams joins Chervon as Director of Sales Recruiting, effective October 19, 2026, reporting to Matt DeFeo, SVP of Sales, Training and Recruiting. Over the past 9+ years, Adams has advanced through a series of increasingly responsible sales and recruiting positions at TTI. Earlier in her impressive career, Krystle distinguished herself as an outstanding sales representative and sales manager delivering consistently strong results. Most recently, she was a National Recruiting Operations Manager responsible for leading, coordinating, and implementing recruiting efforts across campuses nationwide. Krystle has demonstrated exceptional skills in developing and leading campus and field sales recruiting efforts. She also designed and executed a thriving national college internship program. "I feel incredibly fortunate to now have Krystle Adams in place to launch Chervon campus recruiting," said Matt DeFeo, SVP of Sales, Training and Recruiting. "Krystle is one of the most talented, high potential sales recruiting leaders I have seen over the past 40+ years, and she will have an immediate, significant impact on the results at Chervon." "My experience and passion for building world-class campus recruiting systems match perfectly with Chervon's bold plans to build out a national sales organization," said Adams. "I plan to work quickly to implement our new Chervon campus recruiting system and to hire hundreds of high potential, newly-minted college graduates." Adams holds a B.S. degree in Business and Marketing from the University of California in Riverside. ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com; +1 (331) 231-2360 SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Terry Lucero Director of National Accounts - Industrial 2026-10-19 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110879/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 19, 2026 - Terry Lucero joins Chervon as Director of National Accounts - Industrial, effective October 19, 2026, reporting to Jeff Campbell, Senior Vice President of Industrial Commercial Sales. Lucero brings 25+ years of extensive experience in building professional tool businesses at national accounts, regional accounts, at the store level and at the end user level. Lucero started his career at Dewalt where he advanced through a series of sales, sales management and end user marketing positions over 5 years driving professional tool growth. Lucero went on to WW Grainger where he progressed through a series of business development and sales management positions. He was also a sales manager of professional equipment at United Rentals. Most recently, Lucero served as a director of sales at APEX Tool Group for the Americas. "Terry's impressive pro tool experience in industrial distribution, national account management and end user marketing makes him an outstanding addition to Chervon," said Jeff Campbell. "His deep understanding of selling pro tools throughout industrial channels will be invaluable as we build our leadership position in the pro tool market." "I'm excited to join Chervon and begin working on building our high potential professional tool business," said Lucero. "My experience in industrial channels is a great match with the company's aggressive growth goals in these important professional tool channels of distribution." Terry is a graduate of Cornell University, where he majored in communications and was also a member of the Cornell varsity wrestling team. ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com; +1 (331) 231-2360 SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Devin Murray Director of Sales - Northern Division 2026-10-19 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110877/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 19, 2026 - Devin Murray joins Chervon as Director of Sales - Northern Division, effective October 19, 2026, reporting to Thomas Kentouris, Vice President of Field Sales. Murray joins Chervon after completing a six-year fast track career in TTI sales and sales management. Most recently, he was a Key End User Account Manager for Milwaukee charged with growing the pro tool business with large end users. Murray's exceptional recruiting skills and leadership skills enabled him to build, manage and inspire highly effective sales teams at the store level. His account management prowess resulted in outstanding sales results and strong partnerships with multiple national accounts. "Early in his impressive career, Devin was identified as a high potential future superstar executive," said Thomas Kentouris. "His large end user pro tool experience is exactly what we need to help build our pro tool leadership position. His inspiring leadership skills combined with his ability to aggressively grow sales at the store level all the way to the national account level make him a tremendous addition to our team." "I am thrilled to join Chervon's amazing leadership team and to focus on our bold sales growth targets," said Murray. "Chervon's advanced technology and powerful new product development capabilities are all designed to catapult our company into a position of global leadership, and I look forward to supporting our exciting goals in the years ahead." Murray is a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com; +1 (331) 231-2360 SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon invests in nuclear energy project targeting nearly 1 gigawatt of carbon-free energy for Indiana 2026-10-19 · Amazon · Energy, Retail, Sustainability https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-nuclear-energy-indiana-x-energy-aep?utm_source=rss Amazon, X-energy, and AEP are collaborating to explore building small modular reactors in Indiana that would add carbon-free power to the regional grid. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Biodance Expands Upon Hydrogel Skincare Ecosystem with Introduction of Hydrogel Neck Patches 2026-10-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biodance-expands-upon-hydrogel-skincare-ecosystem-with-introduction-of-hydrogel-neck-patches-302911415.html SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 19, 2026 -- Biodance, the leading Korean beauty brand and pioneer behind the hydrogel mask category, is thrilled to introduce its latest innovation, Biodance Hydrogel Neck Patches. The product comes as a result of widespread consumer demand for... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Fresh Food E-Commerce Market 2026-2031: Product Type, Delivery Model, Regional and Competitive Analysis | $437.44 Billion Outlook as Asia Pacific Leads 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383304/28124/en/global-fresh-food-e-commerce-market-2026-2031-product-type-delivery-model-regional-and-competitive-analysis-437-44-billion-outlook-as-asia-pacific-leads.html ROI opportunities include cold chain efficiency, mobile shopping, sustainable sourcing, loyalty programs, subscriptions, home delivery, and click-and-collect models. ROI opportunities include cold chain efficiency, mobile shopping, sustainable sourcing, loyalty programs, subscriptions, home delivery, and click-and-collect models. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Medallion Financial Corp. Announces Repurchase of Trust Preferred Securities and Successful Resolution With ZimCal 2026-10-19 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/19/3383140/0/en/medallion-financial-corp-announces-repurchase-of-trust-preferred-securities-and-successful-resolution-with-zimcal.html NEW YORK, Oct. 19, 2026 -- Medallion Financial Corp. (NASDAQ: MFIN) (“Medallion” or the “Company”), a specialty finance company that originates and services loans in various consumer and commercial industries, along with offering loan-origination services to fintech strategic partners, today announced that the Company has entered into a purchase and settlement agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with BIMIZCI Fund LLC (“BIMIZCI”) and ZimCal Asset Management LLC (“ZimCal” and, together with BIMIZCI, the “Investor Parties”). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Luna 2026-10-19 · Games Press · Retail, Media https://www.gamespress.com/Amazon-Luna-on-Prime-Video-Expands-to-12-More-Countries Has been expanded into the Prime Video app in 12 more countries. In late July, we announced the expansion of Amazon Luna into the Prime Video app on FireTVs in the US and UK. Today, we’re excited to announce that Prime members in an additional 12 countries across Europe and North America can play Luna games inside the Prime Video app... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Green Choice Proteins Announces Upcoming U.S. Launch on One Lavi 2026-10-19 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink, Sports, Industrial, Sustainability https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610193068/green-choice-proteins-announces-upcoming-us-launch-on-one-lavi Boca Raton, Florida Monday Oct 19, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — Green Choice Proteins, an Australian plant-based nutrition company, announced that its products are coming soon to OneLavi.com, marking the company's first planned U.S. consumer availability as it continues expanding its presence in the American market. The upcoming launch will introduce Green Choice Proteins' Australian-made plant protein powders to U.S. consumers through an online retail platform. The company views OneLavi as an important first step in a broader expansion strategy that also includes a planned Amazon launch and opportunities for additional retail distribution. "Making Green Choice Proteins available to American consumers is something we've been working toward, and OneLavi represents an exciting first step," said Puneet Chawla, Founder of Green Choice Proteins. "We want to introduce our approach to plant-based nutrition to a new audience, with products that combine quality ingredients, enjoyable flavors, and the convenience people look for in their everyday routines." Three Plant Protein Flavors Coming to OneLavi Green Choice Proteins plans to introduce three of its plant-based protein powders on OneLavi, each developed around the company's commitment to ingredient transparency, flavor, and functional daily nutrition. Chocolate Flavored Protein Powder - Plant-Based Protein 35.3g plant protein per serving Made with Australian-grown pea and faba Features pure cocoa powder and coconut milk powder Contains omega-3 from linseed No artificial colours, flavours, or fillers Vanilla Flavored Protein Powder - Plant Based Protein 34.9g plant protein per serving Designed for smoothies, oats, baking, and everyday nutrition routines Made using Australian-grown plant proteins Includes omega-3 from linseed Clean vanilla flavor profile without artificial additives Salted Caramel Flavored Protein Powder - Plant Based Protein 34.9g plant protein per serving Combines caramel sweetness with balanced salted notes Made using Australian-grown pea and faba Includes omega-3 from linseed No artificial colours, flavours, or fillers All three products are manufactured in Victoria, Australia, and reflect the company's approach to creating plant-based nutrition products that can be incorporated into everyday lifestyles. Building on U.S. Retail Expansion The OneLavi announcement follows Green Choice Proteins' participation in the September 2026 ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where the company introduced its Australian-made products and brand philosophy to U.S. retail buyers. The company's U.S. strategy combines direct consumer availability through e-commerce with ongoing efforts to develop relationships across additional retail channels. Green Choice Proteins has also announced plans to bring its products to Amazon, providing another potential avenue for reaching consumers as its U.S. presence grows. "Our goal is to build Green Choice Proteins in the United States step by step," added Chawla. "OneLavi gives us an opportunity to begin reaching consumers directly, while our recent ECRM participation and plans for Amazon are part of a larger effort to introduce the brand across multiple retail channels." Australian-Made Nutrition for Everyday Lifestyles Green Choice Proteins develops plant-based nutrition products intended to fit into a wide range of daily routines, from breakfast smoothies and oatmeal to baking and other convenient meal options. Rather than focusing exclusively on traditional sports nutrition audiences, the company emphasizes the broader appeal of plant protein for consumers interested in clean-label ingredients, transparency, and practical everyday nutrition. The family-owned business also places importance on responsible sourcing and Australian manufacturing, incorporating plant proteins derived from Australian-grown crops into its formulations. With its first U.S. consumer launch approaching, Green Choice Proteins plans to continue introducing its products and brand philosophy to American consumers while pursuing additional opportunities for retail growth. For more information, visit Green Choice Proteins. About Green Choice Proteins Based in Victoria, Australia, Green Choice Proteins is a family-owned plant-based nutrition company focused on delivering clean, functional daily nutrition for modern lifestyles. Using plant proteins derived from Australian-grown crops and manufacturing its products in Victoria, the company combines high-quality plant protein with thoughtfully selected functional ingredients to support everyday wellness, performance, and recovery. Built on a philosophy of transparency, sustainability, and formulation integrity, Green Choice Proteins creates clean-label nutrition products with no artificial colours, flavours, or fillers, helping consumers simplify their wellness routines with trusted, Australian-made plant-based nutrition. Follow Green Choice Proteins on Instagram and Facebook. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wolfson Group Expands U.S. Weight Management Portfolio With PhenQ Now Available on One Lavi 2026-10-19 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Sports https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610193069/wolfson-group-expands-us-weight-management-portfolio-with-phenq-now-available-on-one-lavi Boca Raton, Florida Monday Oct 19, 2026 @ 4:00 AM Eastern — Wolfson Group, a Scotland-based international consumer wellness company, today announced that its established weight management brand, PhenQ, is now available to U.S. consumers through OneLavi.com, marking another step in the company's strategy to expand distribution beyond Amazon. The new availability gives American consumers an additional online retail destination to discover and purchase PhenQ while supporting Wolfson Group's broader effort to build a diversified retail and e-commerce presence across the United States. PhenQ is part of Wolfson Group's portfolio of consumer wellness brands and focuses on the weight management category. The brand is designed for adults interested in incorporating weight management products into their broader health and lifestyle routines. "Weight management continues to be an important area of consumer wellness, and expanding access to PhenQ is part of our commitment to serving that market," said the founder and CEO of Wolfson Group. "Making the brand available through OneLavi gives U.S. consumers another way to find PhenQ as we continue building our retail presence." The expansion comes as conversations around weight management increasingly extend beyond individual products to include nutrition, physical activity, healthy habits and long-term lifestyle choices. Wolfson Group believes consumer education and accessibility are important considerations as the category continues to evolve. PhenQ is already available to U.S. consumers through Amazon. Its addition to One Lavi reflects Wolfson Group's strategy of developing multiple online retail relationships while continuing to explore opportunities across brick-and-mortar channels. The announcement follows Wolfson Group's participation in the September ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where the company introduced its multi-category wellness portfolio during scheduled retail meetings. PhenQ joins Wolfson Group's broader collection of brands spanning weight management, cognitive wellness, gut health and men's wellbeing. The company has been expanding its U.S. presence through a combination of marketplace availability, retail outreach and consumer education. "Our goal is to build lasting distribution for our brands in the United States," the founder said. "Each new retail channel helps us broaden consumer access while supporting the long-term growth of our portfolio." Wolfson Group said it will continue pursuing additional U.S. distribution opportunities as part of its strategy to make its wellness brands available through a wider range of retail channels. About Wolfson Group Wolfson Group is an international consumer wellness company focused on building science-led brands that help people live healthier lives. Its portfolio spans weight management, cognitive health, gut health, men's wellness, beauty and healthy ageing, serving millions of consumers worldwide through direct-to-consumer, marketplace and retail channels. Wolfson Group's portfolio includes the established wellness brands PhenQ, TestoPrime, NooCube and YourBiology, spanning categories such as weight management, cognitive wellness, gut health and men's wellbeing. The brands are currently available to U.S. consumers through Amazon while the company pursues broader retail opportunities nationwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Jewelry Store Management Software Market Size, Trends & Growth Analysis (2026–2034) 2026-10-19 · PR News Releaser · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/473999 The Jewelry Store Management Software Market The market is expanding as jewelry retailers, custom designers, chain stores, and online sellers move toward integrated digital systems that streamline retail workflows, secure high-value inventory, and optimize omnichannel sales operations. Growth is supported ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— In-Memory Analytics Market: Key Drivers, Leading Regions & Future Outlook through 2034 2026-10-19 · PR News Releaser · Retail https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/473989 The In-Memory Analytics Market is expanding as enterprise decision-makers, IT leaders, financial institutions, and e-commerce platforms shift away from traditional disk-based database architectures toward low-latency, real-time data processing engines. Growth is supported by exponential data volume growth, falling RAM prices, ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Pharmaceutical E-commerce Market Set to Reach US$ 644.61 Billion by 2034 2026-10-19 · PR News Releaser · Retail, Biotech & pharma https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/473938 The pharmaceutical e-commerce market is transforming how consumers access prescription medications, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and other healthcare products. Online pharmacies and digital healthcare platforms provide convenient ordering, home delivery, prescription management, and access to medication information. The growing adoption of ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cost, Content and Convenience: The Three Forces Steering the 3D Display Market Ahead 2026-10-19 · Express Press Release · Retail, Gaming, Media https://express-press-release.net/news/2026/10/19/1777199 From glasses-free gaming monitors to holographic retail windows and surgical visualization, 3D displays are moving out of the novelty category and into mainstream products. Rising [read full press release...] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Shop top deals from Amazon’s 2026 Holiday Beauty Event 2026-10-19 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-holiday-beauty-event-2026?utm_source=rss The two-week event runs through November 1, with deals up to 30% off across beauty categories. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lazard Welcomes David Krap as Managing Director and Co-Head of European Consumer, Retail & Leisure 2026-10-19 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lazard-welcomes-david-krap-as-managing-director-and-co-head-of-european-consumer-retail--leisure-302909902.html LONDON, Oct. 19, 2026 -- Lazard, Inc. (NYSE: LAZ) today announced the appointment of David Krap as Managing Director and Co-Head of European Consumer, Retail & Leisure. David brings over two decades of consumer-focused M&A advisory experience, with a particular focus on food... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Smart Luggage at the 140th Canton Fair: Airwheel 20inch Carry-On Hand Scooter Ai Wheel Robot Cabin Luxury Suitcase Takes Smart Travel to the Next Level 2026-10-19 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110896/ Guangzhou, China, Oct 19, 2026 - At the event, international smart mobility brand Airwheel presented its range of Luxury Cabin Suitcases, combining electric mobility, intelligent technology and premium luggage design in a product category that challenges the conventional definition of travel luggage. The first phase of the 140th Canton Fair has come to an end, but one of the products featured at Airwheel's booth continues to generate conversation among international buyers: a suitcase that can actually be ridden. The response was immediate. International buyers gathered around the Airwheel booth to see the products, ask questions and, most importantly, experience them for themselves. One after another, visitors stepped onto the electric suitcases and rode through the exhibition area. Soon, Airwheel rideable luxury suitcases became a familiar sight across the venue, with buyers riding between exhibition areas and returning to the booth to explore product specifications and potential business opportunities. A suitcase that moves with you is no longer a concept. At Airwheel, it is a product experience. From “Carry-On” to “Ride-On” Traditional luggage is designed around a simple relationship: the traveler moves, and the suitcase follows. Airwheel is challenging that relationship. Its Luxury Cabin Suitcase combines the storage functionality of a compact travel case with an integrated electric mobility system, allowing users to switch between conventional luggage handling. For travelers moving through large airports, exhibition centers, transportation hubs and other spacious environments, the concept is straightforward: Instead of always pulling your suitcase, ride it when the journey calls for it. The idea proved particularly compelling at the Canton Fair, where buyers routinely travel long distances between exhibition halls, booths and meeting areas. On selected Airwheel models, the riding mechanism can be deployed with an intuitive control system, allowing the suitcase to transition from luggage to personal mobility device within seconds. The result is a distinctly different travel experience. The suitcase is no longer simply something being carried. It becomes part of the way you move. A Product That Turns Curiosity Into Business Conversations Airwheel's product demonstrations at the Canton Fair was driven not only by its unusual appearance, but by the ability of visitors to experience the technology directly. Buyers could sit on the suitcase, test the riding controls, examine the structure and evaluate the combination of luggage storage and electric mobility firsthand. That physical interaction quickly moved beyond curiosity. Airwheel's exhibition team engaged with international buyers on topics including bulk purchasing, product certifications, delivery schedules, distribution models, market positioning and product portfolios. For distributors and retailers, the attraction is clear. Rideable smart luggage offers a differentiated category that sits at the intersection of travel gear, personal mobility and consumer technology. It creates a product experience that traditional luggage cannot easily replicate while giving retail and distribution partners a new way to engage consumers. The Canton Fair experience demonstrated the value of that approach: visitors did not need a lengthy explanation to understand the concept. They could simply get on and ride. 73.26Wh Removable Battery Designed for Carry-On Travel The technology behind Airwheel's Luxury Cabin Suitcase extends far beyond its electric drive system. The 73.26Wh removable lithium battery is designed around the requirements of modern air travel. Airwheel states that the battery meets global airline standards, with a removable architecture that allows it to be taken out of the suitcase when required. For the SE3SX, Airwheel's 20-inch smart electric suitcase is specifically positioned as a cabin-size carry-on product, with the company stating that it meets international airline carry-on standards. The removable battery architecture also facilitates security inspection and battery handling during travel. The battery solution is supported by relevant safety certification, while the 20-inch cabin-size form factor is designed to integrate electric mobility into a travel format familiar to international travelers. This creates an important distinction. Airwheel is not simply building an electric vehicle that happens to look like luggage. It is engineering a travel product around the requirements of luggage first, while integrating personal mobility into the same architecture. The SE3SX, for example, combines a 73.26Wh battery, 20-inch carry-on format, 6.6kg overall weight, 95kg maximum load and a top speed of 9.9km/h. It also supports Apple Find My and Airwheel's smart app ecosystem. Smart Features Built Into the Travel Experience Electric mobility is only one part of the Airwheel experience. Depending on the model, the Luxury Cabin Suitcase portfolio incorporates technologies including TSA-compatible locks, USB charging, Airwheel smart APP connectivity, Apple Find My support and dynamic RGB lighting. The objective is not to add technology simply for the sake of technology. Each feature is intended to address a familiar part of the travel experience. The smart APP provides connected control functions, while Apple Find My support gives users another way to keep track of their luggage. TSA-compatible locking supports international travel scenarios, while USB charging turns the suitcase into an additional source of mobile power. On the SE3SX, Airwheel has also integrated a smart handle that brings key riding controls into the handlebar architecture, combining acceleration, braking and reverse functions into a compact interface. The design philosophy is therefore less about creating a “smart gadget” and more about creating a smart piece of travel equipment. Engineering Meets Luxury Luggage Design The engineering challenge behind a rideable suitcase is significant. A conventional suitcase needs to maximize internal storage while remaining lightweight, durable and easy to transport. An electric suitcase adds an entirely different set of requirements: motors, batteries, structural reinforcement, control systems, wheels and mechanical components must all coexist within a compact luggage architecture. Airwheel approaches this challenge through the integration of electric drive technology, structural engineering, intelligent controls and premium luggage design. The SE3SX uses an enhanced aluminum-magnesium alloy frame combined with an ABS+PC composite shell, balancing strength with weight. The product supports a maximum load of 95kg while maintaining a compact 20-inch cabin-size form. The result is a product that does not simply look futuristic. Its technology is built into the physical architecture of the suitcase. The intelligence is in the structure. The mobility is in the design. And the technology is designed to disappear into the experience. International Design Recognition Beyond the Ride The attention Airwheel received at the Canton Fair is part of a broader design and innovation story. Airwheel's smart rideable luggage portfolio has received recognition from a wide range of international design programs, including the Berlin Design Awards Gold, European Product Design Award (EPDA), MUSE Design Awards, London Design Awards, NY Product Design Awards, Asian Design Awards, Japan IDPA Awards, WGA Wonder Global Design Awards and iLuxury Design Awards, among others. Airwheel's official product platform also highlights international design recognition across models including the SE3 series and SE3MiniT, with awards associated with programs in Europe, the United States and Asia. For Airwheel, these awards represent more than visual design. A rideable suitcase requires designers and engineers to rethink the relationship between form, function and movement. How can a motor be integrated without compromising luggage space? How can a riding mechanism remain compact when the suitcase is used as conventional luggage? How can a premium exterior accommodate sophisticated electronics and mechanical components? And perhaps most importantly: How can technology change the experience of travel without making the product feel complicated? These are the design questions behind the evolution of Airwheel's smart luggage. 600+ Global Patents and Trademarks in 168+ Countries and Regions Behind the product portfolio is an international intellectual property foundation developed over more than a decade of smart mobility research and product development. Airwheel has established a portfolio of more than 600 global patents, while its trademark registrations extend across more than 168 countries and regions. For international business partners, this intellectual property foundation provides an important indicator of Airwheel's long-term commitment to technology, product development and global market expansion. The combination of patents, international trademarks, design awards and an established product portfolio gives Airwheel a broader foundation for cooperation with distributors, retailers, travel retailers and mobility-focused partners. Rather than building its international business around a single product, Airwheel is developing a broader smart mobility ecosystem. A Complete Luxury Cabin Suitcase Portfolio The Canton Fair presentation also demonstrated that Airwheel's strategy extends well beyond a single flagship model. The SE3SX , SE3SL and SE3SXD form key parts of the Luxury Cabin Suitcase portfolio, offering different approaches to intelligent riding, portability and connected travel. The SE3SX Cabin Suitcase focuses on premium smart electric mobility in a compact 20-inch cabin format, combining riding functionality, smart APP connectivity and Apple Find My support. The SE3SL+ Airport Boarding Suitcase emphasizes lightweight design and everyday usability, balancing rideability, portability and travel convenience. The SE3S and SE3SL Smart Carry-on Suitcase further expand the range for mainstream smart travel markets. Airwheel also presented products designed for more specific travel and mobility scenarios. The SE3MiniT hand suitcase focuses on a compact form factor for lighter travel and short-distance mobility. The SE3T brings a larger-capacity format for travelers who need greater storage for longer journeys and family travel. The SQ3 and SQ3S kids suitcase extend the rideable luggage concept into children's travel, combining mobility, practicality and a more engaging travel experience. Together, these models form a broader product ecosystem spanning premium cabin luggage, everyday travel, larger-capacity mobility and family-oriented products. For international distributors and retailers, that creates greater flexibility in building a localized product portfolio around different consumer segments and market requirements. The Next Evolution of Smart Travel The first phase of the 140th Canton Fair offered Airwheel an opportunity to demonstrate its products directly to global buyers. The demonstrations allowed visitors to see the riding function firsthand. Visitors saw the product. They sat on it. They rode it. And many stayed to discuss what it could mean for their markets. That sequence—from discovery to experience to business conversation—captures the core of Airwheel's approach to smart travel. The company is not simply putting a motor into a suitcase. It is exploring what happens when luggage becomes mobility. When mobility becomes intelligent. And when technology becomes an integrated part of the travel experience. The result is a new category of travel equipment designed for a generation of travelers who expect their everyday products to do more. A suitcase that carries your belongings. A mobility device that carries you. A connected travel companion that moves with you. That is the direction Airwheel is taking with its Luxury Cabin Suitcase. Airwheel Continues at Canton Fair Phase Two and Phase Three The first phase of the 140th Canton Fair may have concluded, but Airwheel's presence at the event continues. The brand will participate in the second and third phases, providing international distributors, retailers, sourcing professionals and potential business partners with further opportunities to experience the Luxury Cabin Suitcase portfolio firsthand. Phase Two October 23–27, 2026 Airwheel Booth: 20.2F19-20 Phase Three October 31–November 4, 2026 Airwheel Booths: 18.1K04, 20.2J37-38 and 20.2K11-12 For buyers looking for differentiated smart travel products, the upcoming exhibition phases provide an opportunity to explore the full Airwheel portfolio, experience the rideable luggage firsthand and discuss potential distribution and sourcing opportunities directly with the brand. The first phase showed how quickly a new form of luggage can capture attention. The next two phases will bring that experience to even more global buyers. Airwheel is not waiting for the future of travel. It is building it—one smart suitcase at a time. About Airwheel Airwheel is an international smart mobility brand developing intelligent travel, personal mobility and smart electric products. With more than a decade of experience in smart mobility development, 600+ global patents, trademark registrations across 168+ countries and regions, and a growing portfolio of international design awards, Airwheel continues to explore the convergence of intelligent technology, industrial design and everyday mobility. Its smart rideable luggage portfolio includes the SE3SX, SE3SL, SE3SXD, SE3SL, SE3S, SE3MiniT, SE3T and SQ series, serving different travel scenarios, user groups and market requirements. Airwheel's vision is simple:Free Intelligent Life Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC International (IFSC) Limited introduces two retail funds of funds from GIFT City 2026-10-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aditya-birla-sun-life-amc-international-ifsc-limited-introduces-two-retail-funds-of-funds-from-gift-city-302912339.html MUMBAI, India, Oct. 19, 2026 -- Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd. has announced the establishment of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC International (IFSC) Limited, its wholly owned subsidiary at the International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) in Gujarat International Finance... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Japan & South Korea Divided by Drinking Habits, Finds IWSR 2026-10-18 · Business Wire · Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/japan-south-korea-divided-drinking-210000999.html IWSR's Bevtrac survey of consumer behaviour finds Japanese consumers less likely to drink alcohol and Koreans more likely to socialise while drinking LONDON, October 18, 2026--According to the latest IWSR Bevtrac survey, 76% of South Korean respondents of legal drinking age and above reported consuming ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Advanced Manufacturing in Focus: Smart Life and Robotics Take the Spotlight at 140th Canton Fair 2026-10-18 · PR Newswire · Retail, Industrial https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advanced-manufacturing-in-focus-smart-life-and-robotics-take-the-spotlight-at-140th-canton-fair-302911959.html GUANGZHOU, China, Oct. 18, 2026 -- Phase 1 of the 140th Canton Fair, themed "Advanced Manufacturing," opened on October 15 and will run through October 19. As one of the event's most closely watched sections, the Consumer Electronics and Information Products zone once again... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chamber Vacuum Sealer Selection Factors for Commercial Packaging Operations 2026-10-18 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610183067/chamber-vacuum-sealer-selection-factors-for-commercial-packaging-operations Ontario, California Sunday Oct 18, 2026 @ 3:00 AM UTC — As food processors, distributors, and non-food manufacturers review their packaging lines, the chamber vacuum sealer remains a common choice for operations that need controlled air removal and consistent seals. Promarksvac Corp., a manufacturer of commercial vacuum packaging machines based in Ontario, California, is outlining the factors that typically shape equipment selection in this category. How a Chamber Vacuum Sealer Works A chamber vacuum sealer places both the product and its pouch inside a sealed chamber. Air is removed from the entire chamber rather than drawn out of the pouch through a nozzle, and the pouch is heat sealed before the chamber returns to normal pressure. Because pressure inside and outside the pouch stays balanced during the cycle, this method is widely used for products containing liquids or moisture, such as marinated proteins, brined products, and prepared meals. Configurations and Operational Fit Chamber machines are built in several formats. Tabletop models suit smaller kitchens, retail meat counters, and lower-volume production. Single-chamber floor models are used where larger products or higher daily volumes are involved. Double-chamber designs allow an operator to load one chamber while the other completes its cycle, which can matter in continuous production settings. Belt-type and nozzle-type machines address other workflows within the broader vacuum packaging equipment category. Factors Buyers Commonly Evaluate Packaging managers comparing commercial vacuum packaging machines generally weigh several practical points: Chamber dimensions and seal bar length relative to product and pouch size Pump capacity and cycle time relative to daily volume Compatibility with the pouch material and thickness in use Cleanability and hygiene requirements for the production environment Applicable electrical and sanitation certifications Availability of spare parts, manuals, and technical support Company Background Promarksvac Corp. has manufactured vacuum packaging machines and food processing equipment since 1989. The company’s range of industrial vacuum packaging equipment includes tabletop, single-chamber, double-chamber, belt, and nozzle-type machines. Selected systems are equipped with Busch vacuum pumps and are available with applicable UL, ETL, and NSF certifications. The company also offers rollstock packaging machines, MAP tray sealers, commercial shrink tanks, heat sealers, vacuum seal bags, and spare parts. Its processing equipment includes vacuum tumblers, brine injectors, and piston stuffers. Promarksvac equipment is designed for applications involving meat, poultry, seafood, cheese, and ready-to-eat meals, as well as medical and healthcare packaging. Manufactured in the USA and shipped worldwide, the company is the parent of Foodmax, Profood, and the Promarks Heat Seal Division. Product information, machine manuals, and demonstration videos are available at https://promarksvac.com. About Promarksvac Corp. Promarksvac Corp. is a manufacturer of commercial vacuum packaging machines and processing equipment for food and non-food industries. The company is located at 1915 E. Acacia Street, Ontario, CA 91761, USA. Media Contact Promarksvac Corp. Phone: (909) 923-3888 Email: Email Contact Website: https://promarksvac.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AiMOGA to Unveil Mobo, Its First Family Companion Robot, on October 21 2026-10-17 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/17/3382868/0/en/aimoga-to-unveil-mobo-its-first-family-companion-robot-on-october-21.html AiMOGA Robotics will unveil Mobo, its first consumer-grade family companion humanoid robot, in Wuhu, Anhui, on October 21 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Automotive Technology Comes Home: Mobo to Make Its Global Debut at the OMODA & JAECOO International User Summit 2026-10-17 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/17/3382860/0/en/automotive-technology-comes-home-mobo-to-make-its-global-debut-at-the-omoda-jaecoo-international-user-summit.html WUHU, China, Oct. 17, 2026 -- As AI becomes part of everyday family life, how will it transform the homes of the future? The 2026 OMODA & JAECOO International User Summit will take place in Wuhu, China, from October 19 to 24 under the theme “DRIVE TO THE NEXT VIBE”. During the summit, AiMOGA Robotics, an ecosystem partner of OMODA & JAECOO, will officially launch Mobo, its consumer-grade humanoid robot designed for home companionship, and open global pre-orders. The launch takes OMODA & JAECOO’s embodied AI business into the home, extending its proven automotive-grade technologies and supply chain capabilities beyond vehicle manufacturing to a broader ecosystem of intelligent living. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ecomm Business Solution Outlines Preparation Framework for Website and E-Commerce Consultations 2026-10-17 · 24-7 Press Release · Retail, Media https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539678/ecomm-business-solution-outlines-preparation-framework-for-website-and-e-commerce-consultations Ecomm Business Solution outlines a consultation framework to help businesses organize website goals, branding, content, functionality, and maintenance needs before selecting services. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bestselling Romantic Fiction Novel, The English Professor By Gina Iafrate Will Be Available At No Charge In Ebook Form October 19 and 20 At Amazon 2026-10-17 · 24-7 Press Release · Retail https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/539673/bestselling-romantic-fiction-novel-the-english-professor-by-gina-iafrate-will-be-available-at-no-charge-in-ebook-form-october-19-and-20-at-amazon Gina Iafrate writes sweeping family sagas that allow readers to escape to faraway places through engaging storylines and richly detailed narratives. This romantic fiction novel was a winner of the Book of Excellence Award. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vanta Closes Second Tranche of Private Placement Financing and Welcomes Launch of First U.S.-Listed Peptide ETF, Highlighting Growing Recognition of Peptide Industry 2026-10-17 · Newswire.com · Healthcare, Retail https://www.newswire.com/news/vanta-closes-second-tranche-of-private-placement-financing-and-welcomes-launch Vanta Holdings Inc. ( CSE:VNTA )( OTC:VNTXF )( FSE:7BC , WKN:A4205J ) (" Vanta " or the " Company "), a consumer health sciences and longevity company focused on preventative wellness and healthspan extension, and parent of the Vanta premium longevity brand, announces that, further to its news releases dated May 29, 2026 , and August 21, 2026 , the Company has closed, effective October 15, 2026, the second tranche (t ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— E.F. Hutton & Co. Serves as Financial Advisor to Two Texas Presidents on Convenience Retail, Fuel Distribution and Real Estate Investments 2026-10-16 · GlobeNewswire · Real estate, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/16/3382842/0/en/e-f-hutton-co-serves-as-financial-advisor-to-two-texas-presidents-on-convenience-retail-fuel-distribution-and-real-estate-investments.html NEW YORK, Oct. 16, 2026 -- E.F. Hutton & Co. (“E.F. Hutton”), a full-service investment bank and broker-dealer headquartered in New York City, today announced that it is serving as financial advisor to Two Texas Presidents, the Austin-based family office of Dallas C. Salazar, on its investments in convenience retail, fuel retail, fuel distribution and the real estate associated with those businesses. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Arbor Day Foundation Podcast Features CEO of TreePeople in Latest Episode 2026-10-16 · 3BL Media · Retail, Media https://www.3blmedia.com/news/arbor-day-foundation-podcast-features-ceo-treepeople-latest-episode Arbor Day Foundation Podcast Features CEO of TreePeople in Latest Episode Mon, 10/19/2026 - 08:33 Subheader “Unearthing Optimism” podcast explores hope, nature, and the future of the planet Body LINCOLN, Neb., October 19, 2026 - Dr. Cassie Rauser, CEO of TreePeople, joins the Arbor Day Foundation in episode 10 of its podcast, “Unearthing Optimism.” TreePeople is an environmental nonprofit based in Southern California working at the intersection of science, policy, and community. In a conversation with CEO and host Dan Lambe, Dr. Cassie Rauser shares what it takes to foster environmental resilience across the diverse landscapes of Los Angeles and how trees can help. “Cassie’s scientific expertise and deep knowledge of Los Angeles made for a compelling conversation about how trees can help people and communities thrive,” said Lambe. “In a time when it’s easy to feel overcome by challenges, this podcast is a way for people to embrace hope. We’re grateful for the many listeners who are joining us on this journey.” “Unearthing Optimism” is a new kind of climate conversation, featuring a series of influential and trusted voices shaping culture, science, and how we understand our changing world. It’s available to stream or download on all major podcasting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music. The podcast is produced in part by the Arbor Day Foundation, the world’s largest tree planting nonprofit. Since its founding in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has helped to plant more than 500 million trees. About the Arbor Day Foundation  The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.   The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org. ### Featured Image Type of Content Press Release ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FDA Approves Alcon’s BRYTLY Redness Reliever Eye Drops for Up to 12 Hours of Whiter, Brighter-Looking Eyes 2026-10-16 · Business Wire · Healthcare, Retail, Biotech & pharma https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/fda-approves-alcon-brytly-redness-195700822.html One drop works to significantly reduce redness, with results lasting up to 12 hours 1 Lasts up to 50% longer than Lumify 1-2,* Expands Alcon's portfolio of consumer eye care solutions and will be available in major retailers nationwide and online in the coming months GENEVA, October 16, 2026--Alcon (SI ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Investigates Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (CDNL) on Behalf of Investors 2026-10-16 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/319092/ScottScott-Attorneys-at-Law-LLP-Investigates-Cardinal-Infrastructure-Group-Inc.-CDNL-on-Behalf-of-Investors New York, New York--(October 16, 2026) - Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), a shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm, alerts investors that it is investigating potential violations of U.S. federal securities laws involving Cardinal Infrastructure Group Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNL).CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL CLASS ACTIONWhat is Cardinal Infrastructure?Cardinal Infrastructure is a North Carolina-based infrastructure... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mercedes-Benz USA Reports Quarterly Passenger Car Sales Growth of 4% 2026-10-16 · Business Wire · Retail, Automotive https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/mercedes-benz-usa-reports-quarterly-184800768.html Mercedes-Benz USA retailed 76,200 passenger cars in Q3 2026, representing a 4% increase over Q3 2025. Third-quarter retail sales totaled 85,800 units (+3%), comprised of 76,200 passenger cars and 9,600 vans. The Core segment delivered double-digit quarterly growth (+12%) and year-to-date gains (+5%), underpinned by outsta ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— A 10 Year Old Game Designer's Tabletop Game Hits the Global Market! 2026-10-16 · Pressat · Retail, Gaming https://pressat.co.uk/releases/a-10-year-old-game-designers-tabletop-game-hits-the-global-market-6df950a4bc5f019220b5578cafd5b7ff/ Friday 16 October, 2026 PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE From a 10-year-old’s idea to international retail: Teenage game designer Laurie Buchanan takes Wizerds, Warriors, & Werewolves to Essen Created when he was just 10, Laurie Buchanan’s fast-paced fantasy card game has now reached retail, with the young designer set to demonstrate his creation to an international audience at SPIEL Essen on the Tycoon Games booth 5A110. Wizerds, Warriors, & Werewolves, published by Tycoon Games, began with Laurie’s ambition to create a fantasy card game packed with action, mischief, and big fun in a small package. Now 15, Laurie will be demonstrating the game to visitors at SPIEL Essen in Germany, giving players the opportunity to experience the game for themselves and meet the young designer behind it. Dan, founder of Tycoon Games: “When I first played this game, it evoked in me the pure, unbridled joy of silly fun adventures around the table. A joy to play!” The game’s journey from childhood concept to published product has already attracted attention on both sides of the Atlantic, with an appearance at Gen Con in the United States, UK Games Expo earlier this year, and about to launch across Europe! Laurie, the game designer: “As a young board game designer, I’m so excited that a brilliant company like Tycoon Games has given me this opportunity to share my game across the world!” For Laurie, the achievement represents years of creativity and a lifelong love of games. Having played games with his family since the age of four, he designed Wizerds, Warriors, & Werewolves when he was just 10 years old. “I wanted to design a take-that fantasy card game with big fun in a small package,” Laurie explains in the game’s rulebook. “I hope that playing this game feels like epic wizard mayhem in just 15–20 minutes.” The move into retail marks a major milestone in Laurie’s journey as a designer, bringing the game to consumers beyond the playtesting sessions and conventions that helped introduce it to the wider gaming community. The game is now available at retail in the States and soon in the UK and Europe too, giving families, friends and tabletop gaming fans the chance to discover Entaria and choose their own path to becoming its champion. Laurie’s appearance at SPIEL Essen will bring the story full circle: from imagining the game as a child to sharing it directly with players from around the world. His demonstrations will offer visitors a chance to learn the rules and experience the fast-paced battles that inspired the game. But for Laurie, the ambition goes beyond creating a successful product. His rulebook explains that making games is a way to channel his creativity, and he hopes his ideas will help other people feel good and create happy memories. About Wizerds, Warriors, & Werewolves Wizerds, Warriors, & Werewolves is a fast-paced fantasy card-battling game designed by Laurie Buchanan and published by Tycoon Games. Set in the magical realm of Entaria, players use Action Cards and their Champions’ special abilities to battle rivals, survive monsters and werewolves, and compete to become the last Champion standing. Players: 2–8Recommended age: 8+MSRP $25Playing time: Approximately 20 minutesPublisher: Tycoon GamesWebsite: www.TycoonGames.com About Tycoon Games Tycoon Games is a successful independent game publisher headquartered in New Hampshire, USA, with a global reach and a passion for bringing people together through play. Since beginning publishing in 2015, Tycoon has sold millions of games worldwide, including award-winning titles such as Everdell and Tiny Epic Dungeons. Its catalogue spans a wide variety of themes and genres, with games published in more than 25 languages and distributed through over 50 countries around the globe through mass, independent, and online retailers. We make games. We sell games. We give games. Giving back is central to Tycoon’s mission. Inspired by founder Dan Yarrington’s own experience receiving games from Toys for Tots as a child, Tycoon has donated more than $15 million worth of games — over 500,000 individual games — to the organisation as part of its charitable giving initiatives. The company continues to champion creativity, innovation and the power of play to make a positive difference in people’s lives. Press contact: Toby DaviesTycoon GamesEmail: toby@tycoongames.com Telephone: +44 7784 867106 Product images, review copies, and interview opportunities with Laurie are available on request. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TALKTALK TRANSFERS 13,500 BROADBAND CUSTOMERS TO TELECOM ACQUISITIONS GROUP’S FLEUR TELECOM 2026-10-16 · Pressat · Retail, Telecom, Logistics https://pressat.co.uk/releases/talktalk-transfers-13500-broadband-customers-to-telecom-acquisitions-groups-fleur-telecom-0b1af5f4a0956653fc7a956d0186f182/ Friday 16 October, 2026 Telecom Acquisitions Group (TAL), the Horsham-based holding company behind several retail broadband brands, has begun onboarding 13,500 TalkTalk broadband customers to its Fleur Telecom ISP business. The customers have been with TalkTalk for many years, receiving services over traditional copper lines and ADSL technology, now reaching the end of its lifecycle. Fleur Telecom will upgrade customers to fibre using the same proven approach it has successfully applied over the past year, with a clear focus on continuity and service quality for the move to the new network environment. “TalkTalk is one of the largest wholesale suppliers to the UK broadband industry, with equipment in around 2,900 BT exchanges,” commented TAL CEO Nigel Barnett. “It offers one of the most extensive networks in the UK alongside its new owner, BT Group, making it a natural wholesale partner for new residential broadband providers. As in any industry, not every new provider succeeds; some choose to change direction. That’s where TAL steps in. Because the transfer between TalkTalk and TAL is simply a seamless internal account change, customers experience no loss of service. “These customers will move to our Fleur Telecom brand. Their existing telephone numbers and email addresses will be retained, and all current terms and conditions will remain in place. In most cases, customer payment arrangements will also stay the same,” Barnett added. TAL has worked in this way with other network operators over the years, including CityFibre, Cable & Wireless (now Vodafone), MS3 and Full Fibre. Onboarding of all 13,500 TalkTalk customers commenced on 1 September 2026. Following the transfer, customers will be supported 24/7 by TAL’s UK-based service centre, which also looks after its established Home Telecom and Elite Telecom brands. In addition, every customer will have access to a mobile app to help them manage their account. ABOUT TAL TAL offers services from all the traditional network suppliers alongside Layer 2 and Layer 3 connections with the majority of UK altnets. The group has now grown to more than 80,000 customers, with projected turnover of around £36 million in 2027. The company plans to continue this growth through organic expansion and further acquisitions as opportunities arise. ABOUT TALKTALK Founded in 2003 as a subsidiary of Carphone Warehouse, TalkTalk demerged in 2010 and was taken private in 2021 by Toscafund Asset Management. The organisation offers Full Fibre broadband (speeds up to 900 Mbps), landline phones, and TV add-ons, along with its wholesale connectivity business PlatformX Communications (PXC). BT Group acquired TalkTalk and PXC this month in a £400 million rescue deal to protect 2.5 million residential, business, and wholesale customers. ENDS For further information please contact ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Detroit Pistons Bring Detroit-Inspired Street Food and Expanded Arena Dining to the 2026–27 Season 2026-10-16 · Travel PR News · Retail, Travel, Food & drink https://travelprnews.com/article/detroit-pistons-bring-detroit-inspired-street-food-and-expanded-arena-dining-to-the-2026-27-season/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=detroit-pistons-bring-detroit-inspired-street-food-and-expanded-arena-dining-to-the-2026-27-season Delaware North adds shareable concessions, restaurant dishes, themed beverages and premium hospitality at Little Caesars Arena. KEY TAKEAWAYS Delaware North has announced new concessions, restaurant dishes and retail experiences for the Pistons’ 2026–27 home season. Arena Cantina Pizza Box Nachos will be at Portable 46, while Motor City Street Lab will operate at Portal 28.... Read the full news article ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Thailand Expands Shopping Rewards for ASEAN and South Asian Visitors in Autumn 2026 2026-10-16 · Travel PR News · Finance, Retail, Travel https://travelprnews.com/article/thailand-expands-shopping-rewards-for-asean-and-south-asian-visitors-in-autumn-2026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thailand-expands-shopping-rewards-for-asean-and-south-asian-visitors-in-autumn-2026 More than 50 partners offer retail, dining and hotel privileges as TAT targets 30,000 participants and 244 million baht in tourism revenue. KEY TAKEAWAYS ASEAN India+ Shoppers in Thailand 2026 runs from September to November with privileges from more than 50 partners. The campaign now targets Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh alongside established ASEAN and... Read the full news article ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Digital Webinar Series builds momentum towards the full Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum 2027 2026-10-16 · APO Group · SaaS, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://vukagroup.africa-newsroom.com/press/the-digital-webinar-series-builds-momentum-towards-the-full-democratic-republic-of-the-congo-drc-critical-minerals-and-industrialisation-forum-2027?lang=en The organisers of the DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum, co-located with the DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum, have announced a four-part digital webinar series running from September to November 2026. Bringing together government, industry and investment leaders, the series will examine the opportunities, challenges and partnerships shaping the DRC’s next phase of economic development. Across four live sessions, the discussions will explore the policies, infrastructure, technologies and investment models needed to unlock greater value from the country’s critical mineral resources. Speakers will share market intelligence, practical case studies and perspectives on how the DRC can strengthen local value creation, attract investment and build a more competitive and sustainable minerals economy. The webinar series also provides a platform for continued engagement ahead of the full in-person Forum in Kinshasa in 2027. VUKA Group RDC rescheduled the Forum to align with the DRC Government’s evolving national policy frameworks and allow the revised roadmaps for the $58 billion Master Plan for Industrialisation (Plan Directeur d’Industrialisation, PDI) to further develop. The first four editions of the digital webinar series will focus on the following: Webinar 1: 23 September 2026, 10h30–12h00 (https://apo-opa.co/4zwms7Z) UNLOCKING THE DRC’S INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL:  The A-to-Z masterclass strategy   The DRC masterclass examines how the nation can harness its mineral wealth for sustainable growth and industrialization. Experts will discuss policies to move beyond raw exports, enforce security and strengthen ESG standards. Priorities include local beneficiation, human capital development and tailored financing to balance global markets. By defining collaborative actions and investment pathways, the session seeks to accelerate value addition, enhance competitiveness and position the DRC as a responsible global leader in the minerals value chain. VIEW ON DEMAND (https://apo-opa.co/4zHqbjn) Webinar 2: 21 October 2026, 10h30–12h00   (https://apo-opa.co/4zwms7Z) FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE & INDUSTRIALISATION DEVELOPMENT The panel on infrastructure and industrialisation highlights the DRC’s need to move beyond raw material extraction by focusing on local transformation. Building resilient industries will drive job creation and strengthen the economy. Experts will examine how transport, energy and logistics projects accelerate industrialisation, with case studies such as ports, railways and cross‑border initiatives. By prioritising strategic development and leveraging mineral revenues, the DRC can unlock sustainable growth and position itself as a competitive hub within the African Continental Free Trade Area. Key discussion points –  Understanding the DRC’s industrial strategy to capitalise on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) –  The Lobito Corridor project: now or tomorrow? –  Prioritising development projects in energy, transport linkages (road and railway rehabilitation), maritime infrastructure and port networks by utilising mineral revenues Case studies –  The Banana Port (developers: DP World and Mota-Engil contractors) –  The Matadi Multipurpose Terminal, the DRC’s maritime gateway (AD Ports Group and the DRC Ministry of Transport) –  Port of Boma maritime project –  Banana–Matadi–Kinshasa railway –  DRC–RSA Industrialisation Project, linking South Africa and the DRC and establishing 12 Economic Zones Speakers –  Chairperson: Bob Bononge, President, Caplaine Consulting, DRC –  Popaul Madiana, Managing Partner, Prime Mineral Consulting, DRC –  Serge Nawej, Partner, ADNA ALN, DRC* REGISTER TO ATTEND (https://apo-opa.co/4dKfbsZ) Webinar 3: 11 November 2026, 10h30–12h00   (https://apo-opa.co/4zwms7Z) NEW TECHNOLOGIES DRIVING THE GLOBAL ENERGY TRANSITION This session explores how technology and ESG‑aligned investment can transform the DRC’s critical minerals sector. With global demand for lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper rising, responsible sourcing and compliance are essential to build investor confidence. Discussions will focus on local processing, advanced metallurgical methods, renewable energy and automation to accelerate industrialisation. By shifting from raw exports to in‑country beneficiation, the DRC can strengthen sustainability, unlock long‑term value and position itself as a competitive player in the global energy transition. Webinar 4: 25 November 2026, 10h30–12h00   (https://apo-opa.co/4zwms7Z) STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: BUILDING A STRONGER AND MORE SUSTAINABLE CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN This discussion explores how strategic partnerships can strengthen the DRC’s critical minerals value chain. By fostering collaboration between governments, regional integration systems and investors, the focus is on building resilience and supporting sustainable growth. Key themes include industrialisation through global partnerships, prioritising sectors for development and aligning with international partners. With effective models of cooperation, the DRC can unlock socio‑economic benefits, enhance competitiveness and establish a stronger foundation for a sustainable and inclusive minerals sector. DRC’s transition DRC Critical minerals & Industrialisation forum unites government, industry and investors to accelerate the country’s transition from raw‑material extraction to high‑value manufacturing, underscoring the nation’s opportunity to convert mineral wealth into infrastructure, jobs and sustainable economic growth. The DRC’s Ministry of Mines (https://apo-opa.co/4jZPwjF) and the DRC’s Ministry of Industry (https://apo-opa.co/3UpRU98) as well the Federation of Enterprises of Congo (FEC) (https://apo-opa.co/4dHvFC4) are official partners of the event.  Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group. Media enquiries: gloria.mariane@wearevuka.com Follow us on: https://apo-opa.co/3WejqqF https://apo-opa.co/4ecRz0a https://apo-opa.co/4zweZG4 https://apo-opa.co/4zz2aLd) About VUKA Group: DRC Critical Minerals & Industrialisation Forum and DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum are organised by VUKA Group (https://apo-opa.co/4hOedhN)(formerly Clarion Events Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4hMwOuC)), a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, energy, mining, mobility, green economy and retail sectors. Other well-known events by VUKA Group include DRC Mining Week (https://apo-opa.co/4hZ5kCd), Nigeria Mining Week (https://apo-opa.co/4s6em3o), Enlit Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4hKG9TG), Africa’s Green Economy Forum (https://apo-opa.co/4zAQkQH), Carbon Markets Africa Forum (https://apo-opa.co/4k0nzbu), Smarter Mobility Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4jr6Xtl), ECOM (https://apo-opa.co/3U3mAwF)Africa (https://apo-opa.co/3U3mAwF) and CEM Africa (https://apo-opa.co/3THMhmB). https://apo-opa.co/4eApmAu), the leading monthly magazine and digital platform in the African mining industry, is the event’s premium media partner. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vadzo Imaging Validates Innova-1335CRA: 13MP Color Autofocus ONVIF GigE Camera with ROI Based Auto Exposure and Autofocus for Precise Imaging 2026-10-16 · Newswire.com · Retail https://www.newswire.com/news/vadzo-imaging-validates-innova-1335cra-13mp-color-autofocus-onvif-gige-22875364 The Innova-1335CRA is a 13MP Color Autofocus ONVIF GigE Camera built on the Onsemi AR1335 sensor, and Vadzo has validated its ROI based auto exposure and autofocus for precise imaging. A camera that meters and focuses on the whole frame serves the average of the scene, and the average is rarely the subject. A bright kiosk screen, a sunlit window, a specimen on a dark stage, or a shelf edge in a busy aisle can pull exposure and focus away from the region that matters. With ROI based AE and AF, the camera measures exposure and finds focus inside a region chosen by the integrator. As a 13MP ONVIF Gigabit Ethernet Camera and a 4K Autofocus ONVIF Ethernet Camera, it adds Digital PTZ, iHDR, an on-board ISP, and PTP synchronization, and it carries power and data over one PoE cable. Designed for pathology devices, kiosks and signage, smart city systems, and retail analytics, the Innova-1335CRA gives networked vision a sharp, well-exposed picture where it counts. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Auros Study Finds Consumers Wary of AI Retail Ads, but Open to AI as a Shopping Tool 2026-10-16 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/auros-study-finds-consumers-wary-150000102.html Consumers are skeptical of AI-generated advertising, but willing to use AI to find better prices, compare products and simplify holiday shopping BELLEVUE, Wash., October 16, 2026--Consumers are increasingly encountering AI-generated ads but remain wary of whether products marketed with AI will match th ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Rise of Fast-Charging Technologies in the Mobile Power Supply Market 2026-10-16 · PR News Releaser · Energy, Retail https://www.prnewsreleaser.com/news/473686 Technological advancements in battery capacity, charging speed, energy efficiency, and compact product design are shaping the Mobile Power Supply Market. Manufacturers are developing lightweight and high-capacity solutions to meet changing consumer expectations for portability, performance, and convenience. Market Overview The Mobile ... Read more ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— East African Community (EAC) Partner States Advance Measure to Strengthen E-Commerce and Digital Trade 2026-10-16 · APO Group · SaaS, Retail, Logistics, Cybersecurity https://www.africa-newsroom.com/press/east-african-community-eac-partner-states-advance-measure-to-strengthen-ecommerce-and-digital-trade?lang=en The East African Community (EAC) Partner States have advanced regional efforts to strengthen e-commerce and digital trade, with a focus on improving data and monitoring, building consumer trust, enhancing preparedness for implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, and accelerating implementation of the EAC E-Commerce Strategy. The measures were discussed during the EAC Regional E-Commerce Engagement Platform meeting held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 13th to 15th October, 2026. The Platform provides a structured mechanism for Partner States to collaborate on areas critical to the effective implementation of the EAC E-Commerce Strategy, including policy and regulation, digital infrastructure, logistics, cybersecurity, online marketplaces and payment systems. A major focus of the meeting was strengthening the Monitoring and Evaluation Tool for the EAC E-Commerce Strategy. Partner States reviewed and updated baseline data, drawing on recommendations emerging from National E-Commerce Engagement Platforms held between September and October 2026. The process is expected to strengthen the availability and quality of data for tracking implementation of the Strategy and informing policy decisions. The Chairperson of the meeting, Mr. Chris Matsiko, Commercial Officer at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Uganda, noted that e-commerce presents significant opportunities to expand market access, facilitate cross-border trade, promote entrepreneurship and enable micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) to participate more effectively in regional and global value chains. “These opportunities can only be realised through deliberate and coordinated efforts to address prevailing challenges, including gaps in digital infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, logistics, payment systems, digital skills, consumer protection and the availability of reliable data to inform policy decisions,” said Mr. Matsiko. The meeting also considered lessons emerging from the Knowledge Exchange Forum on Building Trust in E-Commerce, held in Switzerland and Serbia in July 2026, and identified priority areas for regional action to strengthen trust and confidence in cross-border e-commerce. These actions include harmonising consumer protection frameworks, strengthening online dispute resolution mechanisms, promoting initiatives that enhance trust in digital transactions, and deepening public-private dialogue to support a more secure, transparent and enabling regional e-commerce environment. Speaking during the meeting, Mr. Gordon Kalema, Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP) Project Manager, noted that digital trade presents an important opportunity to deepen regional integration and expand market opportunities for East African businesses. “Intra-EAC trade has grown from USD 1.6 billion in 2005 to USD 19.65 billion in 2025, underscoring the significant potential of e-commerce to build on this progress by expanding market access, creating new opportunities for businesses and further deepening regional economic integration,” said Mr. Kalema. Partner States also reviewed progress in implementing the EAC E-Commerce Strategy and considered measures to further strengthen coordination and accelerate implementation. Through continued cooperation under the Regional E-Commerce Engagement Platform, the EAC seeks to foster a more coordinated, trusted and evidence-driven environment in which businesses and consumers can take advantage of the opportunities presented by e-commerce and digital trade. Through the Eastern Africa Regional Digital Integration Project (EARDIP), the EAC is advancing the development of a regional single digital market by strengthening connectivity, harmonising data governance, enhancing cybersecurity, improving digital payment interoperability and supporting cross-border e-commerce. Together, these interventions are helping to create a more connected, secure and integrated digital environment in which businesses and consumers can access services, transact and participate in the regional digital economy across borders. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Instinct Bio Returns to Profit and Grows Revenue Nearly 10% in Yen Terms in First Half of Fiscal 2026 2026-10-16 · NewMediaWire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Industrial https://www.newmediawire.com/news/instinct-bio-returns-to-profit-and-grows-revenue-nearly-10-in-yen-terms-in-first-half-of-fiscal-2026-7090691 TOKYO, JAPAN - October 16, 2026 - Instinct Bio Technical Company Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOT) (“BIOT” or the “Company”), a Japan-based developer, manufacturer and seller of stem-cell-based and regenerative-medicine-related cosmetics and health products, today announced unaudited results for the six months ended May 31, 2026 (“1H FY2026”) of Instinct Bio Technical Company Inc. and its four Japanese operating subsidiaries (the “Operating Group”), which became wholly owned subsidiaries of the Company on July 23, 2026. The interim financial statements, reviewed by Morison LC PLT, and management’s discussion and analysis are furnished to the SEC on Form 6-K today. Results exclude the Company’s predecessor, Relativity Holdings Inc., and business combination costs. Comparisons are with the six months ended May 31, 2025. 1H FY2026 Highlights Revenue of USD 1,142,598, up 4.7% (up 9.8% in yen terms, from JPY 163.7 million to JPY 179.8 million). OEM/ODM revenue (83.4% of total) up 6.5% and Value Village e-commerce revenue up 12.2%, both in yen terms. Gross margin of 72.6% (1H FY2025: 79.7%), reflecting a smaller inventory build, new imported purchases and higher manufacturing overhead. Administrative expenses down 30.1% to USD 741,691, mainly as approximately USD 208,000 of listing-related fees expensed in 1H FY2025 did not recur. Profit after tax of USD 90,251 (1H FY2025: loss of USD 206,817). Largest customer’s share of revenue fell to 34.8% from 51.7% as new OEM/ODM, export and Value Athlete customers were added. Net cash used in operating activities of USD 12,323 (1H FY2025: USD 371,404). Cash of USD 25,565 at May 31, 2026; no bank borrowings. Management Commentary “This is the first set of results we have reported since completing our Nasdaq listing in July. Until now, investors have had little visibility into who we are as a management team and what our business actually does. We chose to report our first half now, and will continue to report every six months, so that shareholders can judge us on facts: revenue grew almost 10% in yen terms, we returned to profit, and our customer base is broader than a year ago. We are not satisfied with our gross margin or cash position, and improving both is our priority for the second half,” said Tomoki Nagano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Each of the initiatives we announced since July - our U.S. collaboration with INVITRX, our Indonesian product partnership, the GENREVER Clinic in Jakarta and our IN01 representation - is progressing on schedule. Our target is to have them operational by the end of calendar 2026, with revenue contribution beginning in fiscal 2027.” Financial Position and Liquidity At May 31, 2026, total assets were USD 4,080,414, total liabilities USD 1,994,227 and total equity USD 2,086,187 (November 30, 2025: total assets USD 2,994,989, total liabilities USD 952,394 and total equity USD 2,042,595). The increases from November 30, 2025 were driven mainly by other receivables and prepayments, including advances to related parties, and by other payables, including borrowings from directors and related parties. Cash and bank balances were USD 25,565 (November 30, 2025: USD 124,764). The Operating Group’s liquidity depends on collecting receivables, including from related parties, continued support from directors and related parties, and obtaining additional financing as needed. The directors have concluded that the Operating Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for at least twelve months. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” in the Form 6-K. Overseas Initiatives The following initiatives, announced between July and September 2026, did not contribute to 1H FY2026 revenue. All are targeted to be operational within calendar 2026, with revenue contribution expected from fiscal 2027, subject to definitive agreements, regulatory approvals and partner performance. United States: GENREVER-branded cosmetics to be manufactured by INVITRX at its U.S. GMP facility for the U.S. market Indonesia: first two cosmetic products with PT Parva Candela Kosmetick Jakarta: membership-based GENREVER Clinic, targeted to open in December 2026 IN01: non-exclusive representation of CelSiege BioSciences’ cancer immunotherapy program in Japan and China Summary of Unaudited Results of the Operating Group (USD) 1H FY2026 1H FY2025 Change Revenue 1,142,598 1,091,050 +4.7% Gross profit 828,990 869,321 (4.6%) Gross margin 72.6% 79.7% (7.1) pts Administrative expenses (741,691) (1,060,969) (30.1%) Profit/(loss) after tax 90,251 (206,817) n.m. Total comprehensive income/(loss) 43,592 (118,604) n.m. Net cash used in operating activities (12,323) (371,404) n.m.   Revenue by business line (USD) 1H FY2026 1H FY2025 Change (JPY) OEM/ODM 952,745 938,171 +6.5% Value Village (D2C e-commerce) 110,918 103,638 +12.2% Genrever Clinic support 35,451 38,511 (3.5%) Value Athlete 23,223 3,732 +552.4% Overseas 20,261 6,998 +203.6% Total 1,142,598 1,091,050 +9.8% Yen amounts translated at average rates of approximately JPY 157.3 (1H FY2026) and JPY 150.0 (1H FY2025) per U.S. dollar. Full financial statements and MD&A are in the Company’s Form 6-K furnished on October 16, 2026, available at www.sec.gov. About Instinct Bio Technical Company Holdings Inc. Instinct Bio Technical Company Holdings Inc. (Nasdaq: BIOT), headquartered in Tokyo, develops, manufactures and sells stem-cell-based and regenerative-medicine-related cosmetics and health products through its wholly owned subsidiaries in Japan. Learn more at https://instinct-biot.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including statements regarding growth, gross margin, liquidity, customer diversification and the timing and contribution of overseas initiatives. These statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks that could cause actual results to differ materially, including customer concentration, gross margin pressure, yen/U.S. dollar exchange rates, the Company’s limited cash resources and dependence on related-party support and additional financing, its ability to regain and maintain compliance with Nasdaq continued listing requirements, and overseas regulatory approvals and partner performance, as described in the Company’s SEC filings, including its shell company report on Form 20-F filed July 29, 2026. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements, except as required by law. Investor Relations Contact Instinct Bio Technical Company Holdings Inc. Email: ir@instinct-bro.com Website: https://instinct-biot.com/ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Identity Wins 2026 PRNEWS Platinum Award for Consumer Products & Retail Campaign of the Year 2026-10-16 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/16/3382542/0/en/identity-wins-2026-prnews-platinum-award-for-consumer-products-retail-campaign-of-the-year.html Agency & client partners Hudsonville Ice Cream & Little Debbie Ice Cream also earn three honorable mentions for integrated national product-launch campaign ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hong Kong Autumn Electronics Fair and electronicAsia attract over 61,000 buyers for sourcing, business opportunities 2026-10-16 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Media, Education, Travel, Sports, Industrial, Logistics, Semiconductors https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110854/ Hong Kong, Oct 16, 2026 - The 46th Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and the 29th electronicAsia, jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia concluded successfully today. Over the four-day exhibition period, the two fairs attracted over 61,000 buyers from 141 countries and regions. Buyers from outside Hong Kong came mainly from the Chinese Mainland, India, Japan and the United States, among others, while buyer attendance from Kazakhstan, Brazil and other areas recorded encouraging growth, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as an international trading hub and an important platform connecting global innovation and technology industries with international markets. The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia concluded successfully today. The four-day fairs attracted over 61,000 buyers from 141 countries and regions who visited Hong Kong to source products and explore business opportunities This year's Electronics Fair focused on three highlighted themes: AI & Robotics, Smart Wellness and NEXTEntertainment, with related products showcased across various thematic zones. electronicAsia also featured dedicated zones presenting electronic components, display technologies, printed circuit boards, electronic manufacturing services, and testing and measuring equipment, creating a comprehensive one-stop sourcing marketplace for the electronics industry. More than 130 exhibitors participated in the Smart Wellness sector, showcasing a wide range of products and solutions, including digital health devices, smart wearables, personal care technologies, gerontech and consumer electronics for healthy living. The strong participation reflects growing market demand for technology-enabled health management solutions and innovations that enhance quality of life. Silas Chu, HKTDC Associate Executive Director, said: "This year's Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia achieved a fruitful outcome, bringing together exhibitors, buyers, investors and industry players from around the world. The fairs generated strong sourcing momentum and facilitated numerous business deals and partnerships. As the industry continues to transform and upgrade, the role of trade fairs is also evolving, extending beyond traditional product showcases and sourcing activities to become important platforms for fostering innovation, industry exchange and cross-sector collaboration, while reinforcing Hong Kong's strengths as an international trade centre. The newly introduced Future Industries Zone attracted strong interest from technology companies, investors and buyers, while the GoGlobal Connect Zone and its related activities were also well received, reflecting strong demand from Chinese Mainland enterprises seeking to expand overseas and leverage Hong Kong's professional services. This highlights our city's unique role as a bridge connecting industries with global markets." This year's Autumn Electronics Fair introduces the new Future Industries Zone, spotlighting five key themes: Future Computing, Future Manufacturing, Future Marine & Quantum Technologies, Future Microelectronics, and Future Wellness. Pictured is exhibitor Lenovo showcasing a diverse range of innovative technologies and solutions. Mr Chu added: "As Hong Kong's October exhibition season continues, the HKTDC will organise a series of major exhibitions and conferences, including the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo, and Eco Expo Asia later this month. These events will create more cross-industry collaboration opportunities while leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantage in connecting the Chinese Mainland with international markets. They also align with the Hong Kong SAR Government's latest Policy Address and first Five-Year Plan which emphasise accelerating innovation and technology development, promoting AI adoption and strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international trade centre." Survey: over 80% of respondents optimistic about ASEAN and Middle East markets; AI emerges as a key growth driver An independent research agency commissioned by the organisers interviewed over 1,150 buyers and exhibitors during the fairs. The survey found that 96% of respondents expected overall sales to increase or remain stable over the next 12 to 24 months, reflecting cautious optimism about the industry's medium-term market outlook. Respondents were particularly positive about future sales prospects in several areas, with the most promising growth opportunities identified in ASEAN (83%), the Middle East (83%) and Chinese Mainland  (81%). The findings suggest that companies are actively diversifying their business footprint and exploring new growth markets. The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) continues to accelerate in the electronics industry, with 74% of surveyed companies already applying or planning to apply generative AI technologies. The main areas of application include product design and development, data analysis and reporting, sales and customer engagement, as well as marketing and content creation. Meanwhile, nearly 60% of respondents identified AI as the technology expected to have the greatest impact on the industry over the next two years. The two fairs featured more than 3,200 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. The HKTDC organised 130 buying missions involving buyers from 65 countries and regions, including companies such as Samsung Electronics and SSG.com from Korea, Karimex, Stetsom and Mondial from Brazil; Mercado Libre from Argentina; Garni Technology, Varitec Corp and Pan Pacific International from Czechia; Reichelt Elektronik from Germany; Taç Elektronik from Turkey; and Pixel Electric Ltd from Kenya, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a platform connecting international markets with innovative supply chains. RoboPark and Future Industries Zone take centre stage RoboPark and the Future Industries Zone were among the major highlights of this year's fairs, showcasing the latest advancements in AI, robotics, and other frontier technologies. This year's fairs featured more than 120 robots, primarily showcased at RoboPark at the Electronics Fair, demonstrating practical applications across four key areas: commercial and service industries, industrial and logistics operations, entertainment and social interaction, and healthcare and rehabilitation. Leading robotics companies from the Chinese Mainland took part, including UBTECH, AgiBot and DEEP Robotics, showcasing the latest achievements in bringing robotics technologies from R&D to commercial deployment and real-world applications. RoboPark expanded further this year and featured five interactive experience and demonstration zones. The photo shows Robot Dance Battle, where robots competed through precise movements and rhythm, demonstrating agility and advanced control capabilitiesBeijing Linkerbot Technology Co., Ltd. showcased the Hong Kong debut of its Linker Hand O30 Fully Direct-Drive Dexterous Hand, featuring sub-millimetre positioning accuracy and millisecond-level response speed, highlighting the potential of advanced robotic hands in humanoid robotics and industrial applications Among the highlights was Booster Robotics, winner of the 2026 RoboCup World Championship, which showcased its championship-winning humanoid robot at the fairs. Yang Liuyang, APAC Sales Director of Booster Robotics, said: "We receive around 100 buyer visits every day from around the world, including Europe, Australia, and South American markets such as Brazil, Chile and Peru. This demonstrates the strong growth potential and commercial demand for humanoid robots in overseas markets. We are actively leveraging Hong Kong as a platform to expand our international business. We expect to appoint one to two distributors in Hong Kong this quarter, accelerating the commercialisation of our technologies and further expanding their applications in overseas markets." The newly launched Future Industries Zone spotlighted five key themes: Future Computing, Future Manufacturing, Future Marine & Quantum Technologies, Future Microelectronics, and Future Wellness. The zone brought together over 100 companies to showcase cutting-edge technologies and solutions. Among them was Hong Kong company Xeroptix Technology Limited, which presented core technologies serving as the "AI brain" for robots, offering integrated solutions spanning algorithms, software, hardware and chip design. Dr Steve Kong, Chief Technology Officer of Xeroptix Technology Limited, said the Future Industries Zone enabled innovation and technology companies to connect more effectively with industry partners while reaching investors, corporate users and international markets. During the exhibition, the company engaged with more than 50 potential clients from markets including Australia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe, many of whom expressed strong interest in its embodied AI technologies for robotics. “The exhibition has delivered encouraging results and is expected to generate potential orders worth over US$1 million,” Dr Kong said. Overseas exhibitors also leveraged the Autumn Electronics Fair to explore global business opportunities. First-time exhibitor Clevetura from Cyprus showcased its innovative input device that combines keyboard and touchpad functionalities, aiming to identify distribution partners and expand its international network. Co-founder Mike Krupenkov said: “Hong Kong serves as an important gateway to international markets. Through the fairs, we connected with a number of promising buyers from around the world, and the results have been highly encouraging.” The fairs brought together more than 120 young companies and start-ups, primarily located in the Startup Zone. Among them were numerous Hong Kong start-ups presenting their home-grown innovations to global markets. Hong Kong-based AI-powered news verification app developer Fliq achieved encouraging results in its debut participation. Its CEO and Co-founder Victor Nesteruk said: "Through the fairs, we connected with around 30 potential investors and business partners from markets including the Chinese Mainland, Brazil and Cyprus. We also arranged around 20 business meetings and secured two strategic cooperation opportunities. The fairs provide start-ups with an efficient platform to connect with international markets, and we will definitely participate again." In addition to business matching, the exhibition also helped start-ups explore business and fundraising opportunities through its Investment Matchmaking programme. Korea's Posco Investment attended the fair to explore strategic investment opportunities. The company's typical investment size for each project is around US$750,000. Olivia Park, Venture Capital Manager of Posco Investment, said: "We met with three to five high-potential technology companies and are currently conducting further due diligence and follow-up discussions with one start-up developing smart audio glasses for runners." The fairs featured numerous product debuts, with many companies choosing the platform to unveil their latest technologies and solutions to international buyers. Shenzhen-based VIGX Technology Co., Ltd. showcased the world's first pocket-sized AI-powered exoskeleton robot, overcoming the traditional limitations of bulky and cumbersome industrial exoskeletons. The product attracted strong interest from buyers, with nearly 1,000 visitors recorded during the first two days of the fair alone, including quality buyers from Europe, North America, and South American markets such as Argentina, Brazil and Chile. Wang Han, Overseas Sales Manager of VIGX, said: "The fair provides an ideal platform for us to showcase our latest innovations, accelerating the commercialisation of new technologies and their expansion into overseas markets. If market testing generates positive feedback, it could lead to volume purchases and potential orders worth around RMB1 million." Supporting Chinese Mainland enterprises in going global The HKTDC is one of the core members of the government-led GoGlobal Task Force. This year, the fairs featured the dedicated GoGlobal Connect Zone, offering support on financing, intellectual property, compliance, logistics and risk management to help Chinese Mainland enterprises leverage Hong Kong's international platform and professional services to connect with global markets. The zone received an enthusiastic response, attracting a large number of enquiries and registrations from businesses and professionals interested in expanding their overseas presence. At the same time, many Chinese Mainland technology companies actively used the fair as a springboard for global expansion. The fairs featured the dedicated GoGlobal Connect Zone, bringing together professional service providers to support enterprises with financing, intellectual property, logistics, compliance and risk management, helping Chinese Mainland companies expand into international markets through Hong Kong Among them was Huahon Data Technology, a provider of liquid-cooled AI computing systems and AI solutions, which worked to actively expand its international presence through the fair, successfully connecting with buyers and business partners from Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The company's CEO, Luo Hua, said: "Our global expansion strategy goes beyond selling hardware products. We are committed to building a comprehensive AI ecosystem and providing overseas customers with integrated solutions covering hardware, platforms and applications." The company is actively advancing its international development plans and intends to establish a registered company in Hong Kong within the next one to two months, positioning the city as a key base for its global expansion. The exhibitor added: “The HKTDC not only helped us connect with overseas buyers, but also actively introduced us to banks and financial institutions, supporting our financing activities in Hong Kong and our overseas expansion efforts." Global buyers actively source innovative products The fair attracted buyers from around the world to Hong Kong to source innovative technologies and advanced electronic products, with vibrant business discussions taking place throughout the exhibition. Cizar Abughazaleh, CEO of Dubai-based Action to Action, a company specialising in robot procurement and integration solutions for a wide range of service projects, visited the fair to source robots designed for interactive learning and educational applications. He said: "The fair brings together robots for a wide range of applications in a designated showcase area, enabling buyers to efficiently connect with and compare suppliers. We have purchased a dancing robot and a larger humanoid robot designed for testing and evaluation, helping us explore further collaboration opportunities for future projects." In addition to buyers from the Middle East, the fair attracted buyers from emerging markets such as Africa and South America, who travelled to Hong Kong to source innovative products and technologies. Masibo Levy Wafula, Managing Director of Kenya-based robotics and intelligent systems supplier Pixel Electric, successfully identified manufacturers from the Chinese Mainland at the fair and plans to procure smart metering and automation solutions worth around US$100,000 to support the upgrading of his business. Meanwhile, Fabio Marqui, Foreign Trade Manager of Hayamax, a major electronics wholesaler and distributor in Brazil as well as Toshiba's distributor in the country, said that in addition to finalising a US$200,000 order with an existing business partner during the visit, he had also held discussions with a number of new suppliers from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan, and expects to establish around four new business collaborations. His experience highlights the fair's strong appeal in bringing together global buyers and quality suppliers, while underscoring Hong Kong's unique role as a vital gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland with international markets. Over 100 events and 180+ international experts drive industry exchange More than 100 events were organised during the fairs, including forums, robotics demonstrations and performances. Over 180 industry leaders, experts and business representatives from around the world shared their insights. Among the highlights was a series of well-attended sessions focusing on GoGlobal activities with representatives from Hang Seng Bank, the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation and other financial and professional service organisations examining key considerations for overseas expansion, including financing, risk management and business planning. Meanwhile, speakers from OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) shared the latest developments in ASEAN’s manufacturing ecosystem and corporate expansion strategies, providing practical insights for businesses seeking opportunities in the region. In addition, a wide range of forum sessions explored topics such as AI applications, digital transformation, industrial upgrading and cross-border business opportunities, attracting strong participation from industry professionals and reflecting keen market interest in innovation and emerging business opportunities. The RoboPark also featured exciting robot football matches, robot street dance performances and other live demonstrations, vividly showcasing the latest developments in real-world robotics applications. These activities added energy and a vibrant technology atmosphere to the fair, drawing large crowds of buyers and visitors. The Hong Kong Electronic Forum, co-organised by the HKTDC, MMI Asia Pte Ltd and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association, was themed “Future Tech: Powering Electronics Competitiveness with AI and Sustainable Innovation”. The forum explored innovation and development opportunities for the electronics industry in the AI era, providing valuable insights into emerging trends and future market opportunities.Lillian Cheong, Under Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government, together with representatives from government, financial institutions, technology companies and professional services sectors, joined the "Finance Empowered and Go Global Summit" to discuss overseas expansion strategies, cross-border collaboration opportunities and new trends in financial empowermentThe "Future Technology - Future Scenarios - Future Talent" - Youth Scientists & Industry Application Scenario Matching Forum, organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronics Industries Association and supported by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the Hong Kong Young Scientist Association, gathered young researchers, industry representatives and experts to explore technology commercialisation and future industry opportunities. Joining the event with other distinguished guests were Sun Dong (front row, fourth from left), Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Sophia Chong (front row, fourth from right), Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council; Dr Ge Ming (front row, second from left), Commissioner for Industry (Innovation and Technology) of the Innovation, Technology and Industry of the HKSAR Government; Paul So (front row, third from left), Chairman of the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association; and Clara Chan (front row, third from right), Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation LimitedThe Hall of Fame featured more than 560 renowned brands this year, including first-time exhibitors such as Aoni. The two fairs continued to adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid format, combining physical exhibitions with online business matching. In addition to attending the physical fairs, exhibitors and buyers also had access to the Click2Match smart business matching platform to conduct online meetings and sourcing activities. The online editions of both the Electronics Fair and electronicAsia will remain open until 23 October, extending business matching and collaboration opportunities worldwide. Photo download: https://bit.ly/4hNaRLX Websites - Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition): https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkelectronicsfairae/en - electronicAsia: https://www.hktdc.com/event/electronicasia/en Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC's Communications & Public Affairs Department: Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw Tel: (852) 2584 4472 Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— E-commerce Software Market: Preparing Stores for AI Agents 2026-10-16 · Express Press Release · AI, Retail https://express-press-release.net/news/2026/10/16/1777054 The global e-commerce software market was valued at USD 9.4 billion in 2025 and is projected to increase from USD 10.4 billion in 2026 to [read full press release...] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma: Real Stories. Hard Lessons. A Guide for Surviving Trauma,” Best-Selling Book Free for One More Day (Ending Soon) (Until 10/15/26) 2026-10-16 · WebWire · Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362700 Best Seller Publishing announces the release of Darryl A. Jones Sr., Dr. Harvey Goldstein and Dr. Lauren Butler's new book, “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma: Real Stories. Hard Lessons. A Guide for Surviving Trauma.” The book is currently free and available for download on Amazon for one more day. - - “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma” is about leadership, resilience, and surviving trauma through the real-life experiences of retired law enforcement exe... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362700 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AgeReverse RESURGE Now Available to U.S. Consumers on Amazon 2026-10-16 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Sports, Biotech & pharma https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610163064/agereverse-resurge-now-available-to-us-consumers-on-amazon Boca Raton, Florida Friday Oct 16, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — AgeReverse, a Canadian longevity company focused on healthy aging and cellular vitality, today announced that its flagship RESURGE formulation is now available to U.S. consumers on Amazon, marking another significant step in the company’s expansion into the American market. The Amazon launch follows a series of U.S. expansion initiatives for AgeReverse, including the company’s recent participation in the ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. With RESURGE now available through one of the country’s largest online marketplaces, AgeReverse is expanding consumer access while continuing to introduce its broader science-first approach to healthy aging. “Making RESURGE available on Amazon is an important milestone for AgeReverse because it gives consumers across the United States convenient access to our first product in the market,” said Kubi Turkmen, Founder and CEO of AgeReverse. “We are building AgeReverse around a comprehensive view of healthy aging, and RESURGE represents the internal wellness component of that larger vision.” AgeReverse developed RESURGE around the scientific concept of the 12 Hallmarks of Aging, a framework used by researchers to describe interconnected biological processes associated with aging. Rather than focusing on a single ingredient or isolated wellness benefit, the company designed RESURGE as a multi-ingredient formulation intended to support multiple aspects of healthy aging and everyday wellness. The 90-capsule formulation combines ingredients including NMN, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Fisetin, CoQ10, Astragalus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Aronia Extract and Noni Berry into a simplified three-capsule daily regimen. Key features and benefits of RESURGE include: Designed to support all 12 Hallmarks of Aging through a comprehensive longevity-focused formulation Combines ingredients including NMN, Resveratrol, Quercetin, Fisetin, CoQ10, Astragalus Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Aronia Extract, and Noni Berry Provides antioxidant support to help protect cells from oxidative stress and free radical damage Supports nutrient metabolism and overall cellular health Helps support cardiovascular health and immune system function Supports collagen formation, connective tissue development, and skin quality Helps maintain healthy joints, cartilage, bones, gums, and connective tissue Includes herbal ingredients traditionally used as capillary and blood vessel protectants Consolidates what the company describes as 15+ supplement protocols into a simplified 3-capsule daily routine Manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in Ontario, Canada using vegan capsules Registered as a Natural Health Product with Health Canada The Amazon availability also advances a broader AgeReverse strategy that extends beyond nutritional wellness. The company is developing a complete range of healthy aging products and technologies intended to address both internal wellness and external skin aging. The planned AgeReverse product range includes a Bioage Test, daily skincare products developed around the 12 Hallmarks of Aging, professional mesotherapy products for the medical aesthetics and medspa markets, and non-invasive mesotherapy technology designed to deliver skincare formulations without needles. “Our vision has always extended beyond one product,” Turkmen added. “We believe healthy aging should be approached from both inside and outside the body. RESURGE gives U.S. consumers an introduction to that philosophy, and Amazon gives us an important channel for building awareness and accessibility as the AgeReverse product range grows.” AgeReverse is positioning its expanding portfolio around a science-first philosophy aimed at men and women interested in longevity, healthy aging, cellular wellness and maintaining vitality as they age. The company plans to serve both consumers and professionals in the medical aesthetics market as additional products are introduced. RESURGE is now available to U.S. consumers on Amazon. AgeReverse plans to continue expanding its product range and U.S. presence as additional products become available. Visit the AgeReverse Website and follow the company on Instagram and LinkedIn. About AgeReverse AgeReverse is a Canada-based longevity wellness company focused on developing science-driven products designed to support healthy aging and cellular vitality. Founded by Kubi Turkmen, who has more than 30 years of experience in anti-aging innovation, the company’s approach combines longevity research, telomere science, and wellness innovation to create comprehensive healthy aging solutions. The company’s expanding AgeReverse platform includes longevity supplements and other wellness technologies designed to support multiple biological pathways associated with aging and long-term vitality. Products are manufactured in GMP-certified facilities in Ontario, Canada. FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FulfilQ passes 50 fit-based brand and logistics provider connections within weeks of launch 2026-10-16 · PR Now · SaaS, Retail, Logistics https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/fulfilq-passes-50-fit-based-brand-and-logistics-provider-connections-within-weeks-of-launch FulfilQ.com, a global logistics directory and matching platform founded by Ian Spencer, has made over 50 brand-to-provider connections since launching in August 2026. The free platform matches ecommerce brands with vetted logistics providers based on operational fit, not price al… ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Zorrah Financial Announces BCA Membership and Plans to Expand to 500 Independent Representatives 2026-10-16 · PR Now · SaaS, Retail https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/zorrah-financial-announces-bca-membership-and-plans-to-expand-to-500-independent-representatives Zorrah Financial announces its Business Consumer Alliance membership and plans to expand its network to 500 independent representatives. The Frisco, Texas-based financial software platform also highlights its LegalShield associate affiliation, connecting financial preparation wit… ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 22nd Century Same Store Unit Sales for Pinnacle VLN® and Pinnacle Pure Surge 161% 2026-10-15 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3382153/0/en/22nd-century-same-store-unit-sales-for-pinnacle-vln-and-pinnacle-pure-surge-161.html Company targets additional retailers as consumer demand supports its distribution expansion strategy ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon will share its Q3 2026 earnings on October 29 2026-10-15 · Amazon · Finance, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-earnings-q3-2026-report?utm_source=rss On October 29, Amazon is set to hold a conference call to discuss its Q3 2026 financial results. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vadzo Imaging Validates NIR Cut Filter and VCM Based Autofocus from 100mm to Infinity on Innova-1335CRA: 13MP AR1335 4K GigE Camera 2026-10-15 · Newswire.com · SaaS, Retail https://www.newswire.com/news/vadzo-imaging-validates-nir-cut-filter-and-vcm-based-autofocus-from-22874306 The Innova-1335CRA is a 13MP 4K GigE camera powered by the onsemi AR1335 image sensor. Vadzo Imaging has validated its NIR cut filter for maintaining natural color reproduction by blocking unwanted near-infrared light, while its voice coil motor (VCM)-based autofocus supports focusing distances from 100 mm to infinity. These capabilities make the camera suitable for systems that require consistent color imaging and flexible focus control across varying object distances. Additional features, including onboard image signal processing, ONVIF compliance, and Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronization, support integration into networked imaging systems and multi-camera setups. The camera is suited to pathology devices, kiosks and digital signage, smart city systems, and retail analytics. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Judy Shelton, Gold Standard Chatter and Cracks in Credit: Inside DH Unplugged 821 2026-10-15 · Newsworthy.ai · Finance, AI, SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Gaming, Media, Logistics, Semiconductors https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610153057/judy-shelton-gold-standard-chatter-and-cracks-in-credit-inside-dh-unplugged-821 Delray Beach, FL Thursday Oct 15, 2026 @ 1:20 PM Central — Episode 821 of DH Unplugged, titled Gold Standard Ahead, hosted by Andrew Horowitz and John C. Dvorak, lands on October 14, 2026 with a flu-rattled Horowitz powering through a dense market docket. The pair unpack the appointment of Judy Shelton as a counselor to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant, revived gold-standard chatter, the opening salvo of bank earnings season, cracking consumer credit, and a widening U.S. trade deficit. It is a quintessential DH Unplugged hour: skeptical, specific, and willing to call policy theater by its name. Listeners can expect granular reporting across several threads pulled directly from the week's tape: JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Wells Fargo kicking off earnings, with Bank of America hit by a reported $1.5 billion money-laundering fine on the eve of its print. High-yield bond yields climbing from 7.22% to 8.1% in a month, and CCC spreads blowing out roughly 1,250 basis points. U.S.-to-China tanker bookings reportedly hitting $80 million per voyage, adding about $41 per barrel in freight cost alone. Compass data showing price reductions on up to 58.9% of listings in Williamson, Texas, versus just 5.6% in San Francisco. The hosts' trademark skepticism cuts through official narratives on rate policy, the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire framing, and Bessant's bond-market maneuvering. Horowitz, exasperated by Treasury's attempts to cap long-end yields and possibly scrap 20-year auctions, delivers a direct message: Scott Bessant, if you're listening, because I know you are, I know you're listening, it's maybe late in the show, but please stop because you're messing around with gasoline with a match. Dvorak counters with his read of the political optics, arguing the administration is in "the twilight of the optics game" where messaging substitutes for substance. The episode goes deep on the collision of AI, labor and software economics. Kroger announced 3,000 corporate layoffs, roughly 30% of its 10,000-person white-collar headcount, targeting finance, supply chain, procurement, real estate and HR. Dvorak, drawing on his Fortune 500 consulting work, pushes back on the AI-productivity narrative, arguing most real savings come from replacing outside firms like PwC and Accenture rather than internal staff. The hosts also walk through Anthropic's new policy prohibiting "sustained needless cruelty" toward Claude, a French supermarket hack that remotely disabled internet-connected refrigerators (some reportedly catching fire), and a new open-source tool, Reverse Engineer Anything, which spawned Slowbooks, a free clone of QuickBooks 2003. Anduril's planned $3.7 billion Maryland shipyard for Virginia-class submarine components, Broadcom's $42 billion customer-financing program, and Apple's LG-built smart-home push round out the tech beat. About DH Unplugged DH Unplugged is a weekly investing and markets podcast hosted by financial advisor Andrew Horowitz and tech commentator John C. Dvorak. The show blends Fed policy, earnings, commodities, consumer trends and offbeat cultural observations with a skeptical, conversational tone that cuts through Wall Street spin. Available at dhunplugged.com, via RSS, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts, DH Unplugged serves self-directed investors who want context, not cheerleading. Episode 821 is available now wherever podcasts are heard. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Coming up! Legion’s 2026 National Poppy Campaign 2026-10-15 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3382063/0/en/coming-up-legion-s-2026-national-poppy-campaign.html Poppies at the door via Amazon, Remembrance tributes, New donation technology Poppies at the door via Amazon, Remembrance tributes, New donation technology ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CPSC Eliminates Unnecessary Fuel Additive Regulations, Saving American Businesses Up to $10.7 Billion 2026-10-15 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cpsc-eliminates-unnecessary-fuel-additive-regulations-saving-american-businesses-up-to-10-7-billion-302910262.html Agency delivers major deregulatory action under President Trump's agenda, eliminating costly requirements without weakening consumer safety protections WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2026 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a major deregulatory action... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Taiwan Buy Now Pay Later Market and Investment Opportunities, Q2 2026 - 90+ KPIs and Forecasts, 2022-2031 | BNPL Market to Reach US$1.55 Billion by 2031 at 20.6% CAGR 2026-10-15 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3381900/28124/en/taiwan-buy-now-pay-later-market-and-investment-opportunities-q2-2026-90-kpis-and-forecasts-2022-2031-bnpl-market-to-reach-us-1-55-billion-by-2031-at-20-6-cagr.html Enhance ROI by targeting high-growth categories, priority sectors and channels, refining partnerships, and using consumer insights to sharpen BNPL strategies. Enhance ROI by targeting high-growth categories, priority sectors and channels, refining partnerships, and using consumer insights to sharpen BNPL strategies. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hanso Grows Apex Pergola Lineup to Fit Any American Yard 2026-10-15 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318076/Hanso-Grows-Apex-Pergola-Lineup-to-Fit-Any-American-Yard Wilmington, Delaware--(October 15, 2026) - Hansø, the direct-to-consumer brand behind #1 America's most popular louvered pergola line, announced an expanded size lineup for its premium luxury Apex pergola. The four new dimensions - 12x19ft, 12x16ft, 10x16ft, 13x16ft - are designed to fit the range of real American backyard footprints. Additionally, a new color and a lineup of exclusive new accessories for Apex are now available at hansohome.com.HansøTo view an enhanced version... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OMP and Eastman Show Decision Velocity in Practice at Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2026 2026-10-15 · ACN Newswire · AI, Retail, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110823/ ATLANTA, GA, Oct 15, 2026 - OMP, a leader in AI-powered supply chain planning, is bringing Eastman to the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2026 in Denver, CO (November 2-3) to showcase decision velocity in practice. The global specialty materials company will show how it connected its long-term, mid-term, and short-term planning horizons into one cycle. Eastman on connecting its planning horizons In a session at the summit, Sachin Kothari, Manager IBP Excellence at Eastman, and Abhi Patel, Chief Business Operations Officer at OMP, will explain how Eastman moved from three planning horizons that each ran on their own schedule to one connected cycle linking long-, mid-, and short-term planning on a shared view of the value chain. The session also covers what got in the way of the shift and closes with the impact Eastman measured, along with recommendations for supply chain leaders whose planning still relies on handoffs. Meet OMP and explore planning transformation for decision velocity OMP will be on-site throughout the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2026 (Nov 2-3) at booth 205, showing how Unison Planning™ and UnisonIQ help organizations move toward always-on, decision-centric supply chain orchestration. See how integrated planning, enhanced by the latest AI advancements, drives faster scenario evaluation, stronger collaboration, and measurable business results. Sessions at a glance Eastman session Title: One planning cycle: How Eastman connected horizons to improve decision velocity Speakers: Sachin Kothari, Manager, IBP Excellence, Eastman Abhi Patel, Chief Business Operations Officer, OMP When: Monday, November 2, 2026, 4:45 PM MST To see where you can meet OMP next, visit our events calendar. About OMP OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow, and thrive by offering the best digitized supply chain planning solution on the market. Hundreds of customers in a wide range of industries - spanning consumer goods, life sciences, chemicals, metals, paper, and packaging - benefit from using OMP's unique Unison Planning™. Solution and product inquiries Contact OMP +32 3 650 22 11 Media inquiries Kira Perdue (Carabiner) - kperdue@c-linkcommunications.com SOURCE: OMP ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon MGM Studios Greenlights New Series Bella From Barneys 2026-10-15 · WebWire · Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362875 Amazon MGM Studios has given a series order to Bella From Barneys, a new drama from creators, executive producers, and showrunners Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage of Fake Empire. Susan Rovner and Rachel Kaplan serve as executive producers, alongside Corey Salter, Colin Smeeton, and Matthew Gross, who executive produce on behalf of Authentic Brands Group's Authentic Studios. The series order is part of Fake Empire's First Look Deal with Amazon MGM Studios. The series will be available e... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362875 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SenesTech Reports Record Preliminary Third Quarter Revenue Exceeding $1 Million, the Highest in Company History, with 40% Sequential Growth 2026-10-15 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110827/ SURPRISE, Ariz., Oct. 15, 2026 - SenesTech, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNES), the leader in rodent birth control and sustainable rodent population management, today announced preliminary revenue results for the third quarter of 2026. The Company plans to release its definitive third quarter financial results the week of November 9, 2026. Preliminary third quarter 2026 revenue was approximately $1.1 million, representing approximately 40% growth compared with the second quarter of 2026 and approximately 55% growth compared with the third quarter of 2025. It was also the Company’s first quarter at or above the $1 million revenue threshold, a key milestone. The Company expects its definitive third quarter financial results to reflect continued momentum in e-commerce, including higher subscription revenue, which is expanding the recurring component of SenesTech’s revenue base, as well as increasing traction in B2B. “Our preliminary third quarter revenue marks an important milestone for SenesTech, reaching the $1 million threshold for the first time and setting a second consecutive quarterly record,” said Michael Edell, Chief Executive Officer of SenesTech. “This is another quarter demonstrating progress on the plans and strategies we have previously announced, and our full third quarter financial results are expected to reflect that progress across the commercial model we have been building. E-commerce continues to scale as a controllable, data-driven acquisition engine, our vertical-focused B2B organization is gaining traction, and higher subscription revenue is expanding our recurring revenue base and improving the quality and visibility of revenue.” “We still have work to do, but we believe this is a clear indication that we are on the right path. We continue to lay the foundation for a much larger company in the future by working to expand e-commerce and B2B significantly in a cost-effective manner. With many of the investments and transition costs incurred earlier in the year increasingly behind us, coupled with strong revenue growth and improved unit economics, we expect continued, improved metrics going forward,” Edell concluded. The preliminary third quarter 2026 revenue presented in this release is unaudited, preliminary and subject to adjustment, and remains subject to completion of the Company’s quarter-end closing procedures. About SenesTech SenesTech is the leader in rodent birth control and sustainable rodent population management, with a mission to support a healthier environment through the responsible management of animal pest populations. The Company's Evolve® and ContraPest® fertility control solutions, along with its assessment and monitoring services, target reproduction to help reduce rodent populations. SenesTech serves consumer and professional markets with proven approaches that can be used independently or as part of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. For more information, visit https://senestech.com.  Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These include statements regarding the Company’s expected third quarter 2026 revenue, anticipated momentum in e-commerce and increasing traction in B2B, expected progress across the Company’s commercial model, and anticipated continued, improved metrics going forward. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include the risk that the Company may not realize the benefits expected from its e-commerce, B2B and subscription strategies, or be successful in commercialization of its products, realize sufficient market acceptance of its products, or capitalize on market opportunities and accelerate growth; the risks of establishing an entirely new product category, including the time, expense and uncertainty of building market awareness and customer acceptance; the risk that the Company may not be able to build and scale a professional B2B sales organization and to execute a vertical-market strategy; risks related to the Company’s financial performance, including its ability to fund operations and potentially using cash at times and in ways other than as planned; and risks related to regulatory approval and regulation of the Company’s products. These and other risks are described more fully in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under “Risk Factors” in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2025, and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, SenesTech undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Contacts: Investor: Robert Blum, Lytham Partners, LLC, 602-889-9700, senestech@lythampartners.com  Company: Tom Chesterman, Chief Financial Officer, SenesTech, Inc., 928-779-4143 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ShieldLabs Brings Fraud Detection with Traffic Quality Scoring to SMBs at Self-Serve Pricing 2026-10-15 · PR.com · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.pr.com/press-release/979207 ShieldLabs, a fraud detection and prevention platform with traffic quality scoring, gives SaaS, fintech, e-commerce, iGaming and AI companies detection of multi-accounting, account sharing and account takeover without an enterprise contract. [PR.com] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Nintendo Kicks off Holiday Season With a Chance to Win a Trip to Visit Nintendo New York 2026-10-15 · Business Wire · Retail, Gaming https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/nintendo-kicks-off-holiday-season-120000867.html Just in time for the holiday season, hundreds of select merchandise items previously available only at Nintendo stores in New York and San Francisco are now available for the first time nationwide online, making it easy to shop from home at Nintendo.com and through the Nintendo Store app. Plus, Hundreds of Nintendo Retail ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon introduces 2 new AI products from Bee: Bee Frontier and Bee Eclipse 2026-10-15 · Amazon · AI, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/amazon-personal-ai-bee-frontier-bee-eclipse?utm_source=rss Bee expands its ambient AI family with two personal AI devices designed to remember the moments that matter most, plus new integrations with Alexa+ and Amazon.com. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Riverty launches next Fintech 2040 paper exploring how AI, ethics and accountability can shape the future of credit 2026-10-15 · Pressat · AI, SaaS, Retail, Sustainability https://pressat.co.uk/releases/riverty-launches-next-fintech-2040-paper-exploring-how-ai-ethics-and-accountability-can-shape-the-future-of-credit-352af0fcf14326df3957bd2cd249ed2b/ Thursday 15 October, 2026 London – As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in credit decision-making, the conversation is shifting beyond technological capability to the ethical and governance frameworks needed to build lasting trust. Today, Riverty publishes the latest report in its Fintech 2040 thought leadership series: “AI Ethics and Accountability in Hyper individualised Lending: Pathways to Optimised Consumer Credits.” Developed with contributions from AI governance experts Anita Klingel, Roland Frank, Jan Richard, and Florian Haubold, the paper examines how AI can improve access to credit and create more personalised financial services while keeping transparency, accountability, and fairness central to decision-making. The launch of the new report comes at a time when financial institutions across Europe are implementing new frameworks for AI governance and operational resilience, making responsible AI one of the defining topics for the future of financial services. Rather than viewing ethics and innovation as competing priorities, the paper argues that responsible AI requires governance models that translate ethical principles into practical, scalable decision-making. It identifies three key enablers for responsible AI-powered lending: Data sovereignty that gives consumers meaningful control over how their information is used.Interoperability that enables secure and transparent data sharing.Robust process design that embeds explainability, accountability and oversight throughout the credit lifecycle. Together, these elements provide a practical pathway towards credit markets where technological innovation, ethical responsibility and commercial sustainability reinforce one another. The next frontier: accountable agentic AI The paper also looks ahead to the emergence of agentic AI, where systems move beyond recommending or analysing to taking actions with greater autonomy. In credit, such agents could potentially compare and negotiate offers, access data or initiate actions on behalf of consumers or providers. This increases the importance of clear mandates, defined limits, human oversight and meaningful recourse. The paper argues for “bounded and contestable autonomy”: AI agents may be given greater freedom to act, but the institutions deploying them must retain clear accountability for their outcomes. “Artificial intelligence gives us new opportunities to improve credit decisions, broaden financial inclusion and better serve customers. But technology alone is never enough,” said Oliver Kuhaupt, Chief Risk Officer at Riverty. “As AI becomes more deeply embedded in financial services, ethical principles must be supported by robust governance, transparent decision-making and disciplined risk management. Trust is built when innovation is not only powerful, but also explainable, accountable and resilient.” The paper is the latest publication within Fintech 2040, Riverty’s long-term thought leadership platform bringing together academics, industry experts and policymakers to explore the technologies, governance models and policy frameworks shaping the future of financial services. END Download the paper: https://www.riverty.com/en/business/company/fintech-2040/ Media contact: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AINA Natural Water Coming Soon to OneLavi.com 2026-10-15 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Travel, Food & drink, Sports, Sustainability https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610153059/aina-natural-water-coming-soon-to-onelavicom Boca Raton, Florida Thursday Oct 15, 2026 @ 6:00 AM Eastern —  NWB Finland Oy is moving forward with its planned U.S. rollout of AINA Natural Water, announcing that the Finnish premium water brand is coming soon to OneLavi.com, an online marketplace offering health, wellness and lifestyle products. The upcoming OneLavi availability will provide U.S. consumers with an opportunity to discover AINA Natural Water, a premium drinking water sourced from Northern Finland and offered in an alternative to traditional single-use plastic bottles. "Bringing AINA to OneLavi is an important part of our plans to introduce the brand to American consumers," said Marita Weiman, Quality Assurance Manager at NWB Finland Oy. "We believe consumers will appreciate not only the natural characteristics of our water but also the convenience and sustainability considerations behind our packaging." Northern Finland's Natural Water, Packaged Differently AINA Natural Water originates in the Pudasjärvi region of Northern Finland, where groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of soil, sand and rock before undergoing mechanical filtration and packaging. With approximately 32 mg/L of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), AINA has a naturally low mineral profile that contributes to its soft, neutral taste and clean finish without an aftertaste. Unlike premium water brands that rely primarily on individual plastic bottles, AINA is packaged in 5-liter and 10-liter bag-in-box formats. These larger formats are designed to provide convenient access to drinking water while using substantially less plastic than comparable volumes packaged in individual plastic bottles. The packaging makes AINA suitable for a variety of everyday settings, including homes, offices, hospitality environments and gatherings. Bringing a Different Premium Water Experience to the U.S. NWB Finland Oy's U.S. introduction reflects the company's broader vision of making Northern Finland's natural groundwater available internationally while emphasizing practical, sustainability-focused packaging. The company also recently participated in the 2026 ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, introducing AINA Natural Water and its packaging approach to U.S. retail buyers. "Our goal is to make AINA part of everyday life, not simply a water reserved for special occasions," Weiman said. "OneLavi will help us introduce that idea to consumers who are looking for quality, convenience and alternatives to traditional bottled-water packaging." The AINA Difference Northern Finland Source - Originates in the Pudasjärvi region of Northern Finland, an area known for its forests, natural landscapes, and groundwater resources. Naturally Filtered - Groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of soil, sand, and rock before being mechanically filtered and packaged. Measured Purity - Contains approximately 32 mg/L of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), contributing to a soft, clean taste profile. Clean Taste Profile - Naturally low mineral content helps provide a balanced drinking experience with no aftertaste. Naturally Low in Sodium - Contains only small amounts of sodium and dissolved minerals. Sustainability-Focused Packaging - Bag-in-box packaging uses substantially less plastic than traditional bottled-water formats. Additional details about AINA Natural Water's availability on OneLavi.com will be announced as the U.S. rollout progresses. About NWB Finland Oy NWB Finland Oy is a Finland-based company focused on sustainable beverage packaging and natural water solutions. Headquartered in Pudasjärvi, Finland, the company was founded with a mission to develop environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional beverage packaging while delivering premium-quality products to consumers around the world. Its flagship brand, AINA Natural Water, features naturally filtered groundwater sourced from Northern Finland, a region known for its pristine natural environment and abundant groundwater resources. The water is packaged in innovative bag-in-box formats designed to reduce plastic consumption while providing a convenient solution for households, businesses, hospitality venues, and events. NWB Finland Oy's long-term vision is to make Northern Finland's natural groundwater available to consumers globally while continuing to invest in sustainable packaging solutions that support both consumer needs and environmental responsibility. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ORGANA Highlights In-House Manufacturing and GMP Practices 2026-10-15 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Biotech & pharma https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610153058/organa-highlights-in-house-manufacturing-and-gmp-practices Springville, UT Thursday Oct 15, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — ORGANA, a Utah-based wellness company offering mineral and botanical products, is highlighting an important distinction in its business model: the company manufactures its products in-house, following Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), rather than relying on third-party contract manufacturers. While many wellness brands outsource manufacturing to specialized production facilities, ORGANA maintains direct responsibility for its manufacturing operations. This approach gives the company greater oversight of production processes, quality-control procedures and the consistency of its product portfolio. For ORGANA, in-house manufacturing is part of a broader commitment to maintaining control over how its products are produced, from raw materials through finished goods. "There's a difference between selling a product with your name on it and actually manufacturing that product yourself," said Larry Mills, CEO of ORGANA. "We've chosen to handle our own manufacturing because we want direct oversight of the products we put into the marketplace. Quality is something we take seriously throughout the process." ORGANA follows GMP practices in its manufacturing operations, emphasizing established production procedures, quality controls and consistency. By keeping manufacturing in-house, the company can oversee its processes directly rather than depending on outside manufacturers to manage production on its behalf. The company's manufacturing approach supports a portfolio of mineral and botanical wellness products, including: Plant-Derived Trace Minerals - A liquid mineral product sourced from an ancient mineral deposit in Utah, offering naturally occurring trace minerals in a convenient format. Liquid Oxygen 125 PPM - A liquid product that is part of ORGANA's broader wellness portfolio. Essiac Tea - A botanical product based on a traditional herbal blend. Pomegranate Mineral Drink - A pomegranate-flavored liquid mineral product offering another way to incorporate minerals into everyday routines. These products reflect ORGANA's focus on mineral and botanical formulations, with in-house manufacturing providing a consistent approach to production oversight across the portfolio. Maintaining its own manufacturing operations also allows ORGANA to keep product development and production closely connected. As the company continues to grow its retail presence, this operating model remains an important part of its approach to quality and customer confidence. "Consumers don't always know who actually makes the products they're buying," Mills added. "For us, manufacturing isn't something we've handed off to another company. It's part of who we are and how we operate." ORGANA products are available through Amazon, Walmart and OneLavi.com, providing consumers with access to the company's mineral and botanical wellness portfolio. As ORGANA continues expanding its presence in the U.S. marketplace, the company plans to maintain its focus on in-house manufacturing, GMP practices and direct oversight of production. About ORGANA International Founded in 1997, ORGANA International is a wellness company committed to delivering natural, bioavailable products that help people live healthier lives. From trace minerals and liquid oxygen to magnesium creams and detoxification teas, ORGANA’s product line is designed to restore vital elements often missing in modern lifestyles. Headquartered in Springville, Utah, ORGANA is a customer-first company with a 5-star BBB rating and nearly three decades of dedication to natural wellness. FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Femtech Market Size, Share, Growth Drivers, and Forecast 2026-2035 | AI, Telehealth, and Personalized Care Drive 14.9% CAGR and a USD 255.5 Billion Opportunity 2026-10-15 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/15/3381379/28124/en/femtech-market-size-share-growth-drivers-and-forecast-2026-2035-ai-telehealth-and-personalized-care-drive-14-9-cagr-and-a-usd-255-5-billion-opportunity.html Femtech leaders boost ROI through AI-led personalization, direct-to-consumer engagement, product diversification, and strategic healthcare and technology partnerships. Femtech leaders boost ROI through AI-led personalization, direct-to-consumer engagement, product diversification, and strategic healthcare and technology partnerships. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TNT Says Don't Wait Until January to Reset Your Fitness Routine 2026-10-15 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Gaming, Education, Travel, Food & drink, Sports, Biotech & pharma https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610153060/tnt-says-dont-wait-until-january-to-reset-your-fitness-routine Boca Raton, Florida Thursday Oct 15, 2026 @ 4:00 AM Eastern —  Coming off its recent participation at ECRM, where True Nutrition Technology (TNT) featured its German sports nutrition portfolio during meetings with U.S. retail buyers, the company is turning its attention to a familiar seasonal fitness pattern: waiting until January to start again. TNT says fall offers an opportunity to do the opposite. Rather than allowing changing schedules, shorter days and the approaching holiday season to interrupt established fitness routines, athletes and active consumers can use the final months of the year to focus on consistency and enter January with momentum already established. "January gets a tremendous amount of attention in the fitness industry, but there's no reason to wait for a date on the calendar to get serious about your routine," said Markus Himmelstoss, Managing Director of TNT. "Fall can be a great time to reset, establish consistency and build habits that are already in place when the new year arrives." Fall Brings a Different Training Rhythm For many people, the transition from summer to fall changes how and when they train. Daylight hours become shorter, temperatures change, vacations end, school schedules return, and outdoor activities may begin shifting indoors. At the same time, the approaching holiday season can make regular training more difficult to maintain. TNT believes adapting to those changes is more useful than treating them as a reason to put fitness goals on hold until January. "Consistency doesn't mean every workout or every week has to look exactly the same," Himmelstoss said. "Schedules change. Seasons change. The important thing is finding a routine that works with those changes instead of continually stopping and starting." Building the Routine Before January The New Year's fitness surge has become an annual tradition, with January often associated with new gym memberships, new training programs and renewed attention to nutrition. TNT's message this fall is simple: the habits people hope to begin in January can start in October. Establishing a realistic training schedule during October, November and December can allow people to experiment with workout times, adjust routines and develop greater consistency before the calendar turns to a new year. That philosophy reflects TNT's broader approach to sports nutrition and training, which emphasizes supporting an active lifestyle over time rather than focusing on short-term trends. A Portfolio Built Around Active Lifestyles TNT's portfolio includes Creapure Creatine Monohydrate, CLEAR WHEY protein isolate, Synapsensause Pre-Workout, and Game Changer, its carbohydrate and electrolyte formulation. The German brand has built a customer base of more than 500,000 consumers and is now expanding its presence in the United States. Its recent ECRM participation was part of that effort, introducing U.S. retail buyers to TNT's broader portfolio while the company continues building awareness and distribution in the American market. "Whether someone trains year-round or is trying to get back into a routine, the fundamentals don't suddenly become important on January 1," Himmelstoss said. "Our message is to start where you are, build consistency and carry that momentum into the new year." TNT products are available to U.S. consumers through Amazon and OneLavi. Where American Consumers Can Purchase TNT Products TNT Creapure® Creatine Monohydrate Powder on OneLavi TNT Synapsensause Pre-Workout "Wild Berry" Pre-Workout Booster on Amazon TNT Synapsensause Pre-Workout "Wild Berry" Pre-Workout Booster on OneLavi TNT Clear Whey Protein Isolate - Peach Iced Tea on OneLavi About TNT (True Nutrition Technology) Founded in Germany by former athletes Michael Weigl and Markus Himmelstoss, TNT (True Nutrition Technology) is a leading sports nutrition brand trusted by more than 500,000 customers. Since 2012, TNT has produced premium supplements under strict German quality standards, with every product independently lab-tested for safety, purity, and transparency. TNT’s core product lineup includes Creatine Monohydrate with Creapure®, CLEAR WHEY Protein, and Synapsensause Pre-Workout-three performance-focused supplements widely used by athletes to support strength, recovery, energy, and training intensity. From advanced protein blends to innovative vegan formulations, TNT develops evidence-based nutrition designed to help athletes and everyday individuals perform at their best. More than just supplements, TNT represents a passion for sport, health, and performance. Built on German precision and a culture of honesty, TNT continues to expand globally with one mission: delivering the highest quality nutrition-for us, and for you. FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Secured Fixed Income's New Retail-Eligible Listed Bonds Offer 7.75% Return, Paid Six-Monthly 2026-10-15 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/secured-fixed-incomes-new-retail-eligible-listed-bonds-offer-7-75-return-paid-six-monthly-302908836.html LONDON, Oct. 15, 2026 -- Secured Fixed Income plc (the "Issuer"), a member of the Triple Point Group ("Triple Point"), has launched its second bond offer under its £1,000,000,000 Listed Bond Programme, following a debut issue that raised £14.15 million and was fully deployed... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Consumer Coverage Breaks Down the True Costs of Switching to an EV, From Fuel Savings to Insurance 2026-10-15 · PRUnderground · Retail, Automotive https://prunderground.com/consumer-coverage-breaks-down-the-true-costs-of-switching-to-an-ev-from-fuel-sav/cmv878dja00k206jtfjn8w0l8 Many consumers are switching to electric vehicles because of their low charging and maintenance costs. The post Consumer Coverage Breaks Down the True Costs of Switching to an EV, From Fuel Savings to Insurance first appeared on ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Food Safety Testing Market Trends Driven by AI and Automation 2026-10-15 · Express Press Release · AI, Retail, Food & drink https://express-press-release.net/news/2026/10/15/1776867 The global food safety testing market is entering a period of sustained expansion as food-borne illnesses, stricter regulatory requirements, consumer awareness, and demand for packaged [read full press release...] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How The Mobile Robot Company is Upending Logistics by Stopping at 80% Automation 2026-10-15 · WebWire · Retail, Automotive, Logistics https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362605 When Emil Hauch Jensen visited an Amazon distribution center in 2023, he noticed a startling lack of mobile robots. The reason was flexibility: the facility faced up to ten process changes a week. That insight struck a chord. In November 2024, Jensen and co-founder Odin Kudahl Skovsted launched The Mobile Robot Company, aiming to build machines that adapt to human workers rather than replace them. - - Their first product, the J1600 self-driving pallet jack, is a dual-mode vehicle that brid... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362605 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 'AI + Retail' Dual-Drive Creates Compound Growth: Huitongda Network (9878.HK) Empowers E-commerce Merchants to Improve Quality and Efficiency with 'Dabi AI' 2026-10-15 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110814/ Hong Kong, Oct 15, 2026 - As the “Double Eleven” shopping festival approaches, the e-commerce team of Jiangsu Athleta Sports Co., Ltd. is stepping up preparations for the launch of new seasonal apparel products and promotional campaigns. In the past, creating product main images required close coordination among graphic designers, models, and photo studios. Today, with the support of “Dabi AI” from Boundary Consulting, a subsidiary of Huitongda Network, virtual model try-on effects can be generated with one click, increasing the efficiency of new product launches by 5 to 10 times with sales in its e-commerce business increasing by more than 50%. Starting with empowering lower-tier retail, Huitongda has consolidated its core foundation of township mom-and-pop stores while extending its comprehensive “AI + Retail” capabilities into online e-commerce scenarios. With the continuous penetration of e-commerce merchants into Huitongda's customer ecosystem, new growth opportunities driven by the implementation of AI applications are gradually emerging. Integrating Capabilities: Synergies Between Member Stores and E-commerce Resources The new achievement of Huitongda’s “AI + Retail” dual-drive lies in a successful capability grafting. Last November, Huitongda completed the acquisition of a 57% stake in Boundary Consulting, a leading e-commerce AI company. With 15 years of experience in the e-commerce sector, Boundary Consulting has developed the “Dabi AI” platform for e-commerce merchants. The platform integrates product analysis, competitor research, visual content generation, asset management and automated tasks, helping e-commerce teams carry out business analysis, content production and task execution within a unified platform. This integration also creates synergies in both directions. Having deeply cultivated the lower-tier market for over a decade and serving more than 250,000 township member stores, Huitongda Network has accumulated authentic transaction data, short-chain supply chains, and retail scenario experience. What Boundary Consulting contributes, on the other hand, consists of e-commerce-side AI application services, customer resources, and operational expertise. By connecting the two businesses, the retail capabilities developed through serving member stores expand the growth potential of the e-commerce business, while the algorithms and content creation capabilities developed on the e-commerce side, in turn, enhance offline store operations. The same AI capabilities can be applied across different customer groups and retail scenarios, reducing marginal costs while accumulating more scenario-specific data and creating a compounding effect. This is what fundamentally distinguishes Huitongda’s dual-engine “AI + Retail” strategy from standalone AI products. Building a Competitive Moat Through End-to-End Integration From the perspective of its product matrix, Huitongda’s AI matrix is no longer a collection of isolated tools, but an integrated network connecting online and offline channels as well as the end-to-end supply chain. On the e-commerce side, “Dabi AI” serves e-commerce merchants; on the offline store side, “Qiancheng Cloud AI” and the Qiancheng AI Super Store Manager, the latter integrating more than 24 scenario-based intelligent agents, continue to provide technological capabilities to physical retail stores; on the enterprise service side, “LeapoAI” integrates over 100 specialised features to serve brand owners and factories. Underpinning these three business segments is Huitongda’s intelligent supply chain system, supported by years of experience in providing integrated operational services to retail customers. This system connects upstream supply chain partners and brand manufacturers with downstream retail stores, FMCG retail chains and e-commerce merchants, creating a closed-loop flow of commercial activities, data and AI capabilities across the value chain. In the first half of 2026, Huitongda’s AI-related revenue exceeded RMB 78.91 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 32.3% and accounting for more than 70% of its full-year AI-related revenue in 2025. These results demonstrate customer willingness to pay and progress in the commercial adoption of AI applications. For Huitongda, the value of this network extends far beyond tool-level revenue. Scenario density, depth of data, and fulfillment capabilities mutually reinforce one another—the denser the scenarios, the more authentic the data, the faster the model iteration, and the lower the unit customer acquisition and service costs. This barrier, built upon real transactions and offline fulfillment, represents a core asset that general large models can hardly acquire and is difficult to replicate in the short term. Looking at the retail sector in the AI era, what the industry truly lacks is not general models, but professional enablers capable of embedding AI capabilities into real business scenarios and continuously generating scale benefits. Driven by the “AI + Retail” strategy, Huitongda is connecting offline member stores and online e-commerce merchants, leading the retail industry toward a comprehensive AI-driven upgrade. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SGS Focuses on Worker Health in the Textile Industry 2026-10-15 · 1888 Press Release · Healthcare, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Industrial https://www.1888pressrelease.com/sgs-focuses-on-worker-health-in-the-textile-industry-pr-772975.html An SGS Consumer Compact article discusses the impact of hazardous chemicals on workers in textile and apparel manufacturing and the importance of managing occupational health risks. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Jean-Marc Bellaiche to Become New CEO of the DOUGLAS Group - Sander van der Laan to Retire 2026-10-14 · NewMediaWire · Finance, Retail, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.newmediawire.com/news/jean-marc-bellaiche-to-become-new-ceo-of-the-douglas-group-sander-van-der-laan-to-retire-7090622 DUSSELDORF, GERMANY - October 14, 2026 - Jean-Marc Bellaiche will become the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Europe’s leading premium beauty retailer, the DOUGLAS Group. He succeeds Sander van der Laan, who, after a career of 36 years in the international retail business including four years with the DOUGLAS Group, has decided to retire as an executive. The Supervisory Board of Douglas AG today appointed Jean-Marc Bellaiche as CEO with effect from 1 November 2026 for a term of four years. “This important change in the leadership at the top of the company has been prepared very thoughtfully and carefully, ensuring a smooth and professional transition”, said Dr. Henning Kreke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Douglas AG. “We truly regret Sander van der Laan’s decision to retire, while fully respecting his choice after a long and successful career. With his departure, the DOUGLAS Group loses an outstanding leader and highly experienced retail executive who has played a pivotal role in the successful development of the Group. At the same time, we are very pleased to have appointed Jean-Marc Bellaiche, a highly experienced executive in international retail and luxury, with a strong track record across beauty, premium department stores, digital transformation, brand building and strategy. We are convinced that he will build on the progress already made and put even more focus on customer-centricity, beauty brand partnerships and operational excellence.” “I would like to thank the Supervisory Board of the Douglas AG for the confidence it has placed in me”, said Bellaiche. “I am particularly excited to join the Group at such an important moment in the evolution of the beauty industry. The DOUGLAS Group plays a leading role in the European premium beauty market and has a manifold of unique assets, including an outstanding omnichannel footprint, a large base of loyal customers, and an attractive assortment based on close relationships with beauty brands. I look forward to building on these strengths together with the management team and all my colleagues across 22 European countries, while driving the innovations and changes needed to succeed in a rapidly changing market environment.” Van der Laan said: “I am incredibly grateful for my time at the DOUGLAS Group. I have met many inspiring people, learned a great deal about premium beauty, and, together with around 20,000 colleagues, we have made significant progress. The decision to step down was not an easy one for me. But after a 36-year career, including senior leadership roles at highly respected retail companies in Europe and the United States, I feel that the time is right to retire from executive management. This is the right moment to hand over the reins to someone who can bring fresh thinking and new ideas.” The 56 year old Frenchman Bellaiche began his career at Boston Consulting Group in 1993, where he eventually became Managing Director and Global Leader of the Luxury, Fashion and Beauty sector. In 2014, he joined Tiffany & Co. as Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Committee. He subsequently held senior leadership and board positions in the technology companies Contentsquare and Arianee. After spending a decade in the United States, he moved back to Europe in 2020 to become CEO of Printemps Group, which includes the iconic French department store chain. During his five-year mandate, he strengthened Printemps’s distinctiveness and customer-centricity, introduced more exclusivities in the assortment, accelerated its international and omnichannel development, and improved the operating profitability. For the last year, he served as CEO of the luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group. Sander van der Laan joined the DOUGLAS Group in October 2022. Since then, he has successfully driven the transformation of the Dusseldorf-based company into a true omnichannel business and implemented significant strategic, operational, and structural improvements. Among his key achievements are a new category and exclusive-brands strategy and a comprehensive update of the store-format and -network strategy. He also comprehensively reorganized the Group‘s supply chain, further developed the digital platforms, implemented a comprehensive ESG strategy, and harmonized internal processes and structures. In 2024, the company was listed on the stock exchange. Van der Laan has also been deeply committed to further developing the corporate culture and introduced the purpose ‘Make life more beautiful’. Dr. Kreke said: “On behalf of the entire Supervisory Board, I would like to thank Sander van der Laan for his outstanding achievements and dedication to the company. We wish him all the best for this new chapter in his life. We also wish Jean-Marc Bellaiche a successful start in his new role at the DOUGLAS Group and look forward to working with him as he leads the company together with CFO Marco Giorgetta, the entire management team and all employees into its next phase of development.” About the DOUGLAS Group The DOUGLAS Group, with its commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBE, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, is the number one omnichannel premium beauty destination in Europe. The DOUGLAS Group is inspiring customers to live their own kind of beauty by offering a unique assortment online and in around 1,970 stores. With unparalleled size and access to customers, the DOUGLAS Group is the partner of choice for brands and offers a premium range of selective and exclusive brands as well as own corporate brands. The assortment includes fragrances, color cosmetics, skin care, hair care, accessories as well as beauty services. Strengthening its successful omnichannel positioning while consistently developing superior customer experience is at the heart of the DOUGLAS Group strategy “Let it Bloom”. The winning business model is underpinned by the Group’s omnichannel proposition, leading brands, and data capabilities. In the financial year 2024/2025, the DOUGLAS Group generated sales of 4.58 billion euros and employed more than 19,900 people across Europe. The DOUGLAS Group (Douglas AG) is listed at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. For further information please visit the DOUGLAS Group Website. Presse Contact Peter Wubben SVP Group Communications & Sustainability Phone: +49 211 16847 6644 Mail: newsroom@douglas.de Investor Contact Dafne Sanac Director / Senior Principal Investor Relations Phone: +49 151 55675545 E-Mail: ir@douglas.de ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The World Remembers Muhammad Ali as an Icon. The Series Reveals the Man. Prime Video Debuts Official Trailer and Key Art for THE GREATEST 2026-10-14 · WebWire · Retail, Media https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362852 Jaalen Best stars as Cassius Clay alongside Omari Hardwick, Dana Gourrier, Amin Joseph, Kai Parham, Giovanni Ribisi and Michael Ealy in the first authorized scripted series about Muhammad AliCreated by Ben Watkins, the series premieres all eight episodes November 4, exclusively on Prime Video Today, Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video unveiled the official trailer and key art for The Greatest – the first authorized scripted series chronicling the life of Muhammad Ali. The series will debu... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362852 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Eight OroCommerce Customers Named Finalists at the 2026 B2B eCommerce Industry Awards 2026-10-14 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/14/3381070/0/en/eight-orocommerce-customers-named-finalists-at-the-2026-b2b-ecommerce-industry-awards.html The recognition includes 11 finalist placements spanning manufacturing, distribution, AI innovation, customer experience, and individual achievement The recognition includes 11 finalist placements spanning manufacturing, distribution, AI innovation, customer experience, and individual achievement ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HotDeals Analysis Finds: U.S. Shoppers Start Researching Black Friday Prices in October 2026-10-14 · Send2Press · Retail https://www.send2press.com/wire/hotdeals-analysis-finds-u-s-shoppers-start-researching-black-friday-prices-in-october/ SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 14, 2026 -- Consumers may start preparing to compare Black Friday prices as early as October, weeks before the event. HotDeals' analysis of U.S. search trends and consumer research points to an extended research window rather than a single day when shoppers begin checking prices. In a 2025 survey of more than 1,000 U.S. online shoppers, 22% said they planned to begin researching holiday purchases in October. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— As Personal AI Agents Take Off, DeepLumen Helps Merchants Turn AI into a New Sales Channel 2026-10-14 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/as-personal-ai-agents-take-off-deeplumen-helps-merchants-turn-ai-into-a-new-sales-channel-302908296.html SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14, 2026 -- Agentic Page has now been installed by nearly 2,000 Shopify merchants as AI-driven product discovery increasingly translates into attributable sales. The rapid rise of personal AI agents is beginning to change how consumers shop. Meta's... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon’s Holiday Beauty Event is back for its sixth year—score up to 30% off across beauty categories 2026-10-14 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-holiday-beauty-event-2026?utm_source=rss Shop thousands of deals across everyday favorites and prestige brands like Armani, Dyson, Tarte, Clinique, and ELEMIS Skincare, along with a wide selection of exclusive gift sets and rotating 48-hour flash deals. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Trust & Will Launches a Chartered Retail Trust Company, Becoming the First Digital Estate Planning Platform to Serve as a Regulated Corporate Fiduciary 2026-10-14 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trust--will-launches-a-chartered-retail-trust-company-becoming-the-first-digital-estate-planning-platform-to-serve-as-a-regulated-corporate-fiduciary-302908206.html Trust & Will Trust Company is a separately chartered Nevada trust company that can serve as a professional trustee for families, whether or not their estate plan was created on the Trust & Will platform. SAN DIEGO, Oct. 14, 2026 -- Trust & Will, the leader in online estate... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— UK Men’s Sheds Association strengthens Board with new trustee appointments 2026-10-14 · Pressat · AI, Healthcare, Retail, Automotive, Education https://pressat.co.uk/releases/uk-mens-sheds-association-strengthens-board-with-new-trustee-appointments-356a8684ca8f469251a94b1d2b2c5cdf/ Wednesday 14 October, 2026 New trustees bring fresh skills, greater diversity and extensive experience from across the voluntary, health, technology and academic sectors The UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) has appointed seven new trustees to its Board, strengthening the charity’s skills, experience and geographic reach as it continues to support the growing Men’s Sheds movement across the UK. The new Board includes two financially qualified Trustees, as well as new expertise in commercial and leadership, technology and AI, health and wellbeing, social research, strategy, operations and community development. “At a time when many charities have reported challenges in attracting people to trustee roles, the quality and the number of applications emphasizes the growing profile of Men’s Sheds and the appeal of UKMSA’s work as a charity, “said Rob Lloyd, chair of trustees. “With 40 applications,  we have recruited very specifically against gaps identified by the Board’s skills audit. The new Board brings expertise, and we have increased the number of people who also bring the lived experience of being a Shedder. This grassroots connection is vital for the movement we exist to support.” Strong connection to the Men’s Sheds movement Of UKMSA’s new Board, 57% are active Shedders, with two members also serving as UKMSA volunteer Ambassadors. The Board continues to have representation across all four UK nations, with at least one trustee based in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The seven new trustees are: David Algar - Trustee David has worked in large consumer goods companies with a broad academic background spanning economics, international relations, psychology and politics. David has also published books on Men’s Health, bringing a particular interest in the social issues affecting men and the wider context in which Men’s Sheds operate. Josh Gooch - Trustee Josh is Strategy & Operations Manager at LEGO Digital Play. He works closely with senior leadership to shape strategy, drive cross-functional priorities and support organisational growth. Previously, Josh spent five years in strategy consulting at PwC Strategy&, advising organisations across a range of sectors on strategic and operational challenges. Andrew Machin - Trustee and Treasurer Andrew is an active Shedder and brings more than 30 years’ experience working in finance and governance across the NHS and charity sector. As Treasurer, he will provide financial leadership and strengthen the Board’s oversight of the charity’s financial management and governance. Kerry Millett - Trustee, Shedder Kerry co-founded the award-winning Broadstairs Town Shed, established in 2014 as a Shed for everyone aged 50 and over. As a primary driver and trustee behind Broadstairs Town Team Ltd., Kerry has extensive experience in community development and engagement. She frequently writes features, gives talks and advocates for community initiatives. Bruce Newlands - Trustee, Shedder Bruce is an award-winning architect and co-founder of The Inverclyde Shed - Meet, Make, Grow & Share. He is particularly passionate about creating opportunities for intergenerational learning, bringing people together to share knowledge, develop practical skills and learn from one another. Rob Parker - Trustee, Audit & Risk Committee Rob is a qualified accountant with more than 30 years’ experience in multi-site, consumer-facing businesses. His career has included senior leadership roles in a range of retail businesses, including as both CFO and CEO of Topps Tiles Plc. His commercial, financial and strategic experience will bring additional strength to UKMSA’s approach to organisational risk, business development and consideration of future partnerships. Professor Denise Turner - Trustee Professor Denise Turner brings extensive experience spanning social work, sociology, psychotherapy and academic research. Denise is a Professor of Social Work at the University of Hertfordshire. Her expertise will strengthen UKMSA’s understanding of social issues, research and the wider factors that influence men’s health, wellbeing, connection and community. A Board equipped for the future The new intake includes people who are new to charity trustee roles, alongside trustees with extensive experience across the voluntary sector. This brings a balance of fresh perspectives and established charity governance experience. “Men’s Sheds are a grassroots movement: as a national support body for them UKMSA is a growing national charity operating in an increasingly complex environment. We now have even more Shedders around the Board table, alongside people with other relevant expertise to help us deliver ‘a Shed for everyone who wants one’. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who applied, and to the new Trustees for the contribution they will make to the Men’s Sheds movement,” said Rob Lloyd. The Board also retains significant experience in its key leadership and governance roles, including Chris Griffiths, Vice Chair Andrew Johnston, People Committee Chair Jo Philips, and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee Mark O’Neil, Continuing to benefit from experience John Latchford stepped down as a UKMSA trustee in August 2026, having reached the point where he was no longer eligible for re-election under the terms of the organisation’s Constitution. However, recognising the depth of John’s experience and the significant number of new trustees joining the Board in October, UKMSA has asked John to remain involved with the Board in a non-voting advisory capacity. His continued involvement will provide valuable continuity and organisational knowledge as the new Board settles into its roles. Mike Jenn, founder of UKMSA, remains President. For more details please visit: https://menssheds.org.uk/meet-the-board/ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Oritain Launches Supplier Intelligence Report, Revealing a New Era of Supply Chain Collaboration 2026-10-14 · ACN Newswire · Energy, Retail, Automotive, Fashion & luxury, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110766/ SINGAPORE, Oct 14, 2026 - Oritain, global leaders in forensic origin verification, announced the release of its Supplier Intelligence Report, a dedicated supplier deep dive building on findings from the inaugural 2026 Global Supply Chain Intelligence Report. Drawing on Oritain’s supplier intelligence* across key global manufacturing hubs, the report offers a unique view into how suppliers are responding to growing regulatory scrutiny, customer expectations and sourcing pressures. The findings challenge a common industry assumption: suppliers are not resisting transparency. Instead, they are actively investing in traceability, seeking stronger collaboration and looking for credible ways to demonstrate trust. The report suggests the industry is entering a new phase of supply chain integrity. While traceability has become increasingly established, the next challenge is ensuring supply chain claims can be supported by independent evidence. As brands, retailers and manufacturers face greater scrutiny from regulators, investors and consumers alike, the ability to substantiate provenance and sourcing claims is becoming a critical business capability. The research draws on supplier insights from key manufacturing markets, complementing findings from the 2026 Global Supply Chain Intelligence Report, which examined sourcing risk, enforcement trends and consumer trust across global supply chains, by shining a light on the evolving priorities, challenges and opportunities facing suppliers themselves. From Traceability to Trust: The Rise of Verified Supply Chain Ecosystems The Supplier Intelligence Report highlights a significant shift in supplier attitudes towards transparency and verification. Nearly 80% of suppliers surveyed already operate some form of traceability solution, while 75% are open to adopting new traceability technologies. More significantly, 77% expressed interest in participating in origin verification initiatives, highlighting growing recognition that transparency alone is no longer enough to build trust in today's supply chain environment. "The findings tell a different story than many people expect," said Gemma Lynch, Chief Customer Officer at Oritain. "Suppliers are not pushing back against transparency. They are actively looking for ways to participate in a more trusted supply chain ecosystem. The challenge is no longer willingness to engage. The challenge is ensuring claims can be substantiated with credible evidence when questions arise." Key Insights from Oritain's Supplier Intelligence Report Collaboration is Emerging as a Competitive Advantage: 77% of suppliers surveyed expressed interest in collaborating on origin verification initiatives, signalling growing momentum towards shared responsibility across supply chains. Transparency is Becoming a Business Imperative: More than 85% of suppliers describe supply chain transparency as important or very important to their business, reinforcing that transparency is now a core commercial consideration rather than a niche sustainability issue. Traceability Adoption Has Accelerated: Nearly 80% of suppliers already use traceability solutions, while 75% remain open to adopting new technologies, demonstrating continued investment across the sector. Customer and Consumer Expectations Are Driving Change: 81% of suppliers identified consumer demand as a key driver of transparency efforts, while retailer and customer requirements continue to shape investment decisions. Leadership Engagement is Growing: 73% per cent of suppliers involve executive leadership in traceability and transparency decisions, suggesting these issues are increasingly viewed as strategic priorities. Verification is the Next Frontier: As traceability becomes increasingly common, suppliers are seeking more credible ways to validate sourcing claims and differentiate themselves in competitive markets. Building the Future Through Connected Networks The report arrives shortly after Oritain announced significant enhancements to its Membership program, creating a stronger framework for collaboration between brands, suppliers and manufacturers. Combining forensic origin verification, supply chain intelligence and a growing network of verified participants, Oritain Membership is designed to help organisations move beyond isolated compliance towards a more connected ecosystem built on trust, transparency and evidence. "The future of supply chain integrity will not be built by organisations operating in isolation," said Lynch. "It will be built through networks of buyers and suppliers working from a shared foundation of trusted data, independent verification and actionable intelligence. As expectations continue to rise, organisations need more than visibility into their supply chains. They need confidence in the information they are using to make decisions. Our role is to provide the science, intelligence and verification that help make that possible." * The research surveyed 122 senior decision-makers, primarily at director level or above, across 10 markets (China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Türkiye, Vietnam, Singapore, Bangladesh and Pakistan), with 80% of respondents having more than four years of industry experience. For media enquiries please contact: oritainSG@slingstone.com About Oritain Oritain is a global leader in forensic origin verification, with a vision to be the source of truth in global supply chains.  Our proprietary methodology verifies origin through multiple analytical techniques – including isotopes, trace elements, and non-traditional isotopes – combined with advanced statistical modelling and a comprehensive global reference database. Through our Membership Network, which includes structured verification programs, we are trusted by organizations worldwide across industries including fashion and cotton, leather, timber, and more helping them achieve regulatory compliance, reduce reputational risk, and meet market demand through verifying the provenance of their products. Oritain’s award winning solution has received global recognition, most recently winning the Global Environment award at the Greater Good Awards, Judges’ Choice for Environmental Impact at the Environment + Energy Leader Awards, among others. To learn more, visit www.oritain.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma: Real Stories. Hard Lessons. A Guide for Surviving Trauma,” Best-Selling Book Offered for Free (Ending Soon) (Until 10/15/26) 2026-10-14 · WebWire · Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362694 Best Seller Publishing announces the release of Darryl A. Jones Sr., Dr. Harvey Goldstein and Dr. Lauren Butler's new book, “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma: Real Stories. Hard Lessons. A Guide for Surviving Trauma.” It will be available in the Amazon store for free for two more days. - - “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma” is about leadership, resilience, and surviving trauma through the real-life experiences of retired law enforcement executive Darryl... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362694 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cata-Kor Enters Physical Retail with Target Launch, Bringing Its NAD+ Longevity Line to Stores Nationwide 2026-10-14 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318203/CataKor-Enters-Physical-Retail-with-Target-Launch-Bringing-Its-NAD-Longevity-Line-to-Stores-Nationwide Miami, Florida--(October 14, 2026) - Cata-Kor, a U.S.-based nutraceutical company focused on science-informed longevity formulations, has launched two of its core products at Target stores nationwide on October 4. The launch marks the brand's first entry into physical retail and brings Cata-Kor NMN and Cata-Kor Liposomal NAD⁺ to the Vitamins & Supplements section across the U.S.Cata-KorTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon’s $100 million Right Now Climate Fund is protecting and restoring nature around the world 2026-10-14 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/right-now-climate-fund?utm_source=rss Get the latest on how the fund is investing in nature-based climate projects across more than 15 countries. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Airwheel to Showcase Ai Wheel 20inch Carry-On Hand Scooter Robot Cabin Luxury Suitcase at the 140th Canton Fair 2026-10-14 · ACN Newswire · AI, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110793/ Guangzhou, Oct 14, 2026 - Airwheel, a smart mobility brand specializing in intelligent rideable luggage and personal mobility solutions, will showcase the SE3SXD Ai Luxury Suitcase and a range of smart electric cabin suitcases at the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair). Across the exhibition, Airwheel will present its latest product innovations, engineering capabilities and expanding portfolio to international distributors, retailers and business partners seeking differentiated solutions for the evolving travel market. As travel increasingly intersects with connected technology and personal mobility, Airwheel is exploring a new role for luggage: moving beyond storage to become an active part of the travel experience. Through electric riding systems, intelligent controls and user-oriented industrial design, the company aims to make everyday journeys more convenient while creating new possibilities for the traditional luggage category. SE3SXD: A New Approach to the Smart Cabin Luxury Suitcase At the center of Airwheel's exhibition lineup is the SE3SXD AI Smart Electric Suitcase, a flagship model that combines luggage storage, electric riding and connected features in a single product. Designed around the idea of making technology more intuitive, the SE3SXD features a one-touch dual-drive automatic telescopic mechanism. Its powered front-wheel structure and linked smart handle are designed to extend and lock into riding position through a coordinated operation, reducing the need for multiple manual adjustments when switching from luggage mode to riding mode. The SE3SXD integrates electric mobility with smart connectivity. Through its dedicated app, users can access riding-related information and control functions, while Apple Find My support provides an additional way to locate the suitcase using compatible Apple devices. A USB output offers added convenience for charging compatible personal electronics. The model reaches a maximum riding speed of 9.9 km/h, supports a maximum load of 95 kg and provides approximately 20 liters of storage capacity. It uses a removable 73.26Wh lithium battery, and its compact format is designed with modern carry-on travel in mind. Rather than adding technology for its own sake, Airwheel's approach focuses on integrating mechanical engineering, intelligent interaction and practical travel functions into one cohesive product experience. A Broader Portfolio for Different Travel Needs The SE3SXD is part of a wider Airwheel smart rideable luggage portfolio developed for different users, travel scenarios and retail segments. The SE3SX offers a premium smart electric cabin suitcase experience, combining electric riding, app connectivity and Apple Find My support in a compact format. The SE3SL+ Boarding Suitcase emphasizes lightweight construction and everyday travel convenience, while the established SE3S and SE3SL Scooter suitcase models bring electric riding functionality to the familiar suitcase form. For travelers seeking a more compact option, the SE3MiniT Hand Suitcase offers a smaller rideable luggage format. The SE3T provides a larger-capacity solution for family and extended travel scenarios, while the SQ3 and SQ3S Kids suitcase series bring rideable luggage concepts to family-oriented and younger-user applications. Together, these products reflect Airwheel's strategy of developing a portfolio rather than relying on a single flagship model. For international buyers, the range creates opportunities to evaluate different product configurations and identify solutions that match local consumer preferences, retail positioning and distribution strategies. Engineering Innovation Backed by Global Intellectual Property Airwheel's product development is supported by continued investment in research and development. The company reports more than 600 patents globally, covering areas including electric drive systems, motion control, intelligent sensing, structural engineering and human-machine interaction. These technologies support the development of integrated smart mobility products in which mechanical structures, electronic controls and user interfaces work together. In rideable luggage, this requires more than adding a motor to a suitcase: it involves coordinating the riding mechanism, handling characteristics, control systems and conventional luggage functions within a compact product. Airwheel's broader intellectual property strategy also includes trademarks registered in more than 168 countries and regions, supporting its international brand development and market presence. For Airwheel, intellectual property represents both an engineering foundation and a long-term commitment to product differentiation in an increasingly competitive global market. International Design Recognition and Premium Market Development Design is another important part of Airwheel's product strategy. The company's smart rideable luggage portfolio has received more than 100 international design awards, according to Airwheel, with recognition spanning design programs and markets in the United States, Europe, Japan, Italy, Germany and France. Among the recognized programs are the German iF Design Award, the U.S. International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), the MUSE Design Awards, the Berlin Design Awards, the European Product Design Awards and other international design competitions. Different products have received different honors over time, reflecting the portfolio's continued development across form, functionality and user experience. For Airwheel, design is not limited to exterior appearance. It also involves the relationship between the suitcase's structure, riding mechanism, portability, controls and the way users interact with the product during a journey. The company is also expanding its presence in premium retail environments and established retail channels. Its products have entered selected high-end shopping malls and retail networks, while models including the SE3SL+ and SE3ST have gained placement in Sam's Club in China. These channel developments provide additional opportunities for consumers to experience smart rideable luggage in physical retail settings and for the brand to broaden its reach beyond online sales. Airwheel's strategy combines product innovation, international design recognition and retail development to build a more differentiated position in the smart travel market. Meet Airwheel at the 140th Canton Fair The 140th Canton Fair provides an opportunity for Airwheel to connect directly with international importers, distributors, luggage retailers, travel-related businesses and potential regional partners. Visitors will be able to explore Airwheel's smart electric luggage portfolio, learn about product functions and configurations, and discuss distribution opportunities and potential cooperation with the company. Exhibition information Event: 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China Phase 1: October 15–19, 2026 — Booth information subject to final confirmation Phase 2: October 23–27, 2026 — Booth 20.2F19–20 Phase 3: October 31–November 4, 2026 — Booths 20.2J37–38, 20.2K11–12 and 18.1K04 International buyers and prospective partners are warmly invited to visit Airwheel during the exhibition to discover its latest smart suitcase innovations, experience the product range and explore opportunities for cooperation in their respective markets. About Airwheel Airwheel is a smart mobility brand focused on intelligent rideable luggage and personal mobility products. Combining electric drive technology, intelligent controls and industrial design, the company develops products intended to make everyday mobility more convenient and travel more flexible. With more than 600 global patents and over 100 international design awards across its smart rideable luggage portfolio, Airwheel continues to develop products for international markets under its brand philosophy, “Free Intelligent Life.” Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GP Energy Tech, a subsidiary of Gold Peak, showcases Nickel-Zinc battery technology at Hong Kong Electronics Fair 2026-10-14 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110790/ Hong Kong, Oct 14, 2026 - As artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud services grow rapidly, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems are becoming increasingly important in keeping data centers running reliably. GP Energy Tech Limited (“GP Energy Tech” or the “Company”), a subsidiary of Gold Peak Technology Group Limited (“Gold Peak”) (SEHK: 40), is showcasing its Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) battery system at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center from October 13 to 16. With Manufacturing Twins and Speed to Scale at the core of its approach, the Company is advancing the development and scalable supply of backup power solutions for AI and cloud data centers, as well as other critical infrastructure. As part of its product development efforts, the Company is embracing the promising application of NiZn batteries in UPS systems and battery backup units (BBUs) and is also exploring opportunities to provide backup power for emerging 800-volt direct current (800 VDC) architectures. Speed to Scale: accelerating commercialization through smart manufacturing Drawing on Gold Peak's more than 60 years of experience in battery design, manufacturing and sales, GP Energy Tech is leveraging the Group's expertise in electro-chemistry and high-volume Nickel-based battery manufacturing to advance its NiZn battery systems. Through smart automation and replicable production processes, the Company is accelerating the transition from technology development to commercial application. While maintaining consistent quality and reliable delivery, it flexibly expands manufacturing capacity in line with customer demand, supporting the delivery of NiZn battery solutions at scale to meet growing demand for next-generation backup power. Alan Lo, Executive Vice Chairman of GP Energy Tech said: “The value of NiZn technology lies in its ability to meet the industry’s requirements for safety, power and sustainability simultaneously. By combining this technology with Gold Peak’s more than 60 years of manufacturing experience, smart automation and Manufacturing Twins strategy, we are building scalable supply capacity. This is what sets GP Energy Tech apart. The rapid growth of AI and cloud services is creating new requirements for backup power in data centers and other critical infrastructure. We believe solutions that combine safety, high-power density and recyclability will play an important role in data centers. We look forward to working with customers and partners worldwide to advance the adoption of NiZn battery technology in these applications.” Alan Lo (left), Executive Vice Chairman of GP Energy Tech, and Brian Li (right), Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President of Gold Peak, introduce the NiZn battery technology to visitors and explain how it can meet the evolving backup power needs of AI and cloud data centers. Kevin Choi (left), Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of the Hong Kong SAR Government, visits the GP Energy Tech booth to learn about the company’s NiZn battery technology for backup power applications across the entire AI value chain and in cloud data centers. Sophia Chong (left), Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), joins GP Energy Tech’s management team for discussion on the development of the innovation and technology industry. Combining safety, high-power density and sustainability Combining non-flammable chemistry, high-power density, a compact footprint, and over 90% recyclability, GP Energy Tech’s NiZn battery solution is designed primarily for AI and cloud data centers and is also suitable for other critical infrastructure. It offers operators a backup power option for use with UPS systems. Its water-based, non-flammable electrolyte  avoids thermal runaway risk in high-density computing environments, while its high-power density supports more efficient use of space, requiring 74% less floor space per MW than lead-acid systems. Its recyclability also supports resource circularity, enabling operators to balance performance and sustainability when deploying backup power. From cell to cabinet: supporting flexible deployment GP Energy Tech’s NiZn battery solution features a modular design built around cells in cylindrical Sub-C format. Each pack contains 128 cells, with nine packs forming a module and ten modules integrated into a cabinet containing 11,520 cells. This architecture allows customers to deploy the solution flexibly according to their UPS system configurations, meeting the backup power requirements of different applications. Exploring applications in UPS systems, BBUs, and emerging 800 VDC architectures To address the power requirements of different applications, GP Energy Tech is further assessing NiZn battery solutions for UPS systems and BBUs, considering power density, system footprint and backup runtime to inform its product development direction. The Company is also actively exploring battery backup opportunities in emerging 800 VDC power architectures as the power infrastructure needs of AI and cloud data centers evolve. Suitability will be further assessed through system-level testing and validation. Advancing commercialization through Manufacturing Twins strategy and industry collaboration GP Energy Tech’s Manufacturing Twins strategy brings together manufacturing facilities in China and Malaysia to enhance flexibility in capacity allocation and strengthen supply resilience, providing reliable supply support for customers in different markets. The Company’s first NiZn manufacturing facility in Dongguan, China, commenced operations in January 2026 and entered full mass production in mid-June. The first commercial order was delivered in August 2026. The Malaysian facility, part of the Manufacturing Twins strategy, is targeted to open in the third quarter of 2027. The production lines use fully automated, lights-out smart manufacturing integrated with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES), ensuring consistent quality for every cell produced and full traceability throughout production. Drawing on the Group’s technical and manufacturing expertise, GP Energy Tech focuses its R&D and industry collaboration on Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. The Company leverages Hong Kong’s international exhibition platforms and business networks to connect with overseas customers and partners. In response to application needs across different markets and customers’ system configuration and deployment requirements, the Company is advancing the validation and commercialization of its NiZn battery solutions and gradually expanding into the backup power market for AI and cloud data centers, as well as other critical infrastructure.   GP Energy Tech showcases its modular NiZn battery solution at the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), offering flexible configurations to meet various backup power requirements. Gold Peak Technology Group Limited Charlotte Wong Senior Manager, Corporate Communications Tel: (852) 2485 5328 Email: charlotte_wong@goldpeak.com AJA Capital Limited Avy Yu / Janet Louie Tel: (852) 9500 4443 / (852) 9155 5615 Email: avy.yu@ajacapital.com.hk / janet.louie@ajacapital.com.hk About Gold Peak Gold Peak Technology Group is a global battery and electronics company with an aspiration to become one of the leaders in providing energy and sound solutions that enlighten and empower lives, and with sustainability as a focus. The parent company, Gold Peak Technology Group Limited (SEHK: 40), was established in 1964 and has been listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong since 1984. Gold Peak holds a majority stake at 86.18%* in the Singapore-listed GP Industries Limited as its major industrial investment vehicle and operates manufacturing, R&D, marketing and distribution operations in more than 10 countries around the world. Gold Peak Technology Group Limited not only develops its consumer batteries, electronics and audio products, but also puts great emphasis on R&D of new Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) rechargeable battery and B2B battery technologies. The Group has built renowned brand names for its major product categories, including GP batteries, GP Recyko batteries, KEF premium audio products and Celestion professional speaker drivers. www.goldpeak.com ( * shareholding % as at 14 October 2026) ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Arrow Electronics Commissions New Film Exploring the Future of Blind Mobility 2026-10-13 · 3BL Media · Finance, AI, Healthcare, Retail, Automotive, Media, Education, Sports, Industrial https://www.3blmedia.com/news/arrow-electronics-commissions-new-film-exploring-future-blind-mobility Arrow Electronics Commissions New Film Exploring the Future of Blind Mobility Wed, 10/14/2026 - 14:10 Body Centennial, Colo., October 14, 2026 – When twin sisters Irina Crocker and Silvia Stelea were 19, they were told that the genetic condition they were born with would eventually cause them to go blind.  But Crocker and Stelea never let that diagnosis define them.  Today, they are motivational speakers, members of the Romanian Paralympics Archery Team and the subjects of a new film exploring the future of blind mobility. Produced by BBC StoryWorks for Arrow Electronics, the film follows the sisters as they learn to navigate the world with more freedom, thanks to a new wearable intelligent device developed by Arrow customer .lumen. Available as a durable, weatherproof headset, .lumen’s “glasses” rely on the same type of technology that powers autonomous cars. Using a combination of machine learning, cameras, and haptic sensors that stimulate the sense of touch, the device scans the environment, identifies safe paths and guides users through directional vibrations felt on the forehead. “Wearing the glasses felt like I'm pioneering something that you could only see in the movies, and it was a privilege to be one of the testers,” said Stelea.  Stelea and Crocker are among 1,200 blind individuals in 40 countries who have tested the glasses. Currently available through a public assistive program in Romania,  .lumen is also launching the product more widely in Europe and has plans to expand internationally. Arrow is helping the startup scale by identifying, sourcing, and integrating the lengthy list of processors, cameras, sensors, and connectors the device requires.  “With the support of Arrow, they helped us on the prototyping side and they helped us on the manufacturing side,” said .lumen’s CEO and Founder Cornel Amariei. The film featuring Crocker and Stelea is part of All In, an original content series launched last month and presented by The Valuable 500, a business collective working to end disability exclusion. “Seeing how technology makes life better for people with physical limitations - and helps create new opportunities - is what drives our Five Years Out brand,” said Joe Verrengia, Arrow’s global director of marketing, brand and storytelling. “Our purpose is to guide innovation forward.” Arrow is a pioneer in using semi-autonomous to improve mobility for the disabled. The company developed a series of semi-autonomous (SAM) cars that a quadriplegic race car driver controls with the help of an AI model and electronics developed by Arrow engineers. .lumen’s proprietary glasses extend the SAM concept beyond paralysis to people with visual impairment, representing the most advance assistive technology worldwide for the blind.  Image About .lumen .lumen builds Physical AI for Mobility, from Glasses for the Blind to Humanoid Delivery Robots. The first application of this technology is the .lumen Glasses for the Blind, which bring the principles of autonomous driving to pedestrian mobility. The device uses artificial intelligence and haptic guidance to reproduce the main functions of a guide dog in a scalable wearable system.  About Arrow Electronics Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW) sources and engineers technology solutions for thousands of leading manufacturers and service providers. With 2025 sales of $31 billion, Arrow’s portfolio enables technology across major industries and markets. Learn more at arrow.com. About All In All In is an original content series presented by The Valuable 500 and produced by BBC StoryWorks. The series brings together stories from across industries, including health, technology, arts and culture, and consumer goods, to explore more inclusive innovation, accessibility by design and productive partnerships in business. The series is hosted at www.allinthevaluable500.com  and distributed across BBC.com and BBC StoryWorks’ social platforms. Featured Image Type of Content Article ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mercury Launches Next-Generation Retail Automation Platform to Expand 24/7 Retail Access Across Airports, Hospitality and High-Demand Locations 2026-10-13 · Presswire · SaaS, Retail, Travel https://presswire.com/release/mercury-launches-next-generation-retail-automation-platform-to-expand-24-7-retail-access-across-airports-hospitality-and-high-demand-locations/ DOVER, DE – October 13th, 2026 — Swyft today announced its evolution to Mercury Automated Retail Solutions, marking a broader transformation of the company around new technology, operating capabilities and leadership designed to scale automated retail across airports, hospitality environments and other high-demand physical locations. The transition goes beyond a new name. Mercury brings […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NatWest Backs KeySIM’s Rapid Growth in the IoT Connectivity Sector 2026-10-13 · Pressat · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Cybersecurity https://pressat.co.uk/releases/natwest-backs-keysims-rapid-growth-in-the-iot-connectivity-sector-bba714260b94db35cc761ea75bb2b421/ Tuesday 13 October, 2026 NatWest has provided a new finance facility to fast-growing UK IoT SIM provider KeySIM, supporting the company’s continued expansion and investment in resilient network infrastructure. KeySIM provides IoT SIM cards and managed connectivity services that enable machines, equipment and remote assets to connect securely to the internet. For many organisations, the ability to remotely access equipment securely using fixed IP connectivity is business critical, helping to maintain operational continuity, reduce engineering visits and support increasingly stringent cyber security requirements. The new funding will support the development of KeySIM’s next-generation resilient network infrastructure, further enhancing service continuity for customers operating mission-critical connected devices. KeySIM serves organisations across a broad range of sectors including healthcare, retail, facilities management and security. Customers featured on the company’s website include the NHS, FatFace and Punch Pubs. Reflecting the rapid growth of the business, KeySIM transmitted more than 10 million megabytes of data across its IoT connectivity platform during June 2026 alone. Following revenues of £370,000 during the year ending July 2025, KeySIM will exceed £500,000 during 2026 and is forecasting annual recurring revenue to surpass £1 million during 2027. The company says its growth has been driven in part by organisations migrating from incumbent connectivity providers in search of enhanced resilience, multi-network capability and responsive technical support. The latest funding milestone further strengthens a long-standing relationship between KeySIM and NatWest. Founder and Managing Director Graham Robinson participated in the NatWest Accelerator programme during 2021 and 2022, an experience which the company credits as being pivotal in shaping its growth trajectory. Rob Woods, Relationship Manager at NatWest, commented: “We are delighted to continue supporting KeySIM and have had the privilege of monitoring the company’s impressive growth over a number of years. The business has demonstrated strong innovation, ambition and customer focus, and we look forward to supporting Graham and the team as they continue their exciting growth journey.” Graham Robinson, Managing Director of KeySIM, said: “Thank you to NatWest for their ongoing support. It isn’t a stretch to say that NatWest has been absolutely pivotal to KeySIM’s success, and we are incredibly grateful to be working alongside them. These funds will enable us to further enhance our network resilience and continue improving the service we provide to customers.” With demand for resilient and secure IoT connectivity continuing to grow, KeySIM expects to continue investing in its platform, expanding its customer base and strengthening its position within the UK IoT connectivity market. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FATFACE Strengthens In-Store Connectivity with KeySIM Multi-Network IoT SIMs 2026-10-13 · Pressat · Finance, Retail, Telecom https://pressat.co.uk/releases/fatface-strengthens-in-store-connectivity-with-keysim-multi-network-iot-sims-ef43caf7bbffdd2c34a664f43c4651a7/ Tuesday 13 October, 2026 Retail brand FATFACE has selected KeySIM's multi-network IoT SIM cards to support reliable connectivity across a number of its UK stores, improving uptime for business-critical systems. With stores spread across a wide geographical area, FATFACE requires consistent and resilient connectivity to keep operations running smoothly. Traditional single-network SIM solutions can struggle in varying signal conditions, particularly across rural, coastal and high-street locations. KeySIM's solution provides access to Vodafone, O2, EE and Three on a single SIM card, allowing devices to connect to the strongest available network at any given time. Shaun Chrimes, Head of IT & Information Security at FATFACE, commented: "Reliable connectivity across our store estate is essential. With locations spread widely across the UK, having access to multiple mobile networks on a single SIM provides the resilience we need to keep our systems operational. KeySIM's solution gives us confidence that our stores stay connected." Shaun Chrimes, Head of IT & Information Security, FATFACE "KeySIM's unsteered multi-network SIM technology enables devices to automatically select the best available signal without being restricted to a preferred network. This is particularly valuable for retail environments where connectivity consistency directly impacts revenue and service quality" Graham Robinson, Founder of KeySIM, added: "Retailers like FATFACE operate in diverse locations where network performance can vary significantly. By enabling access to Vodafone, O2, EE and Three on a single SIM, we help ensure their stores remain connected at all times." Graham Robinson, Founder, KeySIM KeySIM currently supports over 500 organisations across the UK with resilient IoT connectivity, providing flexible, contract-free solutions designed for business-critical applications. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon supported communities impacted by the Colombia earthquake 2026-10-13 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/colombia-earthquake-amazon-disaster-relief?utm_source=rss Amazon donated emergency supplies, rallied over 150 volunteers, and partnered with five organizations to support earthquake recovery. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Pet Microchips Market Size, Share and Trends Forecast, 2026-2033 | Regulation and Pet Humanization Drive 10.6% CAGR Toward USD 972.1 Million 2026-10-13 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Semiconductors https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/13/3379923/28124/en/global-pet-microchips-market-size-share-and-trends-forecast-2026-2033-regulation-and-pet-humanization-drive-10-6-cagr-toward-usd-972-1-million.html Capitalize on mandatory pet identification, rising safety awareness and pet humanization, with opportunities across veterinary clinics, retail and E-Commerce. Capitalize on mandatory pet identification, rising safety awareness and pet humanization, with opportunities across veterinary clinics, retail and E-Commerce. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LuxuryCloneWatch.com Explores the Rise of Superclone Watches in 2026 Industry Report 2026-10-13 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Education, Fashion & luxury, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/13/3379911/0/en/luxuryclonewatch-com-explores-the-rise-of-superclone-watches-in-2026-industry-report.html LuxuryCloneWatch.com provides independent market analysis, manufacturing breakdowns, and consumer education regarding the global luxury timepiece market. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Symrise opens new Scent Creative Center in Singapore to accelerate growth in Asia 2026-10-13 · WebWire · Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362759 - Consumer-centric hub brings customers, perfumers and experts together for faster co-creation - Global Skin Cleansing Center of Excellence strengthens category expertise and elevate sharing of best practices - Creative Center advances ONE Symrise ecosystem and long-term commitment to Singapore & Asia - - Symrise has opened its new Scent Creative Center in Singapore, advancing its business and growth strategy in Asia. Designed around the way consumers experience products in everyday life,... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362759 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CPS Announces Upsizing of Existing Credit Facility to Fund Accelerating Loan Origination Volume 2026-10-13 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/13/3379860/13171/en/cps-announces-upsizing-of-existing-credit-facility-to-fund-accelerating-loan-origination-volume.html LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Oct. 13, 2026 -- Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSS) (“CPS” or the “Company”) today announced that on October 9, 2026, it amended its two-year revolving credit agreement with Capital One, N.A. to increase the capacity of the facility. The amendment applies to both Capital One, N.A. and the subordinate lender, and increases the total capacity of the facility from $390 million to $518 million. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tenae R. Stewart Featured in a Full-Page Article in the Winter Issue of P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) Magazine 2026-10-13 · PR.com · Retail https://www.pr.com/press-release/981580 Tenae R. Stewart of Baton Rouge, Louisiana will be featured in a full-page article in the winter issue of P.O.W.E.R. (Professional Organization of Women of Excellence Recognized) Magazine. Stewart was selected for this feature for her contributions and achievements in the retail industry. About Tenae R. Stewart Tenae R. Stewart is the owner and artist behind VandalStyle, a creative brand focused on custom, [PR.com] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Autumn Electronics Fair and electronicAsia open today bringing global buyers to Hong Kong 2026-10-13 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Real estate, Retail, Gaming, Media, Education, Food & drink, Sports, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110767/ Hong Kong, Oct 13, 2026 - The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), and electronicAsia, jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia Pte Ltd, opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Running for four consecutive days, the twin fairs showcase a broad spectrum of innovations spanning consumer electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics technologies, smart living, immersive entertainment, electronic components and advanced manufacturing technologies, providing global buyers with a one-stop sourcing and networking platform. Making its debut this year, the Future Industries Zone spotlights five frontier sectors and showcases emerging trends shaping the industries of tomorrow. The Autumn Electronics Fair and eAsia opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, where the fairs will run for four consecutive days Speaking at the opening ceremony for the Future Industries Zone this morning, Sophia Chong, HKTDC Executive Director, said: "The Future Industries Zone reflects our commitment to evolve our fairs alongside the industry, while supporting the strategic direction set out in the Policy Address and the First Five-Year Plan to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre. This year's Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia are bringing together over 3,200 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. Another key highlight is the expanded RoboPark that showcases not only the latest robotics technologies, but also their growing applications in everyday life and across industries. The HKTDC is one of the core members of the government-led GoGlobal Task Force and we will make good use of one of the world's leading marketplaces to feature the GoGlobal Connect Zone, which offers advisory services and practical support to help enterprises - particularly those from the Chinese Mainland - expand internationally through Hong Kong. The zone reflects the HKTDC's commitment to reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a platform for global expansion, capitalising on its strengths as a superconnector and super value-adder." Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, delivers remarks at the opening ceremony for the Future Industries ZoneThe Autumn Electronics Fair has introduced the new Future Industries Zone this year, with an opening ceremony held this morning. Kevin Choi, Permanent Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry of HKSARG (front row, fourth from left); Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (front row, fourth from right); and Paul So, Chairman of the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (front row, third from left), joined the event with other distinguished guests In addition to Hong Kong exhibitors, the fairs feature exhibitors from the Chinese Mainland, Macao and Taiwan, as well as countries across the Asia-Pacific region including Korea and Singapore. Exhibitors from Europe and other overseas markets, including Denmark, the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Cyprus, are also participating, showcasing a wide range of the latest electronics products and advanced technologies. On the opening day of the fairs, buyers from around the world gathered to explore sourcing opportunities. The HKTDC has organised 130 buying missions comprising buyers from 65 countries and regions to visit and source at the fairs, further reinforcing Hong Kong's role as a platform connecting international markets with innovative supply chains. Future Industries Zone debuts, showcasing synergies across five key themes In support of the Government's drive to develop Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology centre and deepen AI development and adoption in the city, this year's Autumn Electronics Fair has launched the new Future Industries Zone, jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA) and supported by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Led by major innovation and technology institutions, including Cyberport, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the zone focuses on five key themes: Future Computing, Future Manufacturing, Future Marine & Quantum Technologies, Future Microelectronics and Future Wellness. The newly launched Future Industries Zone at the Autumn Electronics Fair focuses on five key themes: Future Computing, Future Manufacturing, Future Marine & Quantum Technologies, Future Microelectronics and Future Wellness Bringing together more than 100 exhibitors, the Future Industries Zone showcases cutting-edge technologies and innovative application solutions. The zone also features a series of thematic forums and networking events, welcoming representatives from government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors to explore opportunities in future industry development. A distinguished lineup of speakers has been invited to share insights on emerging technologies and industry trends. At a thematic forum to be held tomorrow (14 October), experts and representatives from leading global companies and organisations, including AWS, IBM, Lenovo and HPE, will share insights into global trends in cross-industry business transformation and innovation-driven technology development. Other activities also feature a distinguished lineup of speakers, including Prof Wang Yang, Vice-President of The University of Hong Kong; Dr Wang Jun, Deputy Executive President of the Bank of China Group Investment Limited; and He Jun, Vice-President of TCL Industries Holdings Co., Ltd. They will share their professional insights on technology innovation, industrial development and emerging opportunities. GoGlobal Connect Zone offers professional service matching for enterprises As a member of the Government's GoGlobal Task Force, the HKTDC has established a dedicated GoGlobal Connect Zone at the Autumn Electronics Fair. This brings together professional service providers from the finance, legal, accounting and insurance sectors to assist businesses in areas such as financing, intellectual property, logistics, compliance and risk management, helping Chinese Mainland enterprises connect with international markets through Hong Kong’s professional services platform. The fair features a series of GoGlobal activities, including the "GoGlobal: Scaling Smart Consumer Innovations Worldwide" seminar at which representatives from Hang Seng Bank, the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation and other industry and financial organisations will share insights on key strategies for overseas expansion The fairs also feature a series of forums focusing on overseas market expansion. Representatives from OCBC Bank will share insights tomorrow afternoon (14 October) on the manufacturing ecosystem in the ASEAN bloc, helping companies interested in entering markets in these countries better understand the region's economic environment, tax regimes, market trends and business development opportunities. Over 120 robots highlight real-world applications of robotics technologies This year's Autumn Electronics Fair focuses on the latest consumer electronics products and innovative technologies under three highlighted themes: AI & Robotics, Smart Wellness and NEXTEntertainment. Related products are featured across different thematic zones throughout the exhibition. More than 120 robots are showcased at this year's fair, primarily within RoboPark, demonstrating applications across four key areas: Commercial & Services, Industrial & Logistics, Entertainment & Social, and Healthcare & Rehabilitation. Highlights include AgiBot Innovation (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd (Booth: 3CON-R31) and its full-sized humanoid robot Agibot A3; UBTECH (Booth: 3CON-R27), one of the "Shenzhen Eight Great Guardians", which is exhibiting its next-generation full-sized humanoid robot Walker C1, developed for urban coexistence; and DEEP Robotics (Booth: 3CON-R19), one of the "Hangzhou Six Little Dragons", displaying its quadruped robots Lite3 and M20. Other renowned exhibitors include the Shenzhen Honor Smart Technology Development Co., Ltd. (Booth: 3CON-R37), whose humanoid robot was the winner of the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half Marathon, and Booster Robotics (Booth: GH-R13), champion of the 2026 RoboCup. A number of well-known technology companies from the "Shenzhen Eight Great Guardians" and "Hangzhou Six Little Dragons" are also showcasing their latest innovations, including AI² Robotics (Booth: GH-Q01), Digit (Booth: 3CON-R49), EngineAI (Booth: 3CON-R52) and first-time exhibitor DexForce (Booth: GH-R07). The fair features several leading technology companies, including Booster Robotics (Booth: GH-R13), champion of the 2026 RoboCup, which showcases its latest innovations and technological achievements RoboPark features multiple demonstration and experience zones, enabling buyers to explore how robotics technologies are being integrated into industries and everyday life. They include the RoboDog Garden, showcasing robotic dogs; the Robot Dance Battle, featuring dance performances by robots; and the Coffee & Popcorn Station, where robots prepare snacks and drinks, allowing visitors to experience the practical application potential of robotics at first hand. RoboPark features multiple interactive experience and demonstration zones. At the "Coffee & Popcorn Station", robots prepare snacks and drinks for visitors New products highlight AI integration across healthcare, lifestyle and entertainment Smart Wellness encompasses digital health devices, smart wearables, personal care technologies, gerontech and healthy living electronics, reflecting strong market demand for technology-enabled health management and improved quality of life. Smart Wellness is another key focus of the Autumn Electronics Fair, with exhibitors showcasing innovative solutions ranging from digital health devices and smart wearables to personal care technologies, gerontech and healthy living electronics. Many exhibitors are leveraging the fair as a platform to showcase newly introduced products. Future Access Technology Co., Limited (Booth: 1C-D06) is presenting the LYRA, a screen-free smart wristband designed to minimise distractions and help users focus on daily life activities while supporting personalised fitness programmes and more than 170 sports modes. Cheung Shing Development (H.K.) Limited (Booth: 3D-E06) is displaying its latest Hearing Aid Glasses for people with mild to moderate hearing loss. Equipped with sound amplification technology, the glasses improve speech clarity in noisy environments and enhance communication experiences. NEXTEntertainment features extended reality (XR) technologies, smart gaming devices, digital content creation tools, AI-powered entertainment solutions and innovative consumer electronics designed to enhance both entertainment experiences and digital content creation. Among the highlights, DreamGear LLC (Booth: 1D-C09) is showcasing a new rechargeable retro gaming console featuring more than 200 built-in classic games, smart backlit button prompts and multiple control modes, combining nostalgic arcade gaming with modern innovation. The Autumn Electronics Fair features more than 20 exhibition zones. The Hall of Fame brings together over 560 renowned brands, including first-time exhibitors Aoni (Booth: 1A-D02) and HEAD (Booth: 1C-A12). RISE Avenue highlights emerging brands including Beijing Huahon Data Technology Co., Ltd. (Booth: 1CON-003), which is making its global debut with the All-in-One Liquid-Cooled AI Computing System, providing powerful computing capabilities for large-model training, AI inference and visual rendering through advanced liquid-cooling technology. The Adventure Hub features the Immersive Experience Zone, showcasing the latest applications of XR technologies, brain-computer interfaces and other creative technologies. Highlights include a brainwave-controlled claw machine from Yugu Technology (Booth: 5E-D12). Meanwhile, the Tech Hall focuses on AI, professional data and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. Among the exhibitors, Guangzhou Quwan Network Technology Co., Ltd (Booth: CH-H10) is presenting the TemPolor Melo-D Generative AI Guitar, which integrates AI into music creation. Users simply upload their favourite songs and the system generates fingerstyle melodies while providing illuminated guidance on the guitar body and display screen to assist performance. More than 120 start-ups connecting with opportunities The fairs also bring together more than 120 promising young enterprises and start-ups, primarily in the Startup Zone. The IOT HK Association Limited and JimHang Academy are each leading groups of start-ups showcasing technologies and solutions designed to address real-world business challenges. A range of supporting activities will also be held, including investment matching sessions, the Hong Kong Value Creation for Technology: Pitching Competition and mentorship programmes, helping start-ups refine their business models, expand investor networks and strengthen their market competitiveness. The fair brings together more than 120 promising young enterprises and start-ups, primarily showcased within the Startup Zone electronicAsia connects the electronics supply chain Held concurrently with the Autumn Electronics Fair, electronicAsia (eAsia) features multiple thematic zones covering electronic components, display technologies, printed circuit boards and electronic manufacturing services, as well as testing and measurement instruments. Together, the two fairs create a comprehensive one-stop sourcing platform spanning the entire electronics industry supply chain. eAsia features a wide range of electronic components, display technologies, printed circuit boards, electronics manufacturing services and testing instruments, forming a one-stop sourcing platform together with the Autumn Electronics Fair Among the exhibitors at eAsia, Rapid Conn (S) Pte. Ltd. (Booth: 5B-C10) is showcasing advanced interconnect solutions, while Surface Mount Technology Ltd. (Booth: 5B-D01) is presenting cutting- edge AI and AIoT solutions. The fairs also feature a rich programme of forums and seminars. The 11th Symposium on Innovation & Technology, jointly organised by HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronics and Technologies Association, takes place today under the theme "AI-Driven Security & The Next-Gen Infrastructure". Speakers include Alexander Gerfer, Chief Technology Officer of Würth Elektronik Group; Dr Charles Cheung, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Hong Kong Baptist University; and Silvia Ihensekhien, Chief Security Advisor, Greater China at Microsoft. The Symposium on Innovation & Technology, jointly organised by HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronics and Technologies Association, takes place today under the theme "AI-Driven Security & The Next-Gen Infrastructure" In addition, the Hong Kong Electronic Forum, jointly organised by the HKTDC, MMI Asia Pte Ltd and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association, with support from the Electronics Division of The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, will be held on 15 October under the theme "Future Tech: Powering Electronics Competitiveness with AI and Sustainable Innovation", exploring how AI, sustainability and technological innovation are reshaping the future of the electronics sector. Under the EXHIBITION+ hybrid model, exhibitors and buyers can meet online through the HKTDC Click2Match smart business matching platform in addition to attending the physical fairs. The online exhibitions for the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia run from 6 to 23 October. Photo download: https://bit.ly/4AVhNOu Websites - Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition): https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkelectronicsfairae/en - electronicAsia: https://www.hktdc.com/event/electronicasia/en Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw Tel: (852) 2584 4472 Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Best-Selling Author Daniel J. Voelker Releases Dual-Timeline Paris Novel "The Woman Across the Courtyard" on October 17 2026-10-13 · PR Now · Retail https://pressreleasenews.org/pressroom/best-selling-author-daniel-j-voelker-releases-dual-timeline-paris-novel-the-woman-across-the-courtyard-on-october-17 Daniel J. Voelker is a best-selling author, trial attorney, and forensic historian based in Chicago. His previous novel, Return to Hawaii, became an Amazon bestseller. The Woman Across the Courtyard is his latest novel, a historical mystery set in Paris. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TCL Showcases 5G AI CPE X5 at Network X 2026, Bringing Comprehensive AI-Powered Optimization to Home Broadband 2026-10-13 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail, Telecom https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-showcases-5g-ai-cpe-x5-at-network-x-2026-bringing-comprehensive-ai-powered-optimization-to-home-broadband-302902425.html VIENNA, Oct. 13, 2026 -- TCL, a global leader in consumer electronics, showcases its flagship 5G AI CPE X5 at Network X 2026. Positioned as a comprehensive agentic AI 5G CPE, X5 features natural-language interaction, AI network optimization, application-aware QoS, proactive... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— /C O R R E C T I O N - Duracell/ 2026-10-12 · PR Newswire · Retail, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-partnership-with-amazon-duracell-powers-up-austin-ahead-of-f1-weekend-with-high-power-pre-race-celebration-302901857.html In the news release, In partnership with Amazon, Duracell Powers Up Austin Ahead of F1 Weekend with High-Power Pre-Race Celebration, issued 08-Oct-2026 by Duracell over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, corrected release follows, with... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mental Health Screening Month: How Tech Is Fixing Therapy’s First-Month Dropout Problem 2026-10-12 · 3BL Media · SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Biotech & pharma https://www.3blmedia.com/news/mental-health-screening-month-how-tech-fixing-therapys-first-month-dropout-problem Mental Health Screening Month: How Tech Is Fixing Therapy’s First-Month Dropout Problem Mon, 10/12/2026 - 15:35 Body Every week, millions of people sit down with their mental health therapy provider, take a deep breath, and try to answer a deceptively simple question: “So, how was your week?” For many, answering that question feels like trying to reconstruct a faded memory. The intense anxiety felt while sitting in traffic on Tuesday or the sudden wave of overwhelm on Thursday evening has lost its sharp edges by Monday morning. Clients often spend the first 15 minutes of a 50-minute appointment trying to recap past events rather than diving into meaningful healing work. This disconnect between weekly visits is a major contributor to a quiet crisis in mental healthcare: one in four clients discontinue psychotherapy, most after a single session. At the same time, the market has been flooded with thousands of standalone consumer wellness apps, with research showing that roughly 89% - 92% of mental health applications are abandoned by clients. The reason is simple: self-guided algorithms can’t replace the trust, empathy and safety of a human therapist. Image Why Do Standalone Apps Fail Where Clinician-Guided Tools Succeed? Unlike standalone apps that ask users to navigate their mental health journeys alone, next-generation platforms are designed to operate directly within existing clinical practices. By keeping the mental healthcare provider at the center of the care journey, technology transforms from a passive self-help tool into an active bridge between sessions. Exemplifying this shift is ReliefAI Health, a digital health venture created through LG NOVA (the North American Innovation Center for LG Electronics), exemplifies this shift. ReliefAI is built as a digital cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) platform, for providers and clients.   The mobile app enables clients to engage with their care plan daily and capture their mental state throughout their week.  This gives providers the ability to understand what is going on with their clients at those crucial times to be better able to assess and support their clients through the therapy process.  Rather than relying on paper notebooks or delayed memory, clients can use voice-journaling features while emotional experiences are still raw, work with interactive CBT exercises, complete clinical assessments and capture real-time mood patterns on their own schedule. How Does Between-Session Tracking Turn Passive Time Into Active Care? When technology integrates seamlessly into a clinic’s electronic health records system, the impact on care continuity is profound. "We see a crucial opportunity for technology to transform mental healthcare by strengthening the vital relationship between therapists and their clients," says the head of LG NOVA Sokwoo Rhee, Executive Vice President of Innovation at LG Electronics. "ReliefAI answers that need." Instead of starting an appointment with a blank slate, clinicians can review synthesized, objective data beforehand—observing mood trends, completed assessments and key themes from voice entries. Mental health providers begin the session already informed, bypassing routine recaps to focus immediately on deeper therapeutic progress. Rhee says this continuous model provides several distinct advantages for both clients and providers: Keeping clients connected to their therapeutic goals throughout the week can significantly reduce early dropout rates and help individuals stay committed through the critical first month. Tracking real-time insights that allow providers to tailor treatment plans dynamically and show clients tangible evidence of their growth over time. Remote therapeutic monitoring frameworks give practices structured clinical documentation and continuous engagement capabilities. What Does a Human-Centered Future for Mental Healthcare Look Like? As National Depression & Mental Health Screening Month highlights the growing demand for accessible, effective care, the narrative around digital health is evolving. The future of mental healthcare does not belong to standalone algorithms or automated substitutes for human connection, according to Rhee. Instead, the true breakthrough lies in next-generation platforms giving practitioners the data and visibility they need to do their best work, he says, adding: “By turning the days between sessions into an active, supported part of the healing process, clinician-guided technology can help assure that more people stay in care, build resilience and experience lasting well-being.” Featured Image Type of Content Article ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Thrill of the Deal: For 87%, Getting a Great Deal Is More Satisfying Than Owning a Luxury Item 2026-10-12 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/thrill-of-the-deal-for-87-getting-a-great-deal-is-more-satisfying-than-owning-a-luxury-item-302905968.html New survey results from Burlington Stores illustrate how Americans are redefining value and embracing the hunt for great deals ahead of the 2026 holiday season Key Points A new survey from Burlington highlights how consumer shopping and purchasing sentiment remain positive despite facing... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Charlie Harte Director of Field Sales & Recruiting - Canada 2026-10-12 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110738/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 12, 2026 - Charlie Harte joins Chervon as Director of Field Sales and Recruiting - Canada, effective Monday, October 12, 2026, reporting to Neil Harrison, VP/MD Sales and Marketing - Canada. Harte brings 15+ years of experience in the Canadian power tools, outdoor power equipment, and hand tool market. Additionally, he has 6+ years of experience selling into the commercial plumbing arena. Early in his career, Harte spent six years at Black and Decker growing into the National Sales and Marketing Manager position for B&D Canada. He subsequently became Director of Sales for Irwin Industrial Tools and then became a Director of Sales for Milwaukee Canada. Harte moved into the VP Sales position for Uponor Advanced Plumbing Solutions. Harte has an impressive track record in field sales leadership and strategic account development. He is known for his ability to build and manage high-performance sales teams throughout Canada. "Charlie brings an outstanding skillset to Chervon Canada," said Neil Harrison, VP/MD Canada. "His strength in sales management and in creating and mentoring high potential sales talent will accelerate our growth in the Canadian market." "I feel I have been preparing for this exciting role at Chervon my entire career," said Harte. "I look forward to working with our amazing Canadian team in building the leading pro power tool and outdoor power equipment company in our market." Harte earned his undergraduate degree in business at Polytechnic of Wales, UK. He then studied international business at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University in Suzhou, China. He then completed his MBA at the University of Toronto. ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, servingindustri al, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications:  CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Thomas G. Kentouris Vice President of Field Sales 2026-10-12 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110742/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 12, 2026 - Thomas G. Kentouris joins Chervon as Vice President of Field Sales, effective Monday, October 12, 2026, reporting to Matt DeFeo, SVP of Sales Training and Recruiting. Kentouris brings 14+ years of Power Tool and Outdoor Power Equipment experience at TTI. His career began as a sales rep and advanced through a series of increasingly responsible positions, culminating in SVP of Field Sales for Eastern U.S.A. Kentouris delivered exceptional sales growth results year after year in his areas of responsibility. His ability to develop store-level partnerships and store-level sell-through programs all resulted in exceptional levels of success. Kentouris distinguished himself as an outstanding recruiting talent as he and his teams were responsible for recruiting over 2,000 high potential recent college graduates into the TTI system. Kentouris did an amazing job mentoring, developing, and promoting hundreds of his people into higher level positions throughout the company. "Kentouris' powerful, inspiring leadership skills combined with his unmatched drive and work ethic all make him a super star level talent for Chervon," said SVP Matt DeFeo. "Thomas will have an immediate and lasting impact on Chervon's results." "I am thrilled to join Chervon and look forward to immediately beginning to build and mentor high-performance sales teams," said Kentouris. "I feel the skills I have developed match up perfectly with our bold plans of perpetual future growth." Kentouris earned his degree in Marketing from York College in Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of the TTI breakthrough leadership program. ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications:  CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Randall Durkan Vice President of Supply Chain - North America 2026-10-12 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Education, Travel, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110740/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 12, 2026 - Randy Durkan joins Chervon as Vice President of Supply Chain - North America, effective Monday, October 12, 2026, reporting to CEO Joe Galli. Randy Durkan brings over 25 years of supply chain management experience, including extensive leadership in power tools, hand tools, and outdoor power equipment. He has proven experience building high-performance supply chain teams and has consistently delivered outstanding service levels, inventory optimization, and cost-reduction results. Durkan is known for developing strong supply chain partnerships with key customers, driving cross-functional collaboration, and deploying technology to achieve world-class supply chain performance. He began his early supply chain career in Bentonville, Arkansas, supporting Walmart-focused collaboration across several consumer goods companies. His work at Vi-Jon contributed to Walmart's 2008 Supplier of the Year Award. Durkan then spent six years in supply chain management consulting with Hitachi Consulting, traveling worldwide to help clients improve their supply chain performance. In 2019, Randy joined TTI as SVP of Supply Chain for Consumer Products & Outdoor Power Equipment, where he again delivered supplier of the year award level performance. Most recently, Durkan served as Vice President of Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) for the Apex Tool Group. Durkan holds a B.S. in Business Logistics & International Business from Penn State University. He is also a graduate of the TTI Breakthrough Leadership Program and is Certified in Production & Inventory Management through APICS. "We are highly fortunate to have Randy joining Chervon as VP of Supply Chain for North America," said CEO Joe Galli. "His world-class supply chain management skills, transformative AI integration capabilities, and customer obsession will help us take our company to the next level." "Chervon's customer service and growth focus align perfectly with my experience and skill set," said Durkan. "I look forward to helping Chervon exceed customer expectations through supply chain excellence, high-performance teamwork, and AI integration." ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications:  CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Elevar Documents Captain Compliance as a Consent Layer for Its Server-Side Shopify Stack 2026-10-12 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/12/3378852/0/en/elevar-documents-captain-compliance-as-a-consent-layer-for-its-server-side-shopify-stack.html Elevar Publishes Captain Compliance Setup for Google Consent Mode and Server-Side Tracking Elevar Publishes Captain Compliance Setup for Google Consent Mode and Server-Side Tracking ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Rezolve Ai to Participate in the Maxim Growth Summit 2026 2026-10-12 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/12/3378820/0/en/rezolve-ai-to-participate-in-the-maxim-growth-summit-2026.html Rezolve Ai (NASDAQ: RZLV), a global leader in AI-powered commerce technology, announced that Arthur Yao, Group Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the Consumer & Lifestyle Panel at the Maxim Growth Summit 2026, presented by Maxim Group LLC, on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cookiebot by Usercentrics Releases Complimentary Retail Consent Audit Guide Ahead of Black Friday 2026-10-12 · Newsfile · SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/318079/Cookiebot-by-Usercentrics-Releases-Complimentary-Retail-Consent-Audit-Guide-Ahead-of-Black-Friday Miami, Florida--(October 12, 2026) - DesignRush Partner Cookiebot by Usercentrics, has released a complimentary Retail Consent Audit Guide ahead of Black Friday to help retailers identify gaps in their consent setup before the holiday shopping period begins.To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10587/318079_dbaaf969b4f8c8c0_001full.jpgThe data privacy platform's new guide provides retailers with a step-by-step audit that... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma: Real Stories. Hard Lessons. A Guide for Surviving Trauma” is Free to Download for Only Five Days (Until 10/15/26) 2026-10-12 · WebWire · Retail https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362692 Best Seller Publishing announces the release of Darryl A. Jones Sr., Dr. Harvey Goldstein and Dr. Lauren Butler's new book, “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma: Real Stories. Hard Lessons. A Guide for Surviving Trauma.” It will be available in the Amazon store for free for only five days. - - “Law Enforcement, Leadership and Surviving Trauma” is about leadership, resilience, and surviving trauma through the real-life experiences of retired law enforcement executive Darry... Read the full story at https://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=362692 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— From Brooklyn to Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon: Mitch Gould's Retail Journey 2026-10-12 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Food & drink, Sports, Industrial, Logistics https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610123048/from-brooklyn-to-home-depot-walmart-and-amazon-mitch-goulds-retail-journey Boca Raton, Florida Monday Oct 12, 2026 @ 6:00 AM Eastern — From the home improvement aisles of Home Depot to the shelves of Walmart and the online marketplace of Amazon, Mitch Gould has spent decades helping consumer product companies navigate the American retail industry.  For Gould, a Brooklyn native whose family roots run deep in manufacturing and distribution, the journey has been about more than selling products. It has been about building relationships, recognizing opportunities, and understanding what it takes to bring brands into some of the world's most competitive retail environments. Gould's career has included working with major national retailers such as Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Costco, CVS, Walgreens, GNC, and Amazon. Along the way, he has helped manufacturers and consumer brands pursue distribution opportunities across multiple product categories, from hardware and household goods to health, wellness, and sports nutrition. Learning the Business in Brooklyn Gould's introduction to retail began long before his first meeting with a national retail buyer. Growing up in Brooklyn, he learned the fundamentals of manufacturing, sales, and distribution from his father and grandfather, both of whom worked in the consumer products business. Those early experiences gave him an understanding of how products move from manufacturers to distributors, retailers, and ultimately consumers. "Retail was part of my life long before it became my career," said Mitch Gould. "My grandfather had a factory in Brooklyn and a showroom in the Empire State Building. My father Jerry carried that tradition forward in manufacturing and distribution. I grew up learning how products were made, how they were sold, and how relationships opened doors. Those lessons stayed with me throughout my career." The lessons proved valuable as Gould began developing relationships with major retailers and helping companies expand their distribution networks. His career eventually brought him into contact with some of the largest names in American retail, including Home Depot, where early relationships helped establish opportunities that would influence his career for years to come. From Home Improvement to Mass-Market Retail As Gould's career developed, so did the range of retailers and product categories he worked with. Home Depot and Lowe's represented opportunities in the home improvement sector, while Walmart and Costco provided access to mass-market consumers. Pharmacy chains such as CVS and Walgreens, along with specialty retailers like GNC, introduced different distribution requirements and opportunities for health and wellness brands. Each retail environment presented its own challenges, from product selection and packaging to pricing, logistics, and merchandising. Gould's experience across these channels gave him a broad perspective on the American retail landscape and the differences between introducing a product to a specialty retailer and preparing it for national distribution. His career has also included work with established consumer product companies and brands, including Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, Igloo, and Miracle-Gro. "I've had the opportunity to help brands get their products into some of the biggest retailers in America, from Home Depot and Lowe's to Walmart, Costco, CVS, and Walgreens," Gould said. "Every retailer is different. You have to understand what their buyers are looking for, what their customers want, and how to make the product work for that particular store. That's something you learn through experience, not from a textbook." Amazon Opens a New Chapter As retail evolved, Gould's experience expanded from traditional brick-and-mortar distribution into e-commerce. One of the notable chapters in his career involved Amazon's developing sports nutrition business. Working with Muscle Foods and Amazon buyers, Gould helped introduce more than 100 sports nutrition brands and products to the online marketplace, contributing to the early development of a category that would become an established part of Amazon's health and wellness offerings. The experience represented a natural progression in Gould's career, applying decades of product distribution knowledge to a new retail model. Although Amazon changed the way consumers discovered and purchased products, Gould recognized that many of the underlying principles of successful distribution remained the same: product selection, pricing, inventory, reliable fulfillment, and understanding customer demand. "When I started in this business, everything revolved around getting products onto store shelves," Gould said. "Then Amazon came along and changed the retail landscape. I had the opportunity to help build its sports nutrition category, bringing more than 100 brands and products to the platform. It was a different way of doing business, but the relationships, product knowledge, and distribution experience I'd developed over the years were just as valuable." A Brooklyn Foundation for a National Retail Career Throughout his career, Gould has worked with manufacturers, entrepreneurs, and consumer brands seeking opportunities in the United States. His experience reflects the transformation of American retail, from the dominance of national brick-and-mortar chains to the emergence of e-commerce platforms that allow brands to reach consumers across the country. For Gould, the common thread has been the business education he received growing up in Brooklyn and the relationships he developed throughout his career. From Home Depot and Walmart to Amazon, his professional journey illustrates how a foundation in traditional manufacturing and distribution can translate into opportunities across generations of American retail. About Mitch Gould Mitch Gould is a third-generation retail distribution and manufacturing expert with more than 25 years of experience launching and scaling consumer products across sports nutrition, health and wellness, skincare, hardware, and beverages. He has worked with iconic consumer brands such as Igloo, Rubbermaid, Sunbeam, and Miracle-Gro, as well as high-profile celebrity brands including Steven Seagal, Hulk Hogan, Chuck Liddell, 8× Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, and martial arts pioneer Bob Wall.  Over the course of his career, Gould has played a key role in helping shape the growth of the U.S. sports nutrition category-supporting the expansion of performance-focused products across major retail and e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Walmart, GNC, CVS, and Walgreens. His work has centered on bringing muscle-building, recovery, and performance-oriented products to a broader consumer audience. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GOFO becomes a carrier partner of Peoples Post ahead of the year-end peak 2026-10-12 · PR Newswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gofo-becomes-a-carrier-partner-of-peoples-post-ahead-of-the-year-end-peak-302905538.html MARLY-LA-VILLE, France, Oct. 12, 2026 -- GOFO France, a last-mile delivery specialist, announces a strategic partnership with Peoples Post, a French e-commerce logistics provider (3PL). The partnership integrates GOFO France's home delivery services into Peoples Post's... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Fencing Equipment Market Report 2026-2034: Product, End User, Distribution Channel, and Region | Smart Gear and E-Commerce Drive 4.14% CAGR to USD 1.71 Billion 2026-10-12 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/12/3378694/28124/en/global-fencing-equipment-market-report-2026-2034-product-end-user-distribution-channel-and-region-smart-gear-and-e-commerce-drive-4-14-cagr-to-usd-1-71-billion.html "Fencing Equipment Market Report by Product, End User, Distribution Channel, and Region 2026-2034" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DuLac Farmaceutici Takes Next Step in U.S. Retail Growth Following ECRM Meetings 2026-10-12 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Sports, Industrial, Biotech & pharma, Sustainability https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610123049/dulac-farmaceutici-takes-next-step-in-us-retail-growth-following-ecrm-meetings Boca Raton, Florida Monday Oct 12, 2026 @ 5:00 AM Eastern — DuLac Farmaceutici is following up with prospective retail and distribution partners after participating in the 2026 ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session, held September 14-17 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This event is marking another step in the Italian pharmaceutical company's effort to build a broader U.S. retail presence beyond its established Amazon business. The event provided an opportunity to discuss DuLac’s Italian-developed portfolio with buyers across health, specialty, food, drug and mass retail channels. The company is now continuing those conversations to explore product assortment and distribution opportunities in the United States. DuLac’s portfolio includes its high-concentration Arnica Gel 98% range, topical leg-care products, and the Dinaven and Diosmin lines. The portfolio reflects the company’s Italian manufacturing expertise, botanical formulation capabilities, and more than 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience. Building on an Existing E-Commerce Presence DuLac enters these discussions with products already available to U.S. consumers through its Amazon storefront and OneLavi. Customer feedback provides an additional point of reference for prospective partners: The company’s Arnica Gel 98% listing on Amazon.com has an average customer rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, offering prospective partners a reference point for consumer feedback as they evaluate the portfolio. "Our priority following ECRM is to work with prospective partners to identify the DuLac products that best fit their customers and channels,” said Gabriele Bollani, Founder and CEO of DuLac Farmaceutici. “We want to build lasting relationships by combining our Italian formulation and manufacturing expertise with a clear understanding of each partner’s commercial needs.” Italian Expertise Behind the Portfolio During the meetings, DuLac introduced buyers to the research and manufacturing approach behind its products, including its proprietary Arnica Montana Arricchita™ project and its work with botanical ingredients and advanced extraction technologies. The company’s European pharmacy heritage and Italian production provide the foundation for its portfolio. Follow-up discussions will focus on the products relevant to each prospective partner, their positioning and the requirements for a potential launch. U.S. Retail and Distribution Opportunities Following ECRM, DuLac is continuing discussions with prospective partners to assess product assortment, channel fit and distribution opportunities, while building on its existing U.S. e-commerce presence. The company's long-term objective is to establish DuLac as a nationally recognized U.S. brand across multiple channels, combining its European pharmacy heritage and Italian manufacturing with the consumer traction it has already established in the American market. About DuLac Farmaceutici DuLac Farmaceutici is an Italian pharmaceutical company specializing in dermo-cosmetic products developed through pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing standards. Built on more than 30 years of pharmaceutical industry expertise, the company combines botanical innovation, advanced extraction technologies, and modern manufacturing to create Italian-developed products for international markets. DuLac products are developed and manufactured in Italy using rigorous quality and sustainability standards. Learn more at DuLac Farmaceutici USA, through the company's Amazon Storefront, and on OneLavi. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— V-Guard’s Diwali Dhamaka Sale 2026 Brings Discounts of Up to 63% on Select Products 2026-10-12 · Webnewswire · Energy, Retail https://www.webnewswire.com/2026/10/12/v-guards-diwali-dhamaka-sale-2026-brings-discounts-of-up-to-63-on-select-products/ V-Guard Industries Limited, one of India’s leading consumer electrical and electronics brands, has announced its Diwali Dhamaka Sale 2026, running from October 8 to November 10, 2026, on the V-Guard website. The sale offers discounts of up to 63% on select products across key categories, including voltage stabilizers, water heaters, inverters and battery combos. Sale […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Changzhou Microintelligence Co., Ltd passes HKEX Listing Committee hearing 2026-10-12 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Education, Industrial, Semiconductors https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110749/ Hong Kong, Oct 12, 2026 - Changzhou Microintelligence Co., Ltd (“Microintelligence” or “the Company”) recently passed the hearing of the Listing Committee of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX) on X 2026. Orient Capital, the subsidiary of Orient Securities, is the sole sponsor for the initial public offering. Based on 2025 revenue, the Company is China’s largest supplier of Embodied Industrial Intelligent Robots (EIIR), with a market share of approximately 20.0%. Microintelligence was founded in 2018. As a leader in industrial embodied intelligence, the Company develops EIIR products and integrated solutions capable of autonomous perception, learning, decision-making and executing of complex tasks with its full-stack self-developed software, hardware and systems engineering capabilities. Its products have achieved commercialization at scale in real-world industrial settings, including in industries with extremely high requirements for precision, stability, and reliability, such as 3C electronics, automotive manufacturing, new energy, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), and semiconductors. Meanwhile, its application scenarios are evolving from "mature single-process workflow” to "integrated workstations." According to IDC's China Industrial Embodied Intelligent Robots Market Share, 2025 report, the company holds the No. 1 market share in China. The Company is also one of the world’s first leading companies to achieve commercial verification of embodied industrial intelligence robots in multiple complex industrial scenarios. Through a standardized "Cloud-Edge-Device" integrated architecture, Microintelligence combines AI models, industrial know-how, and real-world scenario data to build core physical AI capabilities. This enables EIIR to complete a fully autonomous closed loop spanning perception, learning, decision-making, and execution. As EIIR systems roll out across real factory environments, the company has also built a "data-model-product-redeployment" flywheel. On-site data accumulated during production line operations is distilled into process knowledge through a "human-in-the-loop" mechanism with insights fed back into ongoing model iteration. As model capabilities advance, the products can take on more complex production tasks and continue to broaden their application scope. Backed by full-stack software and hardware capabilities and commercial validation in real-world scenarios, the company has delivered efficient, cost-effective commercialisation across multiple industrial scenarios, creating a durable competitive moat. Through the continuous deployment of the aforementioned technologies and industrial practices, the Company has been accumulating real production-line industrial data while maintaining high levels of R&D investment. According to the documents disclosed after its hearing, the Company amassed an unstructured, finely-annotated database sourced from real industrial scenarios, with a data volume exceeding 23TB and containing over 1.6 billion annotated data records. The database holds more than 800 independent intellectual property rights, including over 210 invention patents and 310 software copyrights. In 2024, the Company’s R&D project entitled “Development and Application of High-Speed, Self-Planning, Integrated Intelligent System for Defect Detection and Repair” has been jointly certified by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) as having reached an “International Leading” level. The Company’s client base includes more than 25 Fortune Global 500 enterprises and leading manufacturers. Its business spans mainland China, Europe and the United States, and actively develops for the expansion into new overseas markets including Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Financially, the Company’s revenue rose from RMB 434 million in 2023 to RMB 796 million in 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 35.4%. For the five months ended May 31, 2026, the Company recorded revenue of RMB 424 million, up 22.6% year on year. Revenue from its flagship EIIR products grew from RMB 114 million in 2023 to RMB 453 million in 2025, and reached RMB 260 million for the five months ended May 31, 2026. The EIIR products’ contribution to total revenue rose to 61.4% for the five months ended May 31, 2026, while gross margin further improved to 54.8%. In terms of profitability, the Company achieved profitable results for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025. It recorded a full-year profit of approximately RMB 15.7 million in 2024 and approximately RMB 5.1 million in 2025, as higher R&D investment weighed on profit for the year. For the five months ended May 31, 2026, profit reached RMB 22.53 million, while adjusted net profit for the period—excluding the impact of share-based payments and listing expenses—amounted to RMB 33.84 million, up 41.5% year on year. In addition, following the turnaround to positive operating cash flow in 2025, the Company continued to record net cash inflow for the five months ended May 31, 2026, reflecting a substantive and sustained improvement in the cash-generating capability of its core business. The Company plans to primarily allocate the proceeds from this initial public offering to core technology R&D, focusing on iterating the Company’s end-to-end industrial VLA model, to continuously enhance the intelligence and performance of EIIR robots. In parallel, the Company will build localised overseas sales and service networks to deepenits global business footprint. In addition, the Company will allocate the proceeds for strategic investments and to foster an open, win-win application ecosystem through M&A, to expand manufacturing capacity to meet the growing order volumes. Looking ahead, Microintelligence will seize the opportunity presented by its HKEX listing to continue to strengthen its core capabilities in industrial embodied intelligence. As the global manufacturing sector continues to advance its intelligent transformation, the Company will focus on six key dimensions—deepening customer engagement, replicating success across new industries, expanding overseas, upgrading product value, strengthening software-hardware synergies, and driving continuous AI evolution—to bring EIIR solutions into more industrial scenarios. Together with industry partners, the Company will build an industrial embodied intelligence ecosystem and create long-term value for customers and the industry as a whole. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— October 2026 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows Phase I Opens Today 2026-10-11 · PR Newswire · Retail, Gaming, Sustainability https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/october-2026-global-sources-hong-kong-shows-phase-i-opens-today-302905138.html HONG KONG, Oct. 11, 2026 -- Phase I of the October 2026 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows opened today at AsiaWorld-Expo, running from October 11 to 14. Under the theme "Connecting Global Innovation, Enabling Sustainable Sourcing," the Consumer Electronics Show and Gaming Show... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Retail Trading Platforms Post Record Quarters as Investor Apps Multiply 2026-10-10 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/retail-trading-platforms-post-record-quarters-as-investor-apps-multiply-302905072.html VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 10, 2026 -- Wall Street Investor News Commentary - Four publicly listed retail investing platforms now report more than 41 million funded accounts between them, and two of them reported record quarters this summer. The pattern is the same across all of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Arrvel Expands Thermal Label Printer Portfolio for Businesses and Everyday Use 2026-10-10 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/arrvel-expands-thermal-label-printer-portfolio-for-businesses-and-everyday-use-302905040.html SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 10, 2026 -- Arrvel is expanding its label printing portfolio with thermal printing solutions designed to support e-commerce sellers, small businesses, and everyday labeling needs. Combining compact designs with practical functionality, Arrvel's label... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Green Thumb Opens RISE Dispensary in Cape Coral, Expanding Florida Footprint to 25 Locations 2026-10-10 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/10/3378435/0/en/green-thumb-opens-rise-dispensary-in-cape-coral-expanding-florida-footprint-to-25-locations.html CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 10, 2026 -- RISE Dispensaries, an industry-leading cannabis retail chain owned by Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb” or the “Company”) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), today announced the opening of RISE Dispensary Cape Coral, Florida, on October 10. Located at 928 NE Pine Island Road, RISE Dispensary Cape Coral is Green Thumb’s 25th retail location in Florida, adding to the Company’s network of more than 120 stores nationwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hurricane Isaias Warning: Protect Your Family from CO Poisoning and Other Post-Storm Dangers 2026-10-09 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hurricane-isaias-warning-protect-your-family-from-co-poisoning-and-other-post-storm-dangers-302903879.html WASHINGTON, Oct. 9, 2026 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging those in the path of Hurricane Isaias to take steps to protect themselves and their families against carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, fires and other post-storm hazards. Hurricane Isaias,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Capital Brands Names Steve Baram Chief Executive Officer 2026-10-09 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/capital-brands-names-steve-baram-chief-executive-officer-302903877.html Consumer products veteran to lead the nutribullet® and magic bullet® business. LOS ANGELES, Oct. 9, 2026 -- Capital Brands, the marketer of nutribullet® and magic bullet® small appliances, announced the appointment of Steve Baram as Chief Executive Officer, effective... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Green Choice Proteins Highlights Shift in Plant-Based Nutrition 2026-10-09 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Food & drink, Sports, Industrial, Sustainability https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610093050/green-choice-proteins-highlights-shift-in-plant-based-nutrition Boca Raton, Florida Friday Oct 9, 2026 @ 3:00 PM Eastern — Green Choice Proteins, an Australian plant-based nutrition company preparing to expand into the United States, is highlighting an evolving approach to plant-based eating as consumers increasingly look beyond meat alternatives toward convenient, protein-rich foods and everyday nutrition products. Plant-based nutrition is no longer defined solely by consumers following vegan or vegetarian diets. Interest in incorporating more plant-derived ingredients into everyday meals has broadened the conversation to include protein content, ingredient transparency, flavor and convenience. For Green Choice Proteins, this evolution reflects the philosophy behind its Australian-made plant protein products, which are designed for consumers seeking practical ways to incorporate plant-based nutrition into their daily routines. "Plant-based nutrition doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing lifestyle choice," said Puneet Chawla, Founder of Green Choice Proteins. "We believe consumers should have access to high-quality plant protein products that fit naturally into their everyday lives, whether they're focused on fitness, general wellness or simply making more thoughtful food choices." Moving Beyond Traditional Plant-Based Categories As plant-based nutrition continues evolving, consumers have more options beyond products designed to replace meat or dairy. Plant proteins can also serve as convenient ingredients in smoothies, breakfast foods, baking and other everyday meals. Green Choice Proteins focuses on this broader approach, combining plant-derived protein with carefully selected ingredients and flavors designed to make everyday nutrition both convenient and enjoyable. The company's formulations feature Australian-grown pea and faba proteins, omega-3 from linseed and no artificial colours, flavours or fillers. Three Flavors Designed for Everyday Nutrition Green Choice Proteins' initial U.S. product lineup includes three plant-based protein powders: Chocolate Flavored Protein Powder - Plant-Based Protein 35.3g plant protein per serving Made with Australian-grown pea and faba Features pure cocoa powder and coconut milk powder Contains omega-3 from linseed No artificial colours, flavours or fillers Vanilla Flavored Protein Powder - Plant Based Protein 34.9g plant protein per serving Designed for smoothies, oats, baking and everyday nutrition routines Made using Australian-grown plant proteins Includes omega-3 from linseed Clean vanilla flavor profile without artificial additives Salted Caramel Flavored Protein Powder - Plant Based Protein 34.9g plant protein per serving Combines caramel sweetness with balanced salted notes Made using Australian-grown pea and faba Includes omega-3 from linseed No artificial colours, flavours or fillers "Taste and convenience are just as important as the nutritional profile," added Chawla. "Our goal is to create products that people genuinely enjoy incorporating into their routines. We want plant-based nutrition to feel accessible and practical, not complicated or restrictive." Australian-Made Nutrition With a Focus on Transparency Manufactured in Victoria, Australia, Green Choice Proteins emphasizes ingredient transparency, responsible sourcing and clean-label formulations. The family-owned company uses Australian-grown pulses as a foundation for its products while incorporating other thoughtfully selected ingredients to create its plant protein formulations. Green Choice Proteins believes the growing interest in everyday plant-based nutrition creates opportunities for brands that can combine quality ingredients with enjoyable flavors and convenient formats. Building a Presence in the United States The company's focus on everyday plant nutrition comes as Green Choice Proteins continues its U.S. expansion strategy. Following its participation in September's ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, the company is preparing to introduce its products to American consumers through OneLavi and Amazon. The upcoming launches represent the initial stages of Green Choice Proteins' broader strategy to establish its Australian-made plant nutrition products in the United States. For more information, visit Green Choice Proteins. About Green Choice Proteins Based in Victoria, Australia, Green Choice Proteins is a family-owned plant-based nutrition company focused on delivering clean, functional daily nutrition for modern lifestyles. Using plant proteins derived from Australian-grown crops and manufacturing its products in Victoria, the company combines high-quality plant protein with thoughtfully selected functional ingredients to support everyday wellness, performance, and recovery. Built on a philosophy of transparency, sustainability, and formulation integrity, Green Choice Proteins creates clean-label nutrition products with no artificial colours, flavours, or fillers, helping consumers simplify their wellness routines with trusted, Australian-made plant-based nutrition. Follow Green Choice Proteins on Instagram and Facebook. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Aetna 2027 Star Ratings Reflect Strong Clinical Quality and Member Experience 2026-10-09 · 3BL Media · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Biotech & pharma https://www.3blmedia.com/news/aetna-2027-star-ratings-reflect-strong-clinical-quality-and-member-experience Aetna 2027 Star Ratings Reflect Strong Clinical Quality and Member Experience Tue, 10/13/2026 - 08:15 Body Originally published on CVS Health Company Newsroom HARTFORD, Conn., October 13, 2026 - Aetna®, a CVS Health® company (NYSE: CVS), announced today that more than 69 percent of its Medicare Advantage (MA) members are in 2027 plans rated 4 stars or higher (out of 5 stars) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These results position Aetna as one of the highest-performing large, publicly traded Medicare Advantage organizations in the Star Ratings program for the third consecutive year and highlight strong performance across various clinical quality, preventive care and member experience measures. "For years, Aetna has been a leader in Star Ratings, and this year's results highlight our distinction in the market," said Steve Nelson, President of Aetna. "We continue to strengthen our business through an unwavering focus on the fundamentals and disciplined execution, and we are encouraged by our performance in areas like clinical quality and operational excellence. This focus gives us confidence in our ability to achieve our goal of returning to appropriate margins while at the same time driving continuous improvement and delivering even better experiences and outcomes for the members who count on us. Outstanding clinical quality performance Our 2027 Star Ratings results demonstrate excellence across several key clinical quality measures. Aetna achieved an outstanding score on Plan All-Cause Readmissions (4.77* out of 5 stars), showcasing the strength of our care coordination programs, provider partnerships and focus on helping members successfully transition between care settings. Keeping members out of the hospital is one of the most important indicators of health care quality. Our high-performing scores on Care for Older Adults Medication Review (5.00*) and Care for Older Adults Functional Status Assessment (4.03*) demonstrate the support we provide members in managing their health and maintaining their independence. Reinforcing our commitment to early detection and preventive care, we earned strong scores on preventive screening measures, including Colorectal Cancer Screening (4.19*) and Breast Cancer Screening (4.07*). Delivering a high-quality member experience Aetna also delivered exceptional results on measures related to member experience and the quality of our customer support. Low rates of Complaints about the Drug Plan (4.29*) demonstrate members' confidence in our service and commitment to resolving issues quickly and effectively. Strong performance on Customer Service (4.04*), Getting Needed Care (3.89*) and Getting Needed Prescription Drugs (4.07*) further highlight our focus on making health care easier to access and navigate. Aetna earned a high score on Rating of Health Care Quality (4.22*), indicating the positive experiences members had with their health care providers and the broader care experience supported by Aetna. In addition, we demonstrated operational excellence through outstanding performance in service and administrative measures, including Call Center Foreign Language Interpreter and Teletypewriter Availability (4.99*), Reviewing Appeals Decisions (4.08*), Plan Makes Timely Decisions About Appeals (4.01*) and Drug Price Accuracy (4.01*). These results underscore our commitment to providing accurate information, fair processes, timely decisions and accessible support for every member. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. The Star Ratings are posted at Medicare.gov. Visit AetnaMedicare.com to learn more about the 2027 Aetna Medicare plans. Or call 1-844-588-0041 (TTY: 711), 7 days a week, 8 AM to 8 PM. The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7, 2026. A licensed agent may answer your call. NOTE: Information in this release is based on 2027 Star Ratings data published by CMS on October 8, 2026, and MA and MAPD enrollment as of September 2026. Individual plan ratings may vary. *FOR STAR RATING MEASURE SCORES: All scores are based on a rating scale of five stars. About CVS Health CVS Health is a leading health solutions company simplifying health care one person, one family and one community at a time. As of June 30, 2026, the Company had approximately 9,000 retail pharmacy locations, more than 1,000 walk-in and primary care medical clinics and a leading pharmacy benefits manager with approximately 87 million plan members. The Company also serves an estimated 37 million people through a broad range of health insurance products and related services. The Company’s integrated model uses personalized, technology driven services to connect people to simply better health, increasing access to quality care, delivering better outcomes, and lowering overall costs. About Aetna Aetna, a CVS Health business, serves an estimated 37 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health plans, and medical management capabilities, Medicaid health care management services, workers' compensation administrative services and health information technology products and services. Aetna's customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, health care providers, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, visit Aetna.com. Aetna Medicare is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Our SNPs also have contracts with State Medicaid programs. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. See Evidence of Coverage for a complete description of plan benefits, exclusions, limitations and conditions of coverage. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. To send a complaint to Aetna, call the Plan or the number on your member ID card. To send a complaint to Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048), 24 hours a day/7 days a week. If your complaint involves a broker or agent, be sure to include the name of the person when filing your grievance. ©2026 Aetna Inc. Media contact Phil Blando Phillip.blando@cvshealth.com Investor contact Larry McGrath 800-201-0938 InvestorInfo@CVSHealth.com Y0001_9425651a_2027_M Featured Image Type of Content Press Release ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Nectar MCP Brings Consumer and Creator Data to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot 2026-10-09 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/nectar-mcp-brings-consumer-creator-173000477.html PALO ALTO, Calif., October 09, 2026--Nectar, the agentic growth operating system connecting businesses to consumers, today launched Nectar MCP, which connects a brand's Nectar data to ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Copilot. It is built on the Model Context Protocol, the open standard AI assistants use to connect to outside data. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How to Tell Whether an E-commerce Brand Has Outgrown Its In-House Customer Support 2026-10-09 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/09/3378221/0/en/how-to-tell-whether-an-e-commerce-brand-has-outgrown-its-in-house-customer-support.html Transcom’s Retail Peak Resilience Index finds cost per order can triple as volume doubles, a sign e-commerce brands have outgrown in-house support. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Miami Fashion Week(R) Celebrates 10 Years With a Landmark Anniversary Edition, October 13-18, 2026 2026-10-09 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Media, Education, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110717/ MIAMI, FL, Oct 9, 2026 - Miami Fashion Week® (MIAFW) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, returning October 13-18, 2026 featuring industry programming, runway shows, and special events bringing together international designers, Latin American talent and Miami's creative community. For a decade, MIAFW has served as a bridge between Miami and the international fashion industry, creating a platform for designers while expanding beyond the runway through sustainability, technology, education and cultural exchange. The milestone edition brings together international designers, Latin American talent, fashion innovation and a new Stitch Lab retail experience Throughout these ten years, MIAFW has pioneered initiatives at the intersection of fashion, sustainability and technology. Founded in 2017, the MIAFW Summit created a space for dialogue and education around the industry's evolving challenges and opportunities. Building on that vision, the Virtual Fashion Awards, launched in May 2026, opened a new chapter in digital creativity and innovation. This anniversary edition will bring that vision to the runway, with competition winner Jhoan Sebastian Grey presenting his collection in a runway show awarded as part of his prize. "Celebrating 10 years of Miami Fashion Week is an incredibly meaningful milestone," says Lourdes Fernandez-Velasco, Executive Director of Miami Fashion Week. "Over the past decade, we've built a platform that connects designers, creatives and industry leaders from around the world while remaining deeply rooted in Miami. In recent years, the continued institutional support of Miami-Dade County, now for the fourth consecutive year, alongside the support of the City of Miami Beach and our partnership with Miami Dade College, has been instrumental in strengthening that foundation and expanding our impact. This year is both a celebration of how far we've come and an exciting look at where fashion is going next." The anniversary edition will bring fashion into focus across the city, from runway presentations throughout Miami and the MIAFW Summit in partnership with the Miami Fashion Institute to the annual Miami Fashion Week Gala. Making its debut this year, a collaboration with Stitch Lab will introduce MIAFW's first shopping experience: a three-day pop-up on Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, featuring more than 20 brands and giving consumers the opportunity to discover and shop participating labels. Together, these experiences celebrate Miami as a meeting point for fashion, culture and creativity, connecting established industry voices with emerging talent, students and the wider community. Program Highlights Tues., Oct. 13 Press Conference - 9:30 AM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Speakers include: City of Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, City of Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago, Commissioner Oliver Gilbert, Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega, and Andres Otalora (fashion designer).Designers will be in attendance and available for interviews. Miami Fashion Week Gala featuring Andres Otalora, with a special performance by Latin Grammy-winner Joaquina - 6:00 PM | Queen Miami BeachThis is a ticketed event benefiting Miami Dade College's Miami Fashion Institute. Wed., Oct. 14 MIAFW Summit with the Miami Fashion Institute - 12:00-6:00 PM | Miami Dade College Wolfson CampusThe annual Summit brings together fashion leaders, creatives and innovators for conversations exploring the future of fashion, technology, sustainability and digital innovation. The Summit will be followed by a cocktail reception. Thurs., Oct. 15 Jenny Polanco Fashion Show - 3:00 PM | Mr. C Coconut Grove MIAFW x Stitch Lab, Presented and Hosted by Terranova - 6:30 PM | 350 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Fri., Oct. 16 MIAFW x Stitch Lab Pop Up - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | 350 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Jacqueline Then Fashion Show - 5:30 PM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Giannina Azar Fashion Show - 7:00 PM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Jhoan Sebastian Grey Fashion Show - 8:30 PM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Sat., Oct. 17 MIAFW x Stitch Lab Pop Up - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | 350 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Vero Diaz Fashion Show - 5:30 PM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Yenny Bastida Fashion Show - 7:00 PM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Efraín Mogollón Fashion Show - 8:30 PM | Freedom Tower at Miami Dade College Closing Party - 09:00 PM Sun., Oct. 18 MIAFW x Stitch Lab Pop Up - 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM | 350 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Sitka Semsch Fashion Show - 12:00 PM | Miracle Mile Beyond the Runway: MIAFW x Stitch Lab, Presented and Hosted by Terranova For the first time, Miami Fashion Week and Stitch Lab will join forces for a curated retail pop-up at 350 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables, October 16-18, extending the MIAFW experience beyond the runway. The experience gives designers the opportunity to show, sell and connect directly with consumers, buyers, stylists, content creators, Miami tastemakers and media. Featuring 20+ international designers, shoppers can meet designers, discover new collections and shop ready-to-wear, eveningwear, handbags, shoes and jewelry ahead of the holiday season. Participating designers and brands include NNT, Amarante, IT Shoes, Entos, Ana + Maria, Marea Alta, Paola Pacheco, Francesca Miranda, Maria Angelica Guerra, Muzaluci, Pampa, Adriana Fernandez, Nerea, Ojo de Leon, Beatriz de la Camara, Jhoan Sebastian Grey, Renata Lozano, Vero Diaz, Andres Otalora, Yenny Bastida, Alta Shoes, Jenny Polanco, Adriana Cobo and Hara. Beyond the runway, MIAFW 2026 brings fashion directly to the consumer. Supported by Miami-Dade County, Miami Dade College & Rooted in Inclusivity With the continued support of Miami-Dade County, MIAFW is positioning Miami as a world-class hub for the fashion industry. The event not only attracts global attention but also provides a powerful platform for Latin American talent, inclusivity and cultural diversity, strengthening Miami's role as a vital meeting point between North and South America. From runway shows and a celebratory gala to conversations on fashion, sustainability and technology, plus a new shopping experience on Miracle Mile in partnership with Stitch Lab, Miami Fashion Week's 10th-anniversary program brings fashion into the city in exciting new ways. This milestone also offers an opportunity to thank the sponsors and partners who have helped shape its journey over the years, including Miami-Dade County, Miami Dade College, City of Miami Beach, Mr. C Coconut Grove, and Miami International Airport, whose support has contributed to building a platform that connects Miami with the global fashion community. About Miami Fashion Week® Miami Fashion Week® (MIAFW) is officially recognized by the CFDA's Fashion Calendar Important Dates alongside New York, London, Paris and Milan. Rooted in fashion, art, sustainability and innovation, MIAFW bridges continents by spotlighting Latin American designers, international talent and Miami's own creative community. In 2026, MIAFW celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of connecting designers, industry leaders and audiences through fashion in Miami. For more information, please visit www.miamifashionweek.com and follow @miamifashionweek. LORA PR Laura Neroulias laura@lorapr.com SOURCE: THE FASHION SHOWS LLC ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Rezolve Ai Opens Retail to Any AI Shopping Agent with RezolvePay, Targeting a Multi-Trillion-Dollar Commerce Opportunity 2026-10-09 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/09/3378056/0/en/rezolve-ai-opens-retail-to-any-ai-shopping-agent-with-rezolvepay-targeting-a-multi-trillion-dollar-commerce-opportunity.html Proprietary payment rails and merchant-side agents connect AI-driven shopping to completed orders and payments, online and in-store ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cosmo PPF to showcase paint protection solutions at Auto Style 2026 in Delhi 2026-10-09 · Webnewswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.webnewswire.com/2026/10/09/cosmo-ppf-to-showcase-paint-protection-solutions-at-auto-style-2026-in-delhi/ Cosmo PPF, the consumer facing paint protection film business of Cosmo First, will participate in Auto Style 2026, scheduled from October 9-11, 2026, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The company will showcase its automotive protection solutions at Stall C07, Hall 11, and engage with detailing professionals, distributors, automotive businesses, and enthusiasts. At the exhibition, Cosmo […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Delta Air Lines announces September quarter 2026 financial results 2026-10-09 · Delta Air Lines · Finance, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Travel, Aerospace & defense, Cybersecurity, Sustainability, Insurance, Legal, Oil & gas https://news.delta.com/delta-air-lines-announces-september-quarter-2026-financial-results Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) today reported financial results for the September quarter and provided its outlook for the December quarter and full year 2026.  “Demand remains strong, supported by consumers’ growing preference for experiences and travel, with air travel continuing to be one of the best values in the consumer economy," said Ed Bastian, Delta's Chief Executive Officer. "Against this backdrop, we delivered September quarter pre-tax profit of $1.5 billion, matching last year's performance, and generated $1.9 billion of free cash flow year-to-date. Our resilience reflects the structural durability we’ve built over many years, enabling us to effectively navigate one of the most elevated fuel environments in recent times. The foundation of that resilience is our people, whose commitment to delivering for our customers continues to set Delta apart." Bastian continued, "For the full year, we expect to generate a pre-tax profit of roughly $4.5 billion, absorbing a $6 billion increase in fuel costs. Looking ahead, our focus remains on profitable growth and delivering against our long-term financial framework, including mid-teens margins and returns, durable free cash flow and gross leverage of approximately one times." September Quarter 2026 GAAP Financial Results Operating revenue of $20.2 billion Operating income of $1.5 billion with an operating margin of 7.2% Pre-tax income of $1.1 billion with a pre-tax margin of 5.3% Earnings per share of $1.15 Operating cash flow of $1.7 billion September Quarter 2026 Non-GAAP Financial Results  Operating revenue of $17.6 billion Operating income of $1.7 billion with an operating margin of 9.4% Pre-tax income of $1.5 billion with a pre-tax margin of 8.5% Earnings per share of $1.72 Operating cash flow of $1.7 billion Read the full release on PR Newswire via download. Forward Looking Statements Statements made in this press release that are not historical facts, including statements regarding our estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments or strategies for the future, should be considered “forward-looking statements” under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are not guarantees or promised outcomes and should not be construed as such. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the estimates, expectations, beliefs, intentions, projections, goals, aspirations, commitments and strategies reflected in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the possible effects of serious accidents involving our aircraft or aircraft of our airline partners; breaches or lapses in the security of technology systems we use and rely on, which could compromise the data stored within them, as well as failure to comply with evolving global privacy and security regulatory obligations or adequately address increasing customer focus on privacy issues and data security; disruptions in our information technology infrastructure; failure of the technology we use or depend on to perform effectively, including new and emerging technologies; increases in the price of aircraft fuel; extended disruptions in the supply of aircraft fuel, including from Monroe Energy, LLC (“Monroe”), our wholly-owned subsidiary that operates the Trainer refinery; failure to achieve expected results or returns from our commercial relationships with airlines in other parts of the world and the investments we have in certain of those airlines; the effects of a significant disruption in the operations or performance of third parties on which we rely; failure to comply with the financial or other covenants in our financing agreements; labor-related disruptions; the effects on our business of seasonality and other factors beyond our control, such as changes in value in our equity investments, severe weather conditions, natural disasters or other environmental events, including from the impact of climate change; failure or inability of insurance to cover a significant liability at Monroe’s refinery; failure to comply with existing and future environmental regulations to which Monroe’s refinery operations are subject, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, waste management, pollution prevention measures and greenhouse gas emissions; significant damage to our reputation and brand, including from exposure to significant adverse publicity or inability to achieve certain sustainability goals; our ability to retain senior management and other key employees, and to maintain our company culture; disease outbreaks or other public health threats, and measures implemented to combat them; the effects of terrorist attacks, geopolitical conflict or security events; competitive conditions in the airline industry; extended interruptions or disruptions in service at major airports where we operate; significant problems associated with types of aircraft or engines we operate; the effects of extensive regulatory and legal compliance requirements we are subject to; the impact of laws and regulations governing environmental protection, including but not limited to regulation of hazardous substances, increased regulation to reduce emissions and other risks associated with climate change, and the cost of compliance with more stringent environmental regulations; and unfavorable economic or political conditions in the markets in which we operate or volatility in currency exchange rates. Additional information concerning risks and uncertainties that could cause differences between actual results and forward-looking statements is contained in our Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and other filings filed with the SEC from time to time. Caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements, which represent our views only as of the date of this press release, and which we undertake no obligation to update except to the extent required by law. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Pickleball Equipment Market Size, Share, Growth Trends, and Forecast 2026-2035 | Smart Paddles and E-Commerce Drive 5.6% CAGR Through 2035 2026-10-09 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/09/3377908/28124/en/pickleball-equipment-market-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2026-2035-smart-paddles-and-e-commerce-drive-5-6-cagr-through-2035.html Brands boost returns through product innovation, tiered pricing, pro partnerships, wider distribution, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer sales. Brands boost returns through product innovation, tiered pricing, pro partnerships, wider distribution, e-commerce, and direct-to-consumer sales. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hisense Brings AI Companion Suite to Life with a Social Kitchen 2026-10-09 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hisense-brings-ai-companion-suite-to-life-with-a-social-kitchen-302903316.html QINGDAO, China, Oct. 9, 2026 -- Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, is bringing its vision of "Innovating a Brighter Life" into the heart of the home with the new PureSmart Duo Series — a refrigerator series designed as the intelligent... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NWB Finland Oy to Expands U.S. Retail Presence With AINA Natural Water Coming Soon to Amazon 2026-10-09 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Travel, Food & drink, Sports, Sustainability https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610093046/nwb-finland-oy-to-expands-us-retail-presence-with-aina-natural-water-coming-soon-to-amazon Boca Raton, Florida Friday Oct 9, 2026 @ 4:00 AM Eastern — NWB Finland Oy is continuing its planned U.S. rollout of AINA Natural Water, announcing that the Finnish premium water brand is coming soon to Amazon.  The upcoming Amazon availability represents another step in NWB Finland Oy’s strategy to introduce AINA Natural Water to U.S. consumers. The company previously announced that AINA would become available through OneLavi.com, marking the first opportunity for U.S. consumers to purchase the brand.  “Expanding to Amazon is an important next step for AINA in the United States,” said Marita Weiman, Quality Assurance Manager at NWB Finland Oy. “We want to make it easy for consumers to discover and purchase AINA while introducing them to what makes Northern Finnish water and our packaging approach different.” AINA Natural Water originates in the Pudasjärvi region of Northern Finland, where groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of soil, sand and rock before being mechanically filtered and packaged. The water contains approximately 32 mg/L of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Its naturally low mineral content contributes to a soft, neutral taste and clean finish with no aftertaste. Premium Water Designed for Everyday Living NWB Finland Oy has built AINA around the idea that premium water should be practical enough to become part of everyday life. Instead of focusing on individual plastic bottles, AINA is offered in larger 5-liter and 10-liter bag-in-box formats designed for convenient use at home, at work and in other everyday settings. The sustainability-focused packaging uses substantially less plastic than comparable volumes packaged in traditional individual plastic bottles. The approach combines three elements NWB Finland Oy believes can differentiate AINA in the U.S. market:  Northern Finland source Naturally low mineral profile  Sustainability-Focused Packaging  AINA’s upcoming expansion to Amazon follows a series of steps by NWB Finland Oy to establish the brand in the United States. The company recently participated in the 2026 ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where AINA and its bag-in-box format were introduced to U.S. retail buyers. “We are building AINA’s U.S. presence step by step,” Weiman said. “Amazon will significantly broaden the opportunity for consumers across the country to experience AINA Natural Water.”  The AINA Difference Northern Finland Source - Originates in the Pudasjärvi region of Northern Finland, an area known for its forests, natural landscapes, and groundwater resources. Naturally Filtered - Groundwater is naturally filtered through layers of soil, sand, and rock before being mechanically filtered and packaged. Measured Purity - Contains approximately 32 mg/L of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), contributing to a soft, clean taste profile. Clean Taste Profile - Naturally low mineral content helps provide a balanced drinking experience with no aftertaste. Naturally Low in Sodium - Contains only small amounts of sodium and dissolved minerals. Sustainability-Focused Packaging - Bag-in-box packaging uses substantially less plastic than traditional bottled-water formats. Additional details about Amazon availability will be announced when AINA Natural Water becomes available for purchase.  For more information about AINA Natural Water, visit AINA Natural Water. To learn more about NWB Finland Oy, visit NWB Finland Oy. About NWB Finland Oy NWB Finland Oy is a Finland-based company focused on sustainable beverage packaging and natural water solutions. Headquartered in Pudasjärvi, Finland, the company was founded with a mission to develop environmentally responsible alternatives to traditional beverage packaging while delivering premium-quality products to consumers around the world. Its flagship brand, AINA Natural Water, features naturally filtered groundwater sourced from Northern Finland, a region known for its pristine natural environment and abundant groundwater resources. The water is packaged in innovative bag-in-box formats designed to reduce plastic consumption while providing a convenient solution for households, businesses, hospitality venues, and events. NWB Finland Oy's long-term vision is to make Northern Finland's natural groundwater available to consumers globally while continuing to invest in sustainable packaging solutions that support both consumer needs and environmental responsibility. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wolfson Group To Bring Multi-Category Wellness Portfolio to OneLavi 2026-10-09 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Sports https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610093044/wolfson-group-to-bring-multi-category-wellness-portfolio-to-onelavi Boca Raton, Florida Friday Oct 9, 2026 @ 4:00 AM Eastern — Wolfson Group, a Scotland-based international consumer wellness company, today announced that three brands from its portfolio, PhenQ, TestoPrime, and YourBiology, are coming soon to OneLavi.com, marking another step in the company's strategy to expand U.S. distribution beyond Amazon. The upcoming OneLavi availability will provide another online destination for U.S. consumers to discover and purchase Wolfson Group brands while supporting the company's broader effort to build a diversified retail and e-commerce presence in the United States. "Expanding onto OneLavi is another important step in making our brands more accessible to consumers across the U.S.," said the founder and CEO of Wolfson Group. "Amazon has provided us with a strong foundation in the market, and we're now building on that presence by developing additional channels for our portfolio." The three brands coming to OneLavi represent distinct areas of the consumer wellness market. PhenQ focuses on weight management, TestoPrime serves the men's wellbeing category, and YourBiology focuses on women's gut health and everyday wellness. The expansion follows a series of U.S. initiatives by Wolfson Group as the Scotland-based company works to broaden its American presence. In September, Wolfson Group participated in the ECRM Vitamin, Weight Management & Sports Nutrition Session in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where the company introduced its multi-category portfolio during scheduled retail meetings. Wolfson Group has also been examining how consumer wellness interests increasingly extend across multiple categories, including weight management, cognitive wellness, gut health, men's and women's wellbeing and healthy ageing. The company believes its diversified portfolio provides opportunities to serve consumers with different wellness priorities throughout various stages of life. Adding OneLavi to Wolfson Group's U.S. distribution strategy reflects the company's approach of building multiple paths to the consumer rather than relying on a single marketplace or retail channel. "Our U.S. strategy is about creating a broader and more sustainable distribution footprint over time," the founder said. "Adding new online retail relationships complements what we've already built and gives us another foundation as we continue exploring opportunities across both e-commerce and brick-and-mortar retail." Wolfson Group said it will continue pursuing additional U.S. distribution opportunities while investing in consumer education, science-led brand development and long-term growth across its portfolio. PhenQ, TestoPrime, NooCube and YourBiology are already available to U.S. consumers through Amazon. Their upcoming availability on OneLavi will add another online retail channel as Wolfson Group continues building a broader U.S. distribution footprint.  About Wolfson Group Wolfson Group is an international consumer wellness company focused on building science-led brands that help people live healthier lives. Its portfolio spans weight management, cognitive health, gut health, men's wellness, beauty and healthy ageing, serving millions of consumers worldwide through direct-to-consumer, marketplace and retail channels. Wolfson Group's portfolio includes the established wellness brands PhenQ, TestoPrime, NooCube and YourBiology, spanning categories such as weight management, cognitive wellness, gut health and men's wellbeing. The brands are currently available to U.S. consumers through Amazon while the company pursues broader retail opportunities nationwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 94% of Indian consumers are interested in trying cultivated meat, reveals GFI India’s consumer perception study 2026-10-09 · Webnewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.webnewswire.com/2026/10/09/94-of-indian-consumers-are-interested-in-trying-cultivated-meat-reveals-gfi-indias-consumer-perception-study/ GFI India study finds strong consumer curiosity and acceptance for cultivated meat, but affordability, accessibility and trust will be critical to driving adoption. A new study by the Good Food Institute India (GFI India) finds that 94% of consumers express an intention to try cultivated meat, signalling strong consumer curiosity and openness towards a new […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fullerton and SGX Group open second Value-Up Singapore Equities Challenge to the public with new Open Category 2026-10-09 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Crypto, AI, SaaS, Retail, Education https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110701/ SINGAPORE, Oct 9, 2026 - Fullerton Fund Management (“Fullerton”) and SGX Group, in partnership with Moomoo Singapore as Supporting Partner, launched the second edition of the Fullerton / SGX Value-Up Singapore Equities Challenge(1) (“The Challenge”) to the public for the first time, inviting Singaporeans and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above to test their investing skills on Singapore-listed small and mid-cap companies over eight weeks, with cash prizes for the top performers. The inaugural Challenge in 2025 was open to students only. This year’s edition adds an Open Category for the public while retaining the Student Category. Participants in both categories will research and manage virtual portfolios of eligible Singapore-listed securities, with a focus on Singapore’s small- and mid-cap (“SMID”) segment. The trading simulation does not involve real capital. The Challenge comes as interest in Singapore’s SMID segment grows. As of 30 June 2026, institutional net buying in SMID stocks had tripled year on year to S$606 million, while daily trading value rose 155% to S$310 million, its highest level since FY2014(2). The Challenge gives participants a structured and practical way to learn more about companies beyond the Straits Times Index. Open Category Open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above, the Open Category will run from 7 December 2026 to 29 January 2027 over an eight-week online trading period. Participants compete individually, constructing and managing portfolios from an eligible list of Singapore-listed securities. They will be ranked in real time on a leaderboard based on total portfolio return, with cash prizes of S$3,000, S$2,000 and S$1,000 for the top three participants. Student Category The Student Category returns for its second year and is open to Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents aged 18 and above who are enrolled full-time in polytechnics or universities. Participants compete in teams of four in the same eight-week simulation, using eligible Singapore-listed securities focused primarily on the SMID segment. The top six teams from the qualifying round will advance to an in-person stock-pitch final, where they will present their research and investment thesis to a judging panel. The top three teams will receive cash prizes of S$10,000, S$5,000 and S$3,000. The category is designed to connect classroom learning with practical exposure to investing, industry practitioners and potential 8-month internship opportunities, through the Fullerton Singapore Value-Up Internship Programme. Building disciplined investment habits The Challenge is designed to encourage disciplined portfolio construction rather than concentrated bets. Participants must establish positions within the first five trading days. From 14 December 2026, portfolios must maintain at least 80% exposure to eligible securities at the end of each trading day, with cash holdings capped at 20%. When initiating or adding to a position, exposure to any individual eligible security must not exceed 10% of the portfolio’s total value. Each portfolio may hold no more than 30 eligible securities; leverage, margin and derivatives are not permitted. Through the Challenge, participants will be able to: Gain first-hand experience in researching and evaluating Singapore-listed companies. Develop practical habits around portfolio construction, risk management and investment decision-making. Build a stronger understanding of opportunities available within Singapore’s equities market beyond the benchmark index. Ken Goh, Chief Investment Officer, Fullerton Fund Management, said:  “Over the past year, we have seen growing interest in Singapore equities, reflecting broader recognition of the depth and diversity of our domestic market. The objective of the Fullerton/SGX Value-Up Singapore Equities Challenge is to motivate participants to identify and capture rising shareholder value, by encouraging young investors and members of the public to research companies, assess their potential and construct portfolios with greater discipline. The Challenge also supports our broader commitment to talent development. Participants from the inaugural Challenge have since joined Fullerton as interns, demonstrating how practical exposure can help inspire and nurture the next generation of investment professionals. Through this Challenge, we hope to contribute to a more informed and engaged Singapore equities market, with a broader base of investors participating in its long-term development.” Ng Yao Loong, Head of Global Financial Markets, SGX Group, said: “In every market, there is a difference between what is well known and what is well understood. The Fullerton/SGX Value-Up Singapore Equities Challenge encourages participants to close that gap by researching the SMID segment, testing their assumptions and forming their own investment perspectives. By opening the Challenge to the public, we hope more people will discover the breadth of the Singapore stock market and deepen their understanding of the businesses behind it.” Jeyson Ng, CEO, Moomoo Singapore said: “We are pleased to support Fullerton and SGX, both of whom are Moomoo’s long-term strategic partners in the Singapore ecosystem, in making investing education more accessible to students and the wider public. Through practical learning resources on Singapore equities, company research and portfolio construction within the Moomoo app, we hope to help participants build the confidence and foundational skills to better understand the market. The Challenge also provides a meaningful platform for us to engage aspiring talent and nurture the next generation of finance and technology professionals.” Registration for both categories is open until 30 November 2026. A participant may register for either the Student Category or the Open Category (provided that it meets the relevant eligibility requirements), but not both. Interested parties may sign up at https://value-up.investsg.asia/ (1) Jointly developed by SGX Group and AlphaInvest (2) SGX Group Research About Fullerton Fund Management Fullerton Fund Management Company Ltd (“Fullerton”) is an active investment specialist, focused on optimising investment outcomes and enhancing investor experience. We help clients, including government entities, sovereign wealth funds, pension plans, insurance companies, private wealth and retail, from the region and beyond, to achieve their investment objectives through our suite of solutions. Our expertise encompasses equities, fixed income, multi-asset, alternatives and treasury management, across public and private markets. As an active manager, we place strong emphasis on performance, risk management and investment insights. Incorporated in 2003, Fullerton is headquartered in Singapore, and has associated offices in Shanghai, Brunei and Jakarta. Fullerton is part of a multi-asset management group, Seviora, a holding company established by Temasek. Income Insurance, one of Singapore’s leading insurers, is a minority shareholder of Fullerton. For more information, please visit www.fullertonfund.com About SGX Group (Singapore Exchange) SGX Group is one of the world’s most trusted international marketplaces, known for its stability and openness. Anchored in Singapore, we enable price discovery, capital formation and risk management across asset classes, supported by resilient infrastructure and robust clearing. We convene issuers, investors and intermediaries to create and grow markets that stand the test of time. Find out more at www.sgxgroup.com. About Moomoo Singapore Moomoo Singapore is a holistic wealth-tech platform building an intelligent investing ecosystem across its digital platform, physical experience stores and investor education community. Through the moomoo app, it provides everyday investors and professional clients with access to global markets, diverse investment products, advanced trading tools and AI-powered insights. Since launching in March 2021, Moomoo Singapore has evolved beyond an investing platform into a popular financial literacy resource and full-spectrum wealth platform, supporting investors from their first trade to managing sophisticated portfolios. It surpassed two million users in Singapore in June 2026, spanning retail investors to private wealth and institutional clients. Moomoo Financial Singapore Pte. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Nasdaq-listed Futu Holdings Limited (Nasdaq: FUTU). The firm is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and holds a Capital Markets Services Licence (CMS101000) and Major Payment Institution Licence (PS20200617). It also has exempt financial adviser status and is authorised to provide Digital Payment Token services. Moomoo Trustee (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. is a licensed trust company, while Moomoo Singapore is a DP Clearing Member, SGX-ST Trading Member, and SGX-DT Trading and Clearing Member of Singapore Exchange. Find out more at https://www.moomoo.com/sg For media queries, please contact: Rishika Tiwariemail: rishika@financialpr.com.sg ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Airwheel Advances Smart Travel Through Award-Winning Rideable Ai Wheel 20inch Carry on boarding hand Luxury Cabin Suitcase 2026-10-09 · ACN Newswire · AI, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Industrial, Aerospace & defense https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110709/ BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Oct 9, 2026 - Most recently, the Airwheel SE3SX Smart Rideable Cabin Suitcase was honored with a 2026 European Product Design Award (EPDA) Winner title, marking yet another milestone in the brand's relentless pursuit of innovation. Airwheel, a pioneering smart mobility brand, has cemented its position as a global design leader with its intelligent rideable luggage series accumulating over 100 prestigious international awards across the United States, Europe, Japan, Italy, Germany, France, and London. The EPDA, alongside the MUSE Design Awards and IDEA Awards—all established by the International Awards Associate (IAA)—represent the pinnacle of global industrial design recognition. An international jury evaluates entries across innovation, aesthetic expression, practical implementation, human-machine interaction, and user experience. Airwheel's repeated success across these platforms underscores its design philosophy: "Let design return to real travel." Award-Winning Products Under the Spotlight Airwheel SE3S Smart Electric Suitcase Award Portfolio: 2023 MUSE Design Award, IDA Award, Italy IIDA Award; 2024 French Design Award, London Design Award (Best of Year), American Good Design Award (Silver), Paris DNA Design Award, NY Product Design Award (Silver); 2025 German National Design Award (Winner), Italy A' Design Award (Silver) MUSE Jury Commentary: "The Airwheel SE3S revolutionizes the traditional suitcase by integrating electric rideability with smart storage. Its patented high-strength frame and modular detachable lithium battery enable seated mobility while meeting stringent aviation regulations—delivering an effortless, elegant travel experience for frequent flyers." As the flagship pioneer of Airwheel's rideable luggage line, the SE3S features a 20-inch carry-on form factor combining rideable transportation, smart storage, and on-the-go charging. Its high-strength hard shell and patented reinforced frame support rider weight, while dual-handlebar controls ensure intuitive operation. The modular plug-and-play lithium battery requires no tools for removal and complies with civil aviation standards. Airwheel SE3SX Smart Rideable Cabin Suitcase Award Portfolio: 2026 European Product Design Award (Winner), WGA Creative Global Design Award (Silver), iLuxury International Luxury Award, Titan Innovation Award (Platinum) EPDA Jury Commentary: "The Airwheel SE3SX redefines the value boundary of carry-on luggage as a 'smart travel terminal,' seamlessly integrating high-performance electric drive, intelligent interaction, and aviation-grade lightweight design. Its innovative electric telescopic front-wheel structure enhances riding stability, while Apple Find My and a dedicated smart app deliver natural human-machine interaction. The 73.26Wh detachable battery and TSA lock ensure global compliance—a design benchmark for premium international business travel." The SE3SX packs a 230W high-performance brushless motor delivering speeds up to 9.9km/h, a 95kg load capacity, and 6° hill-climbing capability. Its innovative electric telescopic front-wheel structure extends the wheelbase by 180mm at the touch of a button. The body combines lightweight ABS+PC materials with an aviation-grade aluminum alloy frame, weighing approximately 6.6kg (excluding power bank), with dimensions of 530×360×236mm and a 20L capacity. Features include Apple Find My global tracking, a dedicated smart app, 5V USB charging, a detachable 73.26Wh lithium battery, and a TSA customs lock—approved for both air and high-speed rail travel. Airwheel SE3SXD Ai Luxury Suitcase The SE3SXD elevates the travel experience with an integrated smart interaction system and linked smart handle, enabling one-touch switching between suitcase form and riding mode. Its dual-drive automatic telescopic mechanism extends and retracts the structure with a single touch—transforming luggage into an intelligent travel companion. Airwheel SE3MiniT Electric Hand Suitcase Award Portfolio: 2024 European Design Award, London Design Award (Platinum), NY Product Design Award (Gold), American Good Design Award (Bronze), Paris DNA Award (Honorable Mention), French Design Award (Honorable Mention); 2025 Italy A' Design Award (Silver), World Design Award European Design Award Jury Commentary: "The Airwheel SE3MiniT addresses urban short-distance travel with ultimate lightweight design, distilling complex rideable luggage functions into a pure 'travel light' experience. Its compact form and convenient rideability make city commutes and weekend getaways effortless—showcasing nuanced thinking for segmented smart mobility scenarios." Designed for urban commuting and weekend excursions, the SE3MiniT retains Airwheel's signature rideable functionality in a compact, lightweight body—ideal for high-frequency, short-distance metropolitan travelers. Airwheel SE3SL / SE3SL+ Ai Wheel Airport Boarding Suitcase Award Portfolio: SE3SL—2025 Berlin Design Award (Gold), Shanghai Design Award, US IDEA Award, IAI Design Award, New Quality Award, Japan IDPA Design Award (Silver), 2026 Asian Design Award; SE3SL+—2025 US AIIDA Design Award, Boiling Quality Award (Gold) IDEA Jury Commentary: "The Airwheel SE3SL organically combines smart mobility concepts with mainstream business luggage forms. At just 6.6kg, its ultra-lightweight design integrates rideability, app connectivity, USB charging, and location tracking—achieving an outstanding balance between innovation, user experience, and commercial value. A mature offering for high-frequency business travel." Targeting premium business travelers, the SE3SL/SE3SL+ series integrates rideable transportation, smart app connectivity, USB charging, and Apple Find My tracking—blending aesthetics with practicality for both short-haul and international business scenarios. Airwheel SQ3S Smart Kids Suitcase Award Portfolio: 2025 French Design Award (Gold), MUSE Design Award (Silver), American Good Design Award (Bronze), NY Product Design Award (Gold) French Design Award Jury Commentary: "The Airwheel SQ3S enters the family travel scene with a safety-first design language, achieving a balance of 'storable, rideable, and reassuring' in a children's smart suitcase. Its safety speed-limit design fully considers children's riding safety, making family travel both fun and secure—embodying design's gentle care for real family needs." The SQ3S is Airwheel's dedicated smart suitcase for family travel, combining ample storage with child-friendly rideable fun, featuring a safety speed-limit design for secure, enjoyable family experiences. Meet Airwheel at the 140th Canton Fair Following its continued recognition in international design competitions, Airwheel invites distributors, importers, retailers, business partners, and visitors from around the world to meet its team at the 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) in Guangzhou, China. Airwheel will participate across all three phases of the exhibition, presenting its intelligent rideable luggage and smart mobility solutions to international buyers and industry professionals. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore Airwheel’s product portfolio, experience selected products firsthand, learn more about its latest developments in smart travel technology, and discuss potential distribution partnerships and business opportunities. From smart rideable cabin suitcases to its latest intelligent luggage concepts, Airwheel looks forward to connecting with global partners and exploring opportunities to bring innovative mobility solutions to more markets. Global buyers and potential distribution partners are warmly invited to visit Airwheel’s booths and meet the team in person. Exhibition: 140th China Import and Export Fair (Canton Fair) Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex, Guangzhou, China Phase 2: October 23–27, 2026 | Booth 20.2F19–20 Phase 3: October 31–November 4, 2026 | Booth 20.2J37–38,20.2K11-12, 18.1K04 For international buyers seeking to expand their smart luggage portfolio, explore retail opportunities, or discuss regional distribution, the Canton Fair provides an opportunity to connect directly with Airwheel and learn more about its products and international partnership opportunities. Brand-Level Honors and Future Outlook As a pioneer of the smart rideable luggage category, Airwheel has built a clear and robust competitive moat through core technologies. To date, the company has secured over 600 patents globally, covering motion control algorithms, electric drive systems, intelligent perception, and structural design—including multiple international invention patents. Airwheel's trademarks are registered in over 168 countries and regions, providing a solid foundation for compliant operations, scalable promotion, and long-term brand building across diverse markets. Behind these honors lies over a decade of deep cultivation in the smart mobility sector. From its first German iF Design Award to now holding over 100 international certifications across the US, Europe, Japan, Italy, France, and the UK, Airwheel continues to showcase the power of persistent innovation. Looking ahead, the brand will continue integrating cutting-edge intelligent perception and human-machine interaction technologies—embedding technology into every journey and delivering smart mobility innovations to global markets. About Airwheel Airwheel is a leading smart mobility brand specializing in intelligent rideable luggage and personal mobility solutions. Guided by its design philosophy “Let design return to real travel”, Airwheel combines electric drive, smart interaction and aviation-grade materials to redefine travel experiences. Boasting over 600 global patents and more than 100 international awards, Airwheel, as one of the world’s leading smart mobility device manufacturers, strives to unleash the joy of technology and uphold its corporate culture: “Free Intelligent Life”. Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ranbir Kapoor ends up being the brand-new brand name ambassador of Mantra Group 2026-10-09 · Webnewswire · Real estate, Retail https://www.webnewswire.com/2026/10/09/ranbir-kapoor-ends-up-being-the-brand-new-brand-name-ambassador-of-mantra-group/ Ranbir Kapoor has actually been selected as the Brand Ambassador of Pune-based property designer Mantra Group. The star will be the face of the Group as it goes into a brand-new stage of growth and brand name development throughout property, business and retail sections. Ranbir Kapoor ends up being the brand-new brand name ambassador of […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) Opens London, UK Sales Office for A2A-Grocery.co.uk Agentic Commerce Hub 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greencore-solutions-corp-gsc-opens-london-uk-sales-office-for-a2a-grocerycouk-agentic-commerce-hub-302903099.html AI agents for retail grocery procurement are reaching scale — 100 million transactions this year. GSC opens in London, where 84 of every 100 makers are. VANCOUVER, BC and LONDON, Oct. 8, 2026 -- GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) today introduces its 0–100 Agentic Density Scale... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Direct-to-Consumer Testing Market to Reach USD 16,891.17 Million by 2032 - Credence Research 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/direct-to-consumer-testing-market-to-reach-usd-16-891-17-million-by-2032--credence-research-302902951.html LONDON, Oct. 8, 2026 -- The "Direct-to-Consumer Testing Market – Growth, Share, Opportunities & Competitive Analysis, 2026–2032" report has been added to the Credence Research Inc. offering. The global Direct-to-Consumer Testing Market was valued at USD 9,820.35 million in... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ORGANA Highlights Simple Wellness Habits as Fall Routines Return 2026-10-08 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Education, Travel, Food & drink, Biotech & pharma https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610083041/organa-highlights-simple-wellness-habits-as-fall-routines-return Springville, UT Thursday Oct 8, 2026 @ 3:00 PM Eastern — As summer gives way to fall and daily schedules become more structured, ORGANA is encouraging consumers to use the change of seasons as an opportunity to return to simple, consistent wellness habits. Fall often brings a shift in routines. Vacations wind down, school and work schedules settle in, temperatures cool and the busy holiday season begins to approach. For ORGANA, the transition is a reminder that wellness routines don't need to be complicated to become part of everyday life. One area that can receive less attention as temperatures fall is hydration. While people often think about water, electrolytes and minerals during hot summer months and outdoor activities, ORGANA believes attention to hydration and minerals can be part of a year-round wellness routine. "Fall is a great time to look at the little things you do every day and get back into a routine," said Larry Mills, CEO of ORGANA. "Our philosophy has always been to make wellness simple. You don't need to completely change your life when the seasons change. Consistency with a few everyday habits can go a long way." That philosophy is reflected across ORGANA's product portfolio, including its  Pomegranate Mineral Drink. ORGANA Plant-Derived Trace Minerals are sourced from an ancient mineral deposit in Utah and provide a concentrated blend of naturally occurring trace minerals. The liquid format is designed to make the product easy to incorporate into an existing daily routine. ORGANA's Pomegranate Mineral Drink combines its plant-derived mineral complex with pomegranate flavor in a ready-to-use liquid format, providing another option for consumers looking to make minerals part of their everyday routine. The company's broader wellness portfolio also includes Liquid Oxygen 125 PPM and Essiac Tea, reflecting ORGANA's focus on straightforward products that can fit into different lifestyles and routines. As consumers transition into fall, ORGANA recommends focusing on habits that are realistic enough to maintain throughout the season. Drinking water regularly, paying attention to hydration even when temperatures are cooler, maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, staying active and establishing simple daily routines can provide a more practical approach than trying to overhaul everything at once. For ORGANA, the seasonal message is also a reminder that wellness isn't limited to a particular time of year. The habits that receive attention during summer can remain part of everyday routines throughout fall and into winter. "Summer makes people naturally think about hydration," Mills said. "When the weather cools down, it's easy to stop thinking about it. We want to remind people that hydration and minerals don't have an offseason." Consumers can explore and purchase ORGANA products through the company's Amazon storefront and on OneLavi.com.  To learn more about the company's wellness philosophy visit organa.net. About ORGANA International Founded in 1997, ORGANA International is a wellness company committed to delivering natural, bioavailable products that help people live healthier lives. From trace minerals and liquid oxygen to magnesium creams and detoxification teas, ORGANA’s product line is designed to restore vital elements often missing in modern lifestyles. Headquartered in Springville, Utah, ORGANA is a customer-first company with a 5-star BBB rating and nearly three decades of dedication to natural wellness. FDA Disclaimer These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Rokt Leaders Join Wayne Gretzky and executives from Fanatics, Lowe's, Southwest Airlines and Mastercard to Discuss Leadership, Commerce Media and AI at Advertising Week New York 2026 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail, Education, Travel https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rokt-leaders-join-wayne-gretzky-and-executives-from-fanatics-lowes-southwest-airlines-and-mastercard-to-discuss-leadership-commerce-media-and-ai-at-advertising-week-new-york-2026-302902785.html Eight sessions across Advertising Week and The Female Quotient Lounge brought Rokt together with leaders from companies including Block, e.l.f. Beauty, American Airlines and FOX One. NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2026 -- Rokt, the leading ecommerce company using machine learning and AI... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Welltory Secures Additional $2 Million in Growth Financing from Braavo to Expand Support for People With Chronic Conditions 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/welltory-secures-additional-2-million-in-growth-financing-from-braavo-to-expand-support-for-people-with-chronic-conditions-302902418.html REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 8, 2026 -- Welltory, the consumer health app used by 18 million people, has secured $2 million in growth financing from longtime partner Braavo Capital to expand Welltory Care, its service for people living with chronic conditions. The financing... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— THE 2026 REAL SIMPLE HOME OPENS ITS DOORS IN FORT GREENE, BROOKLYN 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-2026-real-simple-home-opens-its-doors-in-fort-greene-brooklyn-302901967.html Special Consumer Events at the Home This Fall Include a Shopping Day Featuring Women-Owned Businesses and a Holiday-Themed Atelier NEW YORK, Oct. 8, 2026 -- Today, Real Simple, a People Inc. brand, debuts its 2026 Real Simple Home in Fort Greene, Brooklyn, a reimagined... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Deals: Apple AirPods Pro 3 are $70 off 2026-10-08 · Webnewswire · Retail https://www.webnewswire.com/2026/10/08/deals-apple-airpods-pro-3-are-70-off/ They may be almost a year old, but the AirPods Pro 3 are Apple’s flagship in-ear wireless earbuds, and Amazon’s Prime Day Deal campaign is slashing a cool 28% off from their regular $250 price. The AirPods Pro 3 are down to $179, which is a pretty nice deal for Apple’s top-tier earbuds. During our […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How AWS is helping companies build physical AI machines that think 2026-10-08 · Amazon · AI, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/aws-physical-ai-toolchain-build-intelligent-machines?utm_source=rss Amazon launched the Physical AI Toolchain on AWS, an open-source stack that helps manufacturers build machines that perceive, reason, and act in the real world. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon announces an all-new family of tablets designed just for kids 2026-10-08 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-amazon-kids-tablets?utm_source=rss New Amazon Kids Tablets available in two models for younger and older kids ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Introducing all-new Amazon Alexa Tablets—powerful tablets with Alexa+ built in 2026-10-08 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-amazon-alexa-tablets-alexa-plus?utm_source=rss An all-new lineup of tablets with world-class hardware, personalized intelligence from Alexa+, and full Google Play Store access. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Follett Higher Education Names Roger Francis Chief of Stores 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · Retail, Education, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/follett-higher-education-names-roger-francis-chief-of-stores-302902430.html Veteran operations executive brings more than 25 years of leadership experience across retail, healthcare, foodservice, and distribution WESTCHESTER, Ill., Oct. 8, 2026 -- Follett Higher Education, a leading educational service provider and the largest campus retailer in... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Anyflo emerges from stealth with acquisition of Native, to simplify stablecoin payments for enterprises 2026-10-08 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/anyflo-emerges-from-stealth-with-acquisition-of-native-to-simplify-stablecoin-payments-for-enterprises-302901053.html Led by Lola Oyelayo-Pearson, formerly of Shopify, Capital One and Mysten Labs, the original contributor to Sui Bolstered by the acqui-hire of Native, a top five Sui Overflow 2025 project Enters private alpha in October with production preview and liquidity onboarding SINGAPORE, Oct. 8,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Survey Introduces Retail Performance Suite Connecting Retail Visibility and Execution 2026-10-07 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survey-introduces-retail-performance-suite-connecting-retail-visibility-and-execution-302901659.html New platform connects retail visibility, execution, shelf performance, and demand activation in a unified solution BOSTON, Oct. 7, 2026 -- Survey, a retail intelligence and execution platform, today announced the introduction of its Retail Performance Suite at NACS SHOW... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AMAZON DRIVERS AT DBK1 JOIN TEAMSTERS AS NATIONWIDE ORGANIZING MOMENTUM GROWS 2026-10-07 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amazon-drivers-at-dbk1-join-teamsters-as-nationwide-organizing-momentum-grows-302901638.html Unionization Comes as Delivery Protection Act Gains Steam in New York City Council NEW YORK, Oct. 7, 2026 -- Drivers at Amazon's DBK1 Facility in Woodside, Queens, have organized with Teamsters Local 804, joining the growing ranks of Amazon drivers organizing with the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Upgrade Master Pass-Thru Trust, Series 2026-ST5 2026-10-07 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/kbra-assigns-preliminary-ratings-upgrade-202900013.html NEW YORK, October 07, 2026--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to four classes of notes issued by Upgrade Master Pass-Thru Trust, Series 2026-ST5 ("UMPT 2026-ST5"), a consumer loan ABS transaction. UMPT 2026-ST5 has initial hard credit enhancement levels ranging from 45.10% for the Class A Notes to 22.10% for the Class D Notes. Credit enhancement consists of overcollateralization, subordination of the junior note classes, except for the Class D Notes, a cash reserve account, and excess spread. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TGI Fridays Signs Development Agreement to Fuel Pakistan Growth 2026-10-07 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Travel, Food & drink https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110665/ UAE / Middle East, Oct 8, 2026 - TGI Fridays™ today announced a landmark development agreement with Meerab Hospitality, marking an exciting chapter for the brand in Pakistan and accelerating its growth across South Asia. Following the brand’s recent development agreement in the Maldives, the partnership builds on momentum across the region and reinforces TGI Fridays' strategy of expanding its global footprint through long-term franchise partnerships. The agreement marks an important milestone in TGI Fridays' continued international expansion and further strengthens the brand's presence across South Asia and the Middle East, as it accelerates toward its 1-2-3 Strategic Vision of 1,000+ restaurants and $2 billion in annual revenue by 2030. With more than 240 million people and a median age of just 21, Pakistan offers TGI Fridays a compelling combination of scale, youth and long-term growth potential. Rapid urbanization, continued investment in malls and mixed-use destinations, and an evolving dining culture are creating new opportunities for international restaurant brands as consumers increasingly seek distinctive, experience-led dining. Through its partnership with Meerab Hospitality, TGI Fridays is positioned to capture that opportunity with a brand guests already recognize, bringing its signature combination of bold American flavors, legendary mocktails, high-energy atmosphere and unmistakable Fridays hospitality to one of South Asia’s most dynamic consumer markets. Meerab Hospitality brings deep regional expertise and operating strength to the partnership. As the franchise and development arm of Meerab Properties, the company combines a two-decade track record across the Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia with extensive international hospitality experience. Together, TGI Fridays and Meerab Hospitality are well positioned to capture Pakistan’s appetite for international dining experiences, while creating new employment opportunities, investing in local hospitality talent and bringing the unmistakable Fridays spirit to a new generation. "We don't enter a market like Pakistan because it's on a list - we enter it because the fundamentals are right and the partner is right," said Phil Broad, Global President, TGI Fridays™. "Pakistan has one of the youngest populations anywhere in the world and a retail landscape that's evolving fast. Meerab Hospitality understands that better than an outside operator could, and their hospitality background means they know how to run a room, not just build one. That's the combination we look for. "What makes Pakistan particularly exciting is the energy of the market and the generation coming through. They're connected, curious and looking for brands that give them more than just a meal. That plays directly to the strength of TGI Fridays. We've always been at our best when we bring people together, create a little theatre and give guests a reason to stay longer, celebrate louder and come back again. Pakistan gives us an exciting new stage to do exactly that." Pervaiz Iqbal Shahid, Founder and Group CEO, Meerab Properties, said: "We are delighted to bring TGI Fridays back to Pakistan and to begin a new chapter for this iconic global brand in the country. Our ambition is to reintroduce the brand through an energized and well-capitalized platform, supported by strong operational leadership and a long-term commitment to responsible growth across Pakistan. "Our first flagship restaurant is targeted to open within the next 12 months at the prestigious Hyatt Regency Hotel complex in Lahore. This will provide an exceptional launch platform for the brand and establish the standard for the restaurants that follow. "Over the next decade, we look forward to developing TGI Fridays across Pakistan through a carefully considered combination of company-owned and approved sub-franchised restaurants. We are committed to protecting the strength of the brand, delivering an outstanding guest experience, and building a sustainable nationwide business together with the TGI Fridays team." The agreement is TGI Fridays' second market signing in last 30 days, following its first-ever entry into the Balkans, and builds on international agreements spanning Kenya, the Maldives, Peru, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Greece and Spain. Together, these agreements have added close to 200 restaurants to TGI Fridays' global pipeline as the brand advances toward its 1-2-3 Strategic Vision of 1,000+ restaurants worldwide by 2030. At the heart of that growth is a deliberate franchise strategy: entering high-potential markets with partners who bring the local knowledge, capability and ambition to build TGI Fridays at scale. Meerab Hospitality is a strong example of that approach, combining deep market understanding with the hospitality expertise and ambition to build the brand for long-term success in Pakistan. For more information: www.tgifridays.com/franchise/ About TGI Fridays™ Founded in 1965 as the world's first casual bar and grill, TGI Fridays is where the world goes to celebrate. Operating nearly 400 restaurants in almost 40 countries, Fridays brings people together through its craveable American classics, legendary cocktails and that unmistakable Fridays feeling – all brought to life by its rockstar teams. Whether it's full-service dining or bold-format convenience, TGI Fridays franchise-first approach, operational excellence, and brand power are built to scale. Franchisees are supported by global hubs in Dallas, Dubai and London, complemented by regional resources in select markets. Visit www.tgifridays.com for more information, join Fridays Rewards, and follow TGI Fridays on social media: Instagram @tgifridays, TikTok @tgifridays, Facebook TGI Fridays, and LinkedIn TGI Fridays. About Meerab Hospitality Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, Meerab Properties is a diversified investment and operating company with investments and business interests across the UAE and Pakistan. The company develops long-term opportunities through direct ownership, strategic partnerships, and specialist operating platforms. Through its hospitality platform, Meerab Hospitality Ventures, Meerab Properties is building a portfolio of international restaurant and hospitality brands in Pakistan, supported by experienced leadership, strong governance, and committed capital. Its strategy is focused on establishing sustainable businesses, developing local operating capabilities, and creating long-term value for its brand partners, customers, and stakeholders. Contact: Ahmed Raza, e: ahmedraza@lotuspk.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Wood and Timber Products Market Forecast by Application, Country, and Company, 2026-2034 | Sustainable Construction and Engineered Wood Drive Growth to US$1.53 Trillion 2026-10-07 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/07/3376660/28124/en/global-wood-and-timber-products-market-forecast-by-application-country-and-company-2026-2034-sustainable-construction-and-engineered-wood-drive-growth-to-us-1-53-trillion.html Boost ROI through engineered wood capacity, sustainable sourcing, automation, prefabrication, supply-chain diversification, premium furniture, and online retail Boost ROI through engineered wood capacity, sustainable sourcing, automation, prefabrication, supply-chain diversification, premium furniture, and online retail ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fairfax Partners With Wittington Investments in Acquisition of Boots 2026-10-07 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/07/3376569/0/en/fairfax-partners-with-wittington-investments-in-acquisition-of-boots.html TORONTO, Oct. 07, 2026 -- Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited (“Fairfax”) (TSX: FFH and FFH.U) announces that it has entered into agreements to partner with Wittington Investments, Limited (“Wittington”), the holding company of the Weston family based in Canada, to acquire from The Boots Group the Boots retail operations in the UK and Ireland, the Boots Opticians business, the No7 Beauty Company, and Boots’ Thailand and franchised businesses (collectively, “Boots”) for a total purchase price of approximately US$8.9 billion (inclusive of assumed debt) (the “Transaction”). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Biodance, Viral K-Beauty Brand, Partners with Makeup Powerhouses Patrick Ta and NikkieTutorials to Define the Perfect Makeup Base Ahead of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days 2026-10-07 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/biodance-viral-k-beauty-brand-partners-with-makeup-powerhouses-patrick-ta-and-nikkietutorials-to-define-the-perfect-makeup-base-ahead-of-amazons-prime-big-deal-days-302900518.html Running October 6th + 7th, shoppers can save up to 43% off Biodance viral skincare SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 7, 2026 -- Biodance, the Korean skincare brand known for its innovative hydrogel technology and viral sheet masks, is teaming up with two of the beauty industry's most... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— C60 Power Celebrates National C60 Day on October 9 2026-10-07 · Newsworthy.ai · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Media, Education, Food & drink, Sports, Industrial, Aerospace & defense, Biotech & pharma https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610073034/c60-power-celebrates-national-c60-day-on-october-9 Boulder, CO Wednesday Oct 7, 2026 @ 7:00 AM Eastern — C60 Power, a woman owned wellness company specializing in Carbon 60 products for people and animals, celebrates National C60 Day every October 9.  Created by C60 Power, the observance falls on the anniversary of October 9, 1996, the day the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the discovery of fullerenes. This year, consumers can enjoy educational events, community stories, and a 20% storewide sale at ShopC60.com. National C60 Day, also known as National Carbon 60 Day, C60 Day or Carbon 60 Day, recognizes the discovery of C60, also called buckminsterfullerene or a "buckyball." C60 is a hollow, spherical molecule made of exactly 60 carbon atoms arranged in 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons, the same pattern found on a classic soccer ball. A Discovery Written in the Stars In 1985, British chemist Harold Kroto joined Rice University scientists Robert Curl and Richard Smalley to recreate the chemistry of carbon rich stars in the laboratory, and their experiments revealed C60. Kroto, a longtime admirer of architect R. Buckminster Fuller's geodesic domes helped give the molecule its name in honor of Buckminster. In 1990, Wolfgang Krätschmer and Donald Huffman developed a method to produce C60 in quantities large enough to study, and the journal Science named buckminsterfullerene its Molecule of the Year for 1991. Curl, Kroto, and Smalley were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery. In 2010, astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope detected C60 in Tc 1, a cloud of gas and dust shed by a dying star, the first confirmed sighting of buckyballs in space. "National C60 Day gives us an opportunity to honor the science that introduced this extraordinary molecule to the world. This holiday may help consumers understand the importance of purity, and 3rd-party testing, along with the opportunity to learn more about the potential of the molecule," said Jessica MacNaughton, CEO and cofounder of C60 Power. "Our goal is to make reliable C60 education more accessible and give people the information they need to make informed choices for themselves and their animals." What Researchers Are Studying Since its discovery, C60 research has expanded into chemistry, materials science, nanotechnology, energy, skincare and wellness. Its ability to interact with free radicals is one reason C60 continues to attract attention in antioxidant research. Interest in C60 and healthy aging grew after a 2012 study reported that rats given C60 dissolved in olive oil lived longer than untreated rats. Consumers can review published studies at WhatIsC60.org and ShopC60.com/research. How to Celebrate National C60 Day Share the story. Post a buckyball sketch, a molecule model or the most surprising fact you learned, tag @C60Power and use #NationalC60Day, #Carbon60 and #C60. Explore the research. Start by with reviewing the research at WhatIsC60.org, or ShopC60.com/research and share one study or question on social media with #NationalC60Day. Take the C60 Challenge. Purchase C60 at ShopC60.com on October 9th and then download the C60 30-Day Challenge Journal to track your C60 routine and how you feel. https://shopc60.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/c60-journal.pdf  Deals and Offers National C60 Day Sale: Save 20% storewide on C60 Power products, from C60 oils and gummies to skincare and C60 for pets. This code is valid until October 9, 2026 only at ShopC60.com.Use code CELEBRATE20 at checkout on ShopC60.com. Ready to try C60 after National C60 Day? Visit ShopC60.com and use code NATIONAL10 for 10 percent off your first order. About C60 Power C60 Power is an American woman owned wellness company,originally founded in 2016 as C60 Purple Power.  The company specializes in the manufacturing of health and wellness products containing Carbon 60 including  C60 oils, gummies, skincare, and specialty formulations for pets; , all made with 99.99 percent pure, sublimated C60, and certified organic carrier oils. All C60 Power products are third-party tested for safety, quality, purity, and bioavailability.  Where to Buy C60 Power products are available at ShopC60.com, TrulyFree.com and Amazon.com, through many healthcare providers, and at select health and wellness retailers across the United States. Media Contact Lindsay O'Neill-O'Keefe Wellness Eternal Email Contact 914-846-9444 Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. C60 Power products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amorepacific Presents AI-Powered Future Beauty Research at IFSCC Congress 2026 2026-10-07 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amorepacific-presents-ai-powered-future-beauty-research-at-ifscc-congress-2026-302900506.html Research on skin aging prediction, digital sensory quantification, and AI-based consumer insights recognized among the congress's top presentations AI and data-driven approaches open new possibilities in skin science and consumer understanding SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 7, 2026... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Limitless Tire Announces Rapid Ontario Franchise Expansion With New Locations Planned for London, Ottawa and Hamilton 2026-10-06 · Newsfile · Retail, Automotive https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317711/Limitless-Tire-Announces-Rapid-Ontario-Franchise-Expansion-With-New-Locations-Planned-for-London-Ottawa-and-Hamilton Toronto, Ontario--(October 6, 2026) - Limitless Tire, a Canadian-owned automotive retail and service brand, has announced plans to launch new locations in London, Ottawa and Hamilton, Ontario within the next three months, marking another major stage in the company's Ontario franchise expansion.The three planned locations form part of a broader five-location expansion cycle that Limitless Tire says represents the fastest period of expansion in the company's history.Limitless Tire... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GIGABYTE Unveils Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Offers with Savings Up to $130 2026-10-06 · PR Newswire · Retail, Gaming https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gigabyte-unveils-amazon-prime-big-deal-days-offers-with-savings-up-to-130-302900342.html CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif., Oct. 6, 2026 -- GIGABYTE Technology, a global leader in PC hardware, today announced its Amazon Prime Big Deal Days promotions, available exclusively to Prime members for 48 hours only, from October 6 through October 7, 2026. As the fall gaming... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NACDS Names Michael R. Wysong Next President and CEO 2026-10-06 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nacds-names-michael-r-wysong-next-president-and-ceo-302900146.html Elected by the NACDS Board of Directors to succeed Steven C. Anderson, Wysong will build on the Association's success and momentum, and execute its new member-driven strategic framework for the future of pharmacy and retail, and for delivering membership value CARE Pharmacies CEO and past... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SOUTHWEST AIRLINES LAUNCHES FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND U.S. AIRLINE PLUGIN IN CHATGPT 2026-10-06 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, Retail, Travel https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southwest-airlines-launches-first-of-its-kind-us-airline-plugin-in-chatgpt-302900018.html Customers can discover Southwest destinations and plan flights in an experience powered by OpenAI and Amazon Web Services DALLAS, Oct. 6, 2026 -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) today launched a first-of-its-kind U.S. airline plugin in ChatGPT, marking the first step in a phased AI-powered booking approach with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS) that allows travelers to discover... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Massachusetts 2026-10-06 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-massachusetts-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the Bay State's economy while creating opportunities for those who call Massachusetts home. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Missouri 2026-10-06 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-missouri-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting Missouri’s economy while creating opportunities for Missourians. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Autovado Introduces Vehicle-First, Fitment-Based Search for Professional and Retail Parts Buyers 2026-10-06 · Newsfile · Retail, Automotive https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317646/Autovado-Introduces-VehicleFirst-FitmentBased-Search-for-Professional-and-Retail-Parts-Buyers Paris, France--(October 6, 2026) -  Autovado, a global online marketplace for automotive parts, introduces a vehicle-first, fitment-based search experience for professional and retail buyers, designed to simplify the process of finding and sourcing replacement parts.Autovado Introduces Vehicle-First, Fitment-Based Search for Professional and Retail Parts BuyersCannot view this image? Visit:https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/317646_image%2001.jpgUnlike a generic product... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Upexi to Participate in Upcoming October Investor Conferences 2026-10-06 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/06/3375388/0/en/upexi-to-participate-in-upcoming-october-investor-conferences.html TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 06, 2026 -- Upexi, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPXI) (“Upexi” or the “Company”), a leading Solana-focused digital asset treasury company and consumer brands owner, today announced that Brian Rudick, Chief Strategy Officer, will participate in the following October 2026 investor conferences: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Polo Assn. Celebrates an Outstanding 2026 European Polo Season 2026-10-06 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Gaming, Media, Fashion & luxury, Sports https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110607/ West Palm Beach, FL, Oct 6, 2026 - U.S. Polo Assn.®, the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), supported several major sports events across Europe during the 2026 summer season, reinforcing the brand's authentic connection to the sport across the continent. U.S. Polo Assn. served as the Official Apparel and Jersey Sponsor for multiple events, including: 55th Sotogrande International Polo Tournament at Ayala Polo Club in Sotogrande, Spain; Barnes French Open at Polo Club de Chantilly in France; Engel & Völkers Berlin Maifeld Polo Cup in Germany; Museumplein Polo Amsterdam in the Netherlands;Barnes French Open Winners, Kazak, on stage with trophy at Polo Club de Chantilly in France Across these partnerships, U.S. Polo Assn. outfitted players, umpires, and event staff while supporting competition ranging from historic high-goal championships in iconic venues throughout the region. "U.S. Polo Assn.'s presence across Europe reflects both the global reach of our brand and our unwavering commitment to supporting the sport that inspires the brand," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and markets the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. "From historic championship venues to dynamic polo-lifestyle events, these partnerships allow us to celebrate the athletes, clubs, and traditions that make the sport so compelling while introducing the sport to new audiences around the world." Dubai Polo Team on stage as winners of the 55th Sotogrande International Polo Tournament at Ayala Polo Club in Sotogrande, Spain In Spain, U.S. Polo Assn. supported the 55th Sotogrande International Polo Tournament at Ayala Polo Club as the Official Apparel Sponsor. Widely recognized as Spain's premier polo tournament, the summer competition featured Bronze, Silver, and Gold Cup play across multiple handicap levels. U.S. Polo Assn. provided staff apparel, umpire jerseys, branded giveaways, and the Most Valuable Player prize for the 22-goal Sotogrande Gold Cup Final, while introducing a custom retail collection for the first time. Dubai Polo Team captured the high-goal championship with a 16-9 victory over Sainte Mesme, earning its fifth Sotogrande Gold Cup title. The European season continued at the Polo Club du Domaine de Chantilly, where U.S. Polo Assn. returned for its third year as the Official Apparel and Jersey Sponsor of the Barnes French Open. Established in 2001, the French Open has developed into one of Europe's most respected high-goal tournaments and remains an important showcase for the sport in France. U.S. Polo Assn. supplied staff outfitting and umpire jerseys throughout Chantilly's season, as well as custom team jerseys for the mixed field, which concluded with Kazak securing a thrilling 10-6 victory over Akasha. High-speed play for the polo ball at the Engel & Völkers Berlin Maifeld Polo Cup in Germany In Germany, U.S. Polo Assn. marked its seventh year supporting the Engel & Völkers Berlin Maifeld Polo Cup, also known as the German High Goal Championship, as the Official Jersey and Apparel Sponsor. The brand provided team and umpire jerseys, caps, and player apparel for the eight-team tournament, which began at the Prussian Polo & Country Club and concluded at the Maifeld in Berlin's Olympic Park. The historic grounds hosted the sport's last Olympic appearance in 1936, creating a distinctive link between the sport's storied past and its continued growth in Germany. Bentley Berlin emerged as the 2026 champion against Plusquadrat following a competitive week of high-goal polo. Packed crowd watching action-packed polo at the Museumplein Polo Amsterdam in the Netherlands U.S. Polo Assn. further expanded its European sport presence through its inaugural partnership with Museumplein Polo Amsterdam, serving as the Official Jersey and Apparel Sponsor. Set in the cultural heart of Amsterdam alongside the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk Museum, the three-day arena polo tournament brought six international teams together for fast-paced competition in a landmark cultural setting. U.S. Polo Assn. outfitted teams and umpires, supported horseback cap giveaways, and presented a branded boot bag to the event's Most Valuable Player. Lassus Tandartsen won the Museumplein Polo Amsterdam 2026 Final, defeating runner-up Wereldhave, and Lassus Tandartsen's Aki van Andel was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. "Europe continues to be an important and growing region for U.S. Polo Assn., and these partnerships create a powerful connection between the brand's sport-inspired lifestyle and its authentic roots in the sport," said Lorenzo Nencini, CEO of Incom, a U.S. Polo Assn. licensing partner in Europe. "By supporting leading polo events across key European markets, we are strengthening consumer engagement, elevating awareness of the sport and building long-term momentum for the brand throughout the region." The 2026 European season reinforced U.S. Polo Assn.'s longstanding commitment to supporting the sport around the world, from historic high-goal championships to cultural events that introduce the sport to new audiences. With a global footprint spanning 190 countries, approximately 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores and thousands of additional points of distribution, the brand continues to bring sport, style and consumer experiences together across international markets. About U.S. Polo Assn. U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn.'s Global Polo Shirt Campaign, An Icon Born from the Game, is a powerful tribute to the iconic polo shirt's authentic sports origins and its evolution into one of the world's most enduring style essentials. The global sport brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at the USPA National Polo Center in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIN Sports in the Middle East now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time. U.S. Polo Assn. has recently been named one of USA Today's Most Trusted Brands and in 2026 was ranked the top sports licensor in the world, surpassing the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. The sport-inspired brand has been recognized internationally with awards for global growth and sports content. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Modern Retail, WWD, and GQ, as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world. For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn. USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages its subsidiary, Global Polo, which is the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube. For Additional Information, Contact: Shannon Stilson - VP, Sports Marketing & Media Phone +001.561.227.6994 - E-mail: sstilson@uspagl.com Stacey Kovalsky - VP, Global PR & Communications Phone +001.561.790.8036 - E-mail: skovalsky@uspagl.com SOURCE: U.S. Polo Assn. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Beyond the Integration Tax: The idhubs Team is Rewiring the Business Operating System for the AI Era 2026-10-06 · Newsworthy.ai · Finance, Crypto, AI, SaaS, Retail, Gaming https://newsworthy.ai/news/202610063033/beyond-the-integration-tax-the-idhubs-team-is-rewiring-the-business-operating-system-for-the-ai-era McKinney, TX Monday Oct 5, 2026 @ 8:00 PM Central — For a decade, the software playbook was simple: buy the best tool for each job and wire them together. idhubs says that era is over. Justin Mackenzie of The Building Texas Show sat down with two idhubs leaders, Founder and CEO/CTO Rojit Sorokhaibam and Chief Growth Officer Brandon Fears, to discuss why the integration model breaks under AI, what replacing the traditional software stack actually looks like, and how the company is addressing the challenges of enterprise migration.  Justin: Start on a Tuesday morning. What does this problem look like for an actual business owner? Brandon: It looks like chaos they didn't choose. A business under 200 employees runs about 42 separate applications. A manager who wants to convert a prospect, send an onboarding agreement, bill a deposit and assign a kickoff task touches five of them: copy from the CRM, paste into a document tool, download, upload to e-signature, log into accounting to invoice, open a project board to assign. Five apps; five logins; one simple objective. Multiply that across a week and most of the day goes to running software instead of running the business. Rojit: And none of those systems actually agree with each other. The data in one is a slightly different version of the data in the next. For ten years the industry sold that gap as a feature and called it "best of breed." Justin: You're saying the integration model itself is the problem. Why does it break now? Rojit: AI. When AI was a chatbot, siloed data was an annoyance. Now that AI is becoming an agent that executes multi-step work, siloed data is a wall. An agent cannot intelligently complete a workflow if it has to reach across five databases that only pretend to talk through brittle webhooks. We call that context blindness. True intelligence needs one data foundation and you cannot bolt that on after the fact. Brandon: That's the line that matters: integrated means two databases that learned to talk. Native means there was only ever one. Justin: "Context blindness" is a great phrase, but let’s get concrete. What does an AI agent actually do in idhubs out of the box? Give me a real workflow, not just a buzzword. Rojit: Let’s look at customer success. In a fragmented stack, if a user posts a complaint in a community forum, a support agent has to manually read it, open the CRM, find the account, check the billing module and draft a reply. In idhubs, the AI agent natively reads the community post, instantly pulls the user's billing history from the unified invoicing module, identifies a double-charge, auto-drafts a credit memo and routes it to the manager for one-click approval, all without a human ever copying and pasting data between tabs. It executes the workflow because it has the context. Justin: So what did you build? Rojit: One natively unified operating system. Core business functions, CRM, E-commerce, community, invoicing, AI on a single shared data layer. We're not another tool for the stack. We replace the stack. Justin: You also offer a white-label community and social commerce layer. Why does that belong in an operating system? Brandon: Because the front office and the back office are the same database. An organization that deploys idhubs gets its own branded, private ecosystem: a secure internal collaboration suite for staff and a white-label community and commerce platform for its members or customers. When you build your community on a third-party social platform, you rent your audience; you don't own the data, you don't control the algorithm and you can't monetize without a cut taken off the top. Here the organization owns the relationship and because the community data lives natively beside the CRM and commerce data, a discussion can become a transaction or a support ticket without ever leaving the branded environment. It's a closed loop instead of five disconnected ones. Justin: Let me push on the architecture. If I put my CRM, financials, community and commerce in one platform, haven't I built a single honeypot? One point of failure? Rojit: That's the right question for any CIO to ask and it's why we didn't just stand up one central database and call it done. We run a permissioned, private Hyperledger Fabric network underneath the platform. Think of a public blockchain as a town square where everyone sees every transaction; this is the opposite. Fabric uses channels and private data collections, so sensitive records are visible only to the nodes, the users or departments, that are cryptographically authorized to see them. The organization gets the decentralization and immutability of distributed ledger architecture entirely inside its own walls, which neutralizes the single-point-of-failure risk that comes with traditional monolithic software. Justin: But running a private blockchain network sounds incredibly resource-intensive. Doesn't that introduce latency and bloat the infrastructure costs for a 50-person company? Rojit: That’s a common misconception based on public chains like Bitcoin. Hyperledger Fabric is built for enterprise performance. We don't store heavy payloads on the ledger itself; we use off-chain storage for large files and media, while the ledger only cryptographically anchors the state changes and audit trails. It runs asynchronously in the background. It doesn't slow down the user interface or query speeds, but it gives you military-grade auditability and data sovereignty without the enterprise infrastructure bill. Justin: Who's behind this and how big is the opportunity? Rojit: We're a live, revenue-generating platform, not a stealth lab. I'm a three-time exited CTO who has scaled 150-plus-person engineering teams. Brandon has launched more than $2 billion in products. Sav, our COO, is a 30-year operations leader. Our advisory board includes Grant Johnson, former CEO of a NASDAQ-listed company and Craig Kaufman of Kaufman Bros. Brandon: On the market: our total addressable market is roughly $158 billion. We've acquired more than 50,000 registered users organically, with no paid marketing spend. Justin: Let’s drill into your pricing model. You’ve mentioned a "flat, predictable annual rate" that lands well under fragmented tools. But a 5-person company and a 150-person company have vastly different needs. How does your pricing scale without becoming a new "idhubs tax" as they grow? Brandon: We specifically killed the per-seat pricing model because it punishes companies for scaling their teams. Our pricing scales based on organizational capacity and active transactional volume, not headcount. You don't get hit with hidden integration fees, per-API-call charges, or forced module upgrades. It’s a flat, predictable rate for the core OS, with transparent, tiered capacity bumps. You know exactly what your software bill will be in Q4, regardless of whether you hired five people or fifty. Justin: What do the skeptics say? Best-of-breed purists love their point solutions. Brandon: I hear it constantly and it sounds great until you price it. A five-person company ends up paying for a CRM, an automation connector, a quoting tool, an email platform and an accounting suite, spends tens of thousands a year and its data still doesn't agree across systems. The "flexibility" is a fragmentation tax in a nicer outfit. The opposite of a bad stack isn't a better stack; it's one platform, one login, one source of truth. Justin: But purists will counter: "Sure, it's unified, but is the invoicing as deep as Stripe? Is the CRM as robust as Salesforce?" How do you avoid the "good enough" trap where you hit a ceiling as the client scales? Rojit: We aren't building shallow wrappers. We are building deep, API-first modules. For example, our financials handle complex multi-currency and automated tax compliance natively because we built it for global commerce from day one. But if a company has a hyper-niche, proprietary workflow, we don't force them to rip and replace the whole OS. Because we have a unified data layer, they can build custom extensions and micro-apps on top of idhubs. They get the depth of a custom build with the unified context of an OS. Justin: Even if it’s deep, the switching cost is the real killer. Migrating data, workflows and user habits from entrenched systems is a nightmare. How do you actually get a company to switch without paralyzing their operations for six months? Brandon: We knew migration was the graveyard of great software, so we engineered it out of the equation. We built automated migration pipelines specifically for the major incumbents, HubSpot, QuickBooks, Salesforce, Slack. We don't do "big bang" cutovers. We run parallel environments and our onboarding team maps the data schema automatically. We measure time-to-value in days, not quarters. The user interface is designed to feel familiar, so the human habit-change is minimal. Justin: Finally, you're not the only one claiming "all-in-one." Zoho, Odoo, HubSpot, they all have unified suites and are aggressively adding AI. Why does idhubs win against them? Rojit: Because legacy suites were built as separate apps glued together later. Their data layers are still fragmented underneath; they are still fighting the integration tax internally. We are natively unified from the ground up on a single data layer. Furthermore, our Hyperledger security model is enterprise-grade out of the box, which legacy SMB suites completely lack. They are a suite of tools trying to act like an OS. We are a single, secure operating system. The skeptics are fighting the last war. In the AI era, context is the whole game. Justin: Last question. If this model wins, what's the ripple effect? Rojit: Software stops being a daily operational burden and becomes a silent partner. Eliminate the integration tax, secure the data natively and human capital goes back to strategy instead of reconciliation. For member organizations it turns a siloed directory into a connected economic ecosystem. Brandon: Owners didn't choose complexity; the market handed it to them one app at a time. Every vendor promises the next app will fix it. But the next app can't fix it, because the app was the problem. The fix was never one more tool or one more integration. It was always one secure, unified platform. That's what we built and that's why the shift is inevitable. Rojit Sorokhaibam is Founder and CEO/CTO of idhubs. Brandon Fears is Chief Growth Officer. idhubs is headquartered in McKinney, Texas. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) Releases A2A-Grocery.ai, the Agentic Hub for Grocery Retail with Retail Media Sales 2026-10-06 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greencore-solutions-corp-gsc-releases-a2a-groceryai-the-agentic-hub-for-grocery-retail-with-retail-media-sales-302899082.html $2 trillion a year of grocery buying across the US, Canada, EU and UK has moved to AI-led procurement. Gartner expects AI agents to outnumber human sellers ten to one by 2028. VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 5, 2026 -- GreenCore Solutions Corp. (GSC) today released A2A-Grocery.ai, the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AMAZON DRIVERS AT TWO FACILITIES DEMAND TEAMSTERS RECOGNITION 2026-10-05 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-california-amazon-drivers-at-two-facilities-demand-teamsters-recognition-302898942.html Drivers at Both Facilities Unionize for Better Wages, Job Security at Amazon TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026 -- Over 500 drivers at Amazon's DCX7 and DDO6 facilities in Torrance, California, have joined Teamsters Local 396 and are demanding Amazon recognize their union and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AZAZIE BRINGS THE ULTIMATE BRIDAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE TO SAN ANTONIO WITH ONE-DAY-ONLY WEDDING DRESS POP-UP 2026-10-05 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/azazie-brings-the-ultimate-bridal-shopping-experience-to-san-antonio-with-one-day-only-wedding-dress-pop-up-302898938.html Brides can discover 60+ wedding dress styles, enjoy exclusive savings, and take home their dream dress the same day LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2026 -- San Antonio brides, it's time to say "yes" to the dress—IRL. Azazie, the leading direct-to-consumer bridal and special-occasion... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Harvest Yard is Officially Open 2026-10-05 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-harvest-yard-is-officially-open-302898930.html Premium Workspace Brand Kiln Leases More Than 20,000 Square Feet Fall Harvest Festival with Ribbon Cutting October 17 WOODINVILLE, Wash., Oct. 5, 2026 -- The Harvest Yard, with its curated collection of tasting rooms, restaurants, retail and office, is now complete and the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Manulife Investments Closes the Market 2026-10-05 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317502/Manulife-Investments-Closes-the-Market Toronto, Ontario--(October 5, 2026) - Jordy Chilcott, Head of Retail Intermediary Distribution, Canada, Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Manulife Investment Management Limited ("Manulife Investments", "Manulife", or the "Company") and his team, joined Keith Wu, Head, Exchange Traded Products, Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX"), to close the market and celebrate the launch of the Company's three new ETFs and one new ETF series:Manulife All-Equity ETF Portfolio (TSX:... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cox Capital Expands Liquidity Program for Retail Private Markets Investors with Tender Offer for Class I Shares of Blue Owl Credit Income Corp. 2026-10-05 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/cox-capital-expands-liquidity-program-192100228.html CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., October 05, 2026--Cox Capital Retail Secondaries Fund I, LP has commenced a cash tender offer to purchase Class I shares of Blue Owl Credit Income Corp. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Anchor ABS 2026-1 PLC 2026-10-05 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/options/articles/kbra-assigns-preliminary-ratings-anchor-173000669.html LONDON, October 05, 2026--KBRA UK (KBRA) assigns preliminary ratings to seven classes of notes to be issued by Anchor ABS 2026-1 PLC (Anchor 2026-1), a UK consumer loan ABS backed by a static pool of unsecured, fixed rate, fully amortising personal loans originated by Admiral Financial Services Limited (AFSL). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Arc’teryx Opens First-Ever Climb-Focused Store on Abbot Kinney in Los Angeles 2026-10-05 · Business Wire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/arc-teryx-opens-first-ever-172100981.html NORTH VANCOUVER, Canada, October 05, 2026--Arc’teryx Equipment, the global design company specializing in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, has opened its newest store on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice, California. Opened on October 3, the location marks the brand’s first-ever retail concept dedicated exclusively to climbing and the next evolution of Arc’teryx’s presence in Southern California. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Xsolla Connects Brands and Games at Advertising Week New York 2026 2026-10-05 · Business Wire · Retail, Gaming, Media https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/xsolla-connects-brands-games-advertising-171800429.html LOS ANGELES, October 05, 2026--Xsolla, a global commerce company, today announced it will be showcasing new channels for brands to engage with video game players, studios, and developers in New York City during Ad Week. Xsolla Connect NYC 2026 will bring together brands, studios, partners, and developers to discuss all the things to create direct-to-consumer experiences through video games. The Xsolla team will be active throughout Advertising Week New York 2026, October 5 to 8. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Connecticut 2026-10-05 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-connecticut-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the Constitution State's economy while creating opportunities for Connecticut residents. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TCL's Prime Big Deal Days Offers Up to $150 Off Select Mobile Devices 2026-10-05 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcls-prime-big-deal-days-offers-up-to-150-off-select-mobile-devices-302898530.html IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026 -- TCL®, one of the world's best-selling consumer electronics brands, announced savings of up to $150 on select smartphones and tablets during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, taking place October 6-7 on Amazon. The promotion spans the complete TCL... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon's Holiday Kids Gift Book is back with 600+ toys, games, and gifts for every age 2026-10-05 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-2026-holiday-kids-gift-book?utm_source=rss From an interactive Alexa+ story to exclusive Forest Friends gifts, this year's edition has something for everyone on your list. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Claudio Chiappetta Vice President of Retail Sales for Chervon Canada 2026-10-05 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110584/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 5, 2026 - Claudio Chiappetta joins Chervon as Vice President of Retail Sales for Chervon Canada; effective Monday, October 5, 2026, reporting to VP, MD Neil Harrison. A graduate of York University in Toronto, Chiappetta majored in business and marketing. He brings over 25 years of outdoor power equipment and power tool experience to Chervon as well as extensive knowledge of the Canadian home improvement and outdoor power equipment markets. Chiappetta launched his tool and outdoor career in 2003 at Black & Decker/DeWalt where he held various sales and marketing positions including cordless product manager for DeWalt Power Tools. Claudio joined TTI Milwaukee in 2008 where he was responsible for the launch of a series of Milwaukee cordless products into the Canadian market. He went on to build and manage the Ryobi outdoor power equipment portfolio along with multiple TTI power tool brands. "I am delighted to welcome Claudio to our Canadian senior management team," says VP, MD Neil Harrison. "Claudio's outstanding leadership, marketing and customer development skills will serve us well as we build out Chervon Canada." "I very much look forward to working together again with Neil Harrison and Trevor Bithrey in growing Chervon Canada," says Chiappetta. "Chervon's clear commitment to developing Canada's continued growth and success is most exciting." About Chervon Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Appoints Neil Harrison to the Position of VP Sales, Marketing and MD for Chervon Canada 2026-10-05 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Automotive, Education, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110581/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 5, 2026 - Neil Harrison joins Chervon as Vice President Sales, Marketing and Managing Director for Chervon Canada; effective Monday, October 5, 2026, reporting to CEO Joe Galli. Harrison brings more than 23 years of professional and consumer power tools experience. After studying environmental research management and graduating of the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario; Harrison began his tool career in 2003 with Black & Decker/DeWalt, advancing through various positions in sales, operations, and product management. In 2006, Harrison joined Bosch Canada as marketing manager for the SKIL brand. He then went on to a position as an account manager with Hilti Canada. In 2008, Harrison joined TTI/Milwaukee, where he launched an impressive 17-year career advancing through leadership positions in product management, channel management, and marketing management. He went on to lead regional sales teams in the industrial construction channels for Ontario and eastern Canada and also built and managed a national field sales team for the hardware and automotive channels. Most recently, Harrison was the managing director for Klingspor Abrasives Canada where he oversaw the entire Canadian business including sales, marketing, warehouse and operations, human resources, and finance. Throughout his career, Harrison has distinguished himself as a strong leader with a track record for developing exceptional people, brands, customer relationships and growing business units in the Canadian theater. "We are delighted to now have Neil in place as our leader of Chervon Canada, says CEO Joe Galli. Neil's impressive leadership skills, business management skills and customer-centricity make him an ideal candidate to lead our Canadian business." "I can't wait to get started in building and leading our Canadian business unit here at Chervon," said Harrison. "Chervon is clearly making a commitment to developing a leadership Canadian business, and I am enormously grateful to lead this new effort." About Chervon Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Peter J. Carlson Director of Sales for Strategic Accounts 2026-10-05 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110578/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 5, 2026 - Peter J. Carlson joins Chervon as Director of Sales for Strategic Accounts effective Monday, October 5, 2026, reporting to SVP of Industrial and Commercial Sales, Jeff Campbell. Carlson brings over 27 years of power tool and outdoor product key account management experience to Chervon. A graduate of Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minnesota; Carlson launched his career at Makita Power Tools in 1999. He progressed through a series of positions at Makita over the subsequent 10 years. In 2009, Carlson joined TTI/Milwaukee as a Senior National Account Manager. His career flourished as he was promoted through a series of increasingly responsible positions building and managing strategic key account business for TTI/Milwaukee. "Carlson is highly regarded in his ability to not only build the business but also to mentor, train and develop his people," SVP Campbell said. "His extensive experience at building store level and E-Commerce growth makes him a highly valuable addition to Chervon." "It is clear that Chervon shares my maniacal focus on building store level partnerships and end user demand," said Carlson. "I am incredibly excited to continue my career with Chervon as we build a leadership position in the outdoor power equipment and power tool market." About Chervon Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Daniel L. Abbott Director of Sales - Western U.S.A. 2026-10-05 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110575/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Oct 5, 2026 - Daniel L. Abbott joins Chervon as Director of Sales - Western U.S.A.; effective Monday, October 5, 2026, reporting to SVP Matt DeFeo. Abbott brings over 30 years of experience in the power tool, outdoor power equipment, and home improvement industry. As a graduate of Long Beach State, Abbott went on to serve for 4 years in the United States Airforce. Abbott then moved on to become a Home Depot Store Manager in Huntington Beach, California. Abbott then joined TTI/Milwaukee where he spent 24 years building, managing and leading an elite west coast-based sales team. Abbott was promoted through increasingly responsible positions until his final role as sales leader of over 700 salespeople. "Abbott is a proven and exceptional leader and mentor of high-potential sales talent," says SVP Matt DeFeo. "His obsessive focus on teaming up with key accounts at the store level has unleashed years of extraordinary growth in his areas of responsibility." "I feel highly fortunate to once again work with Matt DeFeo at this stage of Chervon's development," says Abbott. "It is clear to me Chervon has vast potential to grow with advanced technology and exciting new product development. I am anxious to get to work in maximizing our full potential." About Chervon Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TIPAK Marks Path to Leadership in Packaging Solutions Following Listing on SET 2026-10-05 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Retail, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110570/ BANGKOK, Oct 5, 2026 - ACN Newswire - Thai Packaging Industry PCL (TIPAK), one of Thailand's leading developers, manufacturers, and distributors of packaging solutions, made its trading debut on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), establishing itself as a leader in providing complete packaging services across Thailand. As a stock in the Industrial Goods/Packaging sector, TIPAK has demonstrated strong potential for sustainable growth. The company announced a planned investment of approximately THB 100 million in modern technology to upgrade its production processes, aiming to optimize cost management and create innovative, high-value products with distinctive and differentiated solutions. TIPAK highlights its strength in developing specialty packaging and sustainable packaging to align with the global growth of the sustainable economy, and is actively expanding its customer base among industries and factories nationwide. Mr Veerachai Monsintorn, TIPAK's Chief Executive Officer, stated that the Company successfully listed its shares today on the SET's Industrial Goods/Packaging sector, symbol "TIPAK". He expressed confidence that with the Company's strong foundational capabilities, including the upgrade of modern technology to improve production efficiency, the development of distinctive and differentiated high-value products, and the delivery of comprehensive end-to-end solutions that meet specific customer needs, TIPAK was well-positioned to respond rapidly to evolving market demands and support the sustainable growth of all industrial sectors. Guided by the vision "Solutions Unfold - Meeting Customer Needs Perfectly", TIPAK is committed to becoming Thailand's leading provider of complete packaging solutions. The Company expects to allocate approximately THB 100 million in 2027 across its Samut Sakhon and Prachin Buri factories through three key projects: 1. Project to Upgrade Production Efficiency and Automation Systems -- Transitioning the production lines for corrugated paperboard and corrugated boxes to fully automated systems to reduce waste and increase speed (reduce Speed Losses). 2. Project for Smart Manufacturing Innovation and Digital Infrastructure -- Investing in data-driven factory management systems to enable real-time monitoring and analysis of production performance. 3. Project for Quality Control and Production Stability Enhancement -- Improving the consistency and reliability of the Quality Rate by upgrading quality assurance systems. As of June 30, 2026, the Company's total production capacity exceeds 140,000 tons of corrugated paperboard and more than 170 million corrugated boxes per year. The Company has formulated a strategy to leverage its experience and expertise in the paper packaging business to develop high-value products and improve production efficiency, aiming for zero defects with new manufacturing technologies. Under a well-balanced pricing strategy, TIPAK designs and produces corrugated paperboard and boxes that are distinctive, differentiated, and precisely tailored to customer requirements, with customized features including packaging solutions for long-distance delivery and e-commerce logistics. The Company also develops sustainable paper packaging made from recycled materials to support the global shift toward environmentally responsible trade under ESG frameworks. Additionally, TIPAK provides consulting services for packaging design and improvement, and continues to expand its customer base among high-potential industries and factories nationwide. Ms Nalyne Viriyasathien, Managing Director of Investment Banking, Maybank Securities (Thailand) PCL, in her role as financial advisor and joint lead underwriter, said that TIPAK has a clear and comprehensive business plan focused on sustainable growth across all dimensions - from its large-scale manufacturing facilities and internationally recognized production standards, to its relentless pursuit of innovation in high-value products and continuous expansion into diverse industrial sectors. This reflects a diversified revenue base, and she is confident that TIPAK will become a value-driven stock with strong potential for sustainable growth. Ms. Nuntarut Sangsuwannukul, Executive Vice President, Investment Banking, Land and Houses Securities PCL, in her role as joint lead underwriter, said that TIPAK plays a critical role in driving Thailand's industrial supply chain. Its commitment to upgrading factories with modern technology enhances efficiency, reduces costs, and strengthens competitiveness. Furthermore, TIPAK benefits from the projected 2.9% growth of the paper packaging industry in 2027, combined with the global momentum toward a sustainable economy. With these solid fundamentals, TIPAK is fully prepared to achieve its goal of becoming Thailand's leading provider of complete packaging solutions with stable and confident growth. This press release was issued by MT Multimedia Co., Ltd on behalf of Thai Packaging Industry PCL (TIPAK). For further information, please contact: Wasana Wongsiri (Jiab) Tel: +66 84 359 0659 or +66 2 612 2081 Ext. 131 Email: wasana.w@mtmultimedia.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Moisture Absorber Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032 | Market to Reach USD 2.7 Billion at 7.59% CAGR as E-Commerce, Sustainable Packaging, and Supply Chain Resilience Drive Demand 2026-10-05 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/05/3374243/28124/en/moisture-absorber-market-global-forecast-2026-2032-market-to-reach-usd-2-7-billion-at-7-59-cagr-as-e-commerce-sustainable-packaging-and-supply-chain-resilience-drive-demand.html Dublin, Oct. 05, 2026 -- "Moisture Absorber Market - Global Forecast 2026-2032" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TCL LINKHUB HH516 Becomes the World's First Dedicated 5G FWA CPE to Achieve prplWare Certification 2026-10-05 · PR Newswire · Retail, Telecom https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-linkhub-hh516-becomes-the-worlds-first-dedicated-5g-fwa-cpe-to-achieve-prplware-certification-302897061.html PARIS, Oct. 5, 2026 -- TCL, a global leader in consumer electronics, today announced that the TCL LINKHUB HH516 has become the world's first purpose-built 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) CPE to achieve prplWare 4.0 certification from the prpl Foundation. Combining a certified... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Empowering "Mom, and More": Momcozy is Supplying the Best Solutions This Prime Day 2026-10-04 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/empowering-mom-and-more-momcozy-is-supplying-the-best-solutions-this-prime-day-302897679.html LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4, 2026 -- Prime Day can bring thousands of products, endless options and one more thing for moms to figure out. During Momcozy Amazon Prime Big Days on October 6–7, 2026, Momcozy is taking a different approach: curating the best solutions around the moments... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LinkDaddy Reports 1.52M AI Crawler Requests to AI Verified Registry 2026-10-04 · Newsfile · AI, Retail, Media https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317274/LinkDaddy-Reports-1.52M-AI-Crawler-Requests-to-AI-Verified-Registry LinkDaddy LLC reports that Cloudflare recorded 1.52 million requests from identified AI crawlers accessing public AI Verified content over a rolling seven-day period, including activity associated with OpenAI, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Anthropic, Microsoft, Perplexity and Google.Clearwater, Florida--(October 4, 2026) - LinkDaddy LLC reported that Cloudflare recorded 1.52 million requests from identified AI crawlers accessing public AI Verified content during a rolling seven-day... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GROWNSY Kicks Off Prime Big Deal Days With One Idea: ONE DAY EARLIER. ONE DAY EASIER. 2026-10-04 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/04/3374130/0/en/grownsy-kicks-off-prime-big-deal-days-with-one-idea-one-day-earlier-one-day-easier.html GROWNSY kicks off Amazon Prime Big Deal Days (Oct 6-7, 2026): up to 40% off bottle warmers, bottle washers & baby food makers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ARTBOX, KOREA'S ICONIC LIFESTYLE RETAILER, MAKES U.S. DEBUT WITH LOS ANGELES POP-UP FEATURING GLOBAL K-POP ICON ILLIT 2026-10-03 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/artbox-koreas-iconic-lifestyle-retailer-makes-us-debut-with-los-angeles-pop-up-featuring-global-k-pop-icon-illit-302897494.html The Korean retailer, founded in 1984, will open its first U.S. retail activation on Melrose Avenue from October 3–11, marking the first step in ARTBOX's broader American expansion LOS ANGELES, Oct. 3, 2026 -- ARTBOX, Korea's original design-lifestyle retail brand, is... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Huawei Highlights Continuous Innovation, Securing Competitive Edge Through Technological Breakthroughs 2026-10-03 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317272/Huawei-Highlights-Continuous-Innovation-Securing-Competitive-Edge-Through-Technological-Breakthroughs Shenzhen, China--(October 3, 2026) - Huawei hosted an international media roundtable today featuring Richard Yu, Executive Director, Chairman of the Investment Review Board, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Consumer BG. Yu shared comprehensive insights into Huawei's consumer business and HarmonyOS ecosystem. IMG 8638 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: ... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— E-Brokerage Market Projected to Reach $34.6 Billion by 2034 as Record Retail Trading Volumes Lift Platforms 2026-10-03 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/03/3374096/0/en/e-brokerage-market-projected-to-reach-34-6-billion-by-2034-as-record-retail-trading-volumes-lift-platforms.html News Provided by Stock Preachers ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Online Trading Platform Market Projected to Reach $18.18 Billion by 2031 as Mobile Becomes the Front Door for Retail Investors 2026-10-03 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/online-trading-platform-market-projected-to-reach-18-18-billion-by-2031-as-mobile-becomes-the-front-door-for-retail-investors-302897636.html VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 3, 2026 -- USA News Group News Commentary - Mordor Intelligence values the online trading platform market at $11.65 billion in 2025 and projects $18.18 billion by 2031, a compound annual growth rate of 7.66% from 2026 to 2031. Active Companies from around... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Avi The Jeweler Launches Automated "Make Offer" Experience for Online Jewelry Shoppers 2026-10-02 · Newsfile · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317054/Avi-The-Jeweler-Launches-Automated-Make-Offer-Experience-for-Online-Jewelry-Shoppers Fort Lauderdale, Florida--(October 2, 2026) - Avi The Jeweler, a South Florida jewelry retailer serving customers across the United States, announced the launch of Make Offer, an online shopping feature designed to bring one of jewelry retail's most familiar conversations — asking about price — into the e-commerce experience.Avi The Jeweler's Make Offer feature allows online shoppers to submit a private-price request and receive an automated responseTo view an enhanced version... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bitzero Engages and Renews Investor Relations Providers to Expand Capital Markets Program 2026-10-02 · Newsfile · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/317253/Bitzero-Engages-and-Renews-Investor-Relations-Providers-to-Expand-Capital-Markets-Program Vancouver, British Columbia--(October 2, 2026) - Bitzero Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: AIBZ) (CSE: AIBZ.U) (FSE: 000) ("Bitzero" or the "Company"), a provider of sustainable high-performance compute ("HPC") and AI data center infrastructure, announced that it has engaged and renewed certain investor relations providers as the Company continues to expand its capital markets presence and broaden awareness of its Nordic infrastructure platform among the institutional and retail investment... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Moon Valley Nurseries Surpasses 50 Locations Nationwide, Launches Tree Care Division 2026-10-02 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/moon-valley-nurseries-surpasses-50-locations-nationwide-launches-tree-care-division-302897476.html SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Oct. 2, 2026 -- Moon Valley Nurseries, the all-in-one nursery and landscaping company setting the standard for superior trees, plants, and landscaping services, is marking a major growth milestone: more than 50 retail locations now open across seven states,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Teknisa Joins Volaris Group 2026-10-02 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/02/3373767/0/en/teknisa-joins-volaris-group.html TORONTO, Oct. 02, 2026 -- Volaris Group announced today the acquisition of Teknisa, a provider of software solutions for the corporate foodservice and retail vertical. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Europe Racket Sports Equipment Market Size, Share, Trends, and Forecast to 2031 | Participation Growth, E-Commerce, and Product Innovation Unlock New Revenue Opportunities 2026-10-02 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Sports https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/02/3373593/28124/en/europe-racket-sports-equipment-market-size-share-trends-and-forecast-to-2031-participation-growth-e-commerce-and-product-innovation-unlock-new-revenue-opportunities.html Sustainable, durable coatings, automation and low-temperature curing drive growth; architectural uses lead, while non-metal substrates expand fastest Sustainable, durable coatings, automation and low-temperature curing drive growth; architectural uses lead, while non-metal substrates expand fastest ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New CooperVision® Consumer Insights Report Reveals Multifocal Contact Lenses Are Viewed as a Leading Anti-Aging Solution 2026-10-01 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-coopervision-consumer-insights-report-reveals-multifocal-contact-lenses-are-viewed-as-a-leading-anti-aging-solution-302896625.html U.S. consumers ranked multifocal contact lenses among their preferred anti-aging solutions, highlighting untapped opportunities for earlier presbyopia conversations, and practice growth ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 1, 2026 -- New research from CooperVision reveals that vision... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Parkdale Mills Acquires CiCLO® Technology 2026-10-01 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parkdale-mills-acquires-ciclo-technology-302896392.html Acquisition expands Parkdale's investment in advanced fiber technology and supports growth into new markets GASTONIA, N.C., Oct. 1, 2026 -- Parkdale, Incorporated, a leading textile and consumer products manufacturer, announced that its subsidiary, Parkdale Advanced... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Albertsons Companies is reimagining retail from the inside out 2026-10-01 · OpenAI · AI, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink https://openai.com/index/albertsons-reimagining-retail Albertsons Cos. is using ChatGPT Enterprise and the OpenAI API to help teams work faster and make grocery shopping easier for millions of customers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in New Jersey 2026-10-01 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-new-jersey-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the Garden State's economy while creating opportunities for New Jersey residents. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LAMEA Sticker Printer Market Size, Share, Trends, and Forecast, 2026-2033 | E-commerce and Smart, Sustainable Printing Create Lucrative Opportunities 2026-10-01 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3373142/28124/en/lamea-sticker-printer-market-size-share-trends-and-forecast-2026-2033-e-commerce-and-smart-sustainable-printing-create-lucrative-opportunities.html Automation, AI-enabled workflows and eco-friendly materials boost efficiency, while e-commerce and logistics drive demand for fast, customized sticker printing Automation, AI-enabled workflows and eco-friendly materials boost efficiency, while e-commerce and logistics drive demand for fast, customized sticker printing ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Europe Smart Shelves Market Size, Share, Trends, Industry Analysis, and Forecast, 2026-2033 | AI, IoT, and Retail Automation Drive 23.1% CAGR and Strategic Growth 2026-10-01 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3373140/28124/en/europe-smart-shelves-market-size-share-trends-industry-analysis-and-forecast-2026-2033-ai-iot-and-retail-automation-drive-23-1-cagr-and-strategic-growth.html Smart shelves boost ROI through real-time inventory, automated replenishment, dynamic pricing, planogram compliance, shrinkage control and stronger customer engagement Smart shelves boost ROI through real-time inventory, automated replenishment, dynamic pricing, planogram compliance, shrinkage control and stronger customer engagement ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon introduces a completely redesigned Kindle family 2026-10-01 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/devices/new-kindle-lineup-2026?utm_source=rss The all-new Kindle, Kindle Paperwhite, and Kindle Colorsoft are thinner and lighter with a new display stack and seamless edge-to-edge color across the lineup. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Compass Group North America Launches New Culinary Initiative to Help Clients Meet Evolving Sustainable Seafood Expectations 2026-10-01 · PR Newswire · Retail, Sustainability https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/compass-group-north-america-launches-new-culinary-initiative-to-help-clients-meet-evolving-sustainable-seafood-expectations-302892548.html Exclusive partnership with Chef Barton Seaver expands culinary expertise and inspires innovative seafood experiences CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct. 1, 2026 -- As consumer expectations for sustainable, diverse and responsibly sourced seafood continue to grow, Compass Group North... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Consumer Electronics Manufacturing Equipment Market Outlook 2026-2035 - Featuring Profiles of 3 of the Leading Companies Within the Data Included: KLA Corporation, FANUC Corporation, and ABB Robotics 2026-10-01 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/10/01/3372641/28124/en/consumer-electronics-manufacturing-equipment-market-outlook-2026-2035-featuring-profiles-of-3-of-the-leading-companies-within-the-data-included-kla-corporation-fanuc-corporation-an.html AI, Automation and Advanced Packaging Drive Consumer Electronics Equipment Opportunities as Smart Factories and U.S. Onshoring Accelerate AI, Automation and Advanced Packaging Drive Consumer Electronics Equipment Opportunities as Smart Factories and U.S. Onshoring Accelerate ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KIA AMERICA POSTS BEST SEPTEMBER AND BEST QUARTERLY SALES TOTALS IN COMPANY HISTORY 2026-10-01 · Kia · Retail https://www.kiamedia.com/us/en/media/pressreleases/25263/kia-america-posts-best-september-and-best-quarterly-sales-totals-in-company-history?utm_campaign=Syndicated_25263&utm_medium=RSS_All Press Releases&utm_source=KiaMedia.com Kia America continues on the path to the brand’s fourth consecutive annual sales record, posting both best-ever September and best-ever any-quarter sales totals in company history. Kia’s new September sales records for overall – 77,009 units – and retail – 70,429 units – represent 18 and 19 percent increases respectively over the previous September highs and pushed Kia’s third quarter total sales to 236,659 units, an increase of 8 percent over the previous third quarter sales record. Retail sales of 221,664 units also reached a new high, representing a 9 percent gain over the previous third-quarter retail sales record. In addition, hybrid and total electrified models continued their strong growth in September, rising 152 percent and 60 percent year-over-year, respectively, which also contributed to Kia’s record September and quarterly sales performance. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LS&Co. Announces New Chief Financial Officer 2026-09-30 · Levi Strauss & Co. · Retail https://www.levistrauss.com/2026/09/30/lsco-new-chief-financial-officer/ Today we announced the appointment of John Vandemore as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective November 1. “We are thrilled to welcome John at a pivotal moment for our company,” said Michelle Gass, President and CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. “We are building a more direct-to-consumer business, unlocking the full potential of… The post LS&Co. Announces New Chief Financial Officer appeared first on Levi Strauss & Co. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CRMT INVESTOR ALERT: Investigation of America’s Car-Mart, Inc. Announced by Holzer & Holzer, LLC 2026-09-30 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/30/3372421/0/en/crmt-investor-alert-investigation-of-america-s-car-mart-inc-announced-by-holzer-holzer-llc.html ATLANTA, Sept. 30, 2026 -- Holzer & Holzer, LLC is investigating whether America’s Car-Mart, Inc. (“Car-Mart” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: CRMT) complied with federal securities laws. On September 9, 2026, Car-Mart reported financial results for the first quarter fiscal year 2027 results, revealing that retail units sold decreased 81.9% compared to the prior year’s quarter and that revenue decreased 57.3% year-over-year. On this news, the price of the Company’s stock dropped. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon in the community: Service, community, and commitment at HQ2 2026-09-30 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-arlington-virginia-news?utm_source=rss Learn how we invest in the community, help power the local economy, and support our employees in the National Capital Region. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Saudi Arabia Recommerce Market Report 2026: Size, Share, 60+ KPIs and Forecast to 2030 | Market to Reach $2.88 Billion as Digital Resale and Trade-In Programs Scale 2026-09-30 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/30/3372192/28124/en/saudi-arabia-recommerce-market-report-2026-size-share-60-kpis-and-forecast-to-2030-market-to-reach-2-88-billion-as-digital-resale-and-trade-in-programs-scale.html Identify growth opportunities across resale, rental and refurbishment, benchmark competitors, and optimize channels using consumer, payment and city-level insights Identify growth opportunities across resale, rental and refurbishment, benchmark competitors, and optimize channels using consumer, payment and city-level insights ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Switzerland Loyalty Market Forecast 2026-2030: 100+ KPIs by Program, Channel, Sector, Embedded Loyalty, and Platform Spend | Market to Reach US$1.09 Billion by 2030 at 12.9% CAGR 2026-09-30 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/30/3372191/28124/en/switzerland-loyalty-market-forecast-2026-2030-100-kpis-by-program-channel-sector-embedded-loyalty-and-platform-spend-market-to-reach-us-1-09-billion-by-2030-at-12-9-cagr.html Optimize loyalty ROI with 100+ KPIs spanning program models, channels, sectors, consumer behavior, redemption, breakage, AI and platform economics Optimize loyalty ROI with 100+ KPIs spanning program models, channels, sectors, consumer behavior, redemption, breakage, AI and platform economics ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Spain Recommerce Market Intelligence Databook 2026, 60+ KPIs and Forecasts to 2030 | Market to Reach $4.63 Billion as Retail Resale and Refurbishment Scale 2026-09-30 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/30/3372185/28124/en/spain-recommerce-market-intelligence-databook-2026-60-kpis-and-forecasts-to-2030-market-to-reach-4-63-billion-as-retail-resale-and-refurbishment-scale.html Drive ROI by integrating resale, repair and buybacks, securing quality inventory, strengthening warranties and using AI-led discovery to boost trust and retention Drive ROI by integrating resale, repair and buybacks, securing quality inventory, strengthening warranties and using AI-led discovery to boost trust and retention ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Europe Tea Market Size, Share, Trends, and Growth Forecast 2026-2034 | Premium, Functional, and Sustainable Teas Propel 5.97% CAGR Toward US$31.07 Billion 2026-09-30 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/30/3372184/28124/en/europe-tea-market-size-share-trends-and-growth-forecast-2026-2034-premium-functional-and-sustainable-teas-propel-5-97-cagr-toward-us-31-07-billion.html Boost margins with premium, functional and organic teas; verify provenance and sustainability, innovate formats and packaging, and expand e-commerce and specialty retail Boost margins with premium, functional and organic teas; verify provenance and sustainability, innovate formats and packaging, and expand e-commerce and specialty retail ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Connected Nation earns GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for 'longest internet literacy live stream' 2026-09-30 · PR Newswire · Retail, Media, Telecom https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/connected-nation-earns-guinness-world-records-title-for-longest-internet-literacy-live-stream-302894604.html CN's 25th anniversary event brought together AT&T as the lead collaborator, Amazon, Netflix, and more than 25 partner organizations in delivering free digital skills training worldwide LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 30, 2026 -- National nonprofit Connected Nation (CN) has earned the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BMW model updates, autumn 2026. 2026-09-30 · BMW Group · Retail, Automotive, Media https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0461142EN?language=en New Black Package underscores the sporty and exclusive character of the M Performance models of the BMW 2 Series Coupé, BMW 4 Series Coupé and BMW 4 Series Convertible. Launch of numerous models for the new BMW 7 Series and the new BMW X5. New, more powerful engine for the BMW X3 M50 xDrive. New BMW Individual special paint finishes for BMW 7 Series and BMW i7. Addition of Amazon Prime Video takes in-car entertainment in a wide range of BMW vehicles to a ... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fountain Tech Details the Float and Mooring Setup Behind a Floating Pond Fountain 2026-09-30 · freePRnow · Retail http://www.freePRnow.com/pr/fountain-tech-details-the-float-and-mooring-setup-behind-a-floating-pond-fountain Fountain Tech sells pond fountains, aerators, LED pond lights, replacement parts, and indoor and outdoor pumps. Buyers can choose a floating fountain for pond use in a size that fits their water surface area, and orders are accepted at retail ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sterling Organization Acquires Pavilions Marketplace, a 69,622-Square-Foot Grocery-Anchored Shopping Center in West Hollywood, California 2026-09-29 · PR Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sterling-organization-acquires-pavilions-marketplace-a-69-622-square-foot-grocery-anchored-shopping-center-in-west-hollywood-california-302893101.html WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Sept. 29, 2026 -- Sterling Organization, a West Palm Beach, Florida-based private equity real estate investment firm focused on the retail sector, today announced the acquisition of Pavilions Marketplace, a 69,622-square-foot shopping center anchored by... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Direct Drive Tech Limited Debuts on Hong Kong Stock Exchange Today 2026-09-29 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110477/ HONG KONG, Sept 29, 2026 - Direct Drive Tech Limited ("Direct Drive Tech" or the "Company", stock code: 6731) was officially listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. The Company offered 50,000,000 shares under the Global Offering, of which the Hong Kong Public Offering was approximately 208.56 times subscribed. The final offer price was set at HK$21.60 per share with a board lot of 100 shares, raising gross proceeds of approximately HK$1,080.0 million. "From day one, Direct Drive Tech has pursued a single goal — using direct drive technology to drive the world," founder Zhang Di said at the listing ceremony. "We remain committed to our mission of bringing robots into every household, and to making robots more efficient, more dexterous and more intelligent." In a letter to staff on the eve of the listing, Zhang likened the industry's shift to the replacement of vacuum tubes by transistors: "This time, the future will not belong to better reducers either." He expects at least 10 billion robots to enter industries and households over the next decade. Direct Drive Tech, he wrote, is not simply a maker of "direct drive joints", but a robotics technology company with direct drive technology at its core and general intelligence connecting everything, with future investment focused on three areas: AI4S (AI for Science), AI4I (AI for Iteration) and AI4R (AI for Robot).   Direct Drive Tech was founded in Dongguan in March 2020, when reducers dominated robot power systems and direct drive — with its high technical barriers — drew little interest. Starting from three core capabilities in direct-drive motor design, thermal management and drive-control integration, the Company built three technology pillars: robotic actuator module technology, wheel-legged robot technology and modular reconfiguration technology, establishing an integrated R&D system spanning core components and robots. By eliminating reducers and other intermediate transmission components, direct drive couples the motor directly to the payload. The result is a simpler structure, higher positioning accuracy, lower noise and less wear — attributes suited to human-proximate applications such as household cleaning robots, where quietness and compact size matter most. On this differentiated route, the Company has become the world's first and only company to have shipped more than 5 million robotic direct drive actuator modules for consumer robots, according to Frost & Sullivan; by the end of June 2026, its technology had powered more than 7.5 million robots worldwide. Built on the three pillars, the Company's embodied joint module portfolio covers the mainstream size range from 20 mm to 120 mm, with peak torque outputs of up to 120 Nm. As of the Latest Practicable Date, it held 352 patents in China with 148 applications pending; 94.3% of its 192-member R&D team hold bachelor's degrees or above. In the consumer segment, the Company works with four of the world's top ten consumer robot providers by 2025 revenue. In embodied intelligence, it supplies embodied joint modules to one of China's top five embodied intelligence robot providers by total value of orders on hand in 2025. For its robot products, the Company has launched four wheel-legged robot models — Diablo, TITA, TITATIT and D1. Diablo robot is the first direct-drive dual-wheel-legged robot commercially introduced in the world; D1 is the first fully modular dual-wheel-legged robot commercially introduced in the world. The numbers now back the route. Revenue rose from RMB17.5 million in 2023 to RMB281.7 million in 2025, a CAGR of 300.8%, and grew a further 39.7% year on year to about RMB200 million in the first half of 2026. Gross profit margin climbed from 13.5% to 21.5% over the period, while the adjusted net loss margin (non-IFRS measure) narrowed sharply from 349.1% to 15.4% as economies of scale took hold. The Company plans to deploy about 50% of the net proceeds to R&D in key robotics technologies, including performance upgrades to robotic direct drive actuator modules and advances in robot and modular assembly technology; about 20% to deepen our collaboration with industry partners and wider domestic and overseas sales networks; about 20% to highly automated flexible production lines and process optimisation; and the remaining 10% to working capital and general corporate purposes. Frost & Sullivan expects the PRC direct drive actuator module market to grow from RMB1.9 billion in 2025 to RMB12.9 billion in 2030, and the country's embodied joint modules market to expand from RMB1.18 billion to RMB14.03 billion over the same period. The Company said it will capture the twin opportunities of direct drive substitution and the industrialisation of embodied intelligence, consolidate its segment leadership and create long-term value for shareholders. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Four major tech fairs open in October attracting some 6,200 exhibitors from around the world 2026-09-29 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Gaming, Media, Education, Food & drink, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Industrial, Aerospace & defense, Logistics, Biotech & pharma, Semiconductors, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110467/ HONG KONG, Sept 29, 2026 - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) will stage flagship fairs for electronics and lighting in October, including the 46th Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and the 29th electronicAsia, which will be held concurrently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 13 to 16 October; the 11th Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo, taking place at AsiaWorld-Expo from 26 to 29 October; and the 28th Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition), to be held at the HKCEC from 27 to 30 October. The four fairs are expected to attract some 6,200 exhibitors from 28 countries and regions, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions spanning consumer electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, future industries, smart lighting and smart city applications. The fairs will highlight the latest achievements in innovation and technology, reflecting global trends in industrial upgrading and digital transformation. At a press conference held today to introduce the four fairs, HKTDC Associate Executive Director Silas Chu said: “The Hong Kong SAR Government's latest Policy Address and first Five-Year Plan underscore the importance of consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international trade centre, expediting the city's development into an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre and advancing the adoption and development of AI. In support of these strategic directions, the HKTDC is introducing several new elements at this year’s October fairs, including a new Future Industries Zone at the Autumn Electronics Fair, expanded showcases and business-matching opportunities for AI and robotics technologies to help companies connect with funding, talent, technology and international markets. A dedicated GoGlobal Connect Zone will also be set up at the venue to provide advisory services for businesses, encouraging more Chinese Mainland enterprises to leverage Hong Kong as a platform for expanding into international markets. The two lighting fairs, meanwhile, will focus on key industry trends related to smart connectivity, healthy living, immersive spatial experiences and sustainability.” Presenting highlights of the Autumn Electronics Fair, electronicAsia, the Autumn Lighting Fair and the International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo at today's press conference are: DDD (centre), Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC; Steve Chuang (left), Chairman of the HKTDC Electronics/Electrical Appliances Industries Advisory Committee; and Alvin Lee (right), Chairman of the Hong Kong Electronics & Technologies Association New Future Industries Zone demonstrates synergies in the innovation and tech ecosystem The Autumn Electronics Fair and electronicAsia kick off in mid-October, bringing together over 3,200 exhibitors from 15 countries and regions. In support of the national strategy to foster future industries, this year's Electronics Fair will introduce the new Future Industries Zone. Supported by the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the zone is jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronic Industries Association (HKEIA), with participation from some of Hong Kong's leading innovation and technology institutions. The zone will focus on five key themes: Future Computing, Future Manufacturing, Future Marine & Quantum Technologies, Future Microelectronics and Future Wellness. In addition to industry leaders such as Lenovo, AV Concept and GP Energy Tech, more than 100 exhibitors will be showcasing a wide range of cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions. In addition, a series of thematic events and forums centred on the five key themes will be held during the fair. The distinguished speaker lineup includes Jeffrey Lam, Member of the Executive Council and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited; Vincent Ma, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park Limited; Clara Chan, Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited; and Allen Yeung, President (Hong Kong) of the Greater Bay Area International Information Technology Industry Association. Another highlight in the Future Industries Zone will be the announcement of the Top 100 Future Industries Pioneer List, which aims to identify innovative products and solutions with strong commercial value. The fair will also feature a start-up pitching competition, as well as thematic forums dedicated to technology talent development and industry application matching, fostering closer collaboration between innovation, talent and business opportunities. GoGlobal Connect Zone helps enterprises expand into global markets As a core member of the Task Force on Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Going Global, spearheaded by the HKSAR Government, the HKTDC is setting up a dedicated GoGlobal Connect Zone at the Electronics Fair to help Chinese Mainland companies connect with international markets through Hong Kong’s professional services providers. A series of "GoGlobal" themed forums will also be held, including “Scaling Smart Consumer Innovations Worldwide”, featuring representatives from the Hong Kong Export Credit Insurance Corporation (HKECIC), TechNode and Hang Seng Bank. The forum will explore key strategies for overseas expansion, covering topics such as market entry, financing and risk management, smart manufacturing, sustainability, compliance and certification, and brand building. In addition, representatives from OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) will share insights on the ASEAN manufacturing ecosystem in the “Navigate the Opportunities and Challenges of Overseas Expansion and Next Frontier of Growth” session, helping companies interested in expanding into ASEAN markets gain a deeper understanding of the region’s economic environment, tax policies, business expansion practices and the latest market trends. Spotlight on highlighted themes: AI and Robotics, Smart Wellness and NEXTEntertainment The Autumn Electronics Fair will showcase the latest consumer electronics products and innovative technologies, with three highlighted themes: AI & Robotics, Smart Wellness and NEXTEntertainment. Related products will be featured at various thematic zones across the fair. As the convergence of AI and robotics continues to accelerate, this year’s fair will showcase more than 120 robots, primarily in RoboPark, demonstrating applications across four key scenarios: Commercial & Services, Industrial & Logistics, Entertainment & Social, and Healthcare & Rehabilitation. The impressive lineup includes AgiBot, the world’s leading humanoid robot manufacturer by shipment volume in the first half of 2026[1]; the Shenzhen Honor Smart Technology Development Co., Ltd.’s humanoid robot, winner of the 2026 Beijing E-Town Half Marathon; Booster Robotics, champion of the 2026 RoboCup; UBTECH, one of the “Shenzhen Eight Great Guardians of Embodied Intelligence”, which will present the world’s first next-generation full-sized humanoid robot designed for “urban coexistence”; and several prominent technology companies from the “Shenzhen Eight Great Guardians” and “Hangzhou Six Little Dragons”, including AI² Robotics, Digit Robotics, EngineAI, DexForce and Deep Robotics. In addition, VIGX Technology Co., Ltd. will showcase the world’s first “pocket-sized” AI exoskeleton robot, designed to overcome the bulkiness of traditional industrial exoskeletons while being portable and easy to wear. UBTECH's Walker C1 robot performs a waltz at the press conference, demonstrating its agility, fluid motion and remarkable balance capabilitiesVIGX Technologies Limited presents its latest innovation – the world's first "pocket-sized" AI exoskeleton robot, designed to overcome the bulkiness of traditional industrial exoskeletons while being portable and easy to wearManna Pacific (HK) Limited showcases an AI-powered indoor fitness screen that combines real-time motion tracking and visual guidance to help users improve posture accuracy, body coordination and workout safety. RoboPark will also feature multiple interactive experiences and showcase zones, including the RoboDog Garden for robot dog demonstrations, a robot football exhibition, the Robot Dance Battle performance, the Coffee & Popcorn Station where robots serve coffee and popcorn, as well as interactive photo spots, allowing visitors to experience firsthand the applications of robotics technology in diverse scenarios. Another highlighted theme, Smart Wellness, will cover digital health devices, smart wearables, personal care technologies, gerontech and healthy living electronics, reflecting the growing demand for solutions related to technology-enabled health management and improved quality of life. NEXTEntertainment, meanwhile, will feature extended reality (XR) technologies, smart gaming devices, digital content creation tools, AI-powered entertainment solutions and innovative consumer electronics, enhancing entertainment experiences and digital content creation capabilities. Showcasing renowned brands and start-ups with the Immersive Experience Zone The Autumn Electronics Fair will feature more than 20 themed zones, including the Hall of Fame, showcasing products from more than 560 renowned electronics brands. First-time exhibitors include companies such as HiFuture, Aoni and ZENS. The RISE Avenue zone will bring together emerging brands, featuring products ranging from gaming equipment to home entertainment systems. Another spotlight area, Adventure Hub, will include the Immersive Experience Zone, where creative technology companies will present the latest interactive gaming experiences and demonstrate virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies. Visitors can try experiences such as brainwave-controlled sensors that enable users to operate games using concentration alone, without any physical controls. Over 120 emerging enterprises and start-ups will participate in the fair, primarily in the "Startup Zone”, with both the Internet of Things Hong Kong Association (IOTHK) and JimHang Academy leading groups of start-ups to showcase technologies and solutions that address real business challenges. And the Tech Hall will spotlight professional AI-driven data and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions across various industries, including intelligent monitoring systems for transportation applications. Concurrent electronicAsia to drive industry upgrading Jointly organised by the HKTDC and MMI Asia Pte Ltd and held concurrently with the Electronics Fair, electronicAsia (eAsia) will bring together exhibitors engaged in semiconductors, sensors, electronic components and manufacturing technologies. The exhibition will demonstrate how the electronics supply chain is adapting to the growing demands of AI development and digital transformation, helping enterprises seize opportunities arising from the next wave of industrial upgrading. Exhibitors including Easttop Display and Microtech Technology will unveil their latest products at the fair. Symposium on Innovation and Technology to spotlight AI and smart infrastructure A series of forums, seminars and networking events will be held during the Autumn Electronics Fair. Among the highlights is the annual Symposium on Innovation and Technology, jointly organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Electronics and Technologies Association (HKETA) under the theme "AI-Driven Security & The Next-Gen Infrastructure". Distinguished speakers include Alexander Gerfer, Chief Technology Officer of Würth Elektronik Group, who will discuss how electronics technologies are powering the future of AI and intelligent systems; Dr Charles Cheung, Adjunct Associate Professor of the Department of Mathematics at Hong Kong Baptist University, who will explore how businesses can translate AI capabilities into operational excellence, innovation and business growth; and Silvia Lam Ihensekhien, Chief Security Advisor Microsoft, who will share insights into building resilient infrastructure to support AI-driven enterprises and enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness. The Hong Kong Electronics Forum, jointly organised by the HKTDC, MMI Asia Pte Ltd and the HKEIA and co-organised by Hong Kong Institute of Engineers, will explore how AI, sustainability and technological innovation are shaping the future of the electronics industry. The exhibition will also feature a series of start-up-focused activities, including enterprise-investor matching sessions, the Hong Kong Value Creation for Technology: Pitching Competition, and mentorship programmes, providing start-ups with valuable opportunities to showcase innovative ideas, expand investor networks and secure funding support to strengthen their competitiveness. Top-tier lighting technologies and global industry leaders converge at twin lighting fairs As premier annual events for the global lighting and lighting products industry, the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo are expected to bring together some 3,000 exhibitors from more than 20 countries and regions. Under the theme “Beyond Illumination”, the twin lighting fairs will showcase the integration of smart technologies, sustainability, design aesthetics and lighting applications through a diverse range of thematic zones and activities. The fairs will highlight emerging industry trends and further reinforce their position as flagship platforms for the lighting industry in Asia and around the world. Leading global smart lighting and IoT industry alliances will participate in the Autumn Lighting Fair, including the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the DALI Alliance, the SILA-EMN Alliance, the Zhaga Consortium and, making its debut at the fair, KNX, the global standard for smart building and home automation. KNX, together with GVS Smart, will showcase the award-winning KNX Smart Touch S7 control panel, recipient of leading industry honours including the Red Dot Award, A’ Design Award and BDA Product Design Award. This product enables centralised control of lighting, curtains, air-conditioning systems and multiple smart home scenarios, allowing users to create personalised lighting environments and enjoy a seamless smart living experience. Hong Kong exhibitor Dimon Technology will showcase its advanced theatre lighting technologies deployed at the WestK Performing Arts Centre. The company has also provided intelligent lighting solutions for the International Gateway Centre (IGC), designed by internationally renowned architectural firm Zaha Hadid Architects, demonstrating the capability of Hong Kong lighting enterprises in delivering premium lighting technologies for landmark development projects. Hall of Connected Lighting returns with immersive lighting experiences A highlight of the Autumn Lighting Fair, the Hall of Connected Lighting will feature more than 60 leading brands, including local brand Dimon and Viliya; TUYA and Inventronics from the Chinese Mainland; Viso Systems from Denmark; Casambi from Finland; and Signify from the Netherlands. The zone will feature immersive lighting installations and application-based displays, enabling visitors to explore the latest smart lighting products and solutions through interactive light-and-shadow experiences. Among the highlights, Signify will collaborate with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team to present a racing simulator experience that extends the excitement of motorsport beyond the screen into a physical environment through innovative lighting technologies. Two professional racing simulators will allow visitors to experience the thrill of high-speed driving and sharp cornering in a highly immersive setting. Premium decorative lighting brand Viliya will create Mirrorverse, an immersive mirrored art installation featuring its popular Starburst crystal chandeliers and sophisticated table lamps. The installation will demonstrate how decorative lighting can shape ambience, elevate interior design and create distinctive spatial experiences. Sunpu-Opto (HK) Limited displays its 360° Round Tube RGB Table Lamp with a high-performance RGB LED module, creating an immersive atmosphere with dynamic colour-changing light Meanwhile, Casambi, the world's leading wireless smart lighting control platform, will once again host its Artisan Café concept space at the fair. Together with renowned international lighting brand Formalighting and 12 partners from Europe, the United States and the Asia-Pacific region, Casambi will showcase its open and interconnected smart lighting ecosystem through technical presentations and application sharing. New LED Display Solution Zone creates a commercial display ecosystem Expanding the event’s product scope, the Autumn Lighting Fair will launch the new LED Display Solution Zone to foster the development of a commercial LED display ecosystem. The zone will feature LED video walls, commercial displays, transparent and flexible LED panels, immersive audio-visual systems and integrated display solutions, covering applications ranging from retail environments and corporate presentations to exhibitions, virtual production and major commercial projects. First-time exhibitor Ledman Hong Kong will present the QS Series IceScreen LED Display, which was deployed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Featuring large-scale 8K display technology, the solution delivers highly realistic and impactful visual experiences. The company will also introduce the LEDHUB Smart Conference Solution, which integrates large-format display, video conferencing and collaboration functions into a single platform. Winner of the 2025 TITAN Innovation Awards Gold Award, the solution has been adopted by leading institutions including The University of Hong Kong, the University of Warwick and Fudan University. Another signature zone, the Hall of Aurora, will feature some 500 renowned brands offering high-quality lighting products. Exhibitors include Hong Kong industry pioneers Prosperity Lamps & Components and Profiled Group, mainland brands Eaglerise, FSL and Leedarson, and international brands such as Finland's Lival, Germany's Cupower and Italy's Beghelli. Other featured zones include Commercial Lighting, Residential Lighting and LED Essentials. Prosperity Lamps & Components' SYMPL FUSION seamlessly integrates intelligent control and dynamic lighting, supporting multiple protocols including DALI, KNX and DMX to combine smart management with creative lighting applicationsFirst-time exhibitor Ledman Hong Kong showcases its LEDHUB Smart Conference Solution, an all-in-one platform that integrates large-format display, video conferencing and collaboration functions Outdoor and Tech Light Expo focuses on emerging smart city lighting trends The Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo will showcase a wide range of outdoor, commercial and industrial lighting products and solutions across three major zones: Smart Pole and Solution; Outdoor, Industrial and Technical Lighting; and Landscape and Architectural Lighting. The expo will present newly introduced photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage solutions to help cities enhance energy efficiency, alongside lighting applications for smart city development, industrial environments, professional settings, landscape projects and architectural illumination. Expo exhibitor Fonda Technology will showcase intelligent lighting solutions based on its FondaCity AIoT Cloud Platform within the Smart Pole and Solution zone, incorporating solar energy, motion sensing and various communication technologies. Approximately 70,000 smart streetlight control devices have already been deployed under Hong Kong's New Territories West smart lighting project. In addition to enabling precision lighting control, the system allows city managers to monitor operational conditions in real time via an AIoT platform, significantly enhancing urban management efficiency. Zhejiang Fonda Technology Co., Ltd. presents its multifunctional smart pole solution, which has been deployed in a project in Hong Kong’s New Territories West. Supported by approximately 70,000 smart streetlight controllers and an AIoT cloud platform, the solution enhances lighting management efficiency At the Outdoor, Industrial and Technical Lighting zone, exhibitor Zhejiang Ouruijie Lighting Technology Co., Ltd. will showcase its L10A Starship Flood Luminaire, winner of the Aladdin Lighting Award 2026 – National Best Lighting Product Award. Inspired by aircraft carrier design, the product combines a distinctive appearance with innovative lighting technology. The Landscape and Architectural Lighting zone will showcase how lighting can create unique urban atmospheres while enhancing the safety, functionality and aesthetics of public spaces. Throughout the fair period, the two lighting fairs will join hands with leading international lighting organisations to present a series of seminars, product launches and networking events. The Innovative Lighting Design Forum will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on 27 October under the theme “Treasures of Light: Artistic Brilliance Beyond Exhibitions”. Three renowned lighting designers behind internationally acclaimed landmark projects will share the latest trends and insights, including Dr Yan Liu, Design Director, China of AT Design & Consulting Co Ltd, whose portfolio includes landmark projects such as the Louvre Museum in Paris and the Palace Museum in Beijing; Adam Meredith, Lighting Designer at MEGS Lighting from Australia, who has led lighting design projects for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and M+ in Hong Kong; and Omar Elkerm, Lighting Design Manager (Africa) at Signify, who led the lighting design for several major pyramid illumination projects in Egypt. On the same day, the fair will collaborate with the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) to launch a brand-new event, “Award-winning Illumination: Highlights from the IES Illumination Awards”. Winners of the prestigious IES Illumination Awards will share insights into the artistic and technical evolution of lighting design across different sectors. Featured speakers include Hiroyasu Shoji, Representative and Lighting Designer of Lightdesign Inc., who led the lighting design for the Grand Ring at Expo 2025 Osaka, and Kelly Jones, Co-Chief Executive Officer and President of Lighting Design Alliance, whose portfolio includes numerous projects for Disney and Universal Studios. The fair will also partner with Women in Lighting (WIL) for the first time to present “Circularity in Lighting Design” on 28 October. Leading female designers from around the world will discuss sustainable lighting design and the application of circular economy principles in the industry. Speakers include Yah Li Toh, Founder and Principal of Light Collab, who designed the lighting for the Singapore Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, and Pavlina Akritas, Founder of Akritas Lighting Design, known for her work on lighting projects for some of the world's most prestigious luxury brands. Another key event, the Connected Lighting Forum, will once again be co-organised with the Shanghai Pudong Intelligent Lighting Association (SILA). Under the theme “Healing Light for the Future: Illuminating Emotional Well-being”, the forum will explore developments in intelligent and human-centric lighting technologies and their role in supporting emotional wellness, featuring case studies on the therapeutic applications of light. At AsiaWorld-Expo, a series of exhibitor and buyer activities will be held. Among the highlights, a seminar titled “Smart Tech Integration in Outdoor Lighting” on 27 October will bring together experts from the Alliance of Smart Pole Industry and another industry organisation to examine how AI is driving the next generation of smart pole applications. To facilitate sourcing and business networking across the fairs, a complimentary shuttle bus service will be provided for exhibitors and buyers between the HKCEC and AsiaWorld-Expo throughout the exhibition period. The four exhibitions will continue to adopt the HKTDC's EXHIBITION+ hybrid exhibition model, combining physical and online participation. In addition to attending the fairs in person, exhibitors and buyers can utilise the Click2Match smart business matching platform to connect, source and conduct business discussions online. The online exhibition period for the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia will run from 6 to 23 October, while the online exhibitions for the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) and Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo will be available from 19 October to 6 November, enabling businesses to extend their sourcing and networking activities beyond the physical fair dates. [1] Source: Counterpoint Research: Global Humanoid Robot Shipment Report for H1 2026, published on 20 August 2026. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3VBQ6dm Websites - Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition): https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkelectronicsfairae/en - electronicAsia: https://www.hktdc.com/event/electronicasia/en - Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition): https://www.hktdc.com/event/hklightingfairae/en - Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkotlexpo/en Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) & electronicAsia Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw Tel: (852) 2584 4472 Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) & Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo Christy Lee Tel: (852) 2584 4369 Email: christy.wn.lee@hktdc.org Jane Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4137 Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cascades LithoURB: Reinventing Consumer Packaging With 100% Recycled Brown Paperboard 2026-09-29 · PR Newswire · Retail, Sustainability https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cascades-lithourb-reinventing-consumer-packaging-with-100-recycled-brown-paperboard-302892401.html KINGSEY FALLS, QC, Sept. 29, 2026 -- Cascades Inc. (TSX: CAS) is launching Cascades lithoURB, a 100% recycled and recyclable paperboard developed to meet market demand for high-end lithographic printing for corrugated and folding carton packaging. Thanks to its properties,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Facteus Consumer Transaction Intelligence Now Available on the Bloomberg Terminal 2026-09-29 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/facteus-consumer-transaction-intelligence-now-available-on-the-bloomberg-terminal-302892270.html Facteus expands US consumer transaction intelligence available to users, providing ticker-level signals to corroborate spending trends and deepen company research and analysis PORTLAND, Ore., Sept. 29, 2026 -- Facteus, a provider of decision-grade economic intelligence built... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DM Vans Reaches 800 Camper Vans in 8 Years 2026-09-29 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dm-vans-reaches-800-camper-vans-in-8-years-302892258.html Built on Colorado's Western Slope, the camper van manufacturer now has owners in 48 states. RIFLE, Colo., Sept. 29, 2026 -- DM Vans, a direct-to-consumer camper van manufacturer, has reached 800 vans in eight years. Susan, who owns a 2025 LV7 in Nebraska, calls hers "the best... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. Enters into Definitive Agreement to Sell PersonalizationMall.com® and Things Remembered® to PlanetArt® 2026-09-29 · Business Wire · Finance, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/1-800-flowers-com-inc-110000975.html JERICHO, N.Y., September 29, 2026--1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLWS) (the "Company"), a leading provider of thoughtful expressions designed to help inspire customers to give more, connect more, and build more and better relationships, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell PersonalizationMall.com and Things Remembered to PlanetArt, LLC, a leading global technology platform for personalized, make on demand e-commerce products, for approximately $45 million in ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Polo Assn. Brings 'Game On' to Life with the 2026 Fall-Winter Global Collection 2026-09-29 · ACN Newswire · Energy, Retail, Gaming, Media, Education, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110437/ West Palm Beach, FL, Sept 29, 2026 - U.S. Polo Assn.®, the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has launched its 2026 Fall-Winter Global Collection, a modern expression of American style rooted in the heritage and energy of the sport of polo. Photographed in the beautiful countryside of Millbrook, New York, the campaign blends the sophistication of New York lifestyle with the authenticity of Hudson Valley's equestrian heritage. From local gathering places and small-town Americana to scenic polo fields and countryside settings, the location creates a natural backdrop for ‘Game On,' a seasonal story inspired by campus life, sport, and polo's enduring style. "The 2026 Fall-Winter Global Collection reflects what makes U.S. Polo Assn. distinctive: an authentic connection to the sport, a modern American point of view and style designed for real life," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and markets the global, multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. "Millbrook in the Hudson Valley brings those elements together in a setting that feels elevated, energetic, and true to our heritage." Designed for Every Age and Stage Designed for every age and stage of the back-to-school season, the 2026 Fall-Winter Global Collection moves easily from classroom essentials to campus-ready style and everyday fall dressing. Heritage-inspired knitwear, elevated outerwear, and versatile layers lead the assortment, including the brand's iconic polo shirt, knit polo sweaters, cable-knit sweaters, cardigans, rugby shirts, structured jackets, trench coats, barn coats, quilted outerwear, shirting essentials, and relaxed denim. ‘Back to School All Stars' set the tone for a collection that balances timeless staples with trend-right pieces. Rich collegiate blues, greens, and reds are layered with warm earth tones and versatile neutrals for Fall and Holiday. Heritage plaids, collegiate and rugby stripes, equestrian-inspired prints, crest motifs and vintage logo graphics add distinctive character. At the same time, sueded textures, quilting, brushed checks, and novelty knit constructions bring depth and texture. "This collection was built around the way consumers dress now, with versatile pieces that layer easily, feel polished, and remain comfortable throughout the season," said Jessica Ramesberger, VP of Merchandising and Design at USPA Global. "We focused on creating a collection that combines heritage classics with modern styling, giving consumers effortless pieces they can wear from the first day of fall through the holiday season." The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born from the Game™ The season continues the story of 'The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born from the Game,' reinforcing the polo shirt as the most recognizable expression of U.S. Polo Assn.'s connection to the sport. For Fall-Winter, it is layered throughout the collection, from campus-inspired looks to elevated everyday dressing. The campaign and photoshoot also feature NYC Polo Club, further grounding the Fall-Winter story in the world of polo and bringing the collection to life through a fresh, contemporary lens. The NYC Polo Club Collection is available as a limited offering. "Millbrook, New York gave us the opportunity to tell a layered visual story that feels both inspirational and approachable," said Stefanie Coroalles, VP of Global Marketing for USPA Global. "The mix of campus energy, small-town Americana, and authentic polo club settings captures the spirit of ‘Game On, Fall' and gives the collection a strong sense of identity." USPA Life USPA Life products continue to be incorporated across U.S. Polo Assn. collections and represent a growing portion of the global business. This reflects the brand's ongoing commitment to sustainability and to exploring responsible avenues that support the business for years to come. The U.S. Polo Assn. 2026 Fall-Winter Global Collection is available in U.S. Polo Assn. stores and online globally at uspoloassnglobal.com. About U.S. Polo Assn. U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn.'s Global Polo Shirt Campaign, An Icon Born from the Game, is a powerful tribute to the iconic polo shirt's authentic sports origins and its evolution into one of the world's most enduring style essentials. The global sport brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at the USPA National Polo Center in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIN Sports in the Middle East now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time. U.S. Polo Assn. has recently been named one of USA Today's Most Trusted Brands and in 2026 was ranked the top sports licensor in the world, surpassing the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. The sport-inspired brand has been recognized internationally with awards for global growth and sports content. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Modern Retail, WWD, and GQ, as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world. For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn. USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages its subsidiary, Global Polo, which is the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube. Photo Captions: U.S. Polo Assn.'s 2026 Fall-Winter Global Collection photoshoot in the beautiful countryside of Millbrook, New York For Additional Information, Contact: Stacey Kovalsky - VP, Global PR and Communications Phone +001.561.790.8036 - Email: skovalsky@uspagl.com Kaela Drake - Senior PR & Communications Specialist Phone +001.561.790.8036 - Email: kdrake@uspagl.com SOURCE: USPA Global ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Meta Partners With Government Agencies, Law Enforcement, and Safety Organizations to Launch Regional Anti-Scam Education Campaign 2026-09-29 · Meta · Retail, Education, Telecom, Cybersecurity https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/meta-one-step-ahead-campaign/ As scams grow more sophisticated and difficult to detect, keeping people safe takes more than technology alone – it also requires education. Today, we’re sharing progress on our “One Step Ahead” anti-scam education campaign designed to help people across Asia-Pacific take simple, practical steps to protect their accounts and know where to turn for help when they encounter a potential scam.  The campaign was designed alongside more than 25 local safety organizations, law enforcement and government agencies across the region, and rolled out across Facebook and Instagram with three simple principles at its core: 1) safety advice should be practical, 2) easy to act on, and 3) come from a source people trust.  Since launching in May 2026, the campaign has reached more than 303 million people across 18 countries, delivering over 1.3 billion impressions and more than 1.2 million link clicks — one of the largest online-safety education efforts Meta has run in the region. The campaign promotes security tools available on Meta apps that people can use to increase their online safety:  Two-factor authentication adds a second check at login, so a stolen password isn’t enough to get in. Passkeys let people sign in with the fingerprint, face or PIN they already use – passkeys can’t be stolen, shared, guessed or reused. Security Checkup walks people through strengthening their Facebook account in minutes. Privacy Checkup keeps people in control of who can see, message and connect with them. WhatsApp’s Linked Device Warning alerts users when it detects a suspicious login attempt, an unauthorized web client, or a potential account-linking scam. WhatsApp group settings allow you to adjust group privacy settings to choose who can add you to WhatsApp groups. Partnering with the people communities already trust Collaboration is key in tackling scams and educating people on how to be safe online. Working with respected local partners lets us extend our reach, reinforce credibility, and make sure people know how to access local anti-scam resources. Through the campaign’s “Know Your Local Resources” element – which alone reached more than 27.4 million people across 14 markets  – people are connected directly to trusted organizations in their own country for reporting tools and support. See below for a full list of partner organizations.   What’s next The “One Step Ahead” campaign will continue throughout 2026, with new tools and locally tailored resources rolling out across the region and more partnerships on the way. We’re committed to supporting people beyond a single campaign: scammers keep evolving, and staying one step ahead is work that’s never truly finished. People can explore how to protect their accounts at Meta’s Scam Protection Center. Partnering organizations include: Australia: Scamwatch (operated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission) Bangladesh: Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Hong Kong: Anti-Deception Coordination Centre (ADCC); Cyber Defender India: National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) Indonesia: Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi / Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital); Cyber Crime Directorate of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police (Direktorat Siber Bareskrim Polri); Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC); Ministry of Trade (Kementerian Perdagangan) Japan: National Police Agency Kazakhstan: Ministry of Culture and Information; The Department for Countering Cybercrime of the Ministry of Internal Affairs New Zealand: Netsafe Pakistan: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Philippines: Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines, BSP); Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC); Whoscall; Bayan Academy Singapore: Singapore Police Force (SPF); National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)  Taiwan: MyGoPen; The Criminal Investigation Bureau; ADI  Thailand: NEC; Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES); Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA) Uzbekistan: The Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan; National Agency of Perspective Projects (NAPP) The post Meta Partners With Government Agencies, Law Enforcement, and Safety Organizations to Launch Regional Anti-Scam Education Campaign appeared first on Meta Newsroom. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Wafer Level Packaging Market Size, Share, Trends, Competitive Landscape and Forecast, 2026 to 2034 | 11.2% CAGR Fueled by AI, 5G, Automotive, and Fan-Out Packaging 2026-09-29 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Automotive, Telecom https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/29/3370528/28124/en/global-wafer-level-packaging-market-size-share-trends-competitive-landscape-and-forecast-2026-to-2034-11-2-cagr-fueled-by-ai-5g-automotive-and-fan-out-packaging.html Fan-out packaging, advanced RDL and strategic partnerships enable higher I/O density, lower costs and scalable growth across AI, 5G, automotive and consumer electronics Fan-out packaging, advanced RDL and strategic partnerships enable higher I/O density, lower costs and scalable growth across AI, 5G, automotive and consumer electronics ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— United States Semiconductor Memory Market: Size, Trends and Forecast to 2032 | Rising Automotive, IT, and Consumer Electronics Demand Creates Growth Opportunities 2026-09-29 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Automotive, Semiconductors https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/29/3370527/28124/en/united-states-semiconductor-memory-market-size-trends-and-forecast-to-2032-rising-automotive-it-and-consumer-electronics-demand-creates-growth-opportunities.html Deep insights into demand, competitive positioning, growth drivers, market entry opportunities, and semiconductor memory segments across key U.S. industries Deep insights into demand, competitive positioning, growth drivers, market entry opportunities, and semiconductor memory segments across key U.S. industries ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Teads and Koddi Announce Global Partnership to Advance Programmatic Access to Retail Media 2026-09-29 · GlobeNewswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/29/3370514/0/en/teads-and-koddi-announce-global-partnership-to-advance-programmatic-access-to-retail-media.html Strategic integration brings OpenRTB standards to onsite retail inventory across the US and Europe, enabling brands to activate high-intent placements alongside omnichannel campaigns Strategic integration brings OpenRTB standards to onsite retail inventory across the US and Europe, enabling brands to activate high-intent placements alongside omnichannel campaigns ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kinwong Electronic Debuts on Hong Kong Stock Exchange: Emerging AI Computing Business, Mature Segments Fund Expansion 2026-09-29 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Telecom, Industrial, Aerospace & defense https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110450/ HONG KONG, Sept 29, 2026 - As global AI model infrastructure investment enters a boom phase, and with continued penetration of edge AI and vehicle electrification and smart features, the printed circuit board (PCB) industry is benefiting from both technology upgrading and value chain re-rating. Riding this industry tailwind, Shenzhen Kinwong Electronic Co., Ltd. (“Kinwong” or the “Company”, 3228.HK), a leading global PCB manufacturer, officially listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on September 29, 2026, completing its “A+H” dual listing platform. The prospectus lays out a clear “1+1+N” business structure: telecommunications and data infrastructure (including AI compute) as the new growth driver, complemented by high-potential segments including smart devices and industrial control, with industry-leading automotive electronics as the stable base, forging a path of sustainable, high-quality growth. Seizing the AI Compute Boom: AI Core Business Begins to Deliver As one of the few manufacturers supplying PCB to global leading AI computing infrastructure companies, Kinwong is leveraging its first-mover advantage to translate infrastructure tailwinds into strong financial results. According to the prospectus, in the first four months of 2026, revenue from AI-related PCBs reached RMB268 million — a four-month value already about 35.1% above the full-year 2025 total, lifting its share of total revenue to 5.0%. Driven by AI compute demand, revenue from the telecommunications and data infrastructure segment surged from RMB772 million in 2023 to RMB1.591 billion in 2025, doubling in two years. In the first four months of 2026, this segment accounted for 15.6% of total revenue, becoming the key engine of overall growth. Years of investment in high-end process technology are now paying off. As early as 2019, Kinwong proactively built production bases for high-layer-count (HLC) PCBs and high-end HDI PCBs. Today, the Company has achieved mass production of AI compute-related products, including HLC PCBs with over 40 layers, 6-build-up 22-layer HDI PCBs, 14-layer HDI PCBs using the mSAP process, and multilayer PTFE flexible PCBs. The Company has established manufacturing capability for HLC PCBs above 70 layers and 9-build-up 28-layer HDI PCBs. In addition, customer certification has commenced for 11-build-up HDI PCBs. Notably, the 9-build-up 28-layer HDI PCB completed customer qualification in only 90 days, demonstrating both product reliability and fast ramp-up speed. Expanding into Edge AI: Full-Spectrum Hardware Plays Beyond cloud computing and its established automotive business, Kinwong is capitalizing on the edge AI trend, extending the “N” in its “1+1+N” strategy to mid- and high-end hardware across humanoid robots, drones and industrial automation, positioning early to capture the device upgrade cycle. The Company has a strong consumer electronics customer base, serving seven of the world’s top ten smartphone brands. As edge AI drives higher hardware specifications, demand for value-added products such as HDI and rigid-flex PCBs is rising, opening up sustainable growth avenues. Driven by synergies across all segments, Kinwong’s overall performance has grown steadily. Per the prospectus, revenue reached RMB10.757 billion, RMB12.659 billion and RMB15.308 billion in 2023, 2024 and 2025, while profit for the year came in at RMB911 million, RMB1.160 billion and RMB1.244 billion respectively — three consecutive years of steady growth on both top and bottom lines. In the first four months of 2026, revenue hit RMB5.341 billion, showing continued scale expansion and strong through-cycle resilience. Automotive Electronics Anchors the Stable Cash Base: Funding AI Compute Expansion Developing and scaling high-end AI compute PCBs requires substantial and sustained capital expenditure and R&D spending. Kinwong’s solid position in global automotive electronics PCB gives it resilience and steady cash flow, providing a stable financial base for expanding into the high-barrier AI compute market. According to CIC, based on 2025 revenue, Kinwong was the world’s largest automotive electronics PCB supplier with 10.6% market share, and ranked 11th among overall PCB manufacturers globally with 2.5% share. Eight of the world’s top ten Tier 1 automotive suppliers are core Kinwong customers, and its PCBs are used across products from all top ten global automakers, reflecting strong customer moats and high business visibility. The Company’s operations provide a stable cash-generative base that, together with the IPO proceeds and debt financing, supports high-end capacity build-out, including the Zhuhai Jinwan base, creating a reinforcing cycle: mature businesses generate cash, emerging businesses drive growth. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TruTrade Introduces a New Era of Automated Trading for Retail Traders 2026-09-29 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trutrade-introduces-a-new-era-of-automated-trading-for-retail-traders-302892126.html SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 28, 2026 -- TruTrade, a U.S.-based software company specializing in automated trading technology, is introducing a new era of automated trading designed to give retail traders access to sophisticated technology without the complexity traditionally... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Helping personal agents shop more intelligently and reliably with Link 2026-09-29 · Stripe · Retail, Construction & engineering https://stripe.com/blog/helping-personal-agents-shop-more-intelligently-and-reliably-with-link As agents take on more purchases, agent builders have increasingly asked us to help agents navigate checkout and earn consumer trust. Today, we’re sharing three major improvements to support this broader set of needs. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— askelie® launches askVERA, a new Easy Read AI platform to make complex documents easier to understand 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Education https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/askelie-launches-askvera-a-new-easy-read-ai-platform-to-make-complex-documents-easier-to-understand-302892055.html askVERA's Easy Read software is available in consumer (B2C) and business (B2B) versions, both with built-in Plain English. LONDON, Sept. 28, 2026 -- askelie®, the UK-based AI platform company behind the ELIE (Ever Learning Intelligent Engine) platform, today announced the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Upstart Securitization Trust 2026-4 2026-09-28 · Business Wire · SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/kbra-assigns-preliminary-ratings-upstart-223600595.html NEW YORK, September 28, 2026--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to five classes of notes issued by Upstart Securitization Trust 2026-4 ("UPST 2026-4"), a $400.0 million consumer loan ABS securitization collateralized by unsecured consumer loans and auto secured personal loans. UPST 2026-4 represents the 52nd ABS securitization collateralized by loans originated through the online platform operated by Upstart Network, Inc. ("Upstart" or the "Company"), a 100% owned subsidiary of the publicly trade ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fintech Meets CDFI: Tellus and Central Bank of Kansas City Team Up on FDIC-Insured Deposit Account 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fintech-meets-cdfi-tellus-and-central-bank-of-kansas-city-team-up-on-fdic-insured-deposit-account-302891995.html The partnership pairs Tellus's consumer technology with a certified Community Development Financial Institution that has spent decades quietly proving a bank can be both prudent and purposeful. Deposits are held at Central Bank of Kansas City, Member FDIC. MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Sept. 28,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CPSC Names Colette Devine Chief Enforcement Officer 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cpsc-names-colette-devine-chief-enforcement-officer-302891985.html WASHINGTON, Sept. 28, 2026 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced that Colette Devine will serve as the agency's Chief Enforcement Officer. Devine will be the first to hold this title, which replaces Director of Compliance and reflects CPSC's increased... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— L2 Brands Names John Fryer Chief Executive Officer 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/l2-brands-names-john-fryer-chief-executive-officer-302891967.html Experienced Consumer and Apparel Executive to Lead L2 Brands' Next Phase of Growth HANOVER, Pa., Sept. 28, 2026 -- L2 Brands, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium custom-decorated apparel and headwear, today announced the appointment of John Fryer as Chief... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Liberate Introduces AI Intercept as Consumer AI Assistants Start Shopping for Insurance 2026-09-28 · Business Wire · AI, Real estate, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/liberate-introduces-ai-intercept-consumer-190000465.html SAN FRANCISCO, September 28, 2026--Liberate, a provider of insurance-native AI agents for property and casualty insurers, today launched AI Intercept, a capability that screens every inbound call to a carrier or agency, identifies when the caller is a consumer's AI agent rather than a person, and routes it to Liberate's AI for end-to-end handling, allowing human teams to stay focused on the customers who need them. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— North Announces Partnership with Webflow to Launch Native Embedded Checkout for Enterprise eCommerce Web Development 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-announces-partnership-with-webflow-to-launch-native-embedded-checkout-for-enterprise-ecommerce-web-development-302891791.html New marketplace integration drops payment infrastructure directly into the Webflow canvas, ending external domain redirects, maximizing merchant conversions, and unlocking new possibilities for organizations leveraging Webflow. TROY, Mich., Sept. 28, 2026 -- North, a... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Market America completes sale of SHOP.COM domain name, ushering in a new era for the global entrepreneurship company 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/market-america-completes-sale-of-shopcom-domain-name-ushering-in-a-new-era-for-the-global-entrepreneurship-company-302891647.html Market America consolidates its brands, products, technology and UnFranchise® Business at a reimagined MarketAmerica.com, built on Shopify and enhanced with AI-powered shopping GREENSBORO, N.C., Sept. 28, 2026 -- Market America Worldwide today announced the completion of the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BBB National Programs Names Ahmad Akbari as Vice President, National Partners and Business Development 2026-09-28 · iCrowdNewswire · Retail https://icrowdnewswire.com/2026/09/28/bbb-national-programs-names-ahmad-akbari-as-vice-president-national-partners-and-business-development/ McLean, VA – September 28, 2026 – BBB National Programs today announced that Ahmad Akbari, a business and financial services executive with more than 25 years of experience across national operations, private banking, consumer and business banking, and financial consulting, […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DDC Enterprise Filed Annual Report on Form 20-F on April 21, 2026 2026-09-28 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/28/3369982/0/en/ddc-enterprise-filed-annual-report-on-form-20-f-on-april-21-2026.html NEW YORK, Sept. 28, 2026 -- DDC Enterprise Limited (NYSEAMERICAN: DDC) (“DDC” or the “Company”), a leading multi-brand Asian consumer food company with a growing strategic bitcoin treasury, today announced that it filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 21, 2026. The annual report on Form 20-F can be accessed on the Company’s investor relations website at https://ir.ddc.xyz/financials/financial-results or on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Trevor Bithrey Vice President Pro End User Marketing and Research - Canada 2026-09-28 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110421/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Sept 28, 2026 - Trevor Bithrey joins Chervon as Vice President, Pro End User Marketing and Research - Canada, effective Monday, September 28, reporting to CEO Joe Galli. Bithrey joins Chervon with over 25 years of professional power tools experience. He has excelled in his increasingly responsible positions in building both the DeWalt Canada business and the Milwaukee Canada business. He brings an impressive and diverse skillset in account management, end user marketing, aftersales service and end user research. He also has experience building and leading exceptional teams in Canada. Bithrey will also be part of the newly formed Chervon Global End User Research and Jobsite Marketing team, reporting directly to CEO Joe Galli. Bithrey's career started at DeWalt Canada where he held a series of sales and product management positions from 2000 to 2007. He then moved to Milwaukee Canada from 2007 until 2023 where he advanced through key leadership roles, culminating in his position as Vice President of End User Marketing, Product Service and Brand Management for Milwaukee from 2020 to 2023. Most recently, he was driving end user marketing in key verticals for Ansell Safety - Canada. Bithrey is an honors graduate from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He is also a graduate of the 2023 TTI breakthrough leadership program. "We are highly fortunate to have Trevor joining our North American leadership team," said CEO Joe Galli. "His extensive background in end user research, jobsite marketing, after-sales service, and account management along with his strong leadership skills make him a perfect match for our inspired high-performance end user culture here at Chervon." "I am thrilled to be joining Chervon," said Bithrey. "The company's customer centricity and powerful product development system sets us up beautifully to deliver exciting levels of growth in the years ahead." About Chervon Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Novonesis celebrates major expansion of West Allis production facility, strengthening North American dairy innovation and manufacturing 2026-09-28 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/28/3369949/0/en/novonesis-celebrates-major-expansion-of-west-allis-production-facility-strengthening-north-american-dairy-innovation-and-manufacturing.html Investment increases production capacity, supports booming consumer demand and reinforces Wisconsin's leadership in dairy biosolutions Investment increases production capacity, supports booming consumer demand and reinforces Wisconsin's leadership in dairy biosolutions ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Promotes Kevin Gee to Vice President of Pro Product Development - FLEX 2026-09-28 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Retail, Education, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110417/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Sept 28, 2026 - Chervon promotes Kevin Gee to Vice President of Pro Product Development - FLEX, effective Monday, September 28, 2026, reporting to CEO Joe Galli. Kevin Gee joined Chervon after a 15-year international career in the Milwaukee Pro Power Tool business. He started his career at TTI in 2011 as a Field Sales Store Representative in Toronto, Ontario. He moved through several Milwaukee marketing positions in Canada and was then promoted to a marketing position with Milwaukee based in Hong Kong in 2013. He then rose to the position of Group Marketing Manager in Milwaukee Asia in 2016. In 2017, Kevin was moved to Milwaukee U.S.A. and advanced through a series of Milwaukee product management positions from 2017 to 2023. His final position was Director of Product Management for Milwaukee Pro Tools from 2021 to 2023. Most recently, Kevin held the position of Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer for Guardian Safety Equipment before joining Chervon in 2026. Gee has an undergraduate degree and MBA from Lakeland University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. "Gee's impressive international pro tool experience and his outstanding leadership skills make him a great choice to assume the key Vice President of Product Development role for FLEX," said CEO Joe Galli. "I have been highly impressed and inspired watching Kevin in action here at Chervon." "I very much look forward to building and leading a world class pro tool product development team for FLEX," said Gee. "It is clear Chervon strongly values an obsessive, maniacal focus on world class product development. My passion for winning pro product development is an exact match for Chervon's customer and end user centricity." About Chervon Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kidd's Home Hardware Stocks Milwaukee and DeWalt Tools for Roofers and Siding Crews in Sundridge 2026-09-28 · ePRNews · Retail https://eprnews.com/kidds-home-hardware-stocks-milwaukee-and-dewalt-tools-for-roofers-and-siding-crews-in-sundridge-688901/ Kidd’s Home Hardware changed ownership a few years ago, and many of the old staff stayed on alongside newer hires. Customers include contractors and people fixing up their own places in the Almaguin Highlands. The Sundridge store has 19,000 square feet of retail space. Its lumber yards cover eight acres. The tool department sells Northern […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HKTDC raises 2026 export forecast amid AI boom, Strong technology demand and resilient supply chains underpin growth 2026-09-28 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Telecom, Fashion & luxury, Industrial, Logistics, Semiconductors https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110398/ HONG KONG, Sept 28, 2026 - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has substantially revised upward its forecast for Hong Kong's merchandise export growth in 2026 to 42%-47%, following significantly stronger-than-expected global demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related technologies, prompting a major upgrade to the trade outlook. Meanwhile, the latest HKTDC Export Confidence Index (3Q26) indicates that exporter sentiment remains broadly positive despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. The Current Performance Index stood at 51.8, while the Expectation Index registered 51.3, with both remaining above the neutral 50-point threshold. HKTDC Director of Research Bruce Pang (left), Deputy Director of Research Wing Chu (centre) and Section Head of Special Project & Business Advisory Kenneth Lee (right) announced the latest Hong Kong’s export outlook for 2026 and HKTDC Export Confidence Index for the third quarter of the year at a press conference today. AI-driven electronics exceed expectations Commenting on the export outlook, HKTDC Director of Research, Bruce Pang, said: "The strong Hong Kong export growth recorded this year has been driven primarily by the rapid acceleration of global demand for AI-related products and infrastructure. Demand for semiconductors, memory chips, computer components, telecommunications equipment and other advanced electronics expanded much faster than expected, providing substantial support to Hong Kong's exports." HKTDC Director of Research Bruce Pang Electronics remained the dominant growth engine, accounting for approximately 80% of Hong Kong's total exports in the first eight months of 2026. Exports of electronics rose by 52.8% year-on-year, significantly outpacing overall export growth. Major markets included the Chinese Mainland, ASEAN and the US, reflecting strong demand across global technology supply chains. Particularly notable was the strong performance of items related to growing investments in AI infrastructure, cloud computing, data centres and next-generation digital technologies worldwide. AI-related electronics now account for an increasingly significant share of Hong Kong's exports. Growth with broader regional trade flows throughout Asia The strong export performance has not been confined to a narrow range of technology items. HKTDC Deputy Director of Research, Wing Chu, said: "Exports of a broad range of conventional electronic parts and components have continued to perform strongly. Regional manufacturing networks spanning the Chinese Mainland and ASEAN economies remain highly active, supporting vigorous trade flows throughout Asia. At the same time, export performance across many traditional industries has remained broadly stable, reflecting continued overseas demand and resilient consumption in major markets." HKTDC Deputy Director of Research Wing Chu ASEAN continues to be one of Hong Kong's most dynamic export destinations, while exporter sentiment towards both ASEAN and the Chinese Mainland remains firmly positive. Regional trade flows across Asia have remained exceptionally strong amid the ongoing technology upcycle, demonstrating the resilience of regional production networks and supply chains. The Chinese Mainland's high-technology manufacturing sector has remained in expansion territory, helping sustain demand for electronic components and related intermediate goods. Exports remain robust amid evolving US trade policies Recent developments in US trade policy have introduced additional uncertainty into the global trading environment. In July, the United States imposed an additional 12.5% Section 301 tariff on imports from a number of trading partners, including the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong. Nevertheless, Hong Kong's exports to the United States have remained remarkably resilient, with US-bound exports rising by 63.4% year-on-year in the first eight months of 2026. Bruce Pang added: "While the latest Section 301 tariff measures have added a degree of uncertainty for businesses, the direct impact on Hong Kong exports is expected to be limited. A substantial share of Hong Kong's exports to the United States consists of products covered by tariff exemption arrangements, particularly in the technology and electronics sectors.” “Recent developments in China-US relations have also helped improve the trade environment. The September Xi-Trump meeting and extension of the trade truce until January 2027, coupled with the US$30 billion Reciprocal Tariff Reduction Arrangement, provide a welcome period of stability, reducing the risk of further tariff escalation in the coming months. The extended policy dialogue between the two sides has also led to further easing in bilateral trade tensions. Together with the continued strength of global demand for technology products, these developments should help underpin Hong Kong's export performance in the months ahead." Hong Kong moving up the value chain Beyond the cyclical upswing in technology demand, recent trade developments also point to a significant structural transformation in Hong Kong's trade profile. According to HKTDC research, Hong Kong's exports are increasingly concentrated in high-value, technology-intensive products such as integrated circuits, computer parts and advanced telecommunications equipment. These products are progressively replacing traditional lower-value, bulk merchandise as key contributors to export growth. At the same time, Hong Kong's trade logistics pattern is undergoing a profound shift, as the growing importance of high-value items, such as semiconductors and luxury products, has increased reliance on air freight. Hong Kong's extensive air cargo network, combined with its close land transport connectivity with advanced manufacturing clusters in Southern China, has strengthened its position as a leading high-value international trade and logistics hub, as pledged in Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan. Wing Chu said: "Hong Kong is increasingly handling products that are compact in size but exceptionally high in value, which are frequently transported via a combination of air cargo services serving overseas destinations and land transport links connecting Hong Kong with manufacturing centres in the Chinese Mainland. This transformation highlights Hong Kong's evolution from a traditional trading gateway into a high-value-added international trade and supply chain management centre." Outlook remains constructive Looking ahead, the HKTDC expects Hong Kong's exports to maintain solid momentum through the remainder of 2026, supported by resilient global demand for technology products, and robust manufacturing and trade activities across the Chinese Mainland and other major destinations, such as ASEAN. Nevertheless, exporters will continue to navigate a challenging and uncertain external environment. HKTDC Section Head of Special Project & Business Advisory, Kenneth Lee, said: "Businesses continue to face a range of external headwinds like geopolitical tensions, volatility in energy and commodity markets, and rising protectionist measures in certain economies. Despite these challenges, international consumption has remained relatively resilient in recent months, helping sustain demand for a broad range of consumer products. As a result, sectors such as clothing, watches and clocks, and jewellery have continued to deliver stable export performance alongside the strong growth seen in technology-related industries." HKTDC Section Head of Special Project & Business Advisory Kenneth Lee References - Hong Kong’s 2026 Export Outlook: Hong Kong Export Growth Forecast Upgraded to 42%-47% https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MjQzNzY3NzQ4Mg - HKTDC Export Confidence Index 3Q26: Sentiment remains broadly positive https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MjQzNzY3MzkyMw - Hong Kong's Evolution into a High Value-Added Trade Hub https://research.hktdc.com/en/article/MjQzOTM2OTY1MQ - HKTDC Research website https://research.hktdc.com/en/   Photo download: https://bit.ly/4rD4M8f Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department:  Christy Lee  Tel: (852) 2584 4369  Email: christy.wn.lee@hktdc.org About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Yeenkran Announces 100-Piece OEM Bag Manufacturing Program for Emerging Global Brands 2026-09-28 · Newsfile · Retail, Industrial https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/315716/Yeenkran-Announces-100Piece-OEM-Bag-Manufacturing-Program-for-Emerging-Global-Brands Wuhan, China--(September 28, 2026) - Wuhan Yeenkran Bag Co., Ltd. (Yeenkran), a custom bag manufacturer based in Wuhan, China, announced the launch of a new 100-piece OEM bag manufacturing program designed to support emerging global brands, e-commerce businesses and other companies developing custom bag collections without committing to large initial production volumes.Under the new program, qualifying buyers can begin OEM production from 100 pieces per style and color, subject... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Guy Gentile Releases The Stock Operator, Tracing Three Decades of Trading, Risk and Loss 2026-09-28 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316192/Guy-Gentile-Releases-The-Stock-Operator-Tracing-Three-Decades-of-Trading-Risk-and-Loss Dubai, United Arab Emirates--(September 28, 2026) - Trader and author Guy Gentile has released The Stock Operator: The Rise, Fall, and Return of an American Trader, a new book drawing on more than three decades of his experience in the financial markets and trading businesses. The book is now available in paperback, Kindle and hardcover editions through Amazon.Guy Gentile, author of The Stock Operator. (Photo: GuyGentile.com)The book combines Gentile's account of his trading... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How to stream Shakira's Madrid concert, exclusively with Amazon Music 2026-09-28 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/entertainment/shakira-livestream-amazon-music-prime-video?utm_source=rss Shakira's October 3 Madrid performance as part of her 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran' world tour will stream live exclusively via Amazon. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Embedded Finance Revenue to Reach $617 Billion Globally by 2031, as B2B Revenue Surges 390% 2026-09-28 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/28/3369516/0/en/embedded-finance-revenue-to-reach-617-billion-globally-by-2031-as-b2b-revenue-surges-390.html Embedded finance revenue to reach $617bn globally by 2031. 279% growth driven by increased access to eCommerce, regulatory standardisation & B2B growth ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 10 WORKING DAYS TO READ: PRIVACY FINE PRINT BEHIND A FAMILY'S DIGITAL DAY MORE THAN SHAKESPEARE'S COMPLETE WORKS, NEW STUDY FINDS 2026-09-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/10-working-days-to-read-privacy-fine-print-behind-a-familys-digital-day-more-than-shakespeares-complete-works-new-study-finds-302890851.html UK family would need about 83 hours, or 10.4 working days, to read 257 consumer privacy and terms documents linked to one ordinary day ZURICH, Sept. 28, 2026 -- A UK family would need more than 10 full working days to read the privacy small print attached to the digital... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Airwheel Smart Electric Cabin Suitcase Wins 2026 iLuxury Awards for SE3SX 20inch Rideable AI Wheel Boarding Carry-on Hand Travel Scooter Luxury Luggage 2026-09-28 · ACN Newswire · AI, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110387/ BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Sept 28, 2026 - Airwheel, an intelligent mobility technology brand, today announced that its flagship Airwheel SE3SX smart riding cabin suitcase has been recognized at the 2026 iLuxury Awards, receiving the "Best Luxury Tech and Gadgets – Best Luxury Tech for Travel " award. The award-winning rideable carry-on combines intelligent mobility, flagship engineering, and premium industrial design for the next generation of travel.When travel becomes about more than simply reaching a destination—when the journey itself becomes part of the experience—the definition of premium travel equipment begins to evolve. The recognition highlights the SE3SX’s combination of intelligent mobility, connected technology, premium materials, and futuristic industrial design, reflecting a broader shift in how technology is being integrated into the luxury travel experience. Rather than treating luggage as a passive container, Airwheel approaches the suitcase as an active part of the journey—one that can carry belongings, provide powered mobility, connect with digital devices, and adapt to different travel scenarios. iLuxury Awards: Where Luxury Meets Technology The iLuxury Awards, founded by the International Awards Associate (IAA), recognizes innovation across luxury products, design, technology, and lifestyle. The program highlights products that bring together aesthetic refinement, technological innovation, craftsmanship, and practical value. For Airwheel, the SE3SX recognition reflects the growing convergence of luxury design and intelligent mobility. The award also arrives as the global luggage category moves beyond traditional considerations such as capacity, materials, and appearance. Connected functionality, electric mobility, human-machine interaction, and personalized experiences are becoming increasingly relevant to the next generation of premium travel products. Beyond the Suitcase: Intelligent Mobility for the Journey For generations, the suitcase has served one fundamental purpose: carrying belongings from one destination to another. Airwheel is exploring a different possibility. The SE3SX combines luggage storage with an integrated electric drive system, allowing travelers to switch between riding and conventional rolling modes according to the environment. This makes the product particularly relevant to travel scenarios that involve long distances on foot, including airport terminals, railway stations, exhibition complexes, and large commercial spaces. The concept is straightforward: instead of simply pulling luggage behind them, travelers can use the suitcase itself as part of their mobility experience. In this sense, the SE3SX represents a broader transition from traditional luggage toward Smart Luggage, Electric Suitcases, and Rideable Cabin Suitcases. Flagship Engineering, Designed Around the Traveler The SE3SX combines a 20-inch cabin-oriented form factor with an integrated electric mobility system. The suitcase measures 530 × 360 × 236 mm, offers approximately 20 liters of storage, and weighs about 6.6 kg. It supports a maximum load of 95 kg and reaches a top riding speed of 9.9 km/h. Its propulsion system combines a 230W motorized front wheel with rear auxiliary wheels to support both riding stability and conventional rolling. The system is designed for controlled movement across suitable travel environments, while the suitcase can return to conventional pull-behind use when riding is not appropriate. The exterior combines a high-strength ABS+PC shell with an aluminum alloy frame, balancing structural strength with a premium, lightweight form. A TSA combination lock supports international travel, while a built-in USB output provides convenient charging for compatible personal devices. The SE3SX uses a 73.26Wh detachable lithium battery, designed around applicable air-travel battery requirements. Technology That Stays Out of the Way For a premium smart product, technology is most effective when it feels natural. The SE3SX integrates physical controls with the Airwheel companion app, giving users different ways to interact with the suitcase depending on the situation. Its smart connectivity also includes native support for Apple Find My, allowing compatible Apple devices to help locate the suitcase. This combination of electric mobility and digital connectivity expands the role of luggage beyond physical storage. The suitcase becomes part of the traveler's connected device ecosystem, linking movement, location, and interaction within a single product. From long airport concourses to short-distance transfers, the objective is not simply to make luggage faster. It is to make movement with luggage more effortless. A Portfolio Built Around Intelligent Travel The SE3SX represents Airwheel's flagship approach to premium intelligent travel, but it is part of a broader product portfolio developed for different users and travel scenarios. Airwheel SE3SX Cabin Suitcase — The flagship smart cabin suitcase and 2026 iLuxury Awards recipient, combining electric mobility, connected functions, Apple Find My, and premium industrial design. Airwheel SE3SXD Ai Luxury Suitcase — A next-generation intelligent model that explores automated mechanical deployment, smart interaction, and a more integrated AI-oriented travel experience. Airwheel SE3SL+ Airport Suitcase — Designed around frequent airport and railway travel, combining compact dimensions, powered mobility, and connected smart functions. Airwheel SE3MiniT Electric Hand Suitcase — A more compact and lightweight interpretation of rideable luggage, designed for short trips and everyday mobility. Airwheel SE3T Ai Wheel Suitcase — A larger-format smart electric suitcase developed for travelers who need greater capacity for longer journeys and family travel. Airwheel SQ3S Kids Suitcase — A smart rideable suitcase designed for younger travelers, bringing intelligent mobility and travel entertainment into the family journey. Across the portfolio, Airwheel continues to develop technologies spanning electric drive systems, motion control, intelligent sensing, structural engineering, and connected interaction. The result is not a single definition of smart luggage, but a product ecosystem designed around different forms of travel. From High-End Technology to a High-End Lifestyle The evolution of intelligent luggage is also reflected in where these products are being introduced. Airwheel has expanded its premium retail presence into high-end commercial destinations including SKP, IFC, and MixC, bringing intelligent travel products into environments traditionally associated with luxury fashion, premium consumer electronics, and sophisticated lifestyle products. The significance goes beyond retail. As smart luggage enters high-end commercial spaces, the category itself begins to move from conventional travel goods toward technology-enabled lifestyle products. The modern luxury suitcase is no longer defined solely by leather, metal, craftsmanship, or brand heritage. Increasingly, its value can also be expressed through intelligent interaction, mobility, connectivity, and the quality of the experience it creates. Technology Built for Long-Term Innovation Behind the evolution of Airwheel's smart mobility products is a technology foundation developed over more than a decade. Airwheel's intelligent riding products are distributed across 68 countries and more than 4,600 retail terminals, while the company has accumulated more than 600 patents worldwide covering areas including motion control, electric drive systems, intelligent sensing, and lightweight structural design. The company has also received recognition from a range of international design and innovation programs. In 2026, the SE3SX received the iLuxury Awards recognition alongside other international distinctions, including a TITAN Innovation Award Platinum and WGA Wonder Global Design Award Silver, while other Airwheel models have received additional international design honors. Together, these developments reflect a sustained effort to bring engineering, industrial design, and intelligent interaction into a category that has remained largely unchanged for decades. The Next Chapter of Intelligent Travel The evolution of travel equipment is no longer simply about making luggage lighter, larger, or more durable. The next generation is increasingly about making it more intelligent, more connected, and more responsive to the way people actually travel. The Airwheel SE3SX represents one expression of that transition—from traditional luggage to smart mobility, and from passive storage to active participation in the journey. As Airwheel continues to develop products spanning AI Suitcases, Luxury Suitcases, Smart Suitcases, Cabin Suitcases, and Rideable Electric Luggage, the company is exploring a broader vision of intelligent travel in which technology becomes an almost invisible part of the experience. The destination may remain the same. But the journey is becoming something entirely different. About Airwheel Airwheel is an intelligent mobility technology brand focused on smart travel and personal mobility. Its product portfolio spans smart rideable suitcases, electric luggage, intelligent mobility products, and related connected travel technologies. By combining electric drive systems, intelligent controls, digital connectivity, and industrial design, Airwheel develops products designed to make everyday movement more intuitive, efficient, and engaging. Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Can’t Escape Hay Fever Outdoors? Levoit Australia Says Start at Home 2026-09-28 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/28/3369471/0/en/can-t-escape-hay-fever-outdoors-levoit-australia-says-start-at-home.html Levoit Australia helps prepare homes for hay fever season with HEPA air purifiers, up to 43% off during Amazon Spring Sale, Sep 29–Oct 5. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— iCXeed Announces Key Leadership Appointments to Accelerate Cognitive Customer Experience Innovation on AWS 2026-09-27 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Education https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110383/ SYDNEY, AU, Sept 28, 2026 - iCXeed, a specialist AWS customer experience transformation partner, today announced the appointment of Aurelien Plancque as Chief Product and AI Officer, Halle Nguyen as Director of CX Strategy, and Arnel Clave as Vice President of Technology Solutions. Global enterprises are under pressure to modernise their contact centres and seek an experienced partner to deliver multi-year innovation transformations that combine strategy, operations, and engineering. These appointments address market demand for a single partner that unifies consulting, operations, and technology to deliver cognitive customer experiences at scale using analytics, AI, and automation on AWS and Amazon Connect. For iCXeed Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Rain Abueg, the answer has always been about people first. The company looked at where the market is heading, identified the capabilities it needed to get there faster, and sought leaders whose thinking mirrors how iCXeed has been built from day one. "We have always believed that the right people, aligned on values and vision, will outperform credentials alone. Together, Aurelien, Arnel, and Halle raise the ceiling for what iCXeed can deliver." - Rain Abueg, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer Three Leaders. Three Disciplines. One Mission. Aurelien Plancque, Chief Product and AI Officer Aurelien Plancque brings more than 15 years of hands-on contact centre technology and software development expertise, including most recently five years as Senior Solution Architect at AWS. Plancque has architected cloud contact centre platforms for large enterprises and governments, published well-recognised open-source solutions for AWS, and has a proven history delivering CX and AI technology solutions that deliver innovation and business value for clients. He is based in Sydney, Australia. "AI should make customer experiences feel effortless, and make the teams behind them faster and sharper. At iCXeed, we're applying it to both: the journeys our clients' customers live through, and the way we build the products that power them." - Aurelien Plancque, Chief Product and AI Officer Arnel Clave, Vice President, Technology Solutions Arnel Clave is promoted from Senior Solutions Architect, having grown iCXeed's engineering organisation to more than 80 professionals. In his expanded role, Clave will deepen investment in engineering learning and development while applying analytics, AI, and automation to iCXeed's own workflows. The technology iCXeed works on is in many cases only months old, and the pace of change is not slowing down. Operating from the Philippines, Clave is applying the same approach the company delivers for clients to its own engineering teams. "We are investing in and expanding internal systems that increase our capacity for learning and accelerate how we execute innovation. ‘Tara na!' (Let's go!)" - Arnel Clave, Vice President, Technology Solutions Halle Nguyen, Director, CX Strategy Also based in Sydney, Halle Nguyen brings more than a decade of CX consulting and operations leadership. Most recently a Senior Manager of Experience Transformation at a leading global CX consultancy, Nguyen led multi-region transformation programmes integrating Contact Centre as a Service (CCaaS) optimisation, AI-enabled workflows, and omnichannel orchestration. His career spans the full spectrum of contact centre operations, from frontline delivery through to strategic advisory at enterprise scale. At iCXeed, Nguyen's approach starts with the ideal customer outcome, designs the journey around it, and then enables it with the right technology to drive a more cognitive experience. "It is about enabling the journeys customers find most convenient and efficient in today's digital world." - Halle Nguyen, Director, CX Strategy Cognitive CXpertise iCXeed is highly specialised on AWS, with deep expertise in Amazon Connect, Amazon Bedrock, and big data analytics. The company's team of AWS certified professionals holds advanced tier accreditation in Amazon Connect and AI Services. Expanding senior leadership in Australia strengthens the cultural connection with clients and gives them direct access to expert talent driving CX innovation. "Combined with our global team, it means we bring both depth and proximity to every engagement, supporting our next phase of growth as we approach Premier Partner status with AWS." - Ryan Rayner, Co-Founder & Chief Customer Officer iCXeed has a proven record of helping organisations deliver customer experiences that optimise outcomes and deliver differentiated value from their baseline levels. With extensive contact centre expertise, the company helps clients on AWS and Amazon Connect use interaction analytics to find the AI and automation opportunities that move the needle for customers, agents, and the business. Everything is validated with data. "We deliver outcomes, not specifications. From my experience, no other partner in the market approaches innovation like iCXeed and these leaders deepen our capability and capacity for delivering tremendous value for our clients at an even larger scale." - Arthur Nowak, Co-Founder & CEO About iCXeed iCXeed is a customer experience partner at the intersection of CX, data, and AI. The company helps organisations use AWS and Amazon Connect to work smarter in the contact centre and to deliver hyper-personalised and intuitively intelligent customer experiences. It is entirely specialised on AWS and customer experience and contact centres. With a proven history of delivering a return on investment for clients, iCXeed works backwards from desired business outcomes, guided by more than 120 years of collective contact centre expertise. As an advanced tier partner with accreditation in Amazon Connect and AI Services, they are strategically positioned to support clients in business process innovation for the contact centre. The company serves clients globally from offices in Singapore, Australia, the United States, and the Philippines. Learn. Innovate. Repeat. Media Contact: Euan Belila www.icxeed.ai info@icxeed.ai +61 1800 936 108 SOURCE: iCXeed ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ASI TECH INC. Announces Expansion of Artificial Intelligence Services and Robotics Development Roadmap 2026-09-26 · Newsfile · AI, SaaS, Retail, Cybersecurity https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/316193/ASI-TECH-INC.-Announces-Expansion-of-Artificial-Intelligence-Services-and-Robotics-Development-Roadmap Los Angeles, California--(September 26, 2026) - ASI TECH INC., a technology services company and part of Alexander's Global Group Inc., today announced the expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) services and the start of a development roadmap for advanced and humanoid robotics.ASI TECH INC. currently provides custom software development, cloud computing, cybersecurity, mobile applications, data analytics and IT managed services to business and consumer clients. The... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Top Growth Marketing Announces Availability of Email Marketing Agency Selection Guide for DTC Brands 2026-09-25 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/315780/Top-Growth-Marketing-Announces-Availability-of-Email-Marketing-Agency-Selection-Guide-for-DTC-Brands Venice, California--(September 25, 2026) - Top Growth Marketing INC is announcing the availability of its online email marketing agency selection guide for direct-to-consumer ecommerce brands. The resource addresses considerations for evaluating agency services, including ecommerce experience, team structure, technical capabilities and documented client results.Published by Top Growth Marketing, the guide examines email marketing services in the context of an ecommerce company's... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Palantir Co-Founder and FTC Chairman Put AI Accountability in Focus at Reuters Momentum AI Austin 2026 2026-09-25 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/25/3369342/0/en/palantir-co-founder-and-ftc-chairman-put-ai-accountability-in-focus-at-reuters-momentum-ai-austin-2026.html Day two examines human control, consumer protection and the business changes needed to turn increasingly autonomous systems into lasting value. Day two examines human control, consumer protection and the business changes needed to turn increasingly autonomous systems into lasting value. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Digital Reef Signs Offtake Agreement with Oreasoc Agriculture to Mitigate the Environmental Footprint of Data Centre Growth Through Rainforest Protection, Appointing Xange.com as Digital MRV Partner 2026-09-25 · Business Wire · Retail, Sustainability https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/digital-reef-signs-offtake-agreement-191900965.html NEW YORK, September 25, 2026--At Climate Week NYC, Digital Reef and Oreasoc Agriculture Inc. sign an offtake agreement connecting Digital Reef’s 3.3 GW data centre pipeline with environmental assets exceeding 30 million hectares of South American Amazon rainforest, mitigating the environmental footprint of data centre growth through rainforest protection and restoration where Oreasoc works alongside local communities to protect biodiversity, develop sustainable economies and safeguard their terr ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon data center communities: Here’s what’s happening near data centers across the US 2026-09-25 · Amazon · Retail, Sustainability https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/aws/amazon-data-centers-locations-news?utm_source=rss Get the latest updates on how Amazon supports small businesses, creates jobs, sets up sustainability initiatives, and develops educational programs near AWS data centers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BioSyent Named as One of Canada’s Top Growing Companies 2026 by The Globe and Mail 2026-09-25 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/25/3369156/0/en/biosyent-named-as-one-of-canada-s-top-growing-companies-2026-by-the-globe-and-mail.html MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Sept. 25, 2026 -- BioSyent Inc. (“BioSyent”, “the Company”, TSX Venture: RX) is pleased to announce that it has been named as one of Canada’s Top Growing Companies for 2026 by The Globe and Mail’s Report on Business magazine. BioSyent ranked 343 on the list based on its three-year revenue growth of 54% (2022 – 2025) and is listed in the ‘Consumer’ category. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Local Entrepreneurs Bring Pet Supplies Plus to Cape Coral, Celebrating Grand Opening October 3-4 2026-09-25 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/local-entrepreneurs-bring-pet-supplies-plus-to-cape-coral-celebrating-grand-opening-october-3-4-302889836.html New Neighborhood Pet Retailer Offers Pet Essentials, Grooming, Self-Wash Stations and Community-Focused Service CAPE CORAL, Fla., Sept. 25, 2026 -- Pet Supplies Plus, the largest and most trusted pet retail franchise, has opened its newest Cape Coral location at 2615 Santa... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Go Lime Inc. Places No. 156 on The Globe and Mail's Eighth Annual Ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies 2026-09-25 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/315957/Go-Lime-Inc.-Places-No.-156-on-The-Globe-and-Mails-Eighth-Annual-Ranking-of-Canadas-Top-Growing-Companies Toronto, Ontario--(September 25, 2026) - Go Lime Inc. is pleased to announce it has ranked No. 156 on the 2026 Report on Business magazine's ranking of Canada's Top Growing Companies.Canada's Top Growing Companies ranks Canadian companies on 3-year revenue growth. Go Lime Inc. earned its spot with 3-year growth of 167%.Go Lime also ranked No. 20 in the Consumer category. This year's ranking measures revenue growth from 2022 to 2025.Go Lime is building a new model for home and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KCAC Applauds Colorado Enforcement Against Illegal Concentrated Synthetic 7-OH Products and Other Violations 2026-09-24 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/24/3368675/0/en/kcac-applauds-colorado-enforcement-against-illegal-concentrated-synthetic-7-oh-products-and-other-violations.html Washington, DC., Sept. 24, 2026 -- Colorado’s $152,000 settlement underscores how regulation and enforcement are critical to consumer protections ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— EMARKETER acquires research arm of RetailX for global expansion of trusted retail brand rankings 2026-09-24 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/emarketer-acquires-research-arm-of-retailx-for-global-expansion-of-trusted-retail-brand-rankings-302889449.html Acquisition merges RetailX's research team, proprietary research tools, and flagship rankings & indices with leading provider of forecasts and insights, supercharging its coverage of global retail and ecommerce. NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 -- EMARKETER, the trusted source for... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sellers can now manage sales across Amazon, eBay, Shopify, TikTok, and Walmart from Seller Central 2026-09-24 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/small-business/amazon-seller-central-multichannel-selling-tools?utm_source=rss Multichannel selling tools are a new offering in Amazon’s Seller Central that connect orders, listings, and analytics across other channels, giving sellers one place to run their entire business. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon announces new tools and services to help sellers go global from day one 2026-09-24 · Amazon · Retail, Logistics https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/amazon-sellers-global-expansion-tools?utm_source=rss Only 30% of Amazon sellers list in more than one country. New capabilities spanning compliance, logistics, and the selling experience are designed to change that. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New Research: Only 10% of Young Adults Watched Local TV News Last Week 2026-09-24 · PR Newswire · Retail, Media https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-research-only-10-of-young-adults-watched-local-tv-news-last-week-302889226.html #FutureOfTV.Live study finds a 54-point generational gap in local news viewing as mobile and vertical video reshape news consumption SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 24, 2026 -- Local television news faces a stark generational divide, according to new consumer research released today by... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Octane Partners with Forest River to Launch Forest River Finance Powered by Octane 2026-09-24 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/octane-partners-with-forest-river-to-launch-forest-river-finance-powered-by-octane-302888330.html Octane's Captive-as-a-Service™ Solution Will Power an Industry-Leading Manufacturer-Backed Retail Finance Program for the RV Industry NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2026 -- Octane® (Octane Lending, Inc.), the fintech unlocking the power of financial products for retailers and consumers,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New Generation Consumer Group, Inc. (OTC: NGCG) Signs Letter of Intent for Proposed Strategic Business Combination with Nutrien Mineral Limited 2026-09-24 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/24/3368243/0/en/new-generation-consumer-group-inc-otc-ngcg-signs-letter-of-intent-for-proposed-strategic-business-combination-with-nutrien-mineral-limited.html (OTC: NGCG)it has entered into a LOI with Nutrien Mineral Limited, a Uganda-based mineral development company ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SAP AppHaus Network Partner Bluestonex Builds the Bridge: From Inspiration to Hands-On AI Innovation 2026-09-24 · SAP · AI, Retail, Logistics https://news.sap.com/2026/09/sap-apphaus-network-partner-bluestonex-builds-the-bridge/ Two different showcases shed light on different applications and scenarios from the retail and supply chain industries. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Merchants can now add fast, free Prime delivery to their own websites and save up to 25% on fulfillment fees with Amazon Supply Chain Services 2026-09-24 · Amazon · Retail, Logistics https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-mcf-prime-delivery-merchant-websites?utm_source=rss Amazon Supply Chain Services customers who enroll in Multichannel Fulfillment, along with merchants already using MCF, can now add the Prime badge and delivery to their websites and separately save 15-25% on fulfillment fees. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Merchants can now offer Amazon Prime delivery on their own websites at no additional cost 2026-09-24 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-mcf-prime-delivery-merchant-websites?utm_source=rss Hundreds of thousands of merchants using Amazon's fulfillment network can activate fast, free Prime delivery in minutes—no changes to checkout, payments, or store policies required. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vietnam Cat Food Import Guide 2023-2026 Supports International Market Expansion 2026-09-24 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/24/3368080/28124/en/vietnam-cat-food-import-guide-2023-2026-supports-international-market-expansion.html Vietnam’s cat food market is driven by urban pet ownership, premiumization and e-commerce, creating opportunities for imported, functional products and local partnerships. Vietnam’s cat food market is driven by urban pet ownership, premiumization and e-commerce, creating opportunities for imported, functional products and local partnerships. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Novaclad Launches AI-LiDAR Measurement Engine for the Building Trades, Starting With a Free App That Measures a Kitchen in Five Minutes 2026-09-23 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novaclad-launches-ai-lidar-measurement-engine-for-the-building-trades-starting-with-a-free-app-that-measures-a-kitchen-in-five-minutes-302888372.html Built inside a working stone shop, it is the first product of the Fabrication Cloud — homeowners to local fabricators, measured and priced before anyone visits ST. LOUIS, Sept. 23, 2026 -- Novaclad today released the first consumer product built on its AI-LiDAR measurement... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Medallion Bank Announces Pricing of Series G Preferred Stock Offering 2026-09-23 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/23/3367904/0/en/medallion-bank-announces-pricing-of-series-g-preferred-stock-offering.html SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 23, 2026 -- Medallion Bank (Nasdaq: MBNKO), an FDIC-insured bank providing consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats, and home improvements, along with loan origination services to fintech strategic partners, announced today that it has priced a public offering of 2,200,000 additional shares of its Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G, par value $1.00 per share, with a liquidation amount of $25 per share (the “Series G Preferred Stock”) and an aggregate liquidation amount of $55,000,000. The offering is a reopening of Medallion Bank's original issuance of its Series G Preferred Stock, which occurred on May 22, 2025. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Arhaus Announces Participation in Bank of America Consumer Event 2026-09-23 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/23/3367856/0/en/arhaus-announces-participation-in-bank-of-america-consumer-event.html Arhaus Announces Participation in Bank of America Consumer Event ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DALLAS PR AGENCY SPM COMMUNICATIONS EXPANDS CLIENT ROSTER, DEEPENS GEO EXPERTISE 2026-09-23 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dallas-pr-agency-spm-communications-expands-client-roster-deepens-geo-expertise-302887935.html L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Puttery and Sunfly join portfolio; agency is named to PR News Agency Elite 120 list for 4th consecutive year DALLAS, Sept. 23, 2026 -- SPM Communications, a strategy-led PR agency that helps consumer brands drive cultural relevance and measurable... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OMP and PwC Alliance Moves Process Manufacturers from Siloed Supply Chain Planning to Unified Decisions 2026-09-23 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Industrial, Logistics, Biotech & pharma https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110315/ ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM, Sept 23, 2026 - OMP and PwC have formed an alliance to bring unified, faster supply chain decisions to process manufacturers in life sciences, consumer goods, and chemicals. Planning in these industries runs on campaign production, long lead times, and regulatory requirements, all surfacing "too late to act on" when planning sits in separate systems. The alliance combines Unison Planning™, OMP's AI-enabled planning platform with built-in industry expertise, and PwC's implementation services. German specialty pharmaceutical company medac is already live under the alliance, with its planners working on a single demand plan in Unison Planning™. PwC and medac will present the project on October 15, 2026, at the OMP Conference in Singapore, detailing the approach behind the rollout and what it means for planning in pharma. Combining innovation, industry knowledge, and integration OMP and PwC run each implementation as a single program. OMP brings Unison Planning™, its AI-enabled platform with built-in industry expertise, connecting to the systems that a manufacturer already runs. PwC's teams lead the implementation, acting as system integrator and working directly alongside the customer's own planners. Both organizations see the same shift across life sciences, consumer goods, and chemicals: manufacturers replacing fragmented planning with a unified end-to-end plan, and looking for a platform and an implementation team that already know their industry. "Process manufacturers face the same planning constraints, whatever their size, and few have spare program capacity to absorb an implementation. That is where the combination of the platform, the industry knowledge, and an integrator who can run the program matters most," said Dieter Sleeuwaert, Senior Vice President Global Alliances at OMP. medac moves from spreadsheets to a single demand plan medac supplies specialty treatments in rheumatology, urology, hematology, and oncology to more than 90 countries, manufacturing at its own European sites. Its planning ran on a mix of spreadsheets, planning functions within its existing ERP system, and a separate tool with limited planning capability. Processes also differed by department and by geography. PwC, medac and OMP started with a focused demand planning release, resulting in an accelerated go-live for German planners ahead of the wider rollout. The remaining geographies, a supply planning layer, and a second release running in parallel with medac's SAP S/4 implementation will follow. "Leading with the demand planning release and holding the solution close to standard is what made it work. That approach transfers to other companies in the sector," said Jörg Zietz, Director, Supply Chain Planning at PwC Germany. PwC and medac on stage in Singapore Dr. Karsten Gentner, Vice President Supply Chain Management and Procurement at medac, and Jörg Zietz of PwC Germany will explain how medac is building the digital backbone for a smarter, more resilient, and AI-ready pharmaceutical supply chain. Their session takes place on October 15, 2026 at the OMP Conference in Singapore. Register for the event. About PwC At PwC, we help clients build trust and reinvent so they can turn complexity into a competitive advantage. We're a tech-forward, people-empowered network with more than 364,000 people in 136 countries and 137 territories. Across audit and assurance, tax and legal, deals and consulting, we help clients build, accelerate, and sustain momentum. About medac The medac Group is committed to improving patients' quality of life worldwide by providing access to the best possible medical therapies. As a globally operating pharmaceutical company headquartered in Germany, we are active in more than 90 countries and employ over 2,000 people worldwide. With production sites in Europe and a focus on rheumatology, urology, hematology, and oncology, medac develops and markets high-quality originator products, generics, and biosimilars. About OMP OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow, and thrive by offering the best digitized supply chain planning solution on the market. Hundreds of customers in a wide range of industries - spanning consumer goods, life sciences, chemicals, metals, paper, packaging, plastics, tires, and building products - benefit from using OMP's unique Unison Planning™. Solution and product inquiries Contact OMP +32 3 650 22 11 Media inquiries Kira Perdue (Carabiner) SOURCE: OMP ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon now offers nearly 30,000 pickup locations across the US 2026-09-23 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-pickup-locations-expansion?utm_source=rss Customers are on track to collect more than 100 million packages from Amazon pickup locations this year. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon gives sellers an even smarter Seller Assistant and a new plugin for Amazon Quick and Anthropic’s Claude 2026-09-23 · Amazon · AI, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/seller-assistant-plugin-amazon-quick-claude?utm_source=rss Sellers can now automate routine tasks 24/7 with Seller Assistant and bring their Amazon data and Seller Central insights into the AI tools they already use. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon co-founds The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition to scale more sustainable materials and help prevent waste 2026-09-23 · Amazon · Retail, Fashion & luxury, Sustainability https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-climate-pledge-sustainability-fashion-coalition?utm_source=rss Launched with Amazon, Stella McCartney, Canopy, and the World Economic Forum, The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition connects over 60 industry leaders to accelerate climate innovation. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CON-CRĒT® Creatine HCl Rolls out Major Retail Expansion into Target and CVS 2026-09-23 · PR Newswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/con-crt-creatine-hcl-rolls-out-major-retail-expansion-into-target-and-cvs-302887005.html As creatine goes mainstream, CON-CRĒT® brings its #1 absorbed formula to more health-conscious consumers NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2026 -- CON-CRĒT® Creatine HCl, the original high solubility creatine and the molecule that was awarded more patents than any other creatine,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Flower Knows Marks 10 Year Anniversary with Limited-Time U.S. Retail Expansion into Ulta Beauty Store Nationwide, Alongside Blockbuster Experiential Brand Moments 2026-09-23 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/flower-knows-marks-10-year-anniversary-with-limited-time-us-retail-expansion-into-ulta-beauty-store-nationwide-alongside-blockbuster-experiential-brand-moments-302886993.html The global C-beauty brand is making viral waves attracting American beauty consumers with their debut into 450 Ulta Beauty doors, Increased first-hand ULTA access, Live Pop-Ups and On-Campus Collegiate Presence LOS ANGELES, Sept. 23, 2026 -- To celebrate Flower Knows' 10th... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LAMEA Electric Fireplace Market Poised for Growth Through 2033, Driven by Energy-Efficient Heating, Smart Home Adoption and Rising Residential and Commercial Demand 2026-09-23 · GlobeNewswire · Real estate, Energy, Retail, Travel https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/23/3367202/28124/en/lamea-electric-fireplace-market-poised-for-growth-through-2033-driven-by-energy-efficient-heating-smart-home-adoption-and-rising-residential-and-commercial-demand.html Urbanization, luxury housing and hospitality drive demand for compact electric fireplaces; smart controls, premium visuals, outdoor models and e-commerce offer opportunities. Urbanization, luxury housing and hospitality drive demand for compact electric fireplaces; smart controls, premium visuals, outdoor models and e-commerce offer opportunities. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CHOUCHOU & FRIENDS Opens The First Global Flagship Store, Launching the 'One City, One Store' Strategy with More Than 300 New Products 2026-09-23 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Automotive, Media, Telecom, Travel, Food & drink, Sports https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110309/ Shanghai, Sept 23, 2026 - The first CHOUCHOU & FRIENDS global flagship store officially opened at No. 558 East Nanjing Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai. Occupying a total floor area of 570 square metres, it is China's first multi-celebrity-IP immersive fan experience flagship store, bringing music, trendy toys and culture together in one trendy experience space. A significant step in Star Plus Legend's offline retail matrix, the store is set to become a city-level trendy IP landmark in the heart of East Nanjing Road's core commercial district. Zhou Peimin, Chief Operating Officer of Star Plus Legend Group, said in her opening speech: “Shanghai is not only a trendsetter for China’s consumer market, but also a key gateway through which global brands and trend culture reach China and Chinese brands reach the world. East Nanjing Road sits at the very intersection of Shanghai-style commercial heritage and contemporary youth culture. Choosing this address for the first store is a deliberate first step in Star Plus Legend’s ‘One City, One Store’ strategy. Through this space, we hope to bring younger, more contemporary trendy content to East Nanjing Road, give consumers a cultural experience worth lingering in and returning to, and leave behind an IP memory for Shanghai that people can take away and share.” Music Woven into Architecture, An Immersive Space Unfolds Floor by Floor As the centrepiece of the store experience, the interior design takes its cues from the aesthetics and storytelling of Jay Chou’s classic songs, linking fans’ shared musical memories with somewhere to meet offline, creating a fan space to wander through, play in and linger in. This experience is clearly perceptible from the facade. A signature giant clock installation pays tribute to “Counter-clockwise Clock”, giving the space a sense of time running backwards. Standing on East Nanjing Road, passers-by immediately register a musical symbol that belongs to CHOUCHOU. The building as a whole draws on the retro European Gothic aesthetic of “William’s Castle”. The period stone cladding, carved arched windows, stained glass and fireplace settings recreate the song’s fantastical castle atmosphere in physical form. Music is no longer something merely heard, it becomes a scene you can see and walk into. Inside, the narrative unfolds floor by floor. 1F, the “Star’s Living Room”, carries the retro European villa facade through to the interior, with a giant chiming clock installation, large art toy sculptures and lighting strips, complemented indoors by stained glass, a fireplace-and-sofa lounge, a central large art toy island and a blind box retail area. The floor balances shopping with photo-taking and rest, recreating the feel of a living room where fans gather. On 2F, the “CHOUCHOU Universe” stages blue nebula resin flooring, time-space photo-frame installations and happiness-making capsule pods to create a walk-through IP universe, with immersive photo spots and storytelling at its core. 3F, the “Secret Loft”, is expected to open to the public in November 2026 and is planned to house a hidden restaurant and an acoustics laboratory party space, extending the store beyond retail into community gathering. More Than 300 SKUs at Launch, with Global Debuts and City Exclusives in the Spotlight Beyond the spatial experience, the store’s product line-up is equally rich. During the opening period, the store is unveiling a first drop of more than 300 SKUs across seven categories: collectible figures and blind boxes, themed plush, trendy accessories, home and lifestyle, digital peripherals, city exclusives and cross-brand collaborations. The range covers both collectible large art toys and series blind boxes, and practical spin-offs for everyday use, delivering on the promise of “collect it, wear it, use it”. At the centre of the opening line-up are six plush series—Earphone CHOUCHOU, Poker Encounter, Football CHOUCHOU, Dim Sum Is Busy, Absolute Pitch and Milk Tea CHOUCHOU—unveiled as a surprise, each with its own distinctive theme concept and cute, playful styling, adding a younger, more comforting and more collectible note to the store’s trendy toy offer.  The “Kung Fu Soccer × CHOUCHOU” collaboration series brings together the rousing spirit of sport and the CHOUCHOU character. Using trendy toys as a medium to connect with film and television culture, the series creates a new form of expression between the thrill of a sports storyline and the approachability of the IP character. Star Plus Legend's original IP MAJI DOGGIE goes on sale in a physical store for the first time, joined by IPs including WAKAEMO, further broadening the store’s IP matrix and giving consumers more characters to choose from and interact with. Also in the mix is the “Shanghai Flagship Store City Exclusive Series”, inspired by Shanghai’s urban culture and the architecture of the flagship store itself. It turns Shanghai-style motifs such as the East Nanjing Road store, the Oriental Pearl Tower and Magnolia into collectible souvenirs, so that customers can “Bring the flagship store and Shanghai memories home”. Several limited editions make their global debut during the opening period and are available only at the East Nanjing Road flagship store. From cross-brand collaborations to original IP incubation, and from city exclusives to collectible figures, the range strengthens the store’s content and gives the opening line-up greater depth and freshness, all assembled with genuine care. “One City, One Store” Strategy Kicks Off as the Offline Retail Matrix Accelerates Beyond products, the store’s IP strategy and expansion roadmap are equally well defined. Anchored by CHOUCHOU, Jay Chou’s official anime-style IP character, the store will continue to introduce more global celebrity IPs over time, supporting multi-IP co-existence. Zhou Peimin said the flagship store operates a “One City, One Store; One City, One Custom Design” model, and will keep the space fresh with regularly updated products, themes, collaborations and cultural content, so that every visit offers new discoveries and experiences. Next, Central China's first flagship store, in Changsha, will open on September 24, followed by flagship stores in Chengdu and Guangzhou. The store network will also bring in overseas trendy IP content and work with Unitree Robotics to explore a new business track of “trendy IP + smart hardware”. For Star Plus Legend, opening its first global flagship store is both a key step in extending from IP operation into physical, on-the-ground experience and an important milestone in upgrading the offline retail matrix from robot shops and pop-up stores into flagship-store experience spaces. The opening is only the starting point. The store will keep refreshing its content around new IP releases, artist collaborations, city exclusives and offline community events, so that every visit feels new and the opening buzz turns into lasting content appeal and urban trend vitality. Zhou Peimin said the company aims to build IPs for the long term, approach business through a cultural lens and use physical space as a point of connection. Products are not simply merchandise, but part of the IP narrative; a store is not a one-off photo spot, but the beginning of an ongoing relationship between the brand and its customers. CHOUCHOU & FRIENDS’ vision is to become a world-class trendy celebrity IP platform deeply rooted in Chinese culture, connected to global creative resources and in step with the era's direction of high-quality development in the cultural sector. Using trendy IPs as a vehicle, it will tell compelling cultural stories for a new era and bring Chinese trend culture to the world. About Company Star Plus Legend Holdings Limited (6683.HK) was founded in 2017 and primarily focuses on IP creation and operation, leveraging IP-driven synergies to expand into AI + robotics and new consumption in the healthy lifestyle sector. The Company was successfully listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in July 2023, approved for inclusion in the Hang Seng Composite Index in February 2024, and formally entered the Hong Kong Stock Connect in March of the same year. In September 2025, Star Plus Legend announced the acquisition of approximately 1.17% equity in National Stadium Co., Ltd. (the operator of the Bird’s Nest), becoming the only private-sector shareholder of the Bird’s Nest to date. In November of the same year, Star Plus Legend announced that it had become a strategic shareholder of Galaxy Corporation Co., Ltd (“Galaxy”), a well-known entertainment management company in South Korea, strengthening its global IP presence. Galaxy boasts a roster of globally influential artists, including Kwon Ji-Yong (also known as G-DRAGON), Kim Jong-kook, and Song Kang-ho. In the field of IP creation and operation, the Company maximizes the influence of its artists by creating personalized character and content IPs tailored to each individual. In terms of character IPs, the Company has established deep collaborations with core celebrities such as Jay Chou and Liu Keng-hung, resulting in two iconic IPs — “CHOUCHOU” and “Coach Liu”. And the cumulative number of fans of the existing celebrity IP portfolio has reached 280 million. In 2023, the Company collaborated with a top Hollywood visual effects team to create the digital human of “CHOUCHOU” for Jay Chou and launched the first metaverse trailer, “The Awakening”. The authorization of the digital human of CHOUCHOU to China Mobile as its Dynamic Star Ambassador, 5G Metaverse Pioneer, and 5G Video Ringtone Ambassador signifies Star Plus Legend’s successful expansion of its IP licensing business into the digital content sector. In 2022, the Company assisted Liu Keng-hung in becoming a national fitness coach and also developed his official anime-style persona and digital human, "Coach Liu”. In 2026, Liu Keng-hung was selected into the first batch of quality online streamers under the Quality Online Streamer Cultivation Project. In addition, the Company introduced a new original IP character, “WAKAEMO,” in 2025, and launched a collaboration programme with 100 international pop artists to build a global artist network and promote the internationalisation of Chinese celebrity IPs. In terms of content IP, the Company created Jay Chou’s first outdoor reality show “J-Style Trip” in 2020, which has aired for three seasons. In 2024, it launched “Yue Lai Yue Kuai Le”, a music talk show hosted by Harlem Yu. In 2025, the Company rolled out micro-variety shows and sports variety shows featuring Liu Keng-hung, including “Nothing But Fifty” and “Geng Wo Qi Jiu Dui Le”, as well as the city fitness family event series “Geng Fitness 5KM” and the fun competition “G-VERSE Celebrity Tennis Invitational”, among others. In terms of events, the Company invests in or produces the world tour concerts of Jay Chou and Kwon Ji-Yong, as well as concerts featuring artists from the Star Plus Legend portfolio. Relying on its own IP resources to drive content development, the Company has launched cultural tourism projects in over twenty cities worldwide, deepening the integrated development of “IP + Culture + Tourism + Business + Sports + Performance”. In September 2025, Star Plus Legend partnered with Shanghai Museum to host the themed art show “The Remarkable Ancestors — CHOUCHOU’s Time Travel Adventure”, making “CHOUCHOU” the first celebrity IP to enter a national museum. To mark the 25th anniversary of Jay Chou’s debut, the Etersource brand announced the release of the officially authorized Jay Chou “Carnival” World Tour collectible cards series, for which Star Plus Legend serves as the exclusive global distributor. In the AI + robotics segment, the Company announced a strategic partnership with Yushu Technology, a global leader in robotics. The two parties will serve as each other’s strategic partners worldwide and will jointly develop consumer-grade Robot products. The first collaborative product, a quadruped robot dog with strong IP attributes, made its first public debut at the opening ceremony of the Shanghai Tourism Festival. Furthermore, Star Plus Legend and Yushu Technology have established a joint venture to explore the new field of “IP + Robotics + AI”. The Joint Venture Company will be primarily responsible for the creation and development of consumer-grade IP robots (including pet quadruped robots and performing humanoid robots) and IP derivative products (the “Products”), and will have exclusive rights to sell and operate the Products. In the new consumption in the healthy lifestyle sector, the Company focuses on developing and selling health management and skincare products. Its portfolio includes several brands: MODONG, a health management brand that promotes low-sugar and low-carb diet; Bonggie, which features food products with clean ingredient list; Dr. INYOU, which focuses on nutrition balance; Dr. MG, a skincare brand which targets recombinant collagen; and VIVICYCLE, a light-exercise lifestyle brand that integrates fitness into everyday life. According to CIC, MODONG Coffee ranked first in China's bulletproof drink market by gross merchandise value (GMV) for six consecutive years from 2020 to 2025, with cumulative sales reaching 130 million cups over the six years. Bonggie Matcha Powder became the best-selling product in the Douyin natural powder market in 2023. In addition, the MODONG brand has received honors such as the “AA Well-known Trademark” and “Jiangsu Famous Trademark”. In March 2025, MODONG underwent brand revitalisation and launched the new MODONG MAGIC series, promoting the brand concept "A Cup On-the-Go: Crafting Magic for Healthy Living", and officially announced Hannah Quinlivan as the brand ambassador. In terms of business operations, Star Plus Legend relies on its core IPs, integrates various application scenarios, and advances a global expansion strategy to build a full-chain ecosystem covering IP incubation, operation, and monetisation. In addition, the Company actively embraces cutting-edge technology and pioneers the new “IP + Robotics + AI” track, shaping a comprehensive model of “IP + Content + Technology + Consumption” to create a complete commercial closed loop. Through technological empowerment and scenario-based innovation, the Company is building a “Global IP Development and Operation Platform,” advancing from an “IP Creator and Operator” to an “Ecosystem Operator for Happiness Experiences”. Star Plus Legend’s Official Website: www.6683.hk Media inquiries: Star Plus Legend’s Media Relations Email: media@splegend.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Hemp Doctor's Cannabis Consumer Behavior Survey: Average Buyer Is 45 2026-09-23 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/23/3367085/0/en/the-hemp-doctor-s-cannabis-consumer-behavior-survey-average-buyer-is-45.html 66.5% of hemp buyers are 45+, self-directed, and cannabinoid-literate. New data from 10,214 verified customers challenges everything the industry assumes. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Airwheel Wins European Product Design Award for AI Wheel Cabin 20 Inch Luxury Smart Scooter Carry on Hand Boarding Travel Electric Suitcase 2026-09-23 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Aerospace & defense https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110304/ BRUSSELS, BELGIUM, Sept 23, 2026 - Recently, Airwheel’s SE3SX Smart Rideable Cabin Suitcase has been recognized in the 2026 European Product Design Awards (EPDA), highlighting the company’s approach to integrating electric mobility, intelligent control, and luggage design into a single travel-oriented product. Listed in the Personal / Luggage: Carryon Suitcase category, the SE3SX reflects a design strategy that moves beyond conventional suitcase architecture to explore how luggage can become an active part of the travel experience. The official EPDA project description highlights the SE3SX’s integrated construction, which combines power, control, and storage systems within an aerospace-grade aluminum-magnesium alloy structure. The design also incorporates a low center of gravity, app-based remote control, and intuitive rotatable handles, connecting structural design with short-distance mobility. This recognition adds to Airwheel’s international design profile and its continued development of intelligent mobility products. Rather than treating a suitcase as a passive container, Airwheel approaches smart luggage as a combination of transportation interface, compact storage system, and connected consumer technology. The SE3SX represents this approach through a compact rideable platform designed for movement across airports, railway stations, exhibition venues, and other travel environments. From Conventional Luggage to Intelligent Mobility Traditional suitcases are designed primarily to store and transport belongings. Airwheel’s smart rideable suitcase concept extends that function by incorporating an electric drive system, rider controls, and an intelligent handle into the luggage platform. The underlying design challenge is not simply to add a motor to a suitcase. It is to coordinate propulsion, balance, structural layout, user controls, and everyday luggage functionality within a compact product. For travelers, the result is intended to offer an additional mobility option during short-distance movement, particularly when navigating large terminals, connecting between transport facilities, or crossing expansive indoor and outdoor spaces. The SE3SX was developed around this combination of mobility and travel utility. Its design brings together a rideable chassis, integrated storage, smart connectivity, and a compact form factor, allowing the product to function as both a cabin-oriented suitcase and a personal short-distance mobility device. Integrated Structural Design and Intelligent Ride Control The SE3SX combines its luggage body with an electric riding system, creating a unified product architecture rather than treating the mobility mechanism as a separate accessory. The official EPDA description emphasizes the integration of power, control, and storage, together with an aerospace-grade aluminum-magnesium alloy construction and a minimalist structural appearance. Under its riding configuration, the SE3SX uses a 230W brushless motor, a 5.2-inch motor-driven front wheel, and two 4-inch rear auxiliary wheels. Its electric telescopic front-wheel mechanism extends the wheelbase by 180 mm with a single touch, helping establish a more stable riding configuration. The product reaches a maximum riding speed of 9.9 km/h, supports a maximum load of 95 kg, and is designed to handle inclines of approximately 6° under specified operating conditions. The riding handle is designed to simplify the transition between riding and towing. Once extended, the handle locks into position automatically, reducing the need for repeated manual adjustments. This interaction is part of Airwheel’s broader design objective: making advanced mobility functions accessible through a familiar luggage form. A Connected Interface Through the Airwheel App The SE3SX extends its physical controls through a dedicated smart app, connecting the suitcase to a mobile device. The app provides access to selected riding and product-management functions, including riding speed information, battery status, cumulative mileage, speed-level adjustment, and lighting customization. Users can also access functions such as telescopic control, low-battery notifications, Bluetooth disconnection reminders, and remote-control features, depending on the applicable product configuration and software support. This digital layer positions the suitcase as more than a self-propelled luggage platform. It provides an interface through which users can interact with product settings and monitor selected operating information, bringing connected-device functionality into a travel product. For Airwheel, the objective is not to introduce technology for its own sake. The focus is on making controls more accessible, reducing unnecessary operational steps, and integrating digital functionality into a product people use during real journeys. Apple Find My Integration for Luggage Location Assistance The SE3SX supports integration with Apple Find My, offering users an additional way to locate and identify their suitcase through the Apple ecosystem. For travelers, luggage tracking can be particularly useful in busy terminals, transportation hubs, and other environments where multiple bags may look similar. Apple Find My integration provides a location-assistance feature within a familiar digital environment, while proximity-based sound alerts can help users identify the suitcase when it is nearby and supported by the relevant functionality. The feature complements, rather than replaces, responsible luggage handling and travel security practices. Its availability and specific capabilities depend on the Apple Find My ecosystem, device compatibility, and applicable operating conditions. Compact Cabin-Oriented Design and Removable Battery Designed as a 20-inch cabin-oriented smart rideable suitcase, the SE3SX measures approximately 530 × 360 × 236 mm and offers a 20-liter storage capacity. Its construction combines ABS+PC materials with an aviation-grade aluminum alloy frame, while the suitcase weighs approximately 6.6 kg excluding the portable power bank. The SE3SX is powered by a removable 73.26Wh lithium battery backed by multiple international certifications. Its detachable battery architecture is engineered to support applicable aviation transportation requirements, enabling the battery to be separated from the suitcase when necessary. By integrating certified battery technology with a removable design, Airwheel combines intelligent mobility with the practical demands of modern international travel. The SE3SX also includes a TSA-compatible lock, supporting inspection procedures where applicable. Its compact dimensions, integrated riding system, and removable battery architecture reflect the challenge of balancing mobility, storage, portability, and transport considerations within a single product. Extending the Travel Experience Through USB Connectivity The SE3SX incorporates a USB output interface designed to support charging for compatible everyday electronic devices. This adds a practical connectivity function to the luggage platform, allowing users to access power for devices such as smartphones and other USB-compatible electronics when supported by the product's power system. The USB interface forms part of Airwheel’s wider product philosophy: useful technology should be integrated into the travel experience without making the product unnecessarily complex. Alongside the riding system, app connectivity, and luggage functionality, the charging interface contributes to a more connected approach to personal travel equipment. Building a Broader Smart Rideable Suitcase Portfolio The SE3SX is part of Airwheel’s broader smart rideable suitcase portfolio, which includes products designed for different travel requirements, user groups, and mobility scenarios. The SE3SX Smart Carry on Rideable Cabin Suitcase combines a 20-liter cabin-oriented format with electric riding, app connectivity, Apple Find My integration, and an integrated luggage design. It is positioned within Airwheel’s premium smart travel product range. The SE3SXD AI Luxury Suitcase introduces a next-generation automatic riding configuration, with one-touch deployment of its front wheel and riding handle. Its design explores more automated interaction between the user and the suitcase. The SE3SL+ Airport Boarding Suitcase combines electric riding with app connectivity, USB charging, and location-tracking functionality, supporting users who frequently move through airports and other short-distance travel environments. The SE3T AI Wheel Suitcase provides a larger-capacity format for users who require additional storage space during longer trips and family travel. The SE3MiniT Electric Hand Suitcase focuses on a compact, lightweight format for short-distance mobility and everyday travel scenarios. The SQ3S Kids Suitcase is designed for family travel, combining a rideable luggage format with speed-limiting features intended for children. Together, these products demonstrate Airwheel’s effort to apply electric drive, intelligent control, and product-specific design approaches across different luggage formats. The portfolio is not built around a single type of traveler; it explores how smart mobility can be adapted to varying travel distances, storage requirements, and user needs. Continued Investment in Intelligent Mobility Technologies Airwheel’s development of smart rideable luggage forms part of a wider focus on intelligent mobility and human-machine interaction. The company’s technology areas include motion control algorithms, electric drive systems, intelligent sensing, and structural design. With more than 600 global patents, Airwheel continues to develop products across smart mobility and connected travel categories. Its portfolio includes self-balancing vehicles, electric scooters, smart folding bikes, smart wheelchairs, and smart rideable suitcases. The SE3SX illustrates this product-development direction through the combination of an electric propulsion system, integrated structural design, connected controls, and a compact luggage platform. Its recognition in the 2026 European Product Design Awards reflects the relevance of bringing these design and engineering considerations together within a consumer travel product. As smart mobility technology continues to develop, Airwheel is exploring how intelligent functions can be incorporated into everyday products without losing sight of usability, portability, and practical travel requirements. The Airwheel’s broader objective is to make mobility technology more accessible in daily life, bringing together design, engineering, and intelligent interaction to create products that help people move through their journeys with greater flexibility. Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Meta Takes Action on 3.7 Million Accounts, Pages and Content In Partnership With Singapore Police Force 2026-09-23 · Meta · Finance, Retail, Media, Education, Telecom https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/meta-spf-scam-efforts/ It starts with a message. A too-good-to-be-true stock tip. A luxury skincare brand offering deep discounts from a page that didn’t exist last week. A messaging group promising guaranteed returns with zero risk. Behind these “opportunities” are organised, well-resourced criminal networks — operating across borders, platforms, and industries. They move fast, adapt constantly, and rely on the fact that no single organisation can see the full picture of their operations. Disrupting them requires collaboration: law enforcement and technology companies sharing information, acting together, and moving just as fast as the scammers do. In Singapore, that’s exactly what’s happening. A partnership built on sustained information sharing Over the past two years, Meta and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) have built an information sharing partnership designed to proactively identify and remove violating scam content. Rather than responding to individual reports, this collaboration focuses on proactive network disruption – where SPF information helps Meta’s investigators identify and dismantle entire ecosystems of bad actors. Similarly, Meta’s information has aided SPF in the arrest of seven men in 2025 for their suspected involvement in a transnational unlawful remote betting operation.  In 2026, information sharing between Meta and SPF has led to strong results:  Uncovering Widespread Networks: Between January and June 2026, using information shared by SPF, Meta took action against more than 113,000 entities and pages connected to fraud and scams on Facebook and Instagram, with content predominantly involving investment scams where scammers lure victims in with promises of guaranteed or high investment returns. The information shared by SPF resulted in Meta actioning more than 5x the number of assets flagged. That’s not just accounts being taken down one by one. It’s the dismantling of interconnected networks where disabling one node leads investigators to connected scammers. Proactively Actioning Seasonal Scam Content: In June 2026 in anticipation of upcoming school holidays and the seasonal rise in scams, Meta and SPF conducted an enhanced disruption operation focused on e-commerce scams which promoted misleading pricing, fake promotional tactics for well known brands, exaggerated product claims, and a sense of urgency and scarcity. This resulted in Meta taking action against  more than 33,600 entities. Disrupting Networks Before The Damage: Through our ongoing collaborations, SPF information also flagged a newer scam vector: “shell pages”. These Pages look empty and harmless – no ads or violating content. But scammers had pre-built infrastructure, ready to be activated for scam campaigns at a moment’s notice. Working from SPF’s signals, in July 2026, we took action against over 3.6 million shell pages before they could be used – and we’re now pursuing further disruptions against this type of scam.   “Scammers count on the fact that no single organisation sees the full picture. What we’ve built with the Singapore Police Force turns that assumption on its head — their information helps us identify threats we might not see on our own, and our ability to act at scale means those networks can be dismantled before they reach more people. This is what effective collaboration looks like. Not just responding to scams after the fact, but proactively going after the infrastructure behind them.” – Daryl Poon, Director of Law Enforcement Outreach, APAC “The Singapore Police Force has long recognised that tackling sophisticated scam networks requires a collaboration with international and private stakeholders. By partnering closely with industry partners, we can share scam signals that allow our partners to take action to disrupt the criminal infrastructure behind these scams. This recent operation demonstrates the power of police and private sector collaboration- scam infrastructure was decisively taken down, cutting off scammers’ ability to defraud Singaporeans. SPF will work with Meta and other online service providers to expand data sharing and strengthen scam disruption efforts.” – Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Justin Wong, Commander Cyber Command, Singapore Police Force Broader anti-scam efforts This work with the SPF sits within a wider ecosystem of anti-scam work that Meta is building on.  Across two weeks in May and June 2026, the US Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force brought together Meta, Microsoft, Coinbase, Starlink, and other companies alongside the FBI, Secret Service, and law enforcement partners in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Thailand. As a result of this joint disruption, more than a million online assets were disrupted — including 1.4 million accounts, pages and groups across Facebook and Instagram, 20,000 Microsoft accounts, and thousands of Starlink kits — and the Royal Thai Police arrested 63 individuals involved in scam operations. Meta, SPF and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) also collaborate on public education campaigns designed to protect Singaporeans from scams. This year’s “One Step Ahead” campaign encourages the public to turn on in-app security features such as 2-FA (Two-Factor Authentication) and passkeys for Facebook and Instagram to enhance account protection, and use WhatsApp security features such as Linked Device Notifications. The campaign also promotes local resources such as the ScamShield website where users can learn more about different scam types and how to stay safe. So far, the campaign has reached 1.6 million people in Singapore. Meta continues to invest in building defenses across its platforms and removing violating scam content. So far this year we’ve removed 65 million scam ads from Facebook and Instagram, with 94% of those ads removed before anyone reported them to us. Meta supports a shared defense in which platforms, banks, telecommunications providers, and governments exchange signals and support their respective investigations and enforcement actions. That principle underpins our participation in the Industry Accord Against Online Scams and Fraud and the ASEAN Public Private Partnership Principles for Tackling Online Scams.  Scams are a global industry, run across platforms, apps, and borders. Meta’s work with the Singapore Police Force shows that shared information, acted on quickly, changes the equation. Because the best defence against organised crime is an equally organised response.  To learn more about staying safe online, visit the Meta Scam Protection Center. In Singapore, you can download ScamShield for real-time scam protection.   The post Meta Takes Action on 3.7 Million Accounts, Pages and Content In Partnership With Singapore Police Force appeared first on Meta Newsroom. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Disney Consumer Products Announces New Structure and Leadership Details 2026-09-22 · The Walt Disney Company · Retail, Media https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/consumer-products-leadership-structure-announcement/ The post Disney Consumer Products Announces New Structure and Leadership Details appeared first on The Walt Disney Company. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Medallion Bank Announces Launch of Series G Preferred Stock Offering 2026-09-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3366894/0/en/medallion-bank-announces-launch-of-series-g-preferred-stock-offering.html SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 22, 2026 -- Medallion Bank (Nasdaq: MBNKO), an FDIC-insured bank providing consumer loans for the purchase of recreational vehicles, boats, and home improvements, along with loan origination services to fintech strategic partners, announced today that it has launched a public offering of additional shares of its Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series G, par value $1.00 per share, with a liquidation amount of $25 per share (the “Series G Preferred Stock”). The offering is a reopening of Medallion Bank's original issuance of its Series G Preferred Stock, which occurred on May 22, 2025. Medallion Bank’s Series G Preferred Stock is traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker symbol “MBNKO.” Medallion Bank is and will remain a wholly owned subsidiary of Medallion Financial upon completion of the offering. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Inside a decade of Amazon chip design, built workload by workload 2026-09-22 · Amazon · AI, Retail, Semiconductors https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/innovation-at-amazon/peter-desantis-amazon-ai-chips-design?utm_source=rss At AI Infra Summit, Amazon SVP Peter DeSantis explained how real customer workloads guided every generation of Amazon's chips, from Nitro to Trainium. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon joins global coalition to advance AI education and digital skills for students 2026-09-22 · Amazon · AI, Retail, Education https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/policy-news-views/amazon-joins-global-coalition-ai-education-digital-skills?utm_source=rss Amazon is supporting First Lady Melania Trump's Fostering the Future Together coalition to give young people access to AI-powered learning tools and education programs. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AS Pro Kapital Grupp calls for conditional early redemption of its existing 2020/2028 secured bonds 2026-09-22 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3366718/0/en/as-pro-kapital-grupp-calls-for-conditional-early-redemption-of-its-existing-2020-2028-secured-bonds.html As announced by AS Pro Kapital Grupp (hereinafter also referred to as Pro Kapital) in a separate stock exchange announcement on 22 September 2026, Pro Kapital has successfully placed new EUR 10,000,000 fixed rate bonds 2026/2028, directed to retail and professional investors in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania (the “New Bond Issue”). The settlement date for the New Bond Issue is expected to occur on 25 September 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Consumer Electronics Manufacturing Equipment Market Report 2026-2034 Featuring Profiles of ABB Robotics, Bosch Rexroth, FANUC Corp., Fuji Corp., Mycronic, Nordson Corp., Yamaha Motor Corp. and More 2026-09-22 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Energy, Retail, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3366313/28124/en/global-consumer-electronics-manufacturing-equipment-market-report-2026-2034-featuring-profiles-of-abb-robotics-bosch-rexroth-fanuc-corp-fuji-corp-mycronic-nordson-corp-yamaha-motor.html Connected, miniaturized electronics are driving AI automation, precision inspection and flexible, energy-efficient production, creating strong opportunities in Asia-Pacific Connected, miniaturized electronics are driving AI automation, precision inspection and flexible, energy-efficient production, creating strong opportunities in Asia-Pacific ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— VNET x CATL: Where Next-Generation AI-Native Compute Infrastructure Meets the Battery Leader 2026-09-22 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110277/ HONG KONG, Sept 22, 2026 - China’s new energy and AI infrastructure sectors have recently reached a notable convergence. PJ Millennium I Limited and PJ Millennium II Limited, wholly owned subsidiaries of PJ Millennium Limited Partnership — whose general partner is Lochpine BG I GP Limited, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Lochpine Capital Limited, a non-controlled, non-consolidated affiliate of Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (“CATL”, 300750.SZ / 03750.HK) — have completed a strategic investment in VNET Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: VNET), one of China’s leading carrier- and cloud-neutral internet data center services providers. The transaction closed on September 21, 2026. Upon closing, the buyers have become VNET’s largest shareholder, holding an approximately 38.1% equity stake in the Company. The terms of the agreement include a two-year voting and consortium alignment between the companies, providing continuity in VNET’s governance and management while maintaining its strategic direction and operational momentum. The two companies have also entered into a strategic cooperation agreement, aimed at deeper collaboration across operations, technology and ecosystem development, as they jointly pursue the rapidly emerging compute-energy integration market. Mr. Josh Sheng Chen, Founder and Executive Chairperson of VNET, said: “We are pleased to welcome CATL as a new strategic investor and sincerely thank them for their strong support of VNET and our long-term vision. Looking ahead, we will work closely together to deepen collaboration across technology, infrastructure and supply chain capabilities, jointly drive foundational and full-chain innovation in the next-generation AIDC industry, advance innovation in integrated compute-energy systems, and contribute to the development of next-generation digital energy infrastructure for the intelligent era.” As VNET positions itself as an infrastructure provider for the AI inference era, its alignment with CATL at both ownership and business levels has attracted significant market attention. A key question has therefore emerged: why did CATL choose VNET as a major ecosystem partner in its push towards compute-energy integration' According to Frost & Sullivan, VNET’s carrier-neutral data center services revenue is growing faster than the broader China market. Its wholesale data center segment has demonstrated particularly strong year-on-year growth, ranking first among China’s scaled carrier-neutral data center service providers. By retail data center services revenue, VNET ranked No. 1 in 2025, with a 12.3% market share. This combination of growth and market share highlights the strength of VNET’s market position. The Company has also developed competitive advantages across resource reserves, project delivery, customer relationships and access to capital markets — capabilities that have helped lay the foundation for this strategic partnership. Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Asian Leaders Forum, VNET’s senior management highlighted that the Company’s deep commitment to the Chinese market has enabled it to capture a significant share of incremental customer demand over the past two to three years, while maintaining industry-leading delivery capability. This capability will help support the Company’s international ambitions, given the overseas growth of Chinese enterprise customers. At the forum, management summarized VNET’s core competitive advantages across four strategic pillars: First, the Company has secured abundant power-backed resources in regions with relatively low electricity costs. Second, it has demonstrated strong project delivery capabilities, taking approximately 12 to 18 months from greenfield development to delivery. Third, it has established deep relationships with a global network of approximately 7,000 enterprise customers. Fourth, as a US-listed company, VNET benefits from diversified financing channels and solid credit ratings. The Three-Layer Power-Compute Architecture: A Comprehensive Strategic Blueprint Moving forward, the two companies are now focused on translating their comprehensive strategic partnership into an actionable industrial blueprint: a three-layer architecture comprising “Gigawatt-Scale Compute-Energy Facilities + Distributed Compute-Energy Networks + Tokenized Energy Attribute Certificates”. Using this blueprint, the companies will jointly develop a three-layer power-compute system designed to build a nationwide network with global reach, aiming to shape the digital energy infrastructure landscape in the AI era. 1. Gigawatt-Scale Compute-Energy Facilities: The Energy Backbone for Hyperscale AIDCs By combining CATL’s full-stack energy technologies and energy storage systems (ESS) with VNET’s proven AIDC execution capabilities, the partnership aims to develop next-generation hyperscale campuses designed around power-compute integration from the outset. Rather than building the data center first and adding power infrastructure later, the approach is to plan computing and energy capacity in parallel from the beginning. 2. Distributed Compute-Energy Networks: City-Level Edge Infrastructure The second layer focuses on city-level edge infrastructure, directly supporting the strategic deployment of China’s “Six National Compute Networks” and addressing growing demand from smart-city AI applications and localized inference. By extending beyond mega-scale campuses, the partnership aims to expand into city-level edge infrastructure while promoting standardized product design and greater commercial scalability. 3. Tokenized Energy Attribute Certificates: Commercial Model Innovation The third layer focuses on commercial model innovation. By leveraging digitized, auditable environmentalattribute certificates as a value-transfer mechanism, this framework enables traceable alignment between compliant computing assets, renewable electricity procurement and related energy attributes. In essence, the model aims to establish a more transparent and verifiable framework linking computing capacity with renewable power and related environmental attributes, supporting future settlement, reporting and optimization of integrated compute-energy operations. For VNET, the three-layer system represents more than a strategic framework — it provides an execution roadmap for its upgraded “dual-engine” strategy. Gigawatt-scale facilities anchor hyperscale campuses, distributed networks extend coverage to city-level computing, and digital energy-attribute management may, over time, support better traceability, optimization and utilization of green-energy resources. Together, these three layers support VNET’s transformation from a pure-play IDC operator towards an AI-native integrated compute-energy infrastructure platform. The Company believes that the entry of a major strategic industrial investor will materially influence institutional perceptions of its risk and growth potential, its financing capabilities, its operational stability and its medium- to long-term expansion pipeline. With CATL’s strategic backing and the rollout of VNET’s three-layer compute-energy architecture, investor focus is increasingly shifting from the Company’s traditional IDC identity toward its broader role in next-generation AI infrastructure. Still, market recognition is likely to depend not only on strategic narrative, but also on measurable operating delivery. That operating foundation is already beginning to show. In Q2 2026, VNET reported total net revenue of RMB2.78 billion, up 14.2% year-on-year, with the wholesale segment remaining the key growth driver as its revenue rose 29.3% to RMB1.10 billion. Adjusted EBITDA increased 25.4% year-on-year to RMB920 million, while adjusted cash gross profit rose 9.4% to RMB1.16 billion. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded by 3.0 percentage points year-on-year to 33.0%. Adjusted net income reached RMB7.38 million, representing a return to profitability compared with the same period last year. CATL provides more than capital. Its participation brings expertise and capabilities in energy technologies that are increasingly important to the next phase of AI data center development. As AI infrastructure evolves, competitive differentiation is moving beyond basic capacity toward integrated capabilities in power access, energy efficiency, cooling, and long-term operational reliability. In that context, the partnership may strengthen VNET’s ability to participate in the next wave of high-quality infrastructure demand. Notably, several major international investment banks — including Goldman Sachs, HSBC and Morgan Stanley — have recently taken a positive view of VNET. In its latest report dated 3 September, Goldman Sachs reiterated its Buy rating and set a US$14.00 price target. Morgan Stanley, holding an Overweight rating, also set a US$14.00 target price, while HSBC set its target at US$14.10. Goldman Sachs noted that VNET is expected to secure approximately 1.0–1.1GW of wholesale orders for the full year, while its 500MW overseas resource deployment continues to progress, supported by disciplined financing and potential additional synergies from CATL’s strategic investment. Goldman Sachs also expects VNET’s wholesale IDC business to deliver a 2025–2028 revenue and EBITDA CAGR of 37%–38%, highlighting the potential for continued growth driven by AI infrastructure demand and further reassessment of the Company’s valuation. Morgan Stanley maintains its Overweight rating on VNET, setting a US$14 price target, noting that VNET is poised for accelerating EBITDA growth starting from 3Q26, backed by its solid order backlog of 862MW and 3.6GW of available domestic resource capacity. The firm expects capacity deliveries to pick up meaningfully in 2H26, with disciplined overseas expansion plans to mitigate near-term capex risks. From industrial synergies to potential valuation re-rating, VNET’s positioning within the compute-energy integration landscape is attracting increasing attention from the investment community. On one side, CATL is expanding its role from a battery supplier towards becoming a broader infrastructure partner for the AI era. On the other, VNET is pursuing a strategic transformation from a third-party IDC operator towards an AI-native, next-generation digital energy infrastructure provider. The two companies’ strategic trajectories are therefore converging at a pivotal point in the development of AI infrastructure. For VNET, the partnership provides more than additional capital: it creates opportunities for deeper integration across green power, energy storage technologies and global energy networks, potentially strengthening its competitive position as the AI infrastructure market continues to evolve. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global App Economy Outlook 2025-2031: Gaming, Social, E-Commerce and Productivity Apps Drive New Growth as Monetization Models and Platform Strategies Evolve 2026-09-22 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Gaming, Telecom https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3366061/28124/en/global-app-economy-outlook-2025-2031-gaming-social-e-commerce-and-productivity-apps-drive-new-growth-as-monetization-models-and-platform-strategies-evolve.html Smartphone and internet adoption, especially in emerging markets, is fueling mobile-first apps, super apps and cloud services, while 5G, AI and AR/VR enable richer experiences. Smartphone and internet adoption, especially in emerging markets, is fueling mobile-first apps, super apps and cloud services, while 5G, AI and AR/VR enable richer experiences. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Leo is bringing high-quality satellite internet to Uzbekistan 2026-09-22 · Amazon · Retail, Telecom, Aerospace & defense https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-leo-uzbekistan?utm_source=rss Amazon Leo has partnered with telecoms leader Uztelecom to extend connectivity where it’s needed most. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 'First Direct-Drive Stock' Shakes Up Robot Actuation: How Much Longer Can the Traditional Reducer-Based Approach Hold Up? 2026-09-22 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Education https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110273/ HONG KONG, Sept 22, 2026 - Direct Drive Tech Limited (the “Company”) launched its public offering on September 21 and is seeking a Main Board listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under Chapter 18C of the Listing Rules. Once the offering closes, the Company will become the “first direct-drive stock” in Hong Kong — and the first robotics technology company in global capital markets defined primarily by direct-drive technology. The market isn’t just watching a single listing; it may be watching an industry inflection point, as robot drive solutions shift from traditional reducers toward direct drive — a transition one young team is betting on to upend the established landscape. According to public records, founder Zhang Di earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology in 2016 before moving to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, where he studied robotics systems and control engineering under Professor Li Zexiang — widely known as the “godfather of DJI.” His engineering instincts showed early: while at HKUST, he reportedly designed on his own a robot capable of standing both upright and upside down, and sold it to a research institution. Zhang has served as chairman and chief executive since March 2020, overseeing the Group’s overall management, strategic planning, and business decisions. Zhang founded the Company in 2020 at XbotPark, a robotics incubator in Songshan Lake, Dongguan. The Songshan Lake Robotics Research Institute, controlled by Professor Li, invested at the seed round, when the post-money valuation stood at just a few million renminbi; by the final round before the IPO, the valuation had climbed substantially. Now 32, Zhang has been named to both the Forbes China 30 Under 30 and the Hurun China Under 30 lists. Conventional robot drives pair a motor with a reducer: gears step down rotational speed and multiply torque, which suits high-load, high-impact duty. But every meshing gear introduces backlash and friction — heat, wear, and maintenance costs. Every multi-stage transmission adds response lag, energy loss, and precision drift. These are not process defects; they are structural limits baked into the gear-transmission path. And every reducer weakness maps to a direct-drive strength. As embodied intelligence begins demanding millisecond response, zero backlash, lower energy consumption, and longer service life, reducer-based solutions have hit a ceiling that iteration cannot break. This is not an upgrade; it is substitution. Since its founding, the Company has stayed on the direct-drive path, building its moat on three core technology pillars. By coupling the motor directly to the payload, its solution eliminates reducers and every intermediate transmission component. According to the prospectus, this cuts efficiency losses from mechanical transmission while improving precision, lowering noise, and reducing component wear — and it paves the way for smaller, lighter robots. This is no localized tweak to an existing design; it is a rebuild of the power-transmission path itself. The Company has built core capabilities around direct-drive motor design, thermal management, and drive-control integration — system-level know-how spanning electromagnetic design, control algorithms, and mass production. Zero backlash, zero friction, millisecond response: capabilities conventional solutions structurally cannot deliver are, in principle, within reach through direct drive. Iterating on the old technology cannot close that gap. The financials tell more than a revenue story — they trace how direct drive moved from technical validation to commercialization at scale. From 2023 to 2025, revenue rose from RMB17.5 million to RMB281.7 million, a 300.8% CAGR, as shipments of direct-drive actuator modules climbed from 0.2 million to 8.5 million units. Gross margin improved from 13.5% to 21.5%, reaching 20.7% in the first half of 2026, while the adjusted net loss margin narrowed from 349.1% to 15.4% — 13.7% in the first half of 2026. This is scale economics kicking in: a larger revenue base absorbing fixed costs, not R&D cuts, is what has narrowed the losses. It is not just one company’s growth curve; it is a substitution curve, a technology pathway moving from the margins toward the mainstream. Valuation is where Chapter 18C really matters. The Specialist Technology Company regime lets the market assess high-growth hard-tech companies on R&D capabilities, patent reserves, commercialization track record, commercialization revenue, and downstream customer validation — not net profit alone. That framework fits a company trying to change an industry’s underlying technology pathway. Traditional valuation systems revolve around net profit, and they struggle to price a technology like direct drive that is redrawing a century-old industry. Chapter 18C lets the market price “technology substitution” rather than short-term profitability. The technology pathway for global robot drives is still being written, but direct drive displacing reducers is getting harder to ignore. As the “first direct-drive stock,” the Company’s scarcity value lies in using direct drive to redraw the boundaries of the robot actuation market — giving investors a window into the rise of power hardware for physical AI. Direct-drive penetration in consumer robotics remains low, and the shift away from reducer-based solutions is still in its early days; the market has yet to fully price the trend. As direct drive finds its way into more applications, that revaluation has only just begun. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— China Telecom AI Officially Releases Xing4.0-29B Agentic Large Model for Single-GPU Deployment 2026-09-22 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Telecom, Semiconductors https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/22/3365958/0/en/china-telecom-ai-officially-releases-xing4-0-29b-agentic-large-model-for-single-gpu-deployment.html Compact footprint, full-scale capability—China's lightweight agentic large model runs locally on consumer-grade hardware while also powering enterprise production systems ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Central Garden & Pet Announces Garden Segment Leadership Transition 2026-09-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/central-garden-pet-announces-garden-205700683.html WALNUT CREEK, Calif., September 21, 2026--Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) ("Central"), a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries, today announced a planned leadership transition for its Garden segment. J.D. Walker, President, Garden Consumer Products, will retire from that role effective September 26, 2026, at which point Jason Barnes, Executive Vice President, Garden Consumer Products, will assume responsibility for sales, marketing and servic ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KEYSTONE RV BREAKS MULTIPLE SALES RECORDS AT HERSHEY RV SHOW 2026-09-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/keystone-rv-breaks-multiple-sales-records-at-hershey-rv-show-302885210.html Dealer preparation and execution drive Keystone's strongest retail performance since before the pandemic GOSHEN, Ind., Sept. 21, 2026 -- Keystone RV and its dealer partners delivered the company's strongest retail sales performance at America's Largest RV Show in Hershey Pa.... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon’s carbon-free energy projects contribute $11 billion to US GDP, support nearly 22,000 jobs in local communities 2026-09-21 · Amazon · Energy, Retail, Sustainability https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-carbon-free-energy-economic-impact-study-2026?utm_source=rss Amazon's solar, wind, nuclear, and battery storage investments drove economic growth across the U.S. from 2023 through 2025, per an Oxford Economics study. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes Announces Veteran Entrepreneur Accelerator Program September 2026 Cohort 2026-09-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-penfed-foundation-for-military-heroes-announces-veteran-entrepreneur-accelerator-program-september-2026-cohort-302885050.html New cohort features companies spanning healthcare, technology, consumer products and workforce development TYSONS, Va., Sept. 21, 2026 -- The PenFed Foundation for Military Heroes, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans in their transition from... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon and Prime make everyday life more affordable for American families 2026-09-21 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-prime-affordable-everyday-savings?utm_source=rss Amazon and Prime deliver billions in savings every year—averaging over $1,000 per customer for 100+ million customers—through everyday low prices, deals, time-saving free delivery, and fuel savings—plus prescription savings. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon invests another $1.9 billion in the Delivery Service Partner program, launching new safety initiatives and AI-powered technology 2026-09-21 · Amazon · AI, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-dsp-program-investment-2026?utm_source=rss Amazon has invested $21.7 billion to support DSPs and their Delivery Associates throughout the eight-year program history. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Eyes on the Future—From Eyewear to Smart Wearables 2026-09-21 · SAP · Healthcare, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://news.sap.com/2026/09/essilorluxottica-from-eyewear-to-smart-wearables/ EssilorLuxottica operates at the intersection of medical technology, consumer fashion, and retail. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon invests $20 million in the Colorado River as part of a coalition to mobilize $100 million for water conservation 2026-09-21 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-investment-colorado-river-water-conservation?utm_source=rss Amazon is launching a collaborative action initiative alongside other companies to fund water projects across the basin. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Assessment of Europe's Food Waste Recycling Market 2026-2036 Featuring Veolia Environnement, SUEZ Group, Biffa Group, Renewi, BTS Biogas and Other Key Players 2026-09-21 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Travel, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/21/3365248/28124/en/assessment-of-europe-s-food-waste-recycling-market-2026-2036-featuring-veolia-environnement-suez-group-biffa-group-renewi-bts-biogas-and-other-key-players.html Dublin, Sept. 21, 2026 -- "Europe Food Waste Recycling Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis - Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast (2026-2036)" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to the research report, the Europe food waste recycling market is projected to reach $5.91 billion by 2036, at a CAGR of 13.5% during the forecast period 2026-2036. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the Europe food waste recycling market, emphasizing the current market trends, market sizes, recent developments, and forecasts till 2036. Succeeding extensive secondary and primary research and an in-depth analysis of the market scenario, the report conducts the impact analysis of the key industry drivers, restraints, opportunities, and challenges. The growth of this market is driven by stringent EU waste management regulations and mandatory bio-waste separation policies, rising demand for renewable energy and organic fertilizers, the expanding circular economy agenda across European nations, and increasing adoption of advanced recycling technologies such as anaerobic digestion. Moreover, growing investment in biorefinery infrastructure, the surging demand for bioplastics and bio-based materials, and digital transformation of waste management operations are expected to support the market's growth. However, high upfront capital requirements for recycling infrastructure, feedstock contamination issues, and fragmented regulatory frameworks across EU member states may restrain market growth. The key players operating in the Europe food waste recycling market are Veolia Environnement SA (France), SUEZ Group (France), Biffa Group Limited (U.K.), Renewi plc (Netherlands/U.K.), BTS Biogas Srl/GmbH (Italy), Anaergia Inc. (Canada), WELTEC BIOPOWER GmbH (Germany), PreZero International GmbH (Germany), FCC Environment Ltd (U.K.), Remondis SE & Co. KG (Germany), Biogen (U.K.), ReFood GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Masias Recycling (Spain), Ecofast Italia (Italy), and others. The Europe food waste recycling market is segmented by byproduct type (organic fertilizers, animal feed, biofuels, bioplastics, and other biochemicals), feedstock source (household food waste, food processing industry, food service and hospitality, retail and supermarkets, and agricultural residues), recycling method (anaerobic digestion, composting, pelletization, fermentation, and other technologies), end-use application, and country. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the market at the country level. Based on byproduct type, the organic fertilizers segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe food waste recycling market in 2026. This segment leads primarily due to the continent's strong commitment to sustainable agriculture, the EU Farm to Fork Strategy targeting 25% organic farmland by 2030, and reduced reliance on chemical fertilizers across European agricultural operations. Food waste-derived compost and digestate fertilizers provide nutrient-rich alternatives to synthetic inputs and are increasingly sought after by farmers and gardeners throughout Europe. The growing emphasis on soil health, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity restoration further underpins demand for organic fertilizers derived from recycled food waste. Regulatory frameworks mandating separate bio-waste collection at the household level ensure a consistent and high-quality feedstock base for organic fertilizer production. Additionally, long-term offtake agreements between major retailers such as Tesco, Carrefour, and REWE with recycling operators provide supply chain certainty and support the development of large-scale composting and digestion facilities across the region. Based on recycling method, the anaerobic digestion segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe food waste recycling market in 2026. Anaerobic digestion dominates the European food waste recycling market with a 30-40% share, driven by its ability to simultaneously generate two high-value outputs: renewable biogas (or biomethane) for energy use and nutrient-rich digestate for agricultural applications. This dual-output capability makes anaerobic digestion economically attractive and aligns with both the EU's renewable energy targets under RED III and its circular economy objectives. The technology processes over 35 million tonnes of food waste annually across Europe, generating renewable energy sufficient to power approximately 4 million homes. Countries such as Germany, France, and the Netherlands are leading the deployment of large-scale anaerobic digestion plants, with Germany's national biomethane strategy targeting 10% of its gas grid supplied by food waste and agricultural residues by 2030. Advances in biogas upgrading, decentralized digestion systems, and improved methane yields are expanding the accessibility of this technology to smaller municipalities and rural regions, reinforcing the segment's market dominance. Based on feedstock source, the food processing industry segment is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe food waste recycling market in 2026. The food processing industry dominates feedstock supply with a 40-45% share, supported by consistent and large-volume waste streams from meat, dairy, bakery, and beverage processing operations. Unlike household food waste, which can be subject to contamination from non-organic materials, food processing waste is typically well-sorted and suitable for high-efficiency recycling operations. Producer responsibility schemes and long-term recycling contracts signed between food processors and waste management companies ensure stable feedstock supplies for recycling facilities across Europe. Increasing regulatory pressure on food manufacturers to divert organic waste from landfills, combined with the economic incentive of cost-effective waste disposal through recycling partnerships, is driving this segment's dominance. Innovations in valorization technologies that extract bio-based chemicals, enzymes, and specialty ingredients from food processing residues are also opening new revenue streams and further incentivizing industrial participation in food waste recycling. A thorough geographic analysis of the industry gives detailed insights across key European countries. Germany is expected to account for the largest share of the Europe food waste recycling market in 2026. Germany's leadership in the European food waste recycling market reflects the country's world-renowned waste management infrastructure, mature regulatory frameworks, and strong circular economy culture. Germany's national biomethane strategy, backed by a EUR 3 billion subsidy program, is accelerating the upgrading of anaerobic digestion facilities and driving large-scale food waste valorization. Major waste management companies including Remondis, Veolia, and SUEZ operate extensive processing networks throughout Germany, offering comprehensive services spanning collection, anaerobic digestion, composting, and bio-based product marketing. Western Europe overall leads the regional market, supported by well-established waste collection systems, advanced processing infrastructure, and strong regulatory compliance. In contrast, Eastern Europe is the fastest-growing sub-region, with Poland projected to expand at a 14.4% CAGR, driven by EU funding and rapid infrastructure development. Italy stands out for its circular economy approach, processing 7.1 million tonnes of organic waste annually through over 400 facilities, while France is growing at a 10.6% CAGR, supported by strict anti-waste legislation and a national pact involving over 500 companies committed to halving food waste by 2030. Key Questions Answered in the Report: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Wearable Biosensors Market Trends, Strategies and Forecast to 2036 Featuring Abbott Labs, Dexcom, Medtronic, Roche, Apple, Samsung Electronics Co., Garmin and Other Key Players 2026-09-21 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Biotech & pharma https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/21/3365239/28124/en/global-wearable-biosensors-market-trends-strategies-and-forecast-to-2036-featuring-abbott-labs-dexcom-medtronic-roche-apple-samsung-electronics-co-garmin-and-other-key-players.html Dublin, Sept. 21, 2026 -- "Wearable Biosensors Market - Global Forecast to 2036" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. According to the research report, the global wearable biosensors market is projected to reach USD 105.5 billion by 2036 from USD 35.5 billion in 2026, growing at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period (2026-2036). The growth of this market is primarily driven by the escalating demand for continuous health monitoring, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, and the increasing adoption of personalized healthcare solutions. Wearable biosensors are sophisticated devices that enable real-time tracking of physiological parameters, providing critical data for early disease detection and remote patient management. The global wearable biosensors market is undergoing a profound structural transformation as the healthcare industry shifts from episodic, clinic-based care toward continuous, proactive health management. This evolution is being catalyzed by the rapid miniaturization of sensing technologies and the integration of advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence into consumer wearables. The industry is witnessing a significant transition from simple activity trackers toward medical-grade diagnostic devices that can monitor complex biomarkers like glucose, blood pressure, and cardiac rhythms with high precision. Furthermore, the integration of wearable biosensors with digital health and telemedicine platforms is creating a seamless ecosystem for remote patient monitoring and virtual care delivery. This dynamic shift ensures sustained demand for non-invasive, user-friendly sensing solutions that empower individuals and healthcare providers with actionable health insights, ultimately improving clinical outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Market Segmentation The global wearable biosensors market is segmented by biomarker type (glucose monitoring, heart rate and cardiac biomarkers, blood oxygen [SpO2] monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, lactate and performance biomarkers, and other biomarkers), product type/form factor (smartwatches, fitness bands, continuous glucose monitoring devices, wearable ECG monitors, smart patches, smart rings, and smart clothing), application (clinical and medical, fitness and wellness, and sports and performance monitoring), end-user (hospitals and clinics, home care settings, fitness and sports organizations, individual consumers, and research institutions), and geography. The study evaluation includes industry competitors and analyzes the market at the country level. Based on Biomarker Type By biomarker type, the glucose monitoring segment is expected to hold the largest share of the global wearable biosensors market in 2026. This dominance is attributed to the high and rising prevalence of diabetes globally and the widespread adoption of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems that eliminate the need for frequent finger-prick testing. Conversely, the heart rate and cardiac biomarkers segment is projected to register significant growth, driven by the increasing integration of ECG and heart rate variability (HRV) sensing into consumer smartwatches, enabling early detection of arrhythmias and other cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, the lactate and multi-analyte biosensors segments are projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period, fueled by the growing demand for performance optimization in sports and the development of non-invasive sensors for comprehensive metabolic health tracking. Based on Product Type / Form Factor By product type/form factor, the smartwatches with integrated biosensors segment is expected to hold the largest share of the global wearable biosensors market in 2026. Smartwatches have become the primary platform for health monitoring due to their high consumer acceptance, multi-functionality, and the continuous addition of medical-grade sensors by leading tech companies. Meanwhile, the continuous glucose monitoring devices segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This rapid growth is driven by the shift toward proactive diabetes management and the expansion of CGM use among non-insulin-dependent patients and health-conscious individuals. Additionally, smart patches and smart rings are emerging as high-growth segments, offering discrete and specialized monitoring for clinical and wellness applications. Based on Application By application, the clinical and medical segment is expected to hold the largest share in 2026. The increasing use of wearable biosensors for chronic disease management, post-operative monitoring, and clinical trials drives this segment's leadership. Within this segment, remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a major growth catalyst. Conversely, the fitness and wellness segment is projected to register a steady growth rate, driven by the increasing consumer focus on preventive health and the popularity of activity and sleep tracking. The sports and performance monitoring segment is also witnessing rapid expansion as professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts adopt biosensors to optimize training and recovery through data-driven insights. Based on End-User By end-user, the hospitals and clinics segment is expected to hold the largest share in 2026, reflecting the primary role of healthcare providers in prescribing and managing medical-grade wearable sensors for patient care. Conversely, the home care settings segment is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This rapid growth is driven by the global trend toward decentralized healthcare and the increasing preference for monitoring patients in their home environments to improve comfort and reduce hospital readmissions. The individual consumers segment also remains significant, as more people purchase wearables for personal health and fitness tracking. Geographic Analysis In 2026, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the global wearable biosensors market. The region's leadership is underpinned by a highly advanced healthcare infrastructure, high levels of digital health literacy, and the presence of industry leaders such as Abbott, Dexcom, Apple, and Medtronic in the United States. Furthermore, the early adoption of remote patient monitoring and a favorable reimbursement landscape for digital health technologies contribute to the market's dominance. Key companies in the North America market include Abbott Laboratories (U.S.), Dexcom, Inc. (U.S.), Apple Inc. (U.S.), Medtronic plc (Ireland), Garmin Ltd. (U.S.), Google LLC (Fitbit - U.S.), Masimo Corporation (U.S.), VitalConnect, Inc. (U.S.), and Biolinq Inc. (U.S.). Asia-Pacific is projected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period. This expansion is primarily driven by increasing healthcare expenditure, the rapid expansion of the middle-class population, and the high penetration of smartphones and wearable devices in China, India, and Japan. Furthermore, the rising burden of chronic diseases in the region and government initiatives to promote digital health are significant catalysts. Key companies in the Asia-Pacific market include Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (South Korea) and various emerging local MedTech startups. Europe remains a critical market for wearable biosensors, characterized by a strong focus on preventive healthcare and the implementation of robust medical device regulations. European countries are increasingly adopting wearable sensors to address the healthcare needs of an aging population and to improve the efficiency of public health systems. The region's focus on data privacy and security is driving the demand for sensors that comply with strict GDPR and MDR standards. Key companies in the Europe market include F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Oura Health Ltd. (Finland), and Empatica Inc. (U.S./Italy). Latin America is an emerging market for wearable biosensors, driven by the modernization of healthcare facilities and the increasing adoption of consumer health technologies in Brazil and Mexico. The region is seeing a shift toward more accessible health monitoring solutions as enterprises and individuals seek to manage chronic conditions more effectively. The Middle East & Africa region is experiencing growing interest in wearable biosensors as part of national digital health transformation strategies, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Investments in high-tech healthcare infrastructure and the adoption of AI-driven health solutions are expected to be major drivers of market growth in the region. Key Players The key players operating in the global wearable biosensors market include: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Direct Drive Tech Limited, The Robotics Technology Company with Direct Drive Technology as Core Capability, Announces its Plan to List on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Offer Price of HK$21.60 per Share 2026-09-21 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110233/ HONG KONG, Sept 21, 2026 - Direct Drive Tech Limited (the “Company”, stock code: 06731) announces its Global Offering and the listing of Shares on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”). According to the listing documents, Direct Drive Tech Limited is a robotics technology company with direct drive technology as company’s core capability. Company primarily engage in the sales of robotic actuator modules, and to a lesser extent, robots, in China. Company operate in (i) PRC consumer robotic actuator module industry, a sub-segment representing 26.3% of PRC robotic actuator module industry and (ii) PRC wheel-legged and PRC dual-wheel-legged robot industry in China, sub-segments representing less than 1.0% of the PRC robot industry. Company serve subsegments of the PRC robotic actuator module industry and PRC robot industry, specifically (i) PRC consumer robotic actuator module industry and (ii) PRC wheel-legged robot industry. From company’s inception to June 30, 2026, company’s robotics technology has empowered over 7.5million robots across consumer, industrial and commercial application scenarios, as well as embodied intelligence robots. Direct Drive Tech Limited plans to offer an aggregate of 50,000,000 Shares (subject to the Over-allotment Option) under the Global Offering, of which 47,500,000 Shares (subject to reallocation and the Over-allotment Option) will be offered by way of International Offering, and 2,500,000 Shares (subject to reallocation) will be offered in the Hong Kong Public Offering. The Offer Price will be HK$21.60 per Offer Share, with the board lot size of 100 shares. The Hong Kong Public Offering commenced on Monday, 21 September 2026 and is expected to close at 12:00 noon (at 11:30 a.m. for completing electronic applications under the White Form eIPO service) on Thursday, 24 September 2026. Dealings in H Shares on the Stock Exchange are expected to commence on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. Direct Drive estimates that company will receive net proceeds from the Global Offering of approximately HK$982.5 million, after deducting underwriting commissions, fees and estimated expenses payable by us in connection with the Global Offering, assuming the Over-allotment Option is not exercised and an Offer Price of HK$21.60 per Offer Share. The company intend to use the net proceeds of the Global Offering for the following purposes: approximately 50.0%, or HK$491.3 million, will be used to enhance R&D capabilities in key robotics technologies; approximately 20.0%, or HK$196.5 million, will be used to deepen collaboration with industry partners and broaden sales network; approximately 20.0%, or HK$196.5 million, will be used for improving production capability and efficiency; approximately 10.0%, or HK$98.3 million, will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Company has successfully procured HK Technology Innovation and JSC International (for and on behalf of Shenghai SP) as cornerstone investors, the Cornerstone Investors have agreed to, subject to certain conditions, subscribe, or cause their designated entities to subscribe, at the Offer Price, for such number of Offer Shares (rounded down to the nearest whole board lot of 100 H Shares) that may be purchased for an aggregate amount of approximately HK$472.0 million (the “Cornerstone Placing”). CITIC Securities (Hong Kong) Limited is the sole sponsor. CLSA Limited serves as sponsor and Overall Coordinator. The joint global coordinators, joint bookrunners, joint lead managers and capital markets intermediaries comprise CLSA Limited, China Harbour International Securities Limited, CMB International Capital Limited and Futu Securities International (Hong Kong) Limited. Neutral Financial Holding Company Limited as an additional joint bookrunner, joint lead manager and capital markets intermediary. About Direct Drive Tech Limited Direct Drive Tech Limited was established in 2020 and is a "little giant" enterprises. As a Globally Leading Robotics Technology Company With direct drive technology as core capability, Adhering to the corporate mission of "bringing robots into every household", Direct Drive Tech is committed to making robots more efficient, dexterous and intelligent. The company currently boasts a team of over 400 members, including several Ph.D. holders and dozens of master's degree holders, with over 40% being R&D personnel, The Company has formed three major robot technology platforms: (1) The robotic actuator module technology platform; (2) The wheel-legged robot technology platform; (3) The modular reconfiguration technology platform. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MSITEK Participates in New York Fashion Week Retail Innovation Lab 2026-09-20 · PR Newswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/msitek-participates-in-new-york-fashion-week-retail-innovation-lab-302883861.html NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2026 -- MSITEK , Global SAP partner and digital transformation company, participated in the Retail Innovation Lab by NYFW Collections and SAP in New York during New York Fashion Week (NYFW). As an innovative SAP partner invited to participate, MSITEK... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hotel & Shop Plus 2027: Seamless Synergy across Design, Sustainability, Digitalization 2026-09-20 · PR Newswire · Retail, Travel, Sustainability https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hotel--shop-plus-2027-seamless-synergy-across-design-sustainability-digitalization-302883937.html SHANGHAI, Sept. 20, 2026 -- Organized by Sinoexpo Informa Markets and leading Chinese and international industry organizations, Hotel & Shop Plus Shanghai 2027, the leading trade fair for the hotel, retail, office and public-space industries, is scheduled for March 30–April... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wearable Sleep Trackers Market Grows as AI Analytics Push Consumer Devices Toward Clinical-Grade Monitoring 2026-09-20 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Healthcare, Retail, Education https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/20/3365050/0/en/wearable-sleep-trackers-market-grows-as-ai-analytics-push-consumer-devices-toward-clinical-grade-monitoring.html As per SNS Insider, the Global Wearable Sleep Trackers Market is projected to reach USD 48.60 billion by 2035, growing at a 11.20% CAGR, while the U.S. market is projected to reach USD 18.59 billion, advancing at 10.90% CAGR, as multi-sensor fusion and machine learning extend sleep monitoring into clinically adjacent, preventive health applications. As per SNS Insider, the Global Wearable Sleep Trackers Market is projected to reach USD 48.60 billion by 2035, growing at a 11.20% CAGR, while the U.S. market is projected to reach USD 18.59 billion, advancing at 10.90% CAGR, as multi-sensor fusion and machine learning extend sleep monitoring into clinically adjacent, preventive health applications. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Insta360 Opens First Flagship Store Outside Asia In New York's Times Square Amid Global Retail Expansion 2026-09-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/insta360-opens-first-flagship-store-outside-asia-in-new-yorks-times-square-amid-global-retail-expansion-302883843.html NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2026 -- Insta360 officially opened its first flagship retail store outside of Asia on Saturday, September 19, 2026, occupying a prime location at 1515 Broadway in New York's Times Square. The store opening marks a major milestone in the global imaging... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Native Springs Expands Smart Home Technology Coverage with New 2026 Consumer Resource 2026-09-18 · GlobeNewswire · Energy, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/18/3364903/0/en/native-springs-expands-smart-home-technology-coverage-with-new-2026-consumer-resource.html London, United Kingdom, Sept. 18, 2026 -- Native Springs has announced an expansion of its consumer technology coverage with the publication of a new 2026 smart-home resource examining connected devices used for household automation, security, cleaning, energy monitoring and climate control. The publication forms part of the website’s developing coverage of consumer technology and connected-home systems. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon highlights investments in satellite connectivity, responsible AI, and sustainability at UN General Assembly 2026-09-18 · Amazon · AI, Energy, Retail, Aerospace & defense, Sustainability https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/policy-news-views/united-nations-general-assembly-2026-amazon-ai-sustainability?utm_source=rss From satellite internet in South Africa to 42 gigawatts of clean energy, Amazon's Chief Global Affairs Officer shares how the company is investing in the future. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Newmark Arranges Financing for Related Ross' Acquisition of Landmark 1.7 MSF Boca Raton Innovation Campus 2026-09-18 · PR Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newmark-arranges-financing-for-related-ross-acquisition-of-landmark-1-7-msf-boca-raton-innovation-campus-302883385.html Vision for Former IBM Campus Includes Mix of Amenities, Retail and Restaurants NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2026 -- Newmark Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NMRK) ("Newmark" or the "Company"), a leading commercial real estate advisor and service provider to large institutional investors, global... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Coresight Research Hosts One-Day Conference Examining AI Impact and Strategies for the Retail Industry 2026-09-18 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/coresight-research-hosts-one-day-145700162.html NEW YORK, September 18, 2026--Coresight Research, the leading research and advisory firm specializing in retail and technology, in partnership with Tractor Supply and Soles4Souls, announces Coresight Conference: How AI Is Redefining The Possible, a one-day conference taking place September 28, 2026, in Nashville, TN. Coresight Conference creates an opportunity for retail executives and technology leaders to examine how artificial intelligence has impacted brands, retailers, and consumers, and sh ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FAO SCHWARZ BRINGS ITS ICONIC TOY STORE EXPERIENCE TO AMAZON.COM THIS FALL 2026-09-18 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fao-schwarz-brings-its-iconic-toy-store-experience-to-amazoncom-this-fall-302882798.html FAO Schwarz launched its first-ever Amazon storefront, offering customers in the U.S. a new way to shop its collections and enjoy the brand experience NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2026 -- The FAO Schwarz legacy of wonder and awe is now available on Amazon.com, along with a... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Non-UPF Verified Surpasses 300 Products as Demand for Food Processing Transparency Grows 2026-09-18 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/non-upf-verified-surpasses-300-products-as-demand-for-food-processing-transparency-grows-302883048.html Program introduces a new consumer app that lets shoppers scan products, learn about food processing and ask their favorite brands to pursue verification BELLINGHAM, Wash., Sept. 18, 2026 -- Since opening for enrollment on January 21, 2026, the Non-UPF Verified program has... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 3DG Jewellery Celebrates Its 23rd Anniversary in Dazzling Style 2026-09-18 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Crypto, Retail, Gaming, Education, Telecom, Fashion & luxury https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110199/ HONG KONG, Sept 18, 2026 - 3DG Holdings (International) Limited (“3DG Holdings” or the “Group”) (Stock Code: 2882) is pleased to celebrate the 23rd anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the brand has invited renowned designer and illustrator Mr. Alex Gan, known for his delicate style and dreamlike brushwork, to create an exclusive anniversary-themed artwork. This crossover collaboration embodies the brand’s “Young at Heart” philosophy through jewellery. Drawing inspiration from 3DG Jewellery’s signature products, the artist has transformed classic design elements into imaginative illustrations. These include the Eight Treasures Compass from the “Classic Gold” collection, the four-leaf clover from the “Golden Allure GA” collection and the feather from the “Bling Bling Gold” collection, offering a new artistic interpretation of jewellery aesthetics. Taking centre stage in the celebration is the newly launched “Bling Bling Gold” Phalaenopsis Orchid Collection. The collection combines graceful, three-dimensional contours with the brand’s exclusive Bling Bling Gold craftsmanship and technology, allowing the gold surface to refract a spectrum of colours as the light shifts. Designed to complement both wedding occasions and everyday styling, the collection seamlessly combines romantic sophistication with modern versatility, allowing wearers to express their individuality with confidence and elegance. In addition, a range of exclusive co-branded merchandise, including gift boxes, tumblers and stylish scarves, will be launched during the campaign, offering customers an artistic experience that engages both sight and touch. A host of limited-time offers will also be rolled out, with selected jewellery pieces available at a special appreciation price of HK$2,388, as a token of gratitude for customers’ continued support. Cross-Industry Collaboration: Art-Inspired Jewellery, with Dreamlike Elements Woven into the Designs Renowned designer and illustrator Mr. Alex Gan drew his creative inspiration from a romantic starry sky, using gold and holographic silver as the dominant tones. Gold symbolises the precious metal, while holographic silver represents the dazzling brilliance of jewellery. The artwork adopts a swirling, encircling composition that evokes a sense of fluid movement. Shooting stars streak across the sky as graceful hummingbirds and fluttering butterflies act as guides, accompanied by soft velvet ribbons and exquisite jewellery. Together, these elements create a light and dynamic sense of moving towards something longed for. Gilded flowers burst into bloom while pristine feathers unfurl and dance across the sky, intertwining as they converge into a glittering vortex of swirling light, surrounded by delicate sparkles of starlight. The layered interplay of light and shadow creates a refined and dreamlike atmosphere, with the silhouette of a beautiful young woman appearing subtly amid the starlight. Each visual element echoes the others, giving concrete form to romantic imagery. Through symbols such as starlight, blossoms, wings, butterflies and birds, the artwork conveys the vibrant and ever-renewing inner vitality of love, resulting in an artistic visual expression that combines aesthetic beauty with emotional meaning. This cross-industry collaboration embodies the brand’s “Young at Heart” philosophy, demonstrating how jewellery can transcend the boundaries of age and time, empowering every woman to discover her own moment to shine. Inspired by 3DG Jewellery’s signatureCollections, Mr. Gan has woven the brand’s classic designs into the artwork. The curves of the butterfly’s outstretched wings echo the silhouette of the “Bling Bling Gold” butterfly designs; the lightness of the feathers mirrors the ethereal elegance of the “Bling Bling Gold” feather design; and the four-leaf clover and Eight Treasures Compass motifs directly reference the classic designs of the “Golden Allure GA” and “Classic Gold” collections. Through this creative dialogue between art and jewellery, each discipline inspires and elevates the other, bringing timeless designs to life through a fresh and imaginative perspective. “Classic Gold” Collection – Eight Treasures Compass Design Gold Pendant with Ruby and Diamonds   Design, craftsmanship and features The Eight Treasures Compass brings together eight auspicious symbols, representing the fulfilment of blessings and wisdom, and enduring good fortune. The vajra represents firm and incisive wisdom that dispels ignorance and overcomes obstacles. Crafted using traditional goldsmithing techniques and set with rubies and diamonds, the design features a rotating vajra at its centre, allowing auspiciousness and everlasting fulfilment to flow through everyday life. “Golden Allure GA” Collection – Four-Leaf Clover Design Gold Pendant with Diamonds   Design, craftsmanship and features A diamond-accented four-leaf clover, with luck woven into its leaf veins. Its delicate veins interlace and spread like the effortless beauty of nature, outlining a vibrant sense of vitality. Studded with diamonds, the design quietly blends the pure beauty of nature with artisanal craftsmanship. Every 5G gold vein carries the classic blessings of the four-leaf clover, with happiness hidden within its leaf patterns and vitality captured in its design. The piece not only echoes the harmonious coexistence of nature and art, but also ensures the wearer is constantly surrounded by good wishes.   “Bling Bling Gold” Collection – Feather Design Gold Pendant     Design, craftsmanship and features A single feather of breathtaking grace, born bathed in light. This 5G gold feather is the embodiment of lightness, symbolising the guidance of light and the favour of good fortune, like an invisible pair of hands silently bestowing protection and blessings. Adorned in colour, the feather takes on an even deeper meaning, giving every aspiration for growth a vibrant and warm undertone. Featured Collection: “Bling Bling Gold” Phalaenopsis Orchid Collection Radiates Timeless Brilliance As the flagship highlight of the 23rd anniversary celebration, the “Bling Bling Gold” Phalaenopsis Orchid Collection makes a striking debut. The Collection combines phalaenopsis orchids with graceful butterflies. Through the use of 5G Bling Bling Gold craftsmanship and Italian filigree techniques, the surface achieves a dazzling lustre with distinct layers, radiating timeless brilliance. Available in large, medium and small versions, the thematic designs combine versatile fashion appeal with the symbolism of beauty and happiness, breaking free from the conventions of traditional bridal jewellery to present a modern bridal style for a new generation. From weddings to everyday attire, the pieces can be effortlessly styled to enable the wearer to shine at every moment. “Bling Bling Gold” Collection – Phalaenopsis Orchid Design Design, craftsmanship and features Gradated phalaenopsis orchids and graceful butterflies create a rhythmic sense of dynamic beauty, capturing a vivid moment in a spring garden. 5G Bling Bling Gold and Italian handcrafted filigree outline the petals, with fine gold wires shaped precisely to follow the contours of each flower, recreating the beauty of the layered, unfurling blossoms. The shimmering gold surface complements the openwork filigree, perfectly blending bridal festivity with the natural grace of flowers. Gold Necklace Gold Earrings       Gold Ring Gold Bangle     More from the “Bling Bling Gold” Butterfly Collection Gold Pendant   Design, craftsmanship and features Inspired by the butterfly as a symbol of love, this piece conveys a heartfelt wish for enduring devotion between lovers. Crafted with 5G gold as its foundation, the butterfly silhouette is precisely cast and enhanced with a combination of CNC sparkle-cut gold and Bling Bling Gold techniques, complemented by hand-wound filigree detailing to create three-dimensional layering and dazzling lustre. Perfect for both daily wear or as a festive gift.   Design, craftsmanship and features A versatile range of affordable-luxury designs inspired by the beauty of a butterfly’s metamorphosis, featuring lightweight butterfly silhouettes crafted in 5G gold. The deluxe necklace features butterflies in graduated sizes extending from both sides of the neckline toward the centre. Small butterflies flutter delicately while larger ones unfold their wings in full splendour, as if a flock of butterflies were following a trail of light and shadow, symbolising the beauty and hope found in life’s transformations. Design, craftsmanship and features Crafted using gold wire-wrapping techniques, the fluttering butterfly wings shimmer with iridescent hues, capturing the breathtaking moment a butterfly emerges from its cocoon and takes flight, accompanying the wearer through every wonderful moment. 23rd Anniversary Exclusive Privileges and Special Offers To celebrate its 23rd anniversary, 3DG Jewellery is presenting a series of exclusive privileges starting from 19 September 2026, adding extra joy and excitement to customers’ jewellery shopping experience: Offer 1: Celebrating with Woven Flowers Customers who visit any 3DG Jewellery  store and scan the in-store QR code will receive one complimentary handmade woven flower, sharing blessings through this little gift. Click here to play the online game. Upon completion, participants will receive a complimentary  redemption coupon for a multi-functional luggage tag with mirror, as well as a 25% off diamond purchase coupon.     Offer 2: Anniversary Special Selected jewellery pieces are available at a special appreciation price of HK$2,388, as a heartfelt token of gratitude for customers’ support.     Offer 3: Anniversary Gifts Receive a complimentary “3DG Jewellery Gift Box” with any purchase; a “3DG Jewellery Fashion Scarf” with a purchase of HK$5,300 or above; and a “3DG Jewellery Tumbler” with a purchase of HK$8,300 or above. Gifts are available in limited quantities, while stocks last.       Offer 4: Exclusive Member Benefits Members purchasing products from the “Bling Bling Gold” collection will receive double bonus points. Members can also redeem designated gifts using 30% fewer points, allowing them to enjoy exclusive privileges. The above offers are subject to the relevant terms and conditions. For details, please refer to in-store promotional materials or visit the official website. For more high-resolution photos, please click here to download About Mr. Alex Gan, Designer and Illustrator Illustrator Mr. Alex Gan graduated from the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, China. He has long been engaged in the study and practice of illustration inspired by the artistic language of copperplate engraving. Skilled at controlling the rhythm of simple lines and their complex interweaving, he creates richly detailed and delicate visual effects, and uses this approach  to present intricate compositions imbued with a vintage flair and strong narrative. He is also adept at exploring and applying a wide range of cultural symbols, giving his works a sense of sophistication and refinement. Mr. Gan has provided illustration services for numerous prestigious brands, and his work has won multiple international awards, including the Silver A’ Design Award (Italy), Pentawards Silver, MUSE Design Awards Platinum (USA) and the iF Design Award (Germany). About 3DG Holdings (International) Limited (Stock Code: 2882) 3DG Jewellery is a distinguished jewellery brand from Chinese Mainland and a member of the Luk Fook Group. The brand is mainly engaged in design, product development, and retailing of gem-set jewellery products under the “3DG Jewellery” name and gold and platinum jewellery, it also provides customized corporate gift services.  Since 2003, 3DG Jewellery has established a retail network in Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong S.A.R., Thailand and Australia, with nearly 300 shops, its brand image is deeply recognized and affirmed. Embracing the brand philosophy of “Young at Heart,” 3DG Jewellery crafts stylish and distinctive pieces. With its unique product charm and “3DG Prestige Service”, the brand has won the recognition of consumers and celebrities, while also receiving widespread praise throughout its development. For more information, please visit the official website of 3DG Jewellery at:  https://www.3dg-group.hk/ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Adam Smith Named Chairman, Direct-To-Consumer, Disney Entertainment 2026-09-17 · The Walt Disney Company · Retail, Media https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/press-releases/adam-smith-named-chairman-direct-to-consumer-disney-entertainment/ The post Adam Smith Named Chairman, Direct-To-Consumer, Disney Entertainment appeared first on The Walt Disney Company. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How to read books for free with Prime: Amazon First Reads and Amazon Original Stories 2026-09-17 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/books-and-authors/prime-reading-free-books-benefits?utm_source=rss Prime members get instant access to short stories from best-selling authors through Amazon Original Stories, plus a Kindle book each month with First Reads. Learn how to start reading or listening at no additional cost. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DG Display Showcase Expands Global Project Capabilities with New Production Base 2026-09-17 · PR Newswire · Retail, Industrial https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dg-display-showcase-expands-global-project-capabilities-with-new-production-base-302881937.html The planned 30,000+ sq. m. base will expand DG Display Showcase's manufacturing, engineering, R&D and global project delivery capabilities for larger and more complex retail space projects. GUANGZHOU, China, Sept. 17, 2026 -- DG Display Showcase, a customized display and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon delivered more than 2 million meals to students in rural communities this summer 2026-09-17 · Amazon · Retail, Education, Food & drink https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-summer-meals-kids-rural-delivery?utm_source=rss Amazon’s Summer Meals for Kids program partners with 18 food banks and school districts to deliver meals to families across 13 states this summer. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bayer to Present How it Rebuilt Global Planning with OMP at Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2026 2026-09-17 · ACN Newswire · AI, Retail, Industrial, Logistics, Biotech & pharma https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110173/ ANTWERPEN, BELGIUM, Sept 17, 2026 - OMP, a leading provider of supply chain planning solutions, invites attendees of the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit 2026 in London to its joint session with multinational Bayer. Representatives of the Pharmaceutical division and the global IT department will show what it took to rebuild global planning around faster, higher-quality decisions, how Unison Planning™ supports that at scale, and where AI fits in. Rebuilding planning at Bayer's scale Bayer treated its move to Unison Planning™ as more than a system replacement, rebuilding processes, master data, and ways of working across its global manufacturing and affiliate network. During their Gartner session, Mirja Meyer, Principal Product Manager and Program Lead IT at Bayer, and Karsten Hahm, Program Lead OMP Implementation at Bayer Pharmaceuticals, will cover: What adoption actually took What changed in decision speed and quality Where AI fits on the roadmap ahead Sign up for the session Why planning leaders should attend AI-driven planning is on every agenda. Bayer's session addresses the part that usually goes unsaid: what a planning organization needs in place before an AI implementation survives the test of a real supply chain. Meet OMP and explore what it means to make decisions at the speed of change Throughout the Gartner Supply Chain Planning Summit (Oct 5-6, London), OMP is present at booth 203, demonstrating how Unison Planning™ and UnisonIQ help organizations move toward always-on supply chain orchestration. See how integrated planning, enhanced by the latest AI advancements, drives faster scenario evaluation, stronger collaboration, and measurable business results. Join OMP at Gartner to hear Bayer's journey firsthand and leave with a clearer path to faster, more confident supply chain decisions. Session at a glance Title: Inside Bayer's Global Planning Rebuild and AI Roadmap - Faster Decisions at Scale Speakers: Mirja Meyer, Principal Product Manager, Program Lead IT, Bayer Karsten Hahm, Program Lead OMP Implementation, Bayer Pharmaceuticals When: Tuesday, October 6, 11:15 - 11:45 AM GMT+1 / 12:15 - 12:45 PM CEST Where: InterContinental London - The O2, London, United Kingdom To see where you can meet OMP next, visit our events calendar. About OMP OMP helps companies facing complex planning challenges to excel, grow, and thrive by offering the best digitized supply chain planning solution on the market. Hundreds of customers in a wide range of industries - spanning consumer goods, life sciences, chemicals, metals, paper, packaging, plastics, tires, and building products - benefit from using OMP's unique Unison Planning™. Solution and product inquiries Contact OMP +32 3 650 22 11 Media inquiries Kira Perdue (Carabiner) SOURCE: OMP ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Polo Assn. Celebrates New Partnership with the Historic Greenwich Polo Club at the 2026 East Coast Open Presented by Audi 2026-09-17 · ACN Newswire · Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Gaming, Media, Fashion & luxury, Sports https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110162/ West Palm Beach, FL, Sept 17, 2026 - U.S. Polo Assn.®, the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), celebrated the conclusion of the 2026 East Coast Open Presented by Audi, held August 30 through September 13 at the renowned Greenwich Polo Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, a celebrated polo destination just outside New York City. As the only high-goal tournament on the East Coast during the summer season, the historic championship once again brought together elite international competition for the sport of polo. 2026 East Coast Open Presented by Audi Winners, IGEA, celebrating with tournament trophy. Photo Credit: Greenwich Polo Club The 2026 season also marked a significant milestone as U.S. Polo Assn. served as the Official Apparel Brand Sponsor of Greenwich Polo Club for the first time. The new partnership connected one of the world's most recognized sports brands with one of polo's most iconic venues, further strengthening the brand's commitment to supporting the sport and its communities. The East Coast Open first took place in 1978 at Myopia Polo Club in Hamilton, Massachusetts, before moving to Greenwich Polo Club in 2005. Today, the 20-goal championship is regarded as one of the sport's most prestigious summer tournaments and a career-defining title for players competing at the highest levels of the game. East Coast Open Presented by Audi | At a Glance Tournament: East Coast Open Presented by Audi Dates: August 30 - September 13, 2026 Location: Greenwich Polo Club, Greenwich, Connecticut Significance: Only high-goal polo tournament on the East Coast during the summer season U.S. Polo Assn. Role: Official Apparel Brand Sponsor of Greenwich Polo Club Partnership Milestone: First partnership between U.S. Polo Assn. and Greenwich Polo Club Championship Matchup: IGEA (Adam Lipson (0-Goal), Joaquin Panelo (6-Goal), Raul ‘Gringo' Colombres (7-Goal), Cristian ‘Magoo' Laprida (7-Goal) vs. FlyHouse (Max Gundlach (1-Goal), Nicolas Diaz Alberdi (5-Goal), Felipe Miquens (6-Goal), Francisco Elizalde (8-Goal) Champion: IGEA Final Score: 10 (IGEA) - 9 (FlyHouse) Most Valuable Player: Cristian ‘Magoo' Laprida (IGEA) Best Playing Argentine Pony: Acer Comandada, played by Francisco Elizalde (FlyHouse) Best Playing Pony: Taita Nikita, played by Raul ‘Gringo' Colombres (IGEA) Charity Beneficiary: Rising Starr Horse Rescue and Old Friends Equine Rescue Game Highlights: IGEA defeated FlyHouse 10-9 in a thrilling final, with Raul ‘Gringo' Colombres scoring the golden goal to secure the championship title. Colombres, a highly accomplished player on the global polo stage, helped lead IGEA to victory in one of the sport's premier high-goal summer tournaments. "The East Coast Open is one of the most prestigious championships in American polo, bringing together outstanding players, exceptional horses, and a passionate polo community," said Tim Kelly, Chairman of the United States Polo Association. "Greenwich Polo Club has long been an important home for our sport, and the support of U.S. Polo Assn. through this new partnership helps elevate the experience for players and fans while celebrating the traditions and future of polo." Action on the field between teams IGEA and FlyHouse for the 2026 East Coast Open at the Greenwich Polo Club. Photo Credit: Greenwich Polo Club Throughout this tournament, U.S. Polo Assn. enhanced the guest experience through a variety of on-site activations, including a special halftime divot stomp giveaway featuring commemorative red, white, and blue branded hats in celebration of America's 250th Anniversary. Fans also enjoyed The Divot Stomp™, the brand's signature cocktail, available at select locations during the final. In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. incorporated elements of its global campaign, The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born From The Game™, reinforcing the authentic connection between the sport of polo and the iconic polo shirt that has inspired generations around the world. As part of the final awards ceremony, U.S. Polo Assn. made charitable donations on behalf of the tournament finalists to Rising Starr Horse Rescue and Old Friends Equine Rescue. The donations reflect the brand's ongoing support of the polo ponies, equine-health organizations, and polo player communities that help sustain the sport of polo. 2026 East Coast Open Runner-Up, FlyHouse, accepting the charity check donation to Old Friends Equine Rescue, with USPA Global and Greenwich Polo Club leadership. Photo Credit: Greenwich Polo Club "Greenwich Polo Club has long been dedicated to showcasing the very best of our sport, and partnering with U.S. Polo Assn. this season has brought forth a new level of energy and participation" said Peter M. Brant, founder of Greenwich Polo Club and member of the Polo Hall of Fame. "The brand's authentic connection to polo and its commitment to supporting the sport, makes U.S. Polo Assn. a natural partner for this historic championship." The East Coast Open continues to serve as one of the premier stages for high-goal tournaments in North America, attracting top international talent and passionate fans to Greenwich each summer. Through its support of the tournament, Greenwich Polo Club, and the broader polo community, U.S. Polo Assn. remains committed to advancing the sport while creating meaningful experiences that celebrate the sport's heritage, lifestyle, and future. "The East Coast Open represents the rich history, competitive excellence, and longstanding traditions that make polo such a unique sport," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. "U.S. Polo Assn.'s first year partnering with Greenwich Polo Club provided a tremendous opportunity for our global sport brand to connect more sport fans and consumers to the game while supporting one of the sport's most prestigious high-goal summer championships." About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn.'s Global Polo Shirt Campaign, An Icon Born from the Game, is a powerful tribute to the iconic polo shirt's authentic sports origins and its evolution into one of the world's most enduring style essentials. The global sport brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at NPC in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIN Sports in the Middle East now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time. U.S. Polo Assn. has recently been named one of USA Today's Most Trusted Brands and in 2026 was ranked the top sports licensor in the world, surpassing the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. The sport-inspired brand has earned international recognition for global growth and sports content. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Modern Retail, WWD, and GQ, as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources worldwide. For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn. USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages its subsidiary, Global Polo, the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube. For Further Information, Contact: Shannon Stilson - VP, Sports Marketing & Media Phone +001.561.227.6994 - E-mail: sstilson@uspagl.com Stacey Kovalsky - VP, Global PR & Communications Phone +001.561.790.8036 - E-mail: skovalsky@uspagl.com SOURCE: USPA Global ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Airwheel at Canton Fair 2026: Discover AI-Powered Luxury Rideable Electric 20inch Cabin Boarding Travel Smart Carry on Hand Suitcase 2026-09-17 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110166/ Guangzhou, China, Sept 17, 2026 - Airwheel, a developer of smart electric luggage and intelligent mobility products, will participate across all three phases of the 140th Canton Fair, bringing its latest generation of smart travel products to international buyers, distributors, retailers and industry partners. At the center of Airwheel's exhibition lineup will be the SE3SXD AI Luxury Suitcase, a flagship 20-inch smart electric suitcase that combines one-touch electric riding, intelligent control, connected technology and premium luggage design. The company will maintain a presence throughout all three phases of the exhibition, presenting a broader portfolio of AI Suitcases, Smart Suitcases, Electric Suitcases, Cabin Suitcases and Rideable Suitcases designed for different travel scenarios and customer segments. Airwheel will be present throughout the entire 140th Canton Fair. Phase 1: October 15–19, 2026 Booth: To be announced following final confirmation Phase 2: October 23–27, 2026 Booth: 20.2F19-20 Phase 3: October 31–November 4, 2026 Booths: 20.2J37-38, 20.2K11-12, 18.1K04 The full three-phase presence gives international buyers an opportunity to connect with Airwheel throughout the exhibition period and explore its smart electric luggage portfolio, product capabilities and potential distribution opportunities. SE3SXD: From Luxury Suitcase to Intelligent Mobility Companion The SE3SXD represents Airwheel's latest approach to intelligent luggage, built around a simple idea: making the transition from carrying luggage to riding it faster and more intuitive. Its one-touch riding system automatically deploys the powered front wheel while the intelligent riding handle extends and locks into position. With a single operation, the suitcase can transition from a conventional Cabin Suitcase into a Rideable Suitcase without requiring users to manually complete multiple mechanical steps. The SE3SXD measures approximately 550 × 360 × 236 mm, provides 20 liters of storage capacity and weighs approximately 6.8 kg without the power bank. It supports a maximum load of 95 kg and reaches a maximum riding speed of 9.9 km/h. Its drive system uses a 230W motor and a 5.2-inch powered front wheel, combined with dual 4-inch rear wheels. The telescopic powered front-wheel structure extends the wheelbase during riding, helping improve stability across smooth indoor surfaces and common outdoor environments. The result is a premium travel product that combines the functions of a Luxury Suitcase, Cabin Suitcase, Electric Suitcase and Rideable Suitcase within one platform. Intelligent Control Designed Around the Journey The SE3SXD's intelligence extends beyond its electric drive system. Through Airwheel's dedicated smart APP, users can monitor riding speed, battery level and mileage in real time while adjusting speed continuously from 0.1 to 9.9 km/h. The system also supports functions including cruise control, intelligent remote control, low-battery alerts and Bluetooth disconnection notifications. Personalization is another part of the experience. The SE3SXD features an 8-color lighting system with nine lighting-effect combinations, allowing users to customize the visual appearance of the suitcase. For additional security and convenience, the SE3SXD supports Apple Find My, allowing users to locate the suitcase through compatible Apple devices and activate a sound when searching for it nearby. A 5V USB output provides additional charging capability for smartphones and other portable devices, extending the role of the suitcase beyond simple luggage storage. Designed for Modern International Travel The SE3SXD is built around a 20-inch cabin-size format and uses a 73.26Wh removable lithium battery. The battery system has obtained International Certification, while its removable architecture allows the power unit to be separated from the suitcase when required for inspection and handling. The suitcase uses an ABS+PC composite shell reinforced with an aluminum alloy frame, combining lightweight construction with structural strength. A TSA combination lock provides additional convenience for international travelers. With a maximum load of 95 kg and an operating temperature range of approximately -10°C to 40°C, the SE3SXD is designed for a broad range of everyday travel environments. Airwheel's official product materials also emphasize the SE3SXD's combination of one-touch deployment, APP connectivity, Apple Find My and 9.9 km/h riding performance, positioning it as a flagship model within the company's smart rideable luggage range. A Complete Smart Electric Luggage Product Matrix The SE3SXD is not a standalone product. It forms part of Airwheel's broader smart electric luggage portfolio, enabling the company to address different travel needs, price segments and user groups. SE3SXD — Flagship AI Luxury Suitcase Airwheel's flagship intelligent model, featuring one-touch automatic riding deployment, APP control, Apple Find My and premium cabin-size design. SE3SX — Premium Smart Electric Cabin Suitcase A compact rideable cabin suitcase designed for travelers seeking electric mobility, smart functions and a premium business-travel experience. SE3SL+ — Smart Rideable Airport Suitcase A lightweight smart luggage option focused on portability, electric riding and everyday airport travel. SE3S / SE3SL — Established Rideable Electric Suitcase Series Models combining conventional luggage functionality with electric riding, removable battery systems and smart mobility features. SE3MiniT — Compact Electric Hand Luggage A smaller-format option designed for flexible personal mobility and users seeking a more compact rideable luggage solution. SE3T — Large-Capacity Electric Suitcase A larger smart luggage platform designed for extended journeys, higher storage requirements and family travel. SQ3 / SQ3S — Family and Youth-Oriented Riding Kids Suitcase Compact riding luggage designed around younger users and family travel scenarios. This product matrix gives Airwheel a broader commercial platform, allowing distributors and retailers to select products according to local market preferences rather than relying on a single flagship model. Growing Media Attention and Market Recognition The emergence of smart electric luggage has attracted increasing attention from technology, travel and consumer-product media as the traditional luggage category intersects with electric mobility and connected hardware. Airwheel's rideable smart luggage has received substantial media exposure and customer attention across different markets, helping introduce the concept of electric riding luggage to a wider international audience. The company's products have also received multiple international design recognitions. According to Airwheel, its portfolio has received more than 39 international design awards, while the company has accumulated more than 600 patents and related intellectual property assets covering areas such as electric drive, intelligent control, structural engineering and human-machine interaction. These technology and design assets form part of Airwheel's broader strategy to develop smart mobility products that combine practical functionality with consumer-oriented industrial design. Smart Electric Luggage: A 2026 Business Opportunity As travel increasingly intersects with mobility technology, smart electric luggage is emerging as a distinct product category between traditional luggage, personal mobility and consumer electronics. For international distributors, luggage retailers, travel retailers, e-commerce businesses and mobility-focused companies, this convergence creates opportunities to introduce differentiated products into markets where conventional luggage has traditionally competed primarily on capacity, materials and design. Airwheel's multi-model portfolio provides several entry points into the category, ranging from premium AI Luxury Suitcases and compact Cabin Suitcases to larger-capacity Electric Suitcases. For businesses evaluating new product categories in 2026, smart electric luggage offers an opportunity to participate in an emerging segment driven by the convergence of AI, electric mobility, connected devices and modern travel. Rather than positioning the category simply as another type of luggage, Airwheel is developing it as a new travel technology platform—one capable of carrying belongings, providing electric mobility, connecting with smartphones and supporting users throughout their journey. Bringing Smart Travel to the Global Market The 140th Canton Fair will provide Airwheel with an opportunity to present this broader vision directly to international buyers. With the SE3SXD AI Luxury Suitcase as its flagship showcase and a growing product matrix behind it, Airwheel will demonstrate how smart electric luggage can evolve from a niche mobility product into a broader intelligent travel category. The company's three-phase presence also reflects its continued focus on international markets, where distributors, retailers and travel businesses can explore product demonstrations, portfolio options and potential cooperation. For Airwheel, the future of luggage is no longer limited to simply carrying what travelers bring with them. It is about helping people move, connect and travel more intelligently. At the 140th Canton Fair, Airwheel will bring that vision to the global market through a portfolio that spans AI Suitcases, Luxury Suitcases, Cabin Suitcases, Electric Suitcases and Rideable Suitcases—positioning intelligent mobility as an increasingly important part of the next generation of travel. Media Contact Company: Airwheel Contact: Media Team Website: https://www.airwheel.net ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Glow AI Launches Device Powered Personal AI Companion Built on Onchain Transparency and Human Sovereign AI 2026-09-16 · Newsfile · AI, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314706/Glow-AI-Launches-Device-Powered-Personal-AI-Companion-Built-on-Onchain-Transparency-and-Human-Sovereign-AI Sheridan, Wyoming--(September 16, 2026) - Glow AI today announced Glow, a personal AI companion for everyday chat, voice, planning, reminders, ideas, and conversation. Glow is built around a different architecture from the centralized chatbot apps that dominate consumer AI. Each Glow app is designed to operate as its own edge LLM node: a local AI environment with its own intelligence layer, memory controls, and role in a broader onchain network built for transparency,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Patrick Industries, Inc. to Participate in Upcoming Wells Fargo Conference 2026-09-16 · PR Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/patrick-industries-inc-to-participate-in-upcoming-wells-fargo-conference-302880869.html ELKHART, Ind., Sept. 16, 2026 -- Patrick Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: PATK) ("Patrick" or the "Company"), a leading component solutions provider for the Outdoor Enthusiast and Housing markets, will participate in Wells Fargo's 9th Annual Consumer Conference to be held in Dana... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Canadian Start-up smartARM Uses AI to Create Intuitive Bionic Prosthetics 2026-09-16 · Meta · AI, Retail, Sports https://about.fb.com/news/2026/09/canadian-start-up-smartarm-uses-ai-to-create-intuitive-bionic-prosthetics/ People and companies are using AI hardware and software to make life easier and more accessible for everyone. That’s the case with smartARM, a Toronto-based startup developing a vision-first bionic arm prototype that uses open-source software, with Meta AI glasses as an optional add-on, to explore more intuitive prosthetic control for people living with limb differences. Many traditional prosthetic hands require users to switch manually between grip patterns for different objects, making it cumbersome to move everyday items. Something as seemingly natural as picking up a glass, and then a spoon, becomes a multistep process. smartARM addressed this by developing AI hardware and software that understands the environment, and  automatically selects a suitable grip for the object – so users can intuitively move between everyday tasks. smartARM’s prosthetic arm “sees” through a camera embedded in its palm. The team is using DINOv2, Meta’s open-source vision model, to help it recognize everyday objects from just a few reference photos, supporting smartARM’s grip-selection software.This allows it to grip and pick up objects based on direct visual feature reading, without needing prior understanding or additional programming. The arm can adapt almost instantly to objects trained on just a few photos – something that could take weeks previously. smartARM uses Meta AI Glasses and the Meta Wearables Device Access Toolkit to extend and improve object recognition and understanding, providing more data from the egocentric point of view the glasses offer. Meta AI glasses  give the arm additional context to better understand what the user is trying to interact with. It also lets users add new objects, through the device app on their phones, giving everyone in the smartARM community a way to personalize their prosthetic around their everyday needs. For the people who wear it, the results are life altering: a bionic arm that works from the first try, with no training required. Long-time smartARM user and former NFL player Shaquem Griffin described what it feels like to use it: “Of all the tech packed into it, scalability and accessibility matter most to me. This is the future of consumer prosthetics.” “Building a capable hand is only part of the challenge. Making it intuitive to use matters just as much,” said Hamayal Choudhry, smartARM’s Founder and CEO. “By helping the arm recognize everyday objects and select a suitable grip, we’re working toward an experience where people can focus more on what they want to do and less on how to operate their prosthetic.” The post Canadian Start-up smartARM Uses AI to Create Intuitive Bionic Prosthetics appeared first on Meta Newsroom. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hangzhou Zhilianhui Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. Launches Official AccuMEMS DTC Website 2026-09-16 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hangzhou-zhilianhui-electronic-technology-co-ltd-launches-official-accumems-dtc-website-302880763.html LOS ANGELES, HOUSTON and MIAMI, Sept. 16, 2026 -- Hangzhou Zhilianhui Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. officially launched the DTC (direct-to-consumer) website for its thermal imaging brand, AccuMEMS. The new website gives customers direct access to the brand's thermal imaging... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TerrAscend Strengthens Leadership Position in New Jersey with Closing of Aunt Mary’s Transaction 2026-09-16 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/16/3363349/0/en/terrascend-strengthens-leadership-position-in-new-jersey-with-closing-of-aunt-mary-s-transaction.html Expands New Jersey retail footprint to five dispensaries ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sinclair and Nexstar Partner to Increase Awareness of NextGenTV 2026-09-16 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Education https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/16/3363331/0/en/sinclair-and-nexstar-partner-to-increase-awareness-of-nextgentv.html Consumer Education Campaign to Launch September 17 Across 13 US Markets Consumer Education Campaign to Launch September 17 Across 13 US Markets ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon is giving every US employee a discount on groceries 2026-09-16 · Amazon · Retail, Food & drink https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-us-employee-grocery-discount?utm_source=rss All U.S. employees will receive 10% off eligible purchases online and 20% off in Whole Foods Market stores, with no cap on savings. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon raises minimum starting pay for full-time core operations employees to $20/hour, with average pay reaching nearly $24/hour, and launches grocery discount and access to new lifetime banking benefits to make everyday life more affordable 2026-09-16 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/amazon-raises-minimum-starting-pay-131500770.html SEATTLE, September 16, 2026--Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced it is raising pay across the board for U.S. core operations employees, alongside new benefits. Minimum starting pay for U.S. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon raises minimum starting pay for full-time core operations employees to $20/hour, with average pay reaching nearly $24/hour 2026-09-16 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-raises-minimum-starting-pay-adds-grocery-banking-benefits?utm_source=rss Amazon invests more than $1.5 billion in higher pay for U.S. core operations employees, alongside new benefits designed to help our teammates’ money go further. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon raises minimum starting pay for full-time core operations employees to $20/hour, with average pay reaching nearly $24/hour, and launches grocery discount and access to new lifetime banking benefits to make everyday life more affordable for our teammates 2026-09-16 · Amazon · Retail, Food & drink https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-raises-minimum-starting-pay-adds-grocery-banking-benefits?utm_source=rss Amazon invests more than $1.5 billion in higher pay for U.S. core operations employees, alongside new benefits designed to help our teammates’ money go further. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— What is the Amazon Influencer Program? Your questions answered. 2026-09-16 · Amazon · Finance, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/how-amazon-influencer-program-works?utm_source=rss The program helps social media creators earn revenue by recommending products they love to their followers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Reimagining advertising with AI 2026-09-16 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/reimagining-advertising-with-ai Explore new AI-powered advertising experiences from OpenAI, including Sponsored Agents, tools for marketers, and integrations with HubSpot and Shopify. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Menlo Ventures Report: Consumer AI Spend Tripled to $40B This Year, Even as User Growth Barely Budged 2026-09-16 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/16/3363086/0/en/menlo-ventures-report-consumer-ai-spend-tripled-to-40b-this-year-even-as-user-growth-barely-budged.html Menlo Ventures’ 2026 State of Consumer AI finds 55% of U.S. AI users now pay for AI, 48% have earned money with it, and 41% have tried an AI agent as growth shifts from new adoption to deeper use Menlo Ventures’ 2026 State of Consumer AI finds 55% of U.S. AI users now pay for AI, 48% have earned money with it, and 41% have tried an AI agent as growth shifts from new adoption to deeper use ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HKTDC backs new blueprint for Hong Kong's next chapter 2026-09-16 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Aerospace & defense, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110137/ HONG KONG, Sept 16, 2026 - The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) welcomes the new Policy Address and the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the HKSAR (2026-2030), delivered today by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR.  Forward-looking, strategic and practical, these two plans align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the strategic development of Hong Kong’s “four centres and one hub.”  The plans also set a clear blueprint for Hong Kong to reinforce its role as an international financial, trade, maritime and aviation centre, while focusing on its strengths in innovation and technology as well as cultural and talent development. Chairman of the HKTDC, Professor Frederick Ma said, “We fully support the Chief Executive’s Policy Address and Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan.   As we face an uncertain world, setting short, medium and long-term goals will help businesses set directions and remain resilient. At the HKTDC, we are fully committed to aligning with these two plans.  This includes assisting the Government to expand the city’s convention and exhibition (C&E) facilities.” Professor Ma added, “With Hong Kong’s unique advantage of enjoying the mainland’s strong support while being connected to the world, our position as an international trade fair capital has been enhanced in the past few decades.   However, as the scale and diversity of fairs and conferences continue to grow in Hong Kong, there is a need to expand our facilities if we are to remain competitive.  That is why I fully support the Government’s proactive measure of setting up a task force led by the Deputy Financial Secretary to steer the Wan Chai North Redevelopment project.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to leverage our 60 years of expertise in this area to submit a proposal on the development approach of the project to the Government.” Regarding support for Hong Kong’s business community, the HKTDC also welcomes the Chief Executive’s measures to help Hong Kong SMEs diversify their markets, including strengthening the HKTDC “E-Commerce Express” programme to promote the awareness of Hong Kong brands and expand their coverage of e-commerce markets outside Hong Kong.   Other measures to enhance funding schemes and encourage adoption of technology by SMEs were also welcome.   The HKTDC will step up its efforts to support Hong Kong companies through our flagship fairs and conferences, including the Asian Financial Forum, Belt and Road Summit, Business of IP Asia Forum, CENTRESTAGE and InnoEX, while helping them access the Chinese Mainland including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and international markets.   Professor Ma further said, “As a core member of the Government’s GoGlobal Task Force, HKTDC’s GoGlobal Connect programme supports Hong Kong’s professional services to partner with mainland enterprises to develop global markets, and we will align with the Policy Address to further consolidate Hong Kong’s role as the premier platform to go to.” Measures include deepening collaboration with trade associations in Hong Kong and target markets, enhancing the matching function of the Cross-sectoral Professional Services Platform and adding the ESG (environmental, social and governance) services, as well as providing training for mainland enterprises and local service providers who wish to expand to overseas markets, such as Belt and Road regions in ASEAN, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa.   The HKTDC will also leverage its 50+ offices around the world to organise international missions and overseas Hong Kong promotions which open doors to more prospects in the future. Professor Ma concluded, “As we continue to face fresh challenges, I am confident that the Policy Address and the First Five-Year Plan will forge a new path ahead for Hong Kong.  I look forward to leading our team on this journey to create more value for our business communities across Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and the world.”   Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Jane Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4137 Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org Johnny Tsui Tel: (852) 2584 4395 Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Brand Licensing Market Poised for Growth Through 2034 as Digital Expansion, Strategic Partnerships and Branded Consumer Products Unlock New Revenue Opportunities 2026-09-16 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/16/3362962/28124/en/brand-licensing-market-poised-for-growth-through-2034-as-digital-expansion-strategic-partnerships-and-branded-consumer-products-unlock-new-revenue-opportunities.html Creator-led licensing, direct-to-fan commerce, experiential retail and localized collaborations offer opportunities in fandom merchandise, data-led portfolios and partner networks. Creator-led licensing, direct-to-fan commerce, experiential retail and localized collaborations offer opportunities in fandom merchandise, data-led portfolios and partner networks. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— uSMART HK opens 2 New Branches in Mong Kok & Tsim Sha Tsui, Launch of U.S. Pre-Market Options Trading 'No Late Nights' to capture Early U.S Market Opportunities 2026-09-16 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Crypto, AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Food & drink https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110098/ HONG KONG, Sept 16, 2026 - 15 September, uSMART Securities Limited ("uSMART Securities" or "Company"), No.1 Hong Kong Funded Fintech Brokerage*, announce the official opening of its new branches in Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui (Alpha House), both located in high-traffic places which closed to MTR Mong Kok Station and Tsim Sha Tsui Station, the branches offer convenient access for clients to handle account opening, investment consultations, and other business services in person. New Mong Kok is strategically located at the “Golden Crossroad” of Argyle Street and Sai Yeung Choi Street, the branch spans nearly 2,000 sq. ft. that providing a spacious and comfortable environment equipped with a professional client service team offering comprehensive services including account opening guidance, product consultations, offline seminars, and asset allocation planning. It also features an exclusive uSMART Cafe area, offering complimentary specialty coffee, allowing clients to enjoy their coffee while managing their investments, transforming traditional financial services into a more relaxed and lifestyle-oriented wealth management experience. Mr. Neo Lee, Executive Director of uSMART Securities, stated: "With the opening of our Mong Kok and two new branches in Tsim Sha Tsui (Alpha House), as well as the upcoming branches in Central, Causeway Bay (East Point Road), and Sheung Shui (San Fung Ave), uSMART's physical service centres across Hong Kong will increase to 16 in this year, covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories, we truly achieving ‘uSMART in every district, zero-distance service'. Besides, Tsim Sha Tsui (Alpha House) branch and the upcoming Causeway Bay (East Point Road) branch both represent our second branch in each respective district. As our second branch in the same district, it truly reflects the trust and support from our customers. Together, we also witness another milestone in our sustained business growth and expanding client base, prompting us to further strengthen our service point to meet the growing demand for physical wealth management services." (Left to Right: Senior Business Development Manager – Bobby Leung, Marketing Brand Consultant - Unicorn Lyu, Executive Director - Neo Lee, Marketing Director – Carrie Wong, Business Development Director - Kevin Tang) In order to address investor’s growing demand for great flexibility in asset portfolio and volatility management, Our Company is simultaneously driving the deepening of its business landscape, release US Stock Pre-Market Options Trading service. Investor able to deploy options strategies ahead of regular US trading hours in response to real-time market news and earnings data, precisely locking in potential opportunities or hedging risks. The extended trading session covers US Eastern Time 4:00–9:30 (summer time, winter time shifts by 1 hour), allowing trading during Hong Kong hours 16:00–21:30 without the need to stay up late. It enables for investor to capture pre-market opportunities in the U.S stock market, while enjoy a greater flexibility in their trading strategies. In addition, uSMART planed Hong Kong Stock Options and Hong Kong Index Options Trading planned for launch within the year, to further enhancing our option product offering, enabling clients to deploy U.S. stock, Hong Kong stock and index-related strategies through a one-stop platform and gain more comprehensive access to global investment opportunities. Neo added: "The global financial landscape remains complex and ever-changing, with investors showing significantly increased demand for diversified hedging and yield-enhancement tools. US pre-market options help investors adjust their positions immediately following earnings announcements or major news releases; Together with the upcoming launch of Hong Kong Stock Option within this year will further enhance client’s capital efficiency. Furthermore, the Company will provide all client with complimentary access to Hong Kong Stock LV1 Real-time Streaming Quotes and Nasdaq Basic Streaming Quotes, with no eligibility requirements, allowing them to access real0teim streaming market data at no additional cost and make faster, more informed investment decisions” Looking ahead, uSMART will continue to uphold Retail Service as our philosophy, driving fintech R&D, integrate AI intelligent investment tools, further enhancing the App’s functionality and product offering to provide access to multi-market and diversified asset trading. Meanwhile, our Company will actively be broadening its client base and seamlessly integrating its physical service center network with its online platform to build a comprehensive financial service ecosystem, dedicated to create sustainable long-term value for our global and local investors. ^”No.1 Hong Kong Funded Fintech Brokerage" is based on TradeGo Cloud data, with uSMART Securities ranking first in monthly transaction volume among local Hong Kong-funded internet brokers for over a year as of April 2026. About uSMART: uSMART Securities is a leading Hong Kong Funded Fintech Brokerage founded in 2018. Over the past eight years, it has pioneered the fusion of technology and finance, offering stocks trading, asset management, and wealth management solutions. Its proprietary platforms, uSMART HK APP and uSMART SG APP, operated by uSMART Securities (Hong Kong) and uSMART Securities (Singapore) respectively. It supports investments in Hong Kong stocks, US stocks, A-shares (Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong stock connect), Singapore Stocks, Japan Stocks, UK Stocks, US options, ETFs, Funds, Bonds, Asset Management, Structured Notes, Futures, Crypto, Precious Metals, Gold, and forex. Furthermore, uSMART is equipped with a highly professional research and asset management team that offers asset management, wealth management, securities brokerage, institutional business, LPF services, and investment banking, dedicated to serving ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, corporations, investment institutions, fund companies, and other brokerage firms with comprehensive asset management solutions. For details please visit: https://hk.usmartglobal.com For any media queries, please contact: Carrie Wong 9788 4665 carriewong@usmart.hk ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MySize Announces $2.5 Million Private Placement Priced At-the-Market Under Nasdaq Rules 2026-09-16 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, Retail, Travel https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mysize-announces-2-5-million-private-placement-priced-at-the-market-under-nasdaq-rules-302879730.html AIRPORT CITY, Israel, Sept. 15, 2026 -- MySize, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYSZ) ("MySize" or the "Company"), a global provider of AI-driven retail technology solutions, today announced that it has entered into definitive agreements for the issuance and sale of 1,308,901 of its shares of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MRED Wins: A Major Victory for Cooperation and the Consumer 2026-09-15 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/15/3362790/0/en/mred-wins-a-major-victory-for-cooperation-and-the-consumer.html LISLE, Ill., Sept. 15, 2026 -- The court’s preliminary injunction ruling in favor of MRED marks an important victory not only for MRED, but also for MLSs, brokers, and the cooperative marketplace nationwide. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— UNSW Delegation Visits COFE+ 7th-Generation Robotic Café in Shanghai, Exploring the Future of AI-Powered Coffee Retail 2026-09-15 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Education, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/15/3362783/0/en/unsw-delegation-visits-cofe-7th-generation-robotic-caf%C3%A9-in-shanghai-exploring-the-future-of-ai-powered-coffee-retail.html UNSW delegation visits COFE+’s 7th-generation robotic café in Shanghai, exploring AI-powered robotics, automated coffee retail and university applications. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— RUTGERS AND RWJBARNABAS HEALTH TO LAUNCH INNOVATION HUB, POWERED BY AMAZON WEB SERVICES 2026-09-15 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rutgers-and-rwjbarnabas-health-to-launch-innovation-hub-powered-by-amazon-web-services-302879695.html The collaboration establishes one of the nation's first technology innovation hubs that brings together a medical school, academic health system and cloud technology leader to advance patient care and medical education NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Sept. 15, 2026 -- Rutgers University... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ZORO Takes The Floor at FinCon 2026, Live-Demos Its AI Trading Agent Platform 2026-09-15 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zoro-takes-the-floor-at-fincon-2026-live-demos-its-ai-trading-agent-platform-302879500.html The Los Angeles startup streams the demo live from Palm Springs, showing how professional traders turn one licensed strategy into an always-on trading agent ahead of this fall's retail launch. LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15, 2026 -- ZORO, the AI trading agent marketplace built for... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Dunlop/Falken Releases Real-World Consumer Cost Analysis of California Tire Efficiency Regulations, Data Finds Consumer Savings Is Up to 91% Lower Than Projected 2026-09-15 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/15/3362573/0/en/dunlop-falken-releases-real-world-consumer-cost-analysis-of-california-tire-efficiency-regulations-data-finds-consumer-savings-is-up-to-91-lower-than-projected.html Dunlop/Falken Releases Real-World Consumer Cost Analysis of California Tire Efficiency Regulations, Data Finds Consumer Savings Up to 91% Lower ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ecom Ratings Releases Updated Sellvia Assessment, Cites Integrated Platform Design in 9.2/10 Score 2026-09-15 · Newsfile · SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/313981/Ecom-Ratings-Releases-Updated-Sellvia-Assessment-Cites-Integrated-Platform-Design-in-9.210-Score Irvine, California--(September 15, 2026) - Ecom Ratings, an ecommerce platform research and ratings resource, announced the publication of an updated editorial assessment of Sellvia, assigning the platform an overall score of 9.2 out of 10. The review evaluates Sellvia across platform features, ease of use, value, support, pricing and the structure of its digital-commerce environment.Ecom RatingsTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Coca-Cola System: A 140-Year Legacy That Continues to Deliver for America 2026-09-15 · The Coca-Cola Company · Retail, Food & drink https://investors.coca-colacompany.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1171/the-coca-cola-system-a-140-year-legacy-that-continues-to-deliver-for-america The Coca-Cola system contributes $85 billion to U.S. economy and supports nearly 1 million jobs; plans $10 billion in U.S. investments by 2030 ATLANTA--For 140 years, as consumer tastes have evolved, The Coca-Cola Company has expanded from one iconic beverage into a portfolio of approximately 200 brands across sparkling soft drinks, waters and hydration, coffee and tea, juices, dairy and plant-based ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AWS and Salesforce Put CRM Data, AI Agents, and Model Choice Into the Tools Teams Use Every Day 2026-09-15 · Salesforce · AI, Retail https://www.salesforce.com/news/stories/aws-salesforce-enterprise-ai-expansion/ New integrations bring Salesforce data, context, and actions into Amazon Quick, AWS agents into Slack, and Agent2Agent (A2A) support for real-time, bidirectional voice between Agentforce Voice and Amazon Connect Customer — putting AI where customers work, grounded in data they trust, without requiring migrations.  Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Salesforce today announced an expanded collaboration […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Polo Assn. Taps David Swetman as Global Design Lead, Men's and Boys' as Brand Targets $4 Billion in Global Retail Sales 2026-09-15 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Gaming, Media, Fashion & luxury, Sports https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110005/ West Palm Beach, FL, Sept 15, 2026 - U.S. Polo Assn.®, the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), with a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and distribution in more than 190 countries through over 1,200 retail stores worldwide, today announced the appointment of David Swetman as Global Design Lead, Men's and Boys', further strengthening the sports brand's Global Product Leadership Team as U.S. Polo Assn. continues its worldwide expansion and evolution. U.S. Polo Assn. continues to expand as one of the world's largest and fastest-growing sports brands, serving consumers globally through its extensive retail, e-commerce, and licensing network. The appointment reflects U.S. Polo Assn.'s continued global growth and strategic investment in world-class talent as the brand expands its product innovation, strengthens its consumer appeal, and advances its position as one of the world's leading sports brands. Swetman joins the U.S. Polo Assn. Global Design Team with some 20 years of menswear design and creative leadership experience, most recently serving as Senior Concept Designer, Global Menswear at Abercrombie & Fitch. During his tenure, he played a meaningful role in the evolution of Abercrombie & Fitch's menswear business during a period of significant brand reinvention, consumer relevance, and global growth. Throughout his career, Swetman has been instrumental in developing global product strategies, shaping seasonal narratives, and creating commercially successful collections that resonate with consumers around the world. In his new role, Swetman will lead the global design vision and product direction for all men's and boys' apparel across the U.S. Polo Assn. brand worldwide. Working closely with the brand's worldwide network of licensees, he will help further elevate the men's and boys' businesses by driving a cohesive global design direction while supporting regional market opportunities. His responsibilities will include product design direction, trend forecasting, concept development, seasonal storytelling, and category innovation across all men's and boys' U.S. Polo Assn. collections. "As we continue to expand around the world, we remain committed to investing in exceptional talent that can elevate our product offerings, strengthen our global design capabilities, and shape the future of our men's and boys' businesses around the world," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. "David's experience translating consumer insights into building successful global collections and contributing to one of the industry's most notable brand transformations makes him an outstanding addition to our team as we execute our elevated brand plan and goal of $4 billion in global retail sales. "David's appointment represents another important investment in global talent and another major step in the ongoing evolution of U.S. Polo Assn.," Prince added. Throughout his career, Swetman has demonstrated a unique ability to blend creative vision with a strong understanding of the global marketplace. At Abercrombie & Fitch, he helped define the global creative direction for menswear, contributing to seasonal concept development, product strategy, design innovation, and category growth. He also served as lead designer for all third-party menswear collaborations, translating cultural insights and emerging consumer trends into compelling product assortments with broad consumer appeal. "I am excited to join U.S. Polo Assn. during a period of exceptional global growth and momentum," said David Swetman, Global Design Lead, Men's and Boys' at U.S. Polo Assn. "The brand's authentic heritage in the sport of polo, combined with its expanding global footprint and strong foundation for future growth, presents a tremendous opportunity to further elevate the men's and boys' businesses across our global markets as we continue to engage the next generation of consumers. "I look forward to partnering with our global teams and licensees to create memorable product experiences, elevate the men's and boys' businesses, and strengthen the brand's connection with consumers around the world," Swetman added. A graduate of the prestigious Central Saint Martins in London, Swetman earned a First-Class Honours degree in Fashion Design, Menswear. His expertise spans creative direction, concept design, trend forecasting, product design, global product development, category leadership, and design team mentorship. About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn.'s Global Polo Shirt Campaign, An Icon Born from the Game, is a powerful tribute to the iconic polo shirt's authentic sports origins and its evolution into one of the world's most enduring style essentials. The global sport brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at the USPA National Polo Center in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIn Sports in the Middle East now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time. U.S. Polo Assn. has recently been named one of USA Today's Most Trusted Brands and in 2026 was ranked the top sports licensor in the world, surpassing the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. The sport-inspired brand is being recognized internationally with awards for global growth and sport content. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Modern Retail, WWD and GQ as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world. For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn. USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages the subsidiary, Global Polo, which is the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube. For Further Information, Contact: Stacey Kovalsky VP, Global PR & Communications Phone: +1.561.790.8036 Email: skovalsky@uspagl.com Kaela Drake Senior PR & Communications Specialist Phone: +1.561.790.8036 Email: kdrake@uspagl.com SOURCE: USPA Global ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hisense Unveils New C3 Projector Family for Immersive Home Entertainment 2026-09-15 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hisense-unveils-new-c3-projector-family-for-immersive-home-entertainment-302877192.html QINGDAO, China, Sept. 15, 2026 -- Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, is expanding its home entertainment portfolio with the new C3 projector family, designed to bring cinema-sized entertainment into everyday life. Showcased at IFA... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Prime Big Deal Days 2026: Early deals you can shop right now 2026-09-15 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/prime-big-deal-days-2026-best-deals-amazon?utm_source=rss Prime members can start saving ahead of Prime Big Deal Days 2026, returning October 6–7, with deals on devices, Kindle, Amazon Music, and more. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lukfook Jewellery First Enters the UK Market with Grand Opening of New Shop in Westfield Stratford City, London 2026-09-15 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Fashion & luxury https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110090/ HONG KONG, Sept 15, 2026 - Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited (“Lukfook” or the “Group”) (Stock Code: 0590) is pleased to announce the grand opening of Lukfook Jewellery’s Shop at Westfield Stratford City, London, on 10 September. The grand opening ceremony featured guests of honour including Ms. Joey Ko, Director of the HKTDC for the UK, Nordics & Ireland, Ms. Amy Lowe, Deputy General Manager of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group, Mr. Tony Hurley, Operations and Estate Manager of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group. They were accompanied by Ms. Wong Hau Yeung, Shirley, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Lukfook Group, Mr. Cheung Cheuk Kin, Billy, Senior Business Director of the Group, Mr. Cheung Chi Keung, Darwin, Property Director of the Group, Mr. Ricky Yiu, United Kingdom District Manager of Lukfook Jewellery, and Ms. Evana Wong, Head of Westfield Stratford City Shop to unveil the new shop with all distinguished guests. Mr. Wong Wai Sheung, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lukfook Group, said, “The Group set a new three-year strategic plan last year with the goal of expanding into three new overseas markets. As a core hub in Europe, the United Kingdom gathers international tourists and local consumers with high purchasing power, offering enormous market potential that serves as a key driver to realise this plan. Looking ahead, the Group will continue to explore potential European markets, refine its regional retail network, capitalise on market opportunities, and further implement its corporate vision of 'Brand of Hong Kong, Sparkling the World’.” Westfield Stratford City is situated in a highly vibrant core neighborhood of London, boasting a prime location that integrates fashion, dining, and social experiences, making it immensely popular among local consumers and tourists alike. The Group believes that, leveraging the shopping center's strong foot traffic advantage, this cooperation will generate significant synergy to showcase Lukfook Jewellery's exquisite craftsmanship and brand appeal to a broader audience of United Kingdom and international consumers. Address: Unit SU2037, Westfield Stratford City, Montfichet Road, Olympic Park, London, E201EJ, United Kingdom Ms. Wong Hau Yeung, Shirley, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of Lukfook Group (4th right), Ms. Joey Ko, Director of the HKTDC for the UK, Nordics & Ireland (4th left), Ms. Amy Lowe, Deputy General Manager, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group (3rd right), Mr. Tony Hurley, Operations and Estate Manager of Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Group (3rd left), Mr. Cheung Cheuk Kin, Billy, Senior Business Director of Lukfook Group (2nd right), Mr. Cheung Chi Keung, Darwin (2nd left), Property Director of the Group, Mr. Ricky Yiu, United Kingdom District Manager of Lukfook Jewellery (1st right) and Ms. Evana Wong, Head of Westfield Stratford City Shop (1st left), officiated the ribbon-cutting ceremony About Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited (Stock Code: 0590) The Group, founded by a group of experienced jewellery specialists, is one of the leading jewellery retailers in Hong Kong, China and Chinese Mainland. With the first Lukfook Jewellery shop established in North Point, Hong Kong in 1991, it has always been upholding the service motto of “Exquisite Craftsmanship, Quality Services and Customer Orientation”. In May 1997, the Group was listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. We principally engage in the sourcing, designing, wholesaling, trademark licensing and retailing of a variety of gold and platinum jewellery and gem-set jewellery products. Through multi-brand strategy to cater to the needs of different customers, the Group’s brands, including Lukfook Jewellery, 3DG Jewellery, Heirloom Fortune, Lukfook Joaillerie, Goldstyle, and Love LUKFOOK JEWELLERY, currently have a total of around 2,900 points of sale in 14 countries and regions, crafting the finest jewellery and providing quality services for customers. The Group will continue to identify new business opportunities in the international market and actively pursue further development in China and overseas markets in response to its corporate vision, “Brand of Lukfook, Sparkling the World”. For more information, please visit the official website of Lukfook Group at www.lukfook.com. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AMAZON TEAMSTERS RALLY FOR DELIVERY PROTECTION ACT 2026-09-14 · PR Newswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amazon-teamsters-rally-for-delivery-protection-act-302878181.html Teamsters Demand City Council Pass Logistics Reform Ordinance CHICAGO, Sept. 14, 2026 -- Hundreds of Amazon Teamsters in Chicago will be joined by local elected officials and labor and civil society coalition allies for a rally on Tuesday, September 15. The workers will be... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Matthew H. DeFeo as Senior Vice President of Sales, Training and Recruiting 2026-09-14 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110081/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Sept 15, 2026 - Matthew DeFeo joins Chervon as Senior Vice President of Sales, Training, and Recruiting effective September 14, 2026, reporting to CEO Joe Galli. Matthew DeFeo brings more than four decades of experience in the power tool and outdoor power equipment industry. He has an exceptional track record in building and leading large sales organizations, channel marketing teams, and training and development teams. DeFeo is widely recognized as a world-class leader in the campus recruiting of high potential graduates. He has built out impressive in-store sales coverage teams, end user marketing teams, campus recruiting teams, and training teams with an intense focus on key account alignment. A hallmark of DeFeo's remarkable career is his mentorship and development of recent college graduates. His dynamic and inspired leadership has mentored hundreds who have flourished in their subsequent highly-successful careers. DeFeo's career began at Black and Decker (B&D) in 1987 where he rapidly advanced through a succession of sales and marketing roles over 19 years. He was one of the original members who created and launched the DeWalt PRO power tool business in 1992. DeFeo was recognized as a consistent performer throughout his time at B&D / Dewalt. In 2006, Matt joined Techtronic Industries (TTI) as Vice President of Sales responsible for recruiting, building, and managing a vast network of sales representatives. He ultimately was promoted to the position of Group President of Sales, Training, Recruiting and Human Resources. DeFeo's leadership was instrumental in building both the Milwaukee and Ryobi power tool brands at TTI. DeFeo helped build and scale a sales organization of more than 2,300 people across the United States and Mexico. He also played a central role in shaping TTI's talent development strategy including launching the company's training systems. "Matt DeFeo is widely recognized as a powerful and inspiring senior executive leader. His addition will help catalyze our next phase of exciting growth at Chervon," said Joe Galli, CEO of Chervon. "I am incredibly excited to join Chervon. The company's obsessive customer-centricity is a perfect match for my philosophy in building businesses," said Matt DeFeo. "Their advanced cordless technology and new product development capabilities all present an extraordinary opportunity for long-term growth." ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chervon Names Jeffrey P. Campbell Senior Vice President of Industrial Commercial Sales 2026-09-14 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Automotive, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110078/ NAPERVILLE, IL, Sept 15, 2026 - Jeffrey P. Campbell joins Chervon as Senior Vice President of Industrial Commercial Sales effective Monday, September 14, 2026, reporting to CEO Joe Galli. Campbell joins Chervon with 25 years of exceptional executive leadership experience in the professional tool industry. He has built and led high-performance sales and channel marketing teams, developed strategic key account partnerships and has consistently driven strong growth across all professional and automotive channels of distribution. In his new role, Campbell will lead Chervon's Industrial / Commercial Sales network serving the many professional and automotive tool channels. "Jeff brings an impressive and unmatched combination of professional and automotive channel sales leadership, channel management, customer partnership skills and organizational development," said Joe Galli, CEO of Chervon. "His exhaustive command of our channels, key accounts, and users, combined with his deep understanding of our aftersales service requirements and channel marketing expertise will be instrumental as we accelerate our company's growth in the years ahead." Campbell started his career at Porter Cable Pro Power Tools in 1990 and rose through a series of increasingly responsible positions until being named Vice President of Sales. In 2003, Campbell was named Vice President of Sales for the Irwin/Lenox Professional Tool Group. Campbell then was a Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Werner Ladder before joining the Apex Tool Group as Executive Vice President of Professional Tool Sales. "Chervon has built an exceptional foundation of brands, products, and core competencies, and I am extremely excited about the opportunity ahead," said Campbell. "The company's combination of advanced cordless technology and thriving product development system combined with a maniacal focus on customers all provide a massive opportunity for future growth." ABOUT CHERVON Chervon North America is part of a global total solution provider specializing in R&D, manufacturing, testing, sales, and after-sales service of power tools and outdoor power equipment (OPE). Guided by user-centric innovation, the Company operates an integrated business model supported by global sales and distribution networks. Chervon's portfolio includes EGO, FLEX, SKIL, and DEVON, serving industrial, professional, and consumer markets globally. Better Tools. Better World. Chervon is committed to delivering superior products to users worldwide through continuous innovation and strives to become a global leader in power tools and OPE in the lithium-ion, intelligent, and digital era. PR Contact: Corporate Communications: CorpComm@na.chervongroup.com SOURCE: Chervon ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The St. Paul Phantom Hits #1 New Release on Amazon 2026-09-14 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Media https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/14/3361565/0/en/the-st-paul-phantom-hits-1-new-release-on-amazon.html Content Syndicate client hits #1 New Release in Boxing on Amazon, fueled by a 1,200+ outlet media campaign ahead of the book's Sept. 15 launch. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BHU Foods Enters a New Era With 2026 Relaunch of Better-for-you Snacks! 2026-09-14 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bhu-foods-enters-a-new-era-with-2026-relaunch-of-better-for-you-snacks-302878085.html The relaunched snack company is expanding its retail footprint on the West Coast with a refreshed identity created around clean, plant-based, better-for-you snacking. BETHLEHEM, Pa., Sept. 14, 2026 -- BHU Foods, the better-for-you snack company created on the belief that... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CHIPOTLE APPOINTS SABIR SAMI TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2026-09-14 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chipotle-appoints-sabir-sami-to-its-board-of-directors-302878092.html NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 14, 2026 -- Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) today announced a new addition to its board of directors, Sabir Sami, effective immediately. Sabir Sami brings more than 30 years of global consumer and restaurant industry experience, including 16... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon is helping after back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela 2026-09-14 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-response-venezuela-earthquakes-2026?utm_source=rss Amazon is supporting nonprofits on the ground and delivering relief supplies after devastating quakes hit northern Venezuela. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lokam.ai Strengthens Leadership Team and Gets Certified as VinSolutions Integration Partner 2026-09-14 · Newsfile · AI, SaaS, Retail, Automotive https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314263/Lokam.ai-Strengthens-Leadership-Team-and-Gets-Certified-as-VinSolutions-Integration-Partner San Francisco, California--(September 14, 2026) - Lokam.ai has announced two developments in its continued growth: the addition of technology leader Oliver Naaris to the team, and certified as an official VinSolutions integration partner.The announcements follow the company's recently reported U.S. expansion and reflect a push to broaden both its technical capability and its integration footprint within the automotive retail ecosystem.Image Credit: Lokam.aiTo view an enhanced... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KHLOÉ KARDASHIAN ANNOUNCES RETAIL EXPANSION INTO SEPHORA WITH HER GLOBALLY ACCLAIMED FRAGRANCE PORTFOLIO WITH LUXE BRANDS 2026-09-14 · PR Newswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/khloe-kardashian-announces-retail-expansion-into-sephora-with-her-globally-acclaimed-fragrance-portfolio-with-luxe-brands-302876763.html The Entrepreneur Brings Her Fragrance Portfolio to the Premier Beauty Retailer This September NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2026 -- Global icon Khloé Kardashian is set to expand her rapidly growing fragrance empire with an official launch at Sephora on September 14, 2026. In... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ninth Wave's AI-Powered Compass with Amazon Bedrock Cuts API Integration Time Up to 95% 2026-09-14 · Business Wire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ninth-waves-ai-powered-compass-131500621.html NEW YORK, September 14, 2026--Ninth Wave, a leading provider of secure open finance connectivity for financial institutions, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), today announced the results of a new joint study concluding that banks using Ninth Wave's Compass onboarding assistant built with Amazon Bedrock can reduce onboarding integration testing by 95%. The findings mark a significant milestone in how financial institutions integrate with the broader Open F ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OnTrac Announces Industry-First Dynamic Savings Program for Opportunistic Savings on Parcel Shipping 2026-09-14 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ontrac-announces-industry-first-dynamic-savings-program-for-opportunistic-savings-on-parcel-shipping-302877015.html New program utilizes available network capacity via real-time promotional pricing while serving shippers' need for price certainty. CHANTILLY, Va., Sept. 14, 2026 -- OnTrac, the #1 Alternative Carrier Network for ecommerce, today announced OnTrac's Dynamic Savings program,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OptimizeRx Expands Natural Language Audience Builder to Unify HCP and DTC Audience Intelligence 2026-09-14 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/14/3361021/0/en/optimizerx-expands-natural-language-audience-builder-to-unify-hcp-and-dtc-audience-intelligence.html New functionality helps DSPs and agency planners create deterministic HCP and consumer audiences faster, using one single workflow New functionality helps DSPs and agency planners create deterministic HCP and consumer audiences faster, using one single workflow ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Aramark Nexus™ Selected as Premier Hospitality Partner for a Leading Workforce Housing Provider 2026-09-14 · Business Wire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Travel https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/aramark-nexus-selected-premier-hospitality-111500370.html PHILADELPHIA, September 14, 2026--Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) today announced that Aramark Nexus™ has been selected as the hospitality partner for a leading workforce housing provider, delivering a full spectrum of services — elevated culinary experiences, hotel-like amenities, wellness and fitness centers, convenience retail stores, and resort style entertainment — all designed to attract and retain skilled trade professionals. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Londian Wason (NYSE:FOIL) Closes Partial Over-Allotment Option Exercise, Raising Over USD108 Million in Total IPO Proceeds 2026-09-14 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, Energy, Retail, Telecom, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110040/ NEW YORK, Sept 14, 2026 - Londian Wason New Energy Tech Inc. (NYSE: FOIL), a global innovation-driven developer and manufacturer of electrolytic copper foil, recently announced the closing of the sale of an additional 626,104 American Depositary Shares (ADSs) pursuant to the partial exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option granted in connection with its initial public offering (IPO).  The option was exercised at the IPO price of USD22.00 per ADS. Including the previously announced IPO gross proceeds of USD94,285,708, the company raised aggregate gross proceeds of USD108,059,996 prior to deducting underwriting discounts, commissions, and offering expenses.  Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Huatai Securities (USA), Inc., CMB International Capital Limited, and US Tiger Securities acted as representatives of the underwriters for the offering. Londian Wason is an integrated materials enterprise specializing in R&D, manufacturing, and sales of high-performance new energy and electronic materials. It is China’s first manufacturer to develop 6μm high-strength LiB copper foil and the world’s first one to be capable of mass producing 6μm LiB copper foil. The company also has large-scale mass production capacity for 4μm high-tensile and high-strength LiB copper foil. The Company’s broad product suite ranges from ultra-thin battery foils to PCB-grade foils covering HTE to HVLP specifications, serving diverse end markets including electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), telecommunications, and consumer electronics. Its PCB copper foil delivers high signal integrity and minimal signal attenuation for high-frequency, high-speed transmission, supporting next-generation advanced computing clusters. In the PCB copper foil segment, Londian Wason has served as a key supplier to Panasonic Industrial Materials for 12 consecutive years. As AI-driven demand for computing infrastructure surges exponentially, high-frequency and high-speed PCB copper foil has become a critical material for AI servers and high-speed switches. According to Frost & Sullivan, Londian Wason shipped approximately 111,985 metric tons of lithium battery copper foil in 2025, ranking No.1 globally by annual sales volume. The primary purposes of this offering are for global production expansion and upgrade, including building new manufacturing facilities, purchasing advanced production equipment, and expanding capacity via potential strategic investments and acquisitions, and for the R&D of advanced technologies, high-efficiency manufacturing processes, expanded product portfolios and application scenarios, as well as for general corporate purposes, such as capital requirements and attracting and retaining industry talent. The offering was conducted under the company’s Registration Statement on Form F-1, declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Flor Tel Inc. Expands Canadian Flower Marketplaces, Floral Retail and Florist Software 2026-09-14 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314099/Flor-Tel-Inc.-Expands-Canadian-Flower-Marketplaces-Floral-Retail-and-Florist-Software Langley, British Columbia--(September 14, 2026) - Flor Tel Inc. announces the expansion of its floral business across Canadian flower marketplaces, fresh and dried floral collections, and software for flower businesses.The portfolio includes FlowersDeliveryCanada.ca, the newly launched FreshFlowersCanada.ca, Nero's Langley Flower Shop, Nero's Dried Flowers and Florist Software. Together, these products address both sides of floral commerce: helping customers discover flowers and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PureHealth Research Highlights Targeted Nutritional Support for Digestive Comfort With Acid Reflux Supplements 2026-09-12 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purehealth-research-highlights-targeted-nutritional-support-for-digestive-comfort-with-acid-reflux-supplements-302864929.html MANASSAS, Va., Sept. 12, 2026 -- PureHealth Research is highlighting the growing consumer interest in digestive wellness and the role targeted nutrition can play in maintaining everyday digestive comfort. Acid reflux supplements are nutritional formulations built around... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hibbett Retail, Inc. Data Breach: Edelson Lechtzin LLP Launches Investigation Into Exposure of Personal Information 2026-09-12 · PR Newswire · Retail, Cybersecurity https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hibbett-retail-inc-data-breach-edelson-lechtzin-llp-launches-investigation-into-exposure-of-personal-information-302876776.html National class action firm offering free case evaluations to individuals impacted by Hibbett Retail, Inc. cybersecurity incident BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Sept. 11, 2026 -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— proof-it and The Tennessee Whiskey Trail Announce The 2026 TN Collective Tasting Notes Contest 2026-09-11 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/proof-it-and-the-tennessee-whiskey-trail-announce-the-2026-tn-collective-tasting-notes-contest-302876770.html ATLANTA, Sept. 11, 2026 -- The 2026 Tennessee Collective, a collaborative effort between 11 Tennessee distilleries, and proof-it, a next-generation consumer authenticity and engagement platform, proudly announces a partnership to commemorate the release of the The 2026... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— You May Be Entitled to a Cash Payment From a Class Action Settlement if You Performed a Skin360® Skin Assessment Using Any Version of Skin360®, Including Neutrogena® Skin360®, NeoStrata® Skin360®, and Any Skin360®Collaborations With Other Entities, While in Illinois Through a Mobile Application or Web Application, Between December 9, 2019 and May 5, 2023 2026-09-11 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/you-may-be-entitled-to-a-cash-payment-from-a-class-action-settlement-if-you-performed-a-skin360-skin-assessment-using-any-version-of-skin360-including-neutrogena-skin360-neostrata-skin360-and-any-skin360collaborations-wi-302876732.html TRENTON, N.J., Sept. 11, 2026 -- The following notice is being issued by the Court approved Settlement Administrator and has been authorized by the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, in Helene Melzer, et al., v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., No.... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ynvisible Advances Commercial Program with Sapphiros, Announces CFO Appointment and Adoption of Semi-Annual Financial Reporting 2026-09-11 · Newsfile · Healthcare, Retail, Biotech & pharma https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314080/Ynvisible-Advances-Commercial-Program-with-Sapphiros-Announces-CFO-Appointment-and-Adoption-of-SemiAnnual-Financial-Reporting Vancouver, British Columbia--(September 11, 2026) - Ynvisible Interactive Inc. (TSXV: YNV) (FSE: 1XNA) (OTCQB: YNVYF) (the "Company" or "Ynvisible") is pleased to provide an update on its strategic collaboration with Sapphiros, a consumer diagnostics company developing next-generation digital diagnostic tests for global markets.Sapphiros is progressing through clinical trials, with completion expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, while advancing regulatory, product... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Retail Analytics Market worth $23.21 billion by 2032 - Report by MarketsandMarkets™ 2026-09-11 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/retail-analytics-market-worth-23-21-billion-by-2032--report-by-marketsandmarkets-302876243.html DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Sept. 11, 2026 -- According to MarketsandMarkets™, the Retail Analytics Market is projected to grow from USD 11.82 billion in 2026 to USD 23.21 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 11.9%. Browse 350 market data Tables and 70 Figures spread through 400 Pages and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global AI MarTech Market Report 2026-2031; Market to Nearly Triple From $28B in 2025 to $74.3B by 2031 as Agentic AI, Platform Consolidation and Privacy-First Personalization Reshape Marketing Technology 2026-09-11 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/11/3360401/28124/en/global-ai-martech-market-report-2026-2031-market-to-nearly-triple-from-28b-in-2025-to-74-3b-by-2031-as-agentic-ai-platform-consolidation-and-privacy-first-personalization-reshape-m.html The global AI MarTech market is forecast to grow from USD 28.00 billion in 2025 to USD 74.30 billion by 2031 at a 17.66% CAGR. Growth is driven by agentic AI, first-party data, privacy-first personalization, multimodal content and platform consolidation. Software held about 73% of the market in 2025, while hybrid deployment is set to grow fastest. Retail and e-commerce leads by industry; North America held around 40%, and APAC will record the highest regional growth. Key vendors include Adobe, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft and Oracle. The global AI MarTech market is forecast to grow from USD 28.00 billion in 2025 to USD 74.30 billion by 2031 at a 17.66% CAGR. Growth is driven by agentic AI, first-party data, privacy-first personalization, multimodal content and platform consolidation. Software held about 73% of the market in 2025, while hybrid deployment is set to grow fastest. Retail and e-commerce leads by industry; North America held around 40%, and APAC will record the highest regional growth. Key vendors include Adobe, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft and Oracle. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Receipt Announces Availability of Tokenized Stock Rewards for Eligible Consumer Purchases 2026-09-11 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/11/3360400/0/en/receipt-announces-availability-of-tokenized-stock-rewards-for-eligible-consumer-purchases.html Receipt is a consumer-focused platform exploring tokenized rewards through receipt-based purchases ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The 11th Belt and Road Summit concludes successfully 2026-09-11 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Education, Industrial, Aerospace & defense https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/110008/ HONG KONG, Sept 11, 2026 - (CAN Newswire) - The 11th Belt and Road Summit, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully. The two-day Summit attracted over 6,200 political and business leaders from more than 70 countries and regions, showcased over 300 investment projects, arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, and facilitated more than 60 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). This year's Summit focused on business globalisation, new market opportunities, and cross-regional cooperation, promoting exchanges and collaboration between the government and business sectors, creating opportunities for enterprises to expand into international markets, while deepening Hong Kong's economics and trade ties with emerging markets such as ASEAN, Central Asia, and the Middle East, underscoring Hong Kong's unique role as a super connector and super value-adder. The 11th Belt and Road Summit concluded successfully, bringing together political and business leaders, investors, and professionals from over 70 countries and regions worldwide to explore Belt and Road cooperation opportunities First-ever "GoGlobal Chapter" helps enterprises expand into global markets In response to the accelerating pace of Chinese Mainland enterprises expanding into overseas markets, the Summit introduced the GoGlobal Chapter for the first time, becoming one of the highlights of this year's event. The Chapter encompassed thematic sessions, the GoGlobal Connect Zone, roundtable discussions, and the GoGlobal Business Study Mission, providing a one-stop exchange and matchmaking platform for enterprises looking to explore overseas markets. In particular, the thematic breakout session held yesterday, titled "Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global: Driving Mutual Growth Across Belt and Road Economies", featured welcome remarks by Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau, as well as sharing of practical experience by representatives from several Chinese Mainland enterprises and Hong Kong professional services enterprises, who explored how to connect with international markets through Hong Kong. Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Algernon Yau delivered welcome remarks at the Thematic Breakout Session "Chinese Mainland Enterprises Going Global: Driving Mutual Growth Across Belt and Road Economies"The Summit introduced the GoGlobal Chapter for the first time this year, bringing together business leaders and professional services representatives to explore new opportunities for enterprises expanding into overseas markets During the Summit, the GoGlobal Connect Zone attracted numerous enterprises seeking Hong Kong professional services partners, exploring market channels, and grasping investment and cooperation opportunities, further demonstrating Hong Kong's advantage as the preferred platform for Chinese Mainland enterprises expanding into international markets. Shaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd. from mainland and Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited signed a MoU, with both parties set to collaborate on going global. Chen Li, President, Shaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd., said: "Given the current global economic climate, going global is a natural choice for us. We have entered into an agreement with Deloitte precisely because we value their expertise in global tax, legal and labour consultancy. Combining our technological and product strengths with Deloitte's global support will enable us to ensure compliance and maintain a sound credit standing, thereby enhancing our competitiveness and enabling us to go further on the global stage." The GoGlobal Connect Zone attracted numerous enterprises seeking professional service partners, market channels, and investment and cooperation opportunitiesShaanxi TIRAIN Science & Technology Co., Ltd. from mainland and Deloitte Advisory (Hong Kong) Limited signed a MoU, with both parties set to collaborate on going global Deepening ties with Central Asia and the Middle East, expanding cross-regional cooperation opportunities Building on the outcomes of Chief Executive John Lee's visit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in June this year, the Summit introduced a dedicated Central Asia Chapter and Central Asia Zone this year to further deepen Hong Kong's business and trade ties with Central Asian markets. The Summit brought together government officials, business leaders, and investors from the Central Asian region to exchange views and share the latest development opportunities and investment prospects. Key development projects such as Kazakhstan's Alatau City and Data Center Valley attracted participants' interest in related investment and cooperation opportunities. Bakhtiyar Mukhametkaliyev, Vice Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said: "Kazakhstan has a strong aerospace foundation. The sector combines research institutions, laboratories, satellites, assembly and testing capabilities, and the Baikonur Cosmodrome. We are developing a satellite system and digital platform for agriculture, land use, emergency response, and resource management." The Central Asia Chapter brought together government officials and business leaders from the Central Asian region to share the latest development opportunities and investment prospects At the same time, the Summit further strengthened its Middle East elements through the Middle East Chapter, Middle East Zone, and multiple thematic sessions, helping enterprises grasp the latest developments and investment opportunities in the Middle East region. The Business Plenary held yesterday, themed "Unlocking New Market Opportunities along and beyond the Belt and Road", focused on the Middle East and African markets. Speakers from Qatar, Oman, South Africa, and Nigeria shared insights on the enormous potential of emerging markets along and beyond the Belt and Road amid the evolving global business landscape, and explored how Hong Kong can help global enterprises seize new market opportunities. Additionally, the Project Investment Session, New Market Focus: The Middle East, Africa, and Latin America, invited political and business representatives from Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Oman, and South Africa to share developments in their key industries, helping enterprises grasp the latest investment opportunities and expand their international cooperation networks. Furthermore, at Signature Projects Session on the second day, Enver Iskurt, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Turkiye, introduced the large-scale Ankara-Istanbul super speed railway infrastructure project, and said: "Turkey is a secure hub that has continued to pursue its projects with determination despite global uncertainties and geopolitical tensions. Hong Kong-based investors, financial institutions, and engineering firms can play an active role at every stage of our projects, from financing to engineering solutions, particularly in the railway investments we have prioritised in recent times." Facilitating project matchmaking and industrial cooperation to drive business opportunities Through the Project Investment Session, the Belt and Road Deal-Making, and Exhibition Zones, this year's Summit showcased over 300 investment projects, with a total project value exceeding US$5.4 billion, and arranged more than 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, helping enterprises precisely connect with potential partners. Among the MoUs facilitated by this year's Summit was one involving Jabal Asset Management LLC of Oman. Issa Al Battashi, Managing Director and Executive Board Member of Jabal Asset Management LLC, said: "We feel that the Summit as a whole is an opportunity to connect capital, institutions and retail investors across these markets. We believe that if we are able to keep creating dialogue and forming meaningful partnerships, we should see a lot of this translate into positive results in the near future." The Exhibition Zones, including the Hong Kong Zone, Global Investment Zone, Chinese Mainland Zone, and ASEAN Zone, featured more than 120 exhibitors. This year, new zones were added, including the University Zone, GreenTech Zone, and GoGlobal Connect Zone, showcasing research achievements, innovative technologies, green solutions, and professional services resources to drive cross-industry and cross-regional cooperation. Building on forum success, ASEAN Market Day helps SMEs unlock new business opportunities through consultation sessions As a new highlight of Belt and Road Week, the ASEAN Market Day received an enthusiastic response, attracting 340 SMEs who gained in-depth understanding of the latest development trends and business opportunities in the ASEAN market, further extending the exchange outcomes of the forum. The event featured dedicated consultation sessions, allowing participants to engage in face-to-face in-depth discussions with representatives from HKTDC's ASEAN offices, various ASEAN Consulates General and associations, enabling precise alignment with enterprises' overseas expansion needs. The HKTDC will launch more thematic promotion activities for high-potential markets, including GoGBA Development Day, African Market Day, and Middle East Market Day, to assist Hong Kong enterprises, particularly SMEs, in seizing new global development opportunities. Although the Summit has concluded successfully, cooperation negotiations will continue, and a series of follow-up activities will continue to drive cooperation implementation. The Belt and Road Deal-Making will be extended to 14-15 September in an online format, continuing to provide enterprises with business matching and cooperation opportunities. The Belt and Road Global Forum Annual Roundtable 2026 today brings together representatives from Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, and international chambers of commerce and organisations to discuss the latest market development trends and deepen regional exchanges and cooperation.    Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4ytfjF1 The Alatau City development project in Kazakhstan was featured at the Summit's Signature Projects Session, attracting participants to learn about related investment and cooperation opportunities The Middle East Chapter focused on new development opportunities in the Middle East market, attracting representatives from regional governments, investment institutions, and enterprises to exchange views This year's Summit arranged over 800 one-on-one deal-making meetings, helping project owners, investors, and professional services institutions establish partnerships The ASEAN Market Day brought together multiple business leaders and industry experts with deep roots in the ASEAN market, as well as representatives from ASEAN Consulates General in Hong Kong, joining hands to help Hong Kong enterprises capture business opportunities in the region The Cocktail Reception held on the evening of the first day of the Summit featured special remarks by Secretary for Justice Paul Lam of the HKSAR, welcome remarks by HKTDC Chairman Prof Frederick Ma, and opening remarks by Wang Huabin, Deputy Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited, providing a platform for political and business representatives from around the world to connect, deepen ties and foster collaboration    Media enquiries Yuan Tung Financial Relations:  Louise Song  Tel: (852) 3428 5690  Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hk  Tiffany Leung  Tel: (852) 3428 2361  Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk  Hing Fung Wong  Tel: (852) 3428 3122  Email: hfwong@yuantung.com.hk    HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:  Navin Law  Tel: (852) 2584 4525  Email: navin.cm.law@hktdc.org  Serena Cheung  Tel: (852) 2584 4272  Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org  Winnie Kan  Tel: (852) 2584 4055  Email: winnie.wy.kan@hktdc.org    HKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en   About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cross-border Counselor LLP: Chinese E-Commerce Sellers File Class Action Seeking to Void Thousands of "Schedule A" Default Judgments Entered After Email Service the Seventh Circuit Has Held Invalid 2026-09-10 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cross-border-counselor-llp-chinese-e-commerce-sellers-file-class-action-seeking-to-void-thousands-of-schedule-a-default-judgments-entered-after-email-service-the-seventh-circuit-has-held-invalid-302875860.html Bilateral class action under Rule 60(d)(1) seeks relief from void judgments, an accounting, and restitution of money collected from mainland-China defendants in the Northern District of Illinois CHICAGO, Sept. 9, 2026 -- A Ningbo-based cross-border e-commerce seller has filed... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ROHM’s New High Anti-Surge Chip Resistors SDR01 Series Achieve 0.33W Rated Power in the 0402 Size 2026-09-10 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Semiconductors https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3360016/0/en/rohm-s-new-high-anti-surge-chip-resistors-sdr01-series-achieve-0-33w-rated-power-in-the-0402-size.html Santa Clara, CA and Kyoto, Japan, Sept. 10, 2026 -- ROHM Semiconductor today announced it has developed the “SDR01 Series” of high anti-surge chip resistors, delivering a class-leading* rated power of 0.33W in the 0402 (1005 Metric) size. Designed for electronic equipment where mounting densities continue to increase, the series is well suited for automotive, industrial, consumer electronics, and AI server applications. The new products help save board space and reduce component count by enabling replacement of larger-size resistors and consolidation of resistors while maintaining the reliability required of anti-surge chip resistors. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Paul Brubaker Joins CPSC as Agency's Executive Director 2026-09-10 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paul-brubaker-joins-cpsc-as-agencys-executive-director-302875783.html WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 10, 2026 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced that the Honorable Paul Brubaker has joined the agency as its new Executive Director. In this role, Brubaker serves as CPSC's chief operating officer, overseeing the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Atlanticus to Participate in U.S. Bancorp | BTIG Consumer Finance Conference 2026 2026-09-10 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3359984/0/en/atlanticus-to-participate-in-u-s-bancorp-btig-consumer-finance-conference-2026.html ATLANTA, Sept. 10, 2026 -- Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: ATLC) (“Atlanticus,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), a financial technology company that enables its bank, retail and healthcare partners to offer more inclusive financial services to millions of everyday Americans, today announced that Jeff Howard, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Bill McCamey, Chief Financial Officer, will participate in the U.S. Bancorp | BTIG Consumer Finance Conference 2026 in Boston, MA on September 17, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Leo adds 6 new Arianespace launches, expanding its launch partnership 2026-09-10 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-leo-arianespace-new-launches?utm_source=rss The agreement extends the largest commercial contract in Arianespace history and supports investment and innovation across Europe. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hatch Chile Season Has Arrived: Niman Ranch Brings Hatch Green Chile Bratwurst to Grocery Stores 2026-09-10 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3359897/27802/en/hatch-chile-season-has-arrived-niman-ranch-brings-hatch-green-chile-bratwurst-to-grocery-stores.html New retail offering pairs one of late summer's most celebrated flavors with premium pork from independent family farmers New retail offering pairs one of late summer's most celebrated flavors with premium pork from independent family farmers ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Target By Design Opening Night in New York City 2026-09-10 · Target · Retail https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/09/target-by-design-opening-night-in-new-york-city What: Yesterday evening, Target offered a first look at a Target by Design, a New Museum Retail Experience open to New Yorkers for just two days. The experience unfolds across three immersive... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Investing more than $230 million in higher pay and expanded benefits for Whole Foods Market team members 2026-09-10 · Amazon · Retail, Food & drink https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/whole-foods-market-pay-benefits-expansion?utm_source=rss More than 100,000 U.S. Whole Foods Market team members will soon gain access to Amazon's comprehensive benefits. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BOS to Release Third Quarter 2026 Results on November 30, 2026 2026-09-10 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Industrial, Aerospace & defense, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3359639/10669/en/bos-to-release-third-quarter-2026-results-on-november-30-2026.html RISHON LE ZION, Israel, Sept. 10, 2026 -- BOS Better Online Solutions Ltd. ("BOS" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: BOSC), an integrator of supply chain technologies for the aerospace, defense, industrial and retail sectors, announced today that it will release financial results for the third quarter of 2026 before the market opens on Monday, November 30, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— When a Store Starts Thinking 2026-09-10 · SAP · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://news.sap.com/2026/09/sap-nyfw-collections-store-starts-thinking/ In the heart of SoHo, every storefront competes for attention. During New York Fashion Week (NYFW), SAP is helping bring a fashion retail store to... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BC3 Technologies Announces First Retail Availability of SEAL Hemostatic Wound Spray at Army & Air Force Exchange Service Locations 2026-09-10 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3359482/0/en/bc3-technologies-announces-first-retail-availability-of-seal-hemostatic-wound-spray-at-army-air-force-exchange-service-locations.html SEAL OTC Now Available at 77 Select Exchange Locations Across the U.S. and Overseas Through BC3 Distributor Acme United Corporation SEAL OTC Now Available at 77 Select Exchange Locations Across the U.S. and Overseas Through BC3 Distributor Acme United Corporation ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Parks Associates: 63% of US internet households use generative AI 2026-09-10 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/parks-associates-63-of-us-internet-households-use-generative-ai-302875260.html Paid AI users report higher NPS across every leading generative AI platform PLANO, Texas, Sept. 10, 2026 -- Parks Associates today announced new research from AI Experience Consumer Insights Dashboard showing 63% of US internet households now use AI tools, up from 51% in 2025.... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Deloitte Forecasts Holiday Retail Sales to Reach $1.70 Trillion to $1.71 Trillion 2026-09-10 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deloitte-forecasts-holiday-retail-sales-to-reach-1-70-trillion-to-1-71-trillion-302874356.html E-commerce holiday sales projected to reach $316.1 billion to $318.9 billion, increasing 7.5% to 8.4% NEW YORK, Sept. 10, 2026 -- Holiday retail sales are projected to total between $1.70 trillion and $1.71 trillion during the November 2026 through January 2027 period,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 11th Quam Excellence Investor Relations Awards Successfully Held 2026-09-10 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Sports, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109977/ HONG KONG, Sept 10, 2026 - The 11th Quam IR Awards (referred to as the “Awards”) was successfully held on September 9, 2026, honoring investor relations and corporate governance teams that have effectively implemented exemplary standards in a fast-changing financial market. Hosted by Quam Investor Relations, the Awards has officially embarked on its second decade, continuing its long-standing tradition of recognizing outstanding listed companies and witnessing the industry strive for continuous progress and high-quality market development. Management of Quam Plus Financial Group, including Ms. May Mak, Chief Financial Officer (sixth from the right); and Dr. Army Yan, Chief Investment Officer (fifth from the left), took picture together with award presenters and representatives of awarded companies. Embarking on a New Decade: Empowering Capital Markets and Value Creation High standards of transparency and information disclosure by listed companies remain the cornerstone for investors to make informed decisions and are vital to maintaining the vitality of the capital market. For over a decade, the Quam IR Awards has been dedicated to fostering efficient communication between enterprises and the investment community, earning widespread credibility and recognition. Despite the complex macroeconomic environment and market headwinds in recent years, this year's Awards continued to receive enthusiastic support and active participation from the industry, reflecting the unwavering commitment of listed companies to uphold professionalism and deepen investor confidence amidst volatility. Deepening ESG and High-Quality Growth Amid Evolving Global Regulations As global sustainability standards continue to rise, the Quam IR Awards maintains its focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance, honoring leading enterprises in green transformation and compliance governance. This year's Awards continues to feature key recognitions, celebrating companies that demonstrate transparent market communication and fulfill long-term commitments through high-quality sustainability reporting. In response to the latest regulatory dynamics and the comprehensive advancement of international disclosure standards such as ISSB, the event specially invited professional institutions to host keynote sessions. These discussions analyzed emerging compliance trends and the new language of investor communication, equipping the industry to seize market opportunities through forward-looking positioning and comprehensively enhance green competitiveness. Recognizing the growing importance of ESG issues, the event specially invited Alaya Consulting Limited to deliver a keynote presentation. Mr. Tony Wong, Founder and GRI Certified Training Partner, spoke on the theme "ISSB and the Future of Investor Communication," equipping the industry with the latest ESG insights on its path toward sustainable development. Navigating Market Challenges Together Mr.Stacey Wong, Chief Operating Officer of Quam Plus Financial Group, said at the opening remark “The turnover of the Hong Kong stock market has gone from strength to strength, averaging about HK$240 billion per day in 2025 to close to HK$280 billion in the first half of 2026. However, the Stock Connect stocks account for about 85% of such liquidity. The remaining 2,000 companies, about 80% of all listed companies, only share 15% of the daily turnover. In addition, there are over 100 IPOs a year to fight for a piece of the pie! It is no small feat in being able to draw retail eyeballs and gain traction among the institutions. Tough as it is, our IR friends plough on with dedication and professionalism, quietly working behind the scenes. For this, I salute you.”  Ms. May Mak, Chief Financial Officer of Quam Plus Financial Group, said “Over the past year, we have all navigated a dynamic economic environment. In a world with so much information and market fluctuation, just releasing earnings data is no longer enough. Investors are looking for more than just numbers. They want to understand the strategy behind the results, the leadership's vision for the future, and how the company holds up under pressure Every winner in this room today is a great example of telling a successful corporate story. You have built a platform for ongoing success and communicated your long-term vision with clarity and transparency.  By doing so, you have earned market trust and built confidence across Hong Kong's financial market.” Steadfast Support from Industry Peers and Media Allies Quam Investor Relations was honored to have Dr. Michael Y.K. Chan, Honorary Chairman of Hong Kong Institute of Marketing; Dr Jason Ho, Board Director, Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute; and Mr. Tony Wong, Founder and GRI Nominated Trainer of Alaya Consulting Limited, as award presenters, witnessing this grand occasion. The ceremony received widespread support from business partners and media from Hong Kong and mainland China (in no particular order), including the Hong Kong Listed Companies Chamber, Hong Kong Independent Non-Executive Directors Association, Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and FX678. The list of awardees for Quam IR Awards 2025 (In alphabetical order of company name): Stock CodeCompany Name Hong Kong Index Constituents (Hang Seng Index) Category 2382Sunny Optical Technology (Group) Company Limited   Main Board Category 0206CM Energy Tech Co., Ltd. 0861Digital China Holdings Limited 0799IGG INC 6811Tai Hing Group Holdings Limited  2473XXF Group Holdings Limited   Sustainable Development Category Platinum 2020ANTA Sports Products Limited Gold NAALBA Integrated Waste Solutions (Hong Kong) Ltd Silver 1229Nan Nan Resources Enterprise Ltd The Best Report of the Year 2020ANTA Sports Products Limited       Website of Quam IR Awards 2025: https://eventedm.quamhkir.com/QIRA2025-26/ For enquiries, Quam IR Marketing & PR contact： Ms. Mandy Lo       T: 2217-2753       Email: mandy.lo@quamgroup.com Ms. Charlie Chan   T: 2217-2504       Email: charlie.chan@quamgroup.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— See Better, Go Bigger! SKYWORTH Unveils South Africa's First 60" MINI-LED TV 2026-09-10 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/see-better-go-bigger-skyworth-unveils-south-africas-first-60-mini-led-tv-302875017.html CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Sept. 10, 2026 -- SKYWORTH, a global top-five consumer electronics brand, today announced the launch of the 60X6620K Mini-LED TV — the first 60-inch Mini-LED TV in South Africa and currently the only model of its size in the category. The launch gives... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How AI, eBay Live, and personalized discovery are shaping eBay 2026-09-10 · eBay · AI, Retail https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/how-ai-ebay-live-and-personalized-discovery-are-shaping-ebay/ In a new interview with Retail Gazette, eBay's Eve Williams discusses the evolving marketplace and why nothing replaces community. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AI Labs Integrates Google's Gemini into AIV Chatbot to Launch Next-Generation Investment Analytics Platform 2026-09-10 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Crypto, AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Education, Aerospace & defense https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109975/ SINGAPORE, Sept 10, 2026 - Singapore-based AI Labs, a subsidiary of Web3 education pioneer Academic Labs, today announced that it has integrated Google’s Gemini AI into its flagship AIV Chatbot. The upgrade positions AIV as an advanced, structured investment analytics tool designed to simplify research across cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, as well as tech giants including Nvidia and SpaceX. AIV allows users to ask simple questions about assets such as Bitcoin and Ether, as well as technology companies such as Nvidia and SpaceX. It then organizes responses around market outlook, technical analysis, fundamentals and risk, presenting the results in a format resembling a concise research note rather than simply generating "buy" or "sell" signals. The approach is intended to give users a more structured way of thinking about investment decisions. AIV is able to break an investment portfolio down into different sources of risk and return, distinguish between established assets and higher-growth exposures, and examine how seemingly different investments may become correlated during periods of market stress. For technology equities, the same framework can be used to distinguish between areas such as AI infrastructure, cloud computing and consumer platforms, while setting out the main upside and downside cases. The analytics platform is also designed to go beyond identifying potential returns. AIV can frame an investment thesis in terms of the assumptions on which it depends and highlight the conditions that would challenge those assumptions. Key price levels, changes in fundamentals or other "invalidation" scenarios can therefore provide investors with a clearer indication of when an investment view should be reconsidered. Google's Gemini is central to the platform's potential. Google's AI models can work across text, images, video, audio and code, while connecting with current information and interacting with external tools. Applied to AIV, these capabilities will allow the Chatbot to analyze earnings releases, retrieve market data, examine charts and tokenomics documents, calculate portfolio exposures, and explain the results in a conversational format that is easy to understand. Over time, as the technology matures, Gemini could enable investors to upload financial documents or charts for analysis, compare risks across assets, and identify developments that challenge an existing investment thesis. This would move the Chatbot closer to becoming an interactive investment research assistant. "Investors are surrounded by a wealth of information, but information on its own does not create clarity," said Ryan Chi, CEO and founder. "AIV is being built to help users connect the signals that actually matter." Kingston Kwek, an advisor to AIV, said the key objective is to make sophisticated investment analytics traditionally associated with professional investors more accessible to a broader audience by tapping Gemini's extensive analytical capabilities, especially since Gemini has achieved global adoption with hundreds of millions of users worldwide. If AIV can pair Gemini's ability to summarize and organize information with transparent sources, clear risk controls and plain-language explanations, it could become a powerful research tool for investors navigating the growing overlap between crypto, artificial intelligence and technology equities. Media Contact Company: AI Labs Contact: Media Team Email: ryan@academic-labs.org  Website: https://ai-labs.live/ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cybersecurity expert Kevin Mandia joins Amazon's Board of Directors 2026-09-09 · Amazon · Retail, Cybersecurity https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/kevin-mandia-amazon-board-of-directors?utm_source=rss Mandia is the founder and CEO of Armadin, Inc. and the co-founder and general partner of Ballistic Ventures. He also founded and previously served as the CEO of Mandiant, Inc. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Stacey Soans Announces Expanded Availability of Fairways & Femininity in the U.S. Market 2026-09-09 · Newsfile · Retail, Sports https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/313663/Stacey-Soans-Announces-Expanded-Availability-of-Fairways-Femininity-in-the-U.S.-Market Toronto, Ontario--(September 9, 2026) - Toronto author and professional golfer Stacey Soans announces the expanded U.S. availability of her book, Fairways & Femininity: The Modern Woman's Guide to Golf, through multiple online retail channels, making the book more accessible to readers across the United States.Stacey Soans Announces Expanded Availability of Fairways & Femininity in the U.S. MarketTo view an enhanced version of this graphic, please... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon and Wiwynn announce expansion of advanced manufacturing facility in Texas, creating nearly 1,000 jobs and boosting the US supply chain 2026-09-09 · Amazon · Retail, Industrial, Logistics https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-wiwynn-data-center-manufacturing-jobs-texas?utm_source=rss The facility brings production of custom hardware to the U.S. and strengthens domestic manufacturing capacity for Amazon’s infrastructure. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Shapellx Celebrates 7th Anniversary With Online Campaign, New Product Launches and Community Event 2026-09-09 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/09/3358880/0/en/shapellx-celebrates-7th-anniversary-with-online-campaign-new-product-launches-and-community-event.html Shapellx celebrates seven years with new products, consumer stories, an anniversary offer and a Dallas event highlighting comfort-led shapewear innovation ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon’s 2026 Top 100+ Toys list: Something for every kid at heart 2026-09-09 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/best-gifts-kids-amazon-toys-we-love-list-2026?utm_source=rss From budget-friendly finds and Amazon exclusives to trending collectibles, sensory toys, and screen-free favorites, the annual list for 2026 spotlights 100+ expert-curated toys to make holiday gifting easier. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— EVgo and Regency Expand National Partnership to Bring Fast Charging to More Retail Centers Across the U.S. 2026-09-09 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/09/3358545/0/en/evgo-and-regency-expand-national-partnership-to-bring-fast-charging-to-more-retail-centers-across-the-u-s.html EVgo and Regency Centers are expanding their national partnership and will add more than 400 fast charging stalls at grocery-anchored retail centers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ZetaDisplay to Deliver First Retail Media Network for SPAR 2026-09-09 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/09/3358348/0/en/zetadisplay-to-deliver-first-retail-media-network-for-spar.html ZetaDisplay extends its SPAR partnership to launch the retailer’s first retail media network, creating new revenue opportunities for brand partners. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Crypto News Today: AlphaPepe Presale Passes 11,600 Holders As XRP Price Prediction Targets $8 2026-09-09 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/09/3358271/0/en/crypto-news-today-alphapepe-presale-passes-11-600-holders-as-xrp-price-prediction-targets-8.html MONACO, Sept. 08, 2026 -- Crypto news today is turning toward AlphaPepe after the presale crossed 11,600+ holders, adding another retail growth milestone before public trading begins. The project has now raised over $2.6 million and reached a current presale price of $0.02931. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Loblaw to Provide Strategic Updates on its Core Retail Businesses and Emerging Growth Platforms at its Upcoming “Retail and Beyond” Investor Day 2026-09-08 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3358194/0/en/loblaw-to-provide-strategic-updates-on-its-core-retail-businesses-and-emerging-growth-platforms-at-its-upcoming-retail-and-beyond-investor-day.html BRAMPTON, Ontario, Sept. 08, 2026 -- Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) (“Loblaw” or the “Company”) will host its Investor Day on September 9, 2026, under the theme “Retail and Beyond.” The event will provide investors with an update on the Company’s strategy, operating priorities, opportunities for profitable growth and how it is meeting customer needs across its core retail businesses and adjacent areas of growth. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Welcomes Commissioners Sessions and Lorenze, Restoring Commission Quorum 2026-09-08 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-consumer-product-safety-commission-welcomes-commissioners-sessions-and-lorenze-restoring-commission-quorum-302872837.html The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today welcomed Commissioners Karen Sessions and Brien Lorenze, restoring the Commission's quorum and positioning CPSC to build on its record of enforcement, modernization and consumer protection. Commissioner Sessions was sworn in on August 19, 2026, and Commissioner Lorenze was sworn in on September 8, 2026. "I am proud to welcome Karen Sessions an ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. to Participate in Barclays Global Consumer Conference 2026-09-08 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3358162/0/en/prestige-consumer-healthcare-inc-to-participate-in-barclays-global-consumer-conference.html TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Sept. 08, 2026 -- Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:PBH) today announced that Ron Lombardi, Chairman, President, & CEO and Christine Sacco, CFO and COO will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Conference on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. ET. A live webcast of this event will be available at www.prestigeconsumerhealthcare.com under the "Investors” section and the "Events and Presentations" tab, or by using the following link: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Corgi Names Erin Gambrel VP, Financial Services 2026-09-08 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/corgi-names-erin-gambrel-vp-financial-services-302872824.html Retail-investing brand builder and media personality known as "The Blonde Broker" joins Corgi to help scale the brand's reach among everyday investors CHICAGO, Sept. 8, 2026 -- Corgi, an AI-driven financial infrastructure company, today announced that Erin Gambrel has joined... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Daedalus Special Acquisition Corp. Signs Letter of Intent with HUBX Yazılım Hizmetleri Anonim Şirketi 2026-09-08 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3358134/0/en/daedalus-special-acquisition-corp-signs-letter-of-intent-with-hubx-yaz%C4%B1l%C4%B1m-hizmetleri-anonim-%C5%9Firketi.html London, United Kingdom, Sept. 08, 2026 -- Daedalus Special Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: DSAC) (the “Company”), today announced the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent with HUBX Yazılım Hizmetleri Anonim Şirketi (“HubX” or the “Target”), for a proposed business combination through which HubX plans to become a public company with its securities listed on The Nasdaq Stock Market.  HubX, one of the largest consumer AI companies globally, is based in Turkiye, and designs, builds, and scales AI-powered consumer applications on a global basis. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— F-Secure and AMD Silo AI Demonstrate Unique Approach to Helping Secure Digital Journeys in Agentic AI Era 2026-09-08 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Cybersecurity, Semiconductors https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/f-secure-and-amd-silo-ai-demonstrate-unique-approach-to-helping-secure-digital-journeys-in-agentic-ai-era-302872682.html F-Secure TrustPath and device-to-cloud compute platforms from AMD are intended to protect every step of the consumer digital journey HELSINKI, September 8, 2026 -- Global consumer cyber security leader F-Secure and leading AI lab AMD Silo AI have demonstrated how F-Secure... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” issue of EUR 1,060,206.93 of series 1, tranche 2 bonds intended for retail investors 2026-09-08 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3357929/0/en/uab-atsinaujinan%C4%8Dios-energetikos-investicijos-issue-of-eur-1-060-206-93-of-series-1-tranche-2-bonds-intended-for-retail-investors.html On 8 September 2026 UAB “Atsinaujinančios energetikos investicijos” (hereinafter, the “Company”) has successfully finished the EUR 1,060,206.93 Bonds first series, second tranche issue at 9% yield, under its EUR 25 million unsecured fixed-interest note programme, the base prospectus of which was approved by the Bank of Lithuania on 18 May 2026 (hereinafter, the “Bonds”). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Qualcomm Announces Multi-Generational Product Collaboration with Amazon to Build Next-Generation AI Data Center Infrastructure 2026-09-08 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, Retail, Semiconductors https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/qualcomm-announces-multi-generational-product-collaboration-with-amazon-to-build-next-generation-ai-data-center-infrastructure-302871895.html Highlights Qualcomm collaborating with Amazon across multiple generations of customized silicon to support AWS's growing AI infrastructure. Qualcomm advanced optical connectivity solutions will support high-bandwidth interconnects within Amazon data center networks. SAN DIEGO, Sept. 8, 2026 -- Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced a multi-generation collaboration... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Usercentrics Releases 2026 Report on Changing Consumer Consent 2026-09-08 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/313234/Usercentrics-Releases-2026-Report-on-Changing-Consumer-Consent Copenhagen, Denmark--(September 8, 2026) - Data privacy technology company Usercentrics has released its State of Digital Trust 2026 Report, finding that 48% of consumers now click "accept all" on cookie banners less often than they did three years ago, while only 23% say they do so more often., finding that 48% of consumers now click "accept all" on cookie banners less often than they did three years ago, while only 23% say they do so more often.Usercentrics releases its 2026... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Phillips Edison & Company to Participate in Webcast Panel at Barclays 24th Annual Financial Services Conference 2026-09-08 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3357620/0/en/phillips-edison-company-to-participate-in-webcast-panel-at-barclays-24th-annual-financial-services-conference.html CINCINNATI, Sept. 08, 2026 -- Phillips Edison & Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: PECO) (“PECO” or “the Company”), one of the nation’s largest owners and operators of high-quality, grocery-anchored neighborhood shopping centers, today announced that Chief Financial Officer John Caulfield will participate in the Retail REIT Panel, which will be webcast, at the Barclays 24th Annual Global Financial Services Conference on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— A New Force in the Surf Park Economy 2026-09-08 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Real estate, Retail, Travel, Sports https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109865/ SOLANA BEACH, CA, Sept 8, 2026 - American Wave Machines is pleased to announce the formation of Eastern Swell Dynamics, a new joint venture established with China Tourism Group to support the growth of PerfectSwell® surf pools across China. The new company will serve as the official licensed platform for PerfectSwell® projects in the region, bringing together AWM's proven surf technology with CTG's deep tourism infrastructure, development capabilities, market access and longstanding presence across Greater China. Riyue Bay Surf Resort powered by PerfectSwell® surf technology China Tourism Group is one of the most significant tourism enterprises in China, with a history dating back more than a century and a business network spanning mainland China, and international markets. Its platform includes travel services, scenic destinations, hotels, duty free retail, tourism transportation, real estate, cultural tourism and related destination businesses. CTG's development of Riyue Bay Surf Resort, anchored by PerfectSwell® surf technology, offers an early signal of what this partnership is designed to scale: destination experiences driven by surf. "The formation of Eastern Swell Dynamics reflects the next phase of PerfectSwell® growth," said AWM Founder Bruce McFarland. "AWM brings the surf technology, enthusiasm for the sport and surf park experience. CTG brings extraordinary regional capability, destination development experience and institutional reach. Together, we believe the joint venture is positioned to support a new generation of surf park projects." The launch comes as PerfectSwell® Surf Parks continue to emerge as powerful destination anchors, hospitality drivers and next generation recreational assets. Through Eastern Swell Dynamics, AWM and CTG intend to create a focused regional platform for long term market development, localized project support and premium surf experiences. "Riyue Bay Surf Resort has already demonstrated the appeal of high-performance PerfectSwell® surf within a destination experience developed by CTG," said Wei Li, CFO of CTG Investments. "Through Eastern Swell Dynamics, we look forward to building on that success and supporting the development of new PerfectSwell® surf destinations across China." About American Wave Machines American Wave Machines, Inc. is the inventor and developer of PerfectSwell® Surf Technology, the patented surf platform powering world-class surf destinations across real estate, hospitality, private club, resort, and commercial surf markets. PerfectSwell® helped pioneer the modern surf park category by delivering the wave surfers want: authentic, repeatable, high-performance surf with the variety, progression, and quality required to drive long-term demand. As the inventor of sequence-based pneumatic surf technology, AWM has built a deeply protected platform backed by over 50 patents worldwide, extensive operating data, and proven destination performance. PerfectSwell® innovations including Split Peaks, A-Frames, Peeling Waves, Air Sections, Barrels, Infinite Ocean, and other signature wave and design capabilities are supported by AWM's robust intellectual property portfolio. Contact: Jane McFarland jane@americanwavemachines.com SOURCE: American Wave Machines, Inc. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— RESULT OF RIKSBANK CERTIFICATE SALE 2026-09-08 · GlobeNewswire · Real estate, Energy, Retail, Travel, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/08/3357370/0/en/result-of-riksbank-certificate-sale.html Automobiles and Parts News Food & Beverage News Home Goods & Construction News Leisure Goods News Media & Entertainment News Personal Care News Retail News Travel and Leisure News Alternative Energy News Oil Gas and Coal News Chemicals News Banking News Closed-End Investments News Finance and Credit Services News Investment Banking and Brokerage Services News Insurance News Real Estate & REITs News Healthcare Provide ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Hong Kong Shopping Festival achieved success in the Chinese Mainland with over 115 million views 2026-09-08 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Education, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109864/ HONG KONG, Sept 8, 2026 - The third Hong Kong Shopping Festival (Chinese Mainland), organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) with the full support of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, concluded successfully after receiving an enthusiastic response. The event generated more than 115 million total views across all online platforms, representing a 15% increase compared to last year. Following the success of the Chinese Mainland edition, the Hong Kong Shopping Festival will be held, for the first time, on e-commerce platforms in Malaysia and Singapore from 21 to 27 September. The third Hong Kong Shopping Festival concluded successfully in August 2026, generating more than 115 million total views across all online platforms. As the flagship event of the HKTDC’s year-round E-commerce Express, the theme of the third Hong Kong Shopping Festival is “Hong Kong Highlights, One Click Away”. The Chinese Mainland version was held from 1 to 20 August and featured more than 280 brands and 600 products. Consumers enjoyed a wide range of exclusive discounts alongside live-stream sales events on Douyin, JD.com and Taobao. A series of marketing campaigns on Xiaohongshu and WeChat further enhanced Hong Kong companies’ digital marketing capabilities and brand visibility, helping them to capture opportunities in the Chinese Mainland market. The third Hong Kong Shopping Festival also offered comprehensive support measures, including one-on-one professional advisory services and Chinese Mainland e-commerce training programmes, helping enterprises progress from learning e-commerce to excelling in e-commerce.  Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR, said: “Participating brands of the Hong Kong Shopping Festival (Chinese Mainland) have reported positive sales performance. The Government will continue to support Hong Kong enterprises to develop e-commerce through flexible funding support, capacity building, training and promotion assistance, etc., with a view to assisting Hong Kong enterprises in strengthening their market competitiveness and seizing new opportunities brought by cross-border e-commerce. This year, the Hong Kong Shopping Festival is expanding into the ASEAN region for the first time, facilitating Hong Kong enterprises to tap into another enormous e-commerce market. I look forward to seeing the participating brands seize this opportunity to enhance their brand awareness and showcase the advantages of Hong Kong products in the region.”   Jacky Chung, Associate Executive Director of HKTDC, said: “This year’s Hong Kong Shopping Festival (Chinese Mainland) built on the momentum of the previous two years and received an enthusiastic response from consumers in the Chinese Mainland. The strong reception once again demonstrates that Hong Kong brands and products are widely associated with trust and quality. The event also helps make high-quality Hong Kong products more visible, accessible and readily available through suitable sales channels. Jacky Chung, Associate Executive Director of HKTDC, said that this year's Hong Kong Shopping Festival received an enthusiastic response from consumers in the Chinese Mainland. The strong reception once again demonstrates that Hong Kong brands and products are widely associated with trust and quality. HKTDC has long been committed to creating diverse business platforms for Hong Kong companies. Building on its extensive promotional experience in the Mainland market, HKTDC is expanding into new markets this year. The Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN), to be held in September, will focus on Malaysia and Singapore. This expansion will lay a solid foundation for Hong Kong businesses seeking to enter and develop their presence in the ASEAN region.” Diversified E-commerce promotion helps Hong Kong businesses expand in Chinese Mainland market Discount Month and Live-stream e-commerce continued to be the core components of this year’s Hong Kong Shopping Festival (Chinese Mainland). In addition to dedicated campaign pages on Douyin, JD.com and Taobao, HKTDC launched an upgraded official Hong Kong Shopping Festival website. The website features profiles of participating brands, product offers, live-stream schedules and other event highlights, providing consumers with a one-stop platform to discover and purchase participating products. Throughout the event, the campaign’s visibility and the online presence of participating Hong Kong merchants were enhanced through platform promotions, advertising campaigns and a range of online and offline marketing activities. Live-streaming is a mainstream promotional model in the Chinese Mainland e-commerce market. This year, the event arranged more than 30 live-streaming sessions for around 90 brands, featuring dedicated sessions hosted by renowned KOLs such as Li Jiaqi and Lin Yilin, TVB Select (Hong Kong Premium Collection) and JD International Live-Streaming, among others. The live-streaming sessions attracted over 10 million views in total. A new “Behind-the-Brand” origin-tracing live-stream series brought live-streaming teams from the Chinese Mainland to Hong Kong, taking consumers on immersive tours of participating brands’ factories and retail stores, offering deeper insights into their production processes, brand stories and product features, and sharing their experiences with viewers during the live-streams. This helps consumers develop a fuller understanding of Hong Kong brands, enhance brand exposure, and strengthen consumer confidence. The Hong Kong Shopping Festival arranged over 30 live-streaming sessions for around 90 brands, featuring top influencers like Li Jiaqi, Lin Yilin, TVB Select (Hong Kong Premium Collection) and JD International Live-Streaming, alongside the new 'Behind-the-Brand' origin-tracing series. The campaign was a major success, drawing more than 10 million views. Wai Yuen Tong, a health supplement brand that participated in the "Behind-the-Brand" origin-tracing live-stream series, noted that the sessions significantly boosted consumer interest in both the brand and its products. During the event, sales on its Tmall flagship store increased by five times compared with the same period last year, demonstrating how the “Behind-the-Brand” live-stream series can bring brands closer to consumers through a more interactive and authentic format. Vivian Tang, Executive Director of Wai Yuen Tong, said: "The ‘Behind-the-Brand’ live-streams gave us a valuable opportunity to share our brand story, production processes, and ingredient selection standards directly with consumers. This allows consumers to understand our brand and products, helping to build greater trust. At the same time, the live-streams also serve as an effective way to generate interest and traffic for subsequent e-commerce broadcasts. This experience has further enhanced our understanding of how live-streaming and e-commerce channels can be leveraged to reach consumers in the Mainland market. Looking ahead, we will continue to develop origin-tracing content and combine it with e-commerce initiatives to further deepen our presence in the Mainland market." Social enterprise Hello Cocoa has entered the Mainland market for the first time this year. Since joining the Design Gallery Flagship Store on JD International in July, the company has also participated in the Hong Kong Shopping Festival (Chinese Mainland). Through live-streaming sessions featuring its products and brand philosophy, complemented by promotion via WeChat communities, Hello Cocoa strengthened engagement with Mainland consumers and achieved more than 200,000 brand impressions, with results surpassing expectations. Hello Cocoa employs staff with special educational needs (SEN) to produce and sell handcrafted chocolates. Its vegan crispy has been particularly well-received by consumers. Louie Lu, Founder & C.E.O. of Hello Cocoa, said: “Through our participation with the HKTDC's Design Gallery and the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, we have successfully reached Mainland consumers and gained valuable insights into live-stream e-commerce and cross-border sales models. Looking ahead, we will also participate in the Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN) to further expand our presence in the cross-border e-commerce market.” Promoting deep participation among Hong Kong businesses to effectively strengthen their e-commerce operations To help participating brands identify the most effective e-commerce strategies, this year’s Hong Kong Shopping Festival encouraged Hong Kong businesses to capitalise on the event’s promotional momentum. By fostering in-house live-streaming and “content seeding”, brands were able to gradually develop their own marketing expertise. Beyond offering publicity to participating brands, the event provided promotional copywriting and creative visuals for the companies to amplify the reach across their own e-commerce platforms and social media channels. As a third time participant in the Hong Kong Shopping Festival, well-known beverage brand Hung Fook Tong took full advantage of this year’s event through exclusive discounts, live-streams, and social media seeding. Two of its products, Imperatae Cane Drink and Salted Mandarin Drink, were selected by renowned influencer Li Jiaqi for a live-stream session, resulting in sales doubling compared to the same period last year. Audrey Poon, General Manager of Hung Fook Tong, said: “Our continued participation in the Hong Kong Shopping Festival has enabled more Mainland consumers to become familiar with our brand, while gradually building their trust and affinity towards it. As a result, our brand has established a stronger and more reliable image. The Hong Kong Shopping Festival has also provided significant support for our expansion into the Mainland market and strengthened our e-commerce capabilities, including marketing and promotional activities, cross-border logistics, and collaborations with key opinion leaders." Startup personal care brand Eco.Babe participated in the Hong Kong Shopping Festival’s live-streaming sessions for the first time this year. By showcasing its products through live-streaming sessions highlighting key features, usage instructions and application scenarios, the brand successfully drove sales growth, with sales of its insect repellent increasing by more than 50% year-on-year. Eco.babe joined the cross-border e-commerce platform of the HKTDC's Design Gallery on JD International last year and launched its official Xiaohongshu account to actively build experience in the Mainland market. Wesley Leung, Managing Director of Eco.babe, said, “By participating in the Hong Kong Shopping Festival (Chinese Mainland) and leveraging various promotional channels, including live-streaming and social media, we have been able to gather valuable consumer feedback and sales data. This has enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of Mainland consumers’ needs and purchasing habits, while providing practical experience that will support the optimisation of our product portfolio, market positioning, pricing strategy and e-commerce operations in the future.” The new designer toys category leverages social media to effectively engage a younger demographic To capture the youth market, this year’s Hong Kong Shopping Festival collaborated with renowned artists Moon Lau and Kalok Chow, alongside a network of social media influencers, for a series of promotions. The topics surrounding the Hong Kong Shopping Festival generated over 60 million views across Douyin, Xiaohongshu, WeChat, and Weibo, marking a 20% year-on-year increase. The debut of a designer toys category also opened doors for local brands to connect with young consumers in the Chinese Mainland. Natural Made, which leveraged last year’s event to enter the Chinese Mainland market, returned this year to launch its original IP “Poru-Poru”. The campaign was a resounding success, with performance metrics far exceeding previous results. Notably, brand exposure and product save rates on its Taobao store both saw a 2.5-fold increase. Natural Made attributed this growth to the event’s targeted, category-based promotion and the HKTDC’s comprehensive support. Kenneth Lee, the company’s Marketing Lead, said: “The HKTDC’s Chinese Mainland E-commerce Training Programmes were highly pertinent, offering practical insights into the latest platform algorithms and AI tools. The programme empowered our team to sharpen our digital marketing skills and stay ahead of industry trends, serving as a vital resource for our sustained growth in the Mainland e-commerce sector.” The inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN) will launch in September The Hong Kong Shopping Festival will make its debut in Malaysia and Singapore this month. Through multi-channel promotional campaigns, the event will raise the profile of Hong Kong brands and products while providing participating companies with first-hand exposure to the operation of local e-commerce markets, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the regional e-commerce ecosystem and strengthening the foundation for future expansion across ASEAN. An official website will be launched for the ASEAN version, while cooperating with two leading e-commerce platforms in Singapore and Malaysia - namely Shopee and Lazada respectively - to open a special campaign page for the event, showcasing over 350 featured products together with exclusive promotional offers. To further support Hong Kong businesses that have yet to establish a presence on e-commerce platforms in Malaysia and Singapore, the event will introduce a limited-time online store, providing a convenient channel for merchants to list and promote their products. The initiative will enable companies to test market response, gain practical experience and seize new business opportunities in the ASEAN market.   The HKSAR Government provides full support to the Hong Kong Shopping Festival. Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, filmed a promotional video. The inaugural Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN) will make its debut this month, running from 21 to 27 September on e-commerce platforms in Malaysia and Singapore. Hong Kong Shopping Festival (ASEAN): http://hkshoppingfestival-asean.hktdc.com Photo Download: https://bit.ly/4gFDlqv Media enquiries Yuan Tung Financial Relations:  Louise Song Tel: (852) 3428 5691 Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hk  Tiffany Leung Tel: (852) 3428 2361 Email: tleung@yuantung.com.hk HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Serena Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4272 Email: serena.hm.cheung@hktdc.org HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via trade publications, research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Withings Becomes Official Connected Health Supplier of the France Basketball National Teams 2026-09-07 · PR Newswire · Healthcare, Retail, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/withings-becomes-official-connected-health-supplier-of-the-france-basketball-national-teams-302870304.html BOSTON, Sept. 7, 2026 -- The Fédération Française de BasketBall (FFBB) and Withings, the French company behind the world's first Wi-Fi smart scale and the largest consumer connected-health ecosystem in the world, today announced a multi-year partnership, making Withings the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Notice of public offering of AS Pro Kapital Grupp bonds 2026-09-07 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/07/3357072/0/en/notice-of-public-offering-of-as-pro-kapital-grupp-bonds.html On Tuesday, 8 September 2026 at 10.00, the public offering of bonds issued by AS Pro Kapital Grupp (hereinafter also referred to as Pro Kapital) will commence, aimed at retail and qualified investors in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The offer is being conducted on the basis of the base prospectus for public offer and admission to trading drawn up by Pro Kapital and approved by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority on 7 September 2026, which has been published on the websites of Pro Kapital and the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority on the date of this announcement (hereinafter the ‘prospectus’). ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon 21 Air updates 2026-09-06 · Amazon · Retail, Travel https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-21-air-miami-updates?utm_source=rss Amazon 21 Air updates "We can confirm that an Amazon Air plane operated by 21 Air experienced an incident while attempting to land at Miami International Airport today. This is a fast-moving situation and we're still gathering details. We're working closely with local authorities and officials to understand exactly what happened. Right now, our absolute priority is the safety, well-being, and care of everyone involve ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, Salon de TIME attracts over 17,000 global buyers 2026-09-06 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109830/ HONG KONG, Sep 6, 2026 - The 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, concluded successfully yesterday. Meanwhile, the Click2Match smart business matching platform remains open until 12 September, allowing exhibitors and buyers worldwide to continue their business discussions online. To celebrate the 45th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, the organiser specially created a “Time Tunnel”, allowing visitors to journey through the fair’s history and revisit three key milestones since its inception in 1982. Over the five-day fair, over 17,000 trade buyers from 115 countries and regions attended to source watch and clock products. Buyers from outside Hong Kong mainly came from the Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, India, Japan, Russia and the US, as well as ASEAN countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. Buyer attendance from North America, ASEAN and Latin America recorded significant growth, underscoring Hong Kong’s pivotal role as an international trading centre and premier sourcing hub for the global watch and clock industry in Asia. The 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME concluded successfully yesterday, attracting over 17,000 buyers from 115 countries and regions who visited the fairs to source products and explore business opportunities. Salon de TIME was fully open to the public with free admission. Together with CENTRESTAGE, held concurrently, the two events attracted over 20,000 public visits for shopping and visits, showcasing the latest products from more than 400 watch and fashion brands. Salon de TIME was fully open to the public, inviting visitors to explore the latest watch collections, shop for their favourite timepieces and participate in a wide range of exciting onsite activities. HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam said: "As the world's largest one-stop watch and clock marketplace, the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME connect the entire value chain spanning manufacturing, sourcing and brand promotion, bringing together brands, watchmakers, suppliers, retailers, collectors, watch media and enthusiasts from around the world to create a comprehensive industry ecosystem. This year, Salon de TIME attracted more than 150 brands from across the globe, achieving a record scale and further enhancing the fair's international profile and diversity. The number of exhibitors in the Microbrands zone doubled compared with last year. From what we observed at the fair, there is strong market demand for microbrands, Guochao-inspired watches, and cross-industry collaborations, reflecting consumers' growing appreciation for personalised designs, cultural and creative elements, and compelling brand stories. World Brand Piazza, a signature attraction of Salon de TIME, showcased six world-renowned watch brands.This year, Salon de TIME featured many Chinese Mainland brands and renowned independent watchmakers showcasing Guochao timepieces, including Shanghai Watch, FIYTA, and Zbioland. The fairs created opportunities for industry players worldwide to connect, collaborate and forge business partnerships, and also fully demonstrated Hong Kong's strengths as an international trading platform by attracting global opportunities to Hong Kong while helping Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland enterprises and brands expand into overseas markets." Survey finds strong growth prospects in Latin America and Korea During the fair, HKTDC conducted a survey, interviewing around 890 exhibitors and buyers to gain insights into the future development of the global watch and clock industry, as well as industry perceptions of market prospects and product trends. The survey found that 50% of respondents expect overall sales to increase over the next 12 to 24 months, while 43% anticipate sales will remain stable. Respondents identified the following target markets as offering promising or very promising growth prospects for the watch and clock industry over the next two years such as Latin America (68%), Korea (67%), the Middle East (64%), Australia (64%) and South Africa (64%). Regarding product trends, 37% of respondents believe fashion watches offer the greatest growth potential, followed by smart watches (30%) and casual watches (26%). Exhibitors and buyers report robust business results A representative of the Hengyang, Hunan pavilion, Lu Yalan, Brand Manager of Nanyue Watches at Hunan Shengshi Weide Technology Co., Ltd., said: “The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair is an international event that fully leverages Hong Kong’s unique strengths as a gateway connecting the Chinese Mainland and the world, as well as its blend of Eastern and Western cultures, making it an ideal platform for us to expand into overseas markets. We have already connected with potential buyers from India, Italy, and Malaysia, including an Italian buyer who is interested in purchasing 2,000 watches. We expect sales generated during the five-day fair to exceed US$3 million. Through HKTDC’s extensive international business network, we hope to bring watches that embody distinctive Chinese cultural elements to a wider range of overseas markets.” Chauncey Chiu, Senior Sales Manager, Peacock Watch (Group) Co., Ltd., said: “Global recognition of Chinese watchmaking has continued to grow in recent years, and we are leveraging the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair to further expand into overseas markets, particularly Europe and the US. This year, we have also made first-time connections with new customers from Kuwait and Mexico. During the fair, we secured orders every day, and we expect total sales generated from this year’s fair to exceed RMB10 million.” Nabil Dabaan, CEO of Jovial, a watch wholesaler and retailer from the United Arab Emirates, said: “During this year’s fair, we expect to source approximately US$1 million worth of watch components from nine suppliers, including two newly identified suppliers. In addition, we plan to purchase around US$250,000 worth of packaging boxes, shopping bags and display materials.” CN Innovations Limited, which has participated every Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair since the beginning, marked the fair’s 45th edition this year by showcasing innovative achievements, including 3D-printed titanium watches. SK Chong, Business Development Director of CN Innovation Limited, said: “We have participated in the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair for 45 consecutive years, and it remains an irreplaceable platform for our business. Over the years, the fair's role has evolved significantly, transforming from a venue focused primarily on direct, transaction-driven trade into a strategic platform for industry exchange and market promotion. As the world's largest importer of watches and a leading exporter, Hong Kong offers the ideal stage to showcase our rich heritage and our latest innovations and R&D achievements.” At Salon de TIME, several exhibitors showcased watches inspired by the Guochao trend. Among them, Sun International Concepts Ltd. presented five renowned Chinese Mainland watch brands, including creations by Xushu Ma, Zehua Tan and Lin Yonghua, members of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) from the Chinese Mainland, who showcased their craftsmanship through distinctive Chinese timepieces. David Sun, the company's Executive Director, said the company received 17 enquiries for bespoke timepieces, including eight from Dubai, the Philippines, Thailand and other overseas markets, generating customised watch orders totalling HK$4 million. He added that the exhibition provides an effective platform for brands to connect with collectors and overseas distributors, helping Chinese Mainland brands expand into overseas retail channels and international markets. As an international platform, the fair also supports brands in expanding their overseas distribution networks and accelerating their global growth. Leveraging the Salon de TIME as an important platform for international expansion, Sea-Gull Watch and Shanghai Watch also held product launch events during the fair, showcasing Chinese watchmaking craftsmanship and innovative technologies to the international market. George Xu, CEO, Fosun Watch Group, said: “The two brands have engaged with customers from markets including India, the Middle East, Russia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. We expect sales generated from this year’s exhibition to exceed HK$1 million. Over the years, the fair has also helped us gradually expand into overseas markets. For example, a Turkish client we met at last year’s fair is now in the process of opening a dedicated retail store in Turkey. Hong Kong is also a very important market for us. Following the encouraging response to the opening of our first store in Tsim Sha Tsui earlier this year, we plan to launch our flagship store in Central after the fair. This will further strengthen our brand presence and expand our influence in both the Hong Kong and overseas markets.” The Microbrands zone attracted 29 brands from eight countries and regions this year, more than double the number recorded last year. Making its debut at the fair, MicroMilspec, an independent watch brand from Norway, showcased its new Field Master timepiece in the pavilion and received an overwhelmingly positive response. Katarina Halvorssen, Customer Relationship Management & Sales Manager, MicroMilspec, said: “More than 170 visitors came to our booth on the first day alone, including customers from Hong Kong, India, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. We estimate potential sales of around US$29,000. For us, the fair is not only an opportunity to showcase our brand, but also an important gateway to the Asian market.” Watchcatavlog from Hong Kong, a returning exhibitor, showcased 10 microbrands this year. Its Founder, Ciff Luk, said: “Salon de TIME allows watch enthusiasts to try on and experience the timepieces firsthand through wrist trials, while also helping brands connect directly with international buyers. We expect sales to reach HK$280,000. Visitor inquiries have increased 20% year-on-year, and we have attracted interest from buyers in Brazil, Canada, India, Kuwait, the Philippines, Singapore, and the US. Both visitor traffic and buyer quality have improved this year.” WOLF, the luxury watch storage and watch winder brand from the UK, made its debut at the Fair and launched Rocket, the world’s most compact travel watch winder, during the exhibition. Michael Jappert, Global Sales Director, WOLF 1834, Limited, said: “Through HKTDC’s Click2Match business matching platform, we have connected with around 40 potential buyers from markets including the Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Dubai, Japan, Korea, the Middle East and the US. The platform has enabled us to efficiently identify and engage with quality business prospects from around the world.” Amarildo Pilo, Owner of PILO & CO SA and Founder of the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP), said: “The fair’s international reach is a key reason why we continue to participate, helping us connect with buyers from Asia, the Middle East and the US. We have met more than 10 clients interested in our products, including three new contacts from Kazakhstan and a buyer from the Chinese Mainland. The SIWP Pavilion has also grown from 10 brands last year to 14 this year, reflecting how HKTDC’s platform helps Swiss independent brands explore new distribution opportunities and further expand into international markets.” The fairs featured a strong lineup of international exhibitors, including the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP) from Switzerland (above) and Francéclat from France. LINK2CARE, in collaboration with Swiss watch brand MARVIN, launched a luxury smartwatch that integrates LINK2CARE’s patented leather strap with concealed, medical-grade biometric sensors. The watch provides comprehensive health monitoring and can track users’ resilience and stress levels in real time, with the data displayed directly on the watch dial. Paul Yuen, Director, Dayton Industrial Co. Ltd, said: “The fair attracted a diverse range of buyers from around the world. We also established a cross-industry partnership with a tour guide to explore new opportunities in the wellness tourism sector. Our watches, priced at over HK$2,000, sold more than 100 units on the first day alone, requiring immediate stock replenishment. In addition, the organiser’s newly introduced Time Arena activity zone, which incorporated trendy elements such as pickleball, significantly enhanced visitor engagement and attracted buyers and consumers from different backgrounds, creating more business opportunities for brands.” Salon de TIME once again offered free admission to the public, with some brands providing on-site retail sales. Abel Hwong, Publisher & Anchor, World of Luxury Times, led a 26-member delegation to the fair to purchase watches. He said: “We purchased 12 watches from three brands, with a total value exceeding HK$100,000. The fair lets collectors interact directly with brands and buy the timepieces they want, turning collecting enthusiasm into real purchases. It also helps brands connect with more watch enthusiasts and potential customers.” HKTDC will organise a series of trade fairs this autumn. The Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Autumn Edition) and electronicAsia will be held concurrently at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) from 13 to 16 October. The Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Autumn Edition) will follow, to be held at the HKCEC from 27 to 30 October, and the Hong Kong International Outdoor and Tech Light Expo will take place at AsiaWorld-Expo from 26 to 29 October. All four fairs will adopt the EXHIBITION+ hybrid format, enabling global buyers and exhibitors to continue business discussions online after the physical exhibitions. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3UBCJJO   The Hong Kong International Watch Forum (above) and the Asian Watch Conference brought together leading industry experts to share the latest trade data and market trends from watch industries worldwide. Discussions focused on new opportunities created by integrating traditional watchmaking craftsmanship with emerging technologies, as well as strategies for leveraging e-commerce platforms to accelerate market expansion and business growth. Angela Lee, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government (fourth from the left), Smiley Lam, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (fourth from the right), SK Chong (second from the right) and Frankie Lam (first from the left), Co-Chairmen of HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2026 Organising Committee; and various industry representatives officiated at the lion dance eye-dotting ceremony during the Networking Reception on 2 September. The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition featured an Open Group and a Student Group. Celebrity Joey Thye served as a guest judge and attended the awards presentation ceremony. The “Watch2Care Smart x Lifestyle Experience” took place on 4 and 5 September. Visitors also had the opportunity to experience pickleball, one of the fastest growing and most popular sports trends in recent years. A series of exciting events were held during the exhibition, including watch parades and new watch launches (above). A lucky draw was also organised, with a wide range of prizes presented to participants. HKTDC and Hong Kong Tourism Board (MICE promotion partner) offered travel privileges for overseas buyers and media, enhancing the business travel experience for MICE visitors. Attendees rode the Peak Tram to admire the night view of Victoria Harbour — as one of the world's top three nightscapes and enjoy cultural booths showcased during the networking reception.   Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Johnny Tsui  Tel: (852) 2584 4395           Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org   Websites Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: hkwatchfair.hktdc.com Salon de TIME: hkwatchfair.hktdc.com/te About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Winseed Debuts at IFA 2026 with “ONE QUESTION AT IFA,” Positioning Itself at the Center of AI-Driven Brand Discovery 2026-09-05 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/05/3356882/0/en/winseed-debuts-at-ifa-2026-with-one-question-at-ifa-positioning-itself-at-the-center-of-ai-driven-brand-discovery.html At IFA 2026, Winseed interviewed 50 brand clients and industry players across the consumer electronics and technology ecosystem ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HKC and KOORUI Receive Dual Honors at the 2026 Global Product Technology Innovation Awards 2026-09-05 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hkc-and-koorui-receive-dual-honors-at-the-2026-global-product-technology-innovation-awards-302870688.html HKC receives the Advanced Display Technology Brand Award, while KOORUI is honored with the Innovative Monitor Brand Award during IFA 2026. BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 -- HKC and its consumer display brand KOORUI received two distinctions at the 2026 Global Product Technology... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bringing Local AI Home: UGREEN Introduces Privacy-First HomeAgent for Smarter Living 2026-09-05 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bringing-local-ai-home-ugreen-introduces-privacy-first-homeagent-for-smarter-living-302870674.html BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 -- UGREEN, a leading global consumer technology brand, announced two new product lineups at a European launch event. The unveiling of the UGREENHomeAgent series of agentic local AI hubs and a new MagFlow lineup marks UGREEN's next stage of growth.... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 11th CENTRESTAGE concludes successfully with over 12,000 buyers, setting new attendance record 2026-09-05 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Energy, Retail, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109826/ HONG KONG, Sep 5, 2026 - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s annual premier fashion event and a flagship programme of the third edition of Hong Kong Fashion Fest, concluded successfully today. The four-day fair attracted over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions, setting a new attendance record. Buyer from Vietnam, Russia, US and Malaysia recorded notable growth. This year, CENTRESTAGE and Salon de Time, the HKTDC’s concurrent fashion event, were fully open to the public for free admission. Counting public visitors alone for the two fairs, over 20,000 attendances were recorded. This enthusiasm promotes cross-sector exchange between the fashion and lifestyle industries and creates new business opportunities for industry players while underscoring Hong Kong’s unique strengths as Asia’s fashion hub and an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. The four-day 11th CENTRESTAGE was fully open to the industry and the public for free admission, attracting over 12,000 trade buyers from 93 countries and regions to enter, with an enthusiastic response. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "For many years, CENTRESTAGE has been committed to assisting fashion brands and designers in expanding into international markets. Entering its 11th edition this year, the fair brought together some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions, setting a record high in the number of participating brands. This includes several internationally renowned design brands participating in Hong Kong for the first time, such as DOUCAN and holynumber7 from Korea; Woody from Austria and VICETA WANG from Australia. The fair also drew a record number of local and international buyers for sourcing and business matching, including those from top-tier retail giants with global sales networks such as the United Kingdom’s Dover Street Market London and Selfridges, Italy’s 10 Corso Como, and Korea’s Musinsa. The dynamic interactions between exhibitors and buyers demonstrated that the fair successfully fostered cross-sector exchanges among fashion, art, cultural creativity, and lifestyle industries, opening up innovative modes of collaboration. This reflects how the fashion industry is rapidly integrating with diverse creative fields to unlock greater commercial potential. More than a showcase of design creativity, CENTRESTAGE serves as a vital platform that helps brands enhance visibility, expand business opportunities, and reach international markets." The annual mega event CENTRESTAGE gathered some 270 brands from 24 countries and regions to participate, with the number of participating brands reaching a record high this year.The Austrian pavilion made its debut at CENTRESTAGE, presenting seven sustainable fashion brands, including Woody, which carries on a classic wooden-clog craft with more than a century of history.On the third day of the fair, a Korean fashion show themed “SEOUListic: The Future is Sustainable” further showcased Korean designers’ creativity and sustainability ethos. Former IZ*ONE member Lee Chaeyeon performed as a special guest. The atmosphere was electrifying, underscoring the international appeal of Korean fashion. Industry optimistic about streetwear brands markets as cross sector collaboration becomes a key trend To understand the latest developments and market trends in the fashion industry, the HKTDC interviewed over 350 exhibitors and buyers on-site during the fair. The survey revealed an optimistic sentiment among respondents, with 96% expecting overall sales to remain steady or grow in the next 12 to 24 months. In terms of product trends, 58% of respondents identified fashion design as the most popular product category. Meanwhile, streetwear and cross-sector collaboration emerged as focal points, with 73% agreeing or strongly agreeing that brand crossovers and IP partnerships will become increasingly prevalent in the coming year, underscoring the market potential of integrating fashion with streetwear brands and IPs. Responding to the rapid development of streetwear in recent years, CENTRESTAGE introduced the brand-new Hype² pavilion for the first time this year, spotlighting multiple fashion labels spearheaded by local celebrities and KOLs. Several brands launched about 30 limited-edition and debut products during the fair, with celebrities also visited the zone for close interaction with fans. Fashion brand and online store Claro was founded this year by actress Rosita Kwok. She said: “We joined the fair to strengthen the positioning of the new brand and to stay on top of market trends. During the event, we attracted interest from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Japan and Germany, laying a foundation for future market expansion. Through direct engagement with shoppers and fans at the fair, we were also able to gather valuable feedback for the brand.” CENTRESTAGE introduced the Hype² pavilion for the first time this year, launching about 30 limited-edition and debut products during the exhibition period. The "Hype² Fashion Show" was also held during the fair, with over 10 trendsetting brands collectively showcasing their design characteristics and brand styles in a bustling atmosphere. Cross-sector collaboration collections also caught the attention of buyers. Local designer Janko Lam's brand "Classics Anew" collaborated with ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung, transforming Kan's ink art into inspiration. Their first collaboration collection, "Quartet", was officially launched at CENTRESTAGE. This year’s CENTRESTAGE also strengthened on-the-ground support for local exhibiting brands. Ronald Chan, founder of gothic silver jewellery brand Devil Claw and a participant in the pre-fair workshop, said: “The mentors provided highly valuable practical guidance. The workshop made me realise that international buyers look beyond design and price, and place even greater importance on a brand’s operational capability and potential for long-term partnership.” He added that the brand generated tens of thousands of Hong Kong dollars in on-site retail sales during the exhibition and entered discussions with new buyers from France and Taiwan. Designer Janko Lam's brand "Classics Anew" and ink painting artist Kan Tai-keung launched their collaborative fashion collection "Quartet" at the fair. Both attended in person to show their support, demonstrating the infinite possibilities of cross-sector collaboration. Active business exchanges between brands and buyers as the platform plays a superconnector roleKorea debuted as the "Featured Partner" of the fair for the first time. Jointly organised by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), HISEOUL SHOWROOM, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, presenting 12 renowned designer brands from Seoul. In addition, the Gyeonggi Fashion Creative Studio brings 10 distinguished fashion labels from Gyeonggi Province. Wilfred Chung, Project Manager of KOTRA Hong Kong, commended CENTRESTAGE’s quality business-matching environment. He said the stylish and sophisticated setting brings fresh experiences: “Visitor traffic on the pavilion’s opening day exceeded expectations, attracting more than 400 visits. Some brands have already reached deals with Hong Kong buyers to launch offline retail at a major shopping mall in Kai Tak.” In addition to connecting with Hong Kong buyers, CENTRESTAGE also helped brands in the Korean pavilion expand into international markets. Antonio Shin, founder and designer of the namesake Korean fashion brand, presented the SS27 Collection featuring local fabrics and production. The brand successfully connected with department stores, chain retailers and specialty-store buyers from the Chinese Mainland, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Russia and Thailand. First-time exhibitor Asparagus, a Seoul-based avant-garde brand offering genderless high-end fashion, also drew strong buyer interest. Founder and designer Je Lee said: “The brand attracted attention from buyers in the Chinese Mainland, Southeast Asia and Australia. The fair is expected to generate initial orders of about US$6,000 to US$7,000, giving us a strong boost as we expand in the Asian market.” Including Korea, this year's CENTRESTAGE brings together exhibitors from 24 countries and regions, among which Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates participated for the first time. Jennifer Feigll, Consul (Commercial Affairs) and Austrian Trade Commissioner for Hong Kong and Macao, and Head of Advantage Austria Hong Kong, led a national pavilion for the first time in the Circular Fashion zone, presenting seven sustainable brands, most of which were making their debut in Asia. She said: “The fair is an excellent starting point for entering Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the wider Asian market. A number of brands have already begun discussions with buyers. Cape De Coeur’s waterproof cape, in particular, was featured by leading fashion titles Vogue and GQ.” Marianne Perkovic, Executive Chair, Australian Fashion Council, once again led a delegation to Hong Kong. She said: “The original plan of about 120 buyer meetings over the four-day fair increased to 180, with the strongest interest coming from buyers in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland, Indonesia and Korea. The team is now in talks with a major local shopping mall in Hong Kong on pop-up and long-term store collaborations for a new project scheduled to open in 2027. In addition, leather brand West 14th has already secured concrete partnerships with buyers from Korea and Japan.”  The Canadian pavilion was led by the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao, bringing together a lineup of women-founded and women-led premium brands. The fair attracted international buyers from leading department stores including Sophie Rose Davis-Evans, menswear and streetwear buyer at renowned British department store Selfridges, who was visiting CENTRESTAGE for the first time. She noted that the fair's diverse portfolio of brands provides an excellent platform for discovering emerging labels with strong potential for the UK and Western European markets. She said: “I met with more than 10 emerging brands during the fair, and two Hong Kong labels, peces and MURFI LAU, stood out in particular. We are negotiating a wholesale partnership.” Tifandy Okto, General Manager of Indonesia’s Galeries Lafayette, also overseeing sourcing for Sogo and Seibu, “We are particularly interested in Australia’s VICETA WANG and Chinese Mainland brand WANZZZ. Subject to suitable commercial terms, we plan to introduce their products to our retail outlets.” Richie Chan, founder of well-known Chengdu fashion store Triple Major, visited the fair for the first time and spoke highly of the exhibition, noting that it successfully met his dual objectives of retail sourcing and elevating his own fashion brand. He placed three orders on the spot, including Danish brand Henrik Vibskov, which meets Paris Fashion Week standards, and Thai brand Collector Project, founded by a graduate of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Belgium. He also connected with Austrian premium fabric supplier Lenzing to upgrade his own brand, and described the visit as highly rewarding. The fair featured seven themed zones covering a diverse range of fashion sectors and design styles. New this year, the Perfume zone brought together renowned fragrance brands from around the world, with more than 20 brands making their Hong Kong debut. The zone attracted strong visitor interest and maintained a lively atmosphere throughout the fair. Moon Li, Founder of Artis Cultural Association, praised the fair's extensive media exposure and sophisticated presentation, noting that both had provided participating international perfume brands with outstanding visibility and results that far exceeded expectations. She said: "We were pleasantly surprised by the large number of fragrance enthusiasts in Hong Kong and their strong purchasing power. We expect on-site retail sales during the fair to reach HK$100,000." The fair also arranged business matching sessions to help exhibitors explore further collaboration opportunities. Looking ahead, Li expressed her special hope that, through CENTRESTAGE, the Perfume zone could evolve into Hong Kong's flagship fragrance event. The newly introduced Perfume zone this year brought together well-known fragrance brands from around the world. The area was lively, with steady streams of visitors. Record-breaking over 30 fashion shows and designers actively showcase new collectionsOver 40 captivating events were held during the fair, including more than 30 fashion shows, setting a record high in the event's history. This not only brought a rich visual feast to the industry and the public but also fully demonstrated the vitality and advantages of Hong Kong as a "mega-event capital". The event also underscored designers' commitment to presenting their latest collections, showcasing the exchange and integration of local and international fashion creativity. The grand opening fashion show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, took place first on 2 September, putting the spotlight on KIT WAN STUDIOS, a multidisciplinary design and visual art studio. Over 30 brand-new looks that had never been publicly released or exhibited made their debut at the fashion show, stunning the entire audience. Kit Wan also engaged in an in-depth exchange with Dan Hastings, Editor of The Business of Fashion, freely discussing the brand's experience in expanding into overseas markets and insights on creative inspiration. The venue was packed, and the audience responded enthusiastically. Hong Kong-born visual artist Kit Wan attended a sharing session to have an in-depth exchange with Dan Hastings, Editor of The Business of Fashion. Another spotlight event, the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show, was held on 3 September, presenting meticulously crafted Spring/Summer 2027 collections by four highly representative homegrown designer labels—112 mountainyam, ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, and Z I D I.  Under the theme "Hong Kong Dopamine", the four designers drew inspiration from the city's streetscapes, architecture, cultural memories and urban energy. Through their Spring/Summer 2027 collections, they interpreted the concept of dopamine from different perspectives, spanning joy, black humour, dynamic movement and quiet resilience, delivering a runway experience infused with Hong Kong's distinctive creative spirit. As a platform to promote local fashion brands and designers, the fashion website FASHIONALLY.COM continued to hold four fashion presentations during CENTRESTAGE this year, including FASHIONALLY Collection #26 and three FASHIONALLY Presentations, where local brands MARCCH, MURFI LAU, OUS, phenotypsetter, Oplus2, and Szmannie unveiled their latest collections. In addition, multiple local fashion brands also launched their latest collections through the CENTRESTAGE stage, including KEVYIU's "Inherited Silhouette" collection, transforming menswear elements from the 1970s and 1980s into womenswear, combining their signature fluid lines with distinctive, masterful tailoring. Other brands presenting new works included VICTOR CHAN STUDIO x atelierYVF and Imellda Ho Millinery. A number of fashion brands staged runway shows during CENTRESTAGE. HELLO! YOUR HIGHNESS! presented by Imellda Ho Millinery was showcased. There was also a fashion showcase organised by the Fashion Farm Foundation, featuring works by designers from the Greater Bay Area; and the Knitwear Innovation and Design Society (KIDS) hosted the "Young Knitwear Designers' Runway 2026". The "Sparkle Charity Foundation x Sparkle Collection: Next In Chinese Style – Young Designer Challenge 2026 Award Presentation Ceremony" , initiated by designer label SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN, recognised outstanding emerging design talent and promoted the preservation and innovation of Chinese fashion culture. The grand finale of the 16th Redress Design Award, dedicated to driving circular fashion development, was also successfully held at CENTRESTAGE, with multiple awards successfully presented and the First Prize won by designer Jon Liesenfeld from Germany. Hong Kong designer Jasmine CheuCheuk won the Runner-up and the Hong Kong Best Prize. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3StClfR   CENTRESTAGE: https://www.hktdc.com/event/centrestage/en CENTRESTAGE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centrestage_hktdc/?hl=tc Fashion Hong Kong: https://www.fashionhongkong.com/ Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): https://www.fashionally.com/en/   Media enquiries HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Jane Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4137 Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org   HKTDC Newsroom: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en   About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024.  CCIDA is  a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectorswith a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries.  CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. About Hong Kong Fashion Fest Announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive in the 2023 Policy Address, "Hong Kong Fashion Fest" will be organised to develop Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia. Through consolidating various fashion design events and introducing innovative elements and affiliate activities annually, the Hong Kong Fashion Fest promotes Hong Kong’s fashion and textile design brands and boosts Hong Kong’s position as a prime destination for hosting mega cultural and creative events. Under the theme "Rhythm of the Heart", the third edition of Hong Kong Fashion Fest will be held from 1 to 14 September 2026 at various landmarks in Hong Kong. The event will bring together eight flagship programmes organised by six industry organisations and, for the first time, will be combined with CENTRESTAGE - the annual fashion extravaganza organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council - to generate stronger synergies. The event will attract fashion design industry players from all over the world to come to Hong Kong; foster collaboration, innovation and business opportunities; establish platform for local and international fashion designers and brands and connect with different sectors in the fashion design industry of Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Experience AI Companion in Everyday Life at Hisense IFA 2026 2026-09-05 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/experience-ai-companion-in-everyday-life-at-hisense-ifa-2026-302870635.html BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 -- Hisense, a leading brand in global consumer electronics and home appliances, is inviting visitors at IFA 2026 to experience how AI can make everyday home routines simpler and more intuitive. Under the theme "Innovating a Brighter Life," the Hisense AI... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FC Barcelona Legend Carles Puyol Joins Midea at IFA 2026 2026-09-05 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fc-barcelona-legend-carles-puyol-joins-midea-at-ifa-2026-302870601.html BERLIN, Sept. 5, 2026 -- FC Barcelona legend Carles Puyol appeared at Midea's IFA 2026 stand, marking a major European consumer-facing moment for Midea and FC Barcelona's five-year partnership. The former captain discussed leadership and high standards, joined Lewis Fu,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— XCOTTON Joins the Conversation at IFA 2026: Why the Future of Commerce Goes Beyond Checkout 2026-09-05 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xcotton-joins-the-conversation-at-ifa-2026-why-the-future-of-commerce-goes-beyond-checkout-302870296.html LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK and LAS VEGAS, Sept. 4, 2026 -- As the global consumer technology industry gathers in Berlin for IFA 2026, thousands of brands are showcasing what comes next: smarter devices, connected experiences, artificial intelligence, robotics, and technologies... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— XRP Market Volatility Drives Demand for AI Automated Trading as MoneySimpler Expands Access to Quantitative Strategies 2026-09-05 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/05/3356859/0/en/xrp-market-volatility-drives-demand-for-ai-automated-trading-as-moneysimpler-expands-access-to-quantitative-strategies.html XRP volatility boosts AI‑trading demand. MoneySimpler delivers no‑code quantitative strategies for crypto retail investors ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TCL CSOT Showcases Latest Display Innovations at IFA 2026, Shaping the Future of Visual Experiences 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-csot-showcases-latest-display-innovations-at-ifa-2026-shaping-the-future-of-visual-experiences-302870321.html BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 -- IFA 2026 officially opened today in Berlin, presenting the latest products and cutting-edge innovation in consumer technology from around the world. At this year's show, TCL CSOT is showcasing a broad portfolio of innovative display products under its... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— WOODLAND DIRECT OPENS NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN RENO, NV 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/woodland-direct-opens-new-distribution-center-in-reno-nv-302870312.html AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Sept. 4, 2026 -- Woodland Direct, the nation's premier e-commerce site for fire products, is opening a new 47,000-square-foot distribution center in Reno, NV. This is the company's second distribution center, joining its world headquarters and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AEON Launches Agentic Checkout, Powered by AI Card for Autonomous Commerce 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aeon-launches-agentic-checkout-powered-by-ai-card-for-autonomous-commerce-302870306.html HONG KONG, Sept. 4, 2026 -- AEON, the settlement layer built for the AI economy, has launched Agentic Checkout, enabling AI agents to autonomously shop, check out, and pay across e-commerce platforms such as Shopify and Amazon. Powered by the AEON AI Card, Agentic Checkout... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Logistics Expert and Scholar Michael Curtis Broughton Publishes New Book THE SEAPORT EXECUTION SYSTEM 2026-09-04 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/04/3356736/0/en/logistics-expert-and-scholar-michael-curtis-broughton-publishes-new-book-the-seaport-execution-system.html Retired Army Captain and Logistics Innovator Michael Curtis Broughton Releases THE SEAPORT EXECUTION SYSTEM, a 2050 Blueprint for Automated Container Terminals. New book argues seaports must trade outdoor container stacking for indoor automated storage and retrieval, adapting systems proven by Amazon and Walmart to break freight's worst bottleneck. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon expands Career Choice employee benefit with new programs in high-demand industries 2026-09-04 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-career-choice-training-programs-tuition-careers?utm_source=rss Eligible employees will be able to use Amazon’s tuition assistance benefit to earn credentials and move into new, in-demand industries. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kin Insurance and Florida State Athletics Announce Historic Four-Year Jersey Patch Partnership 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail, Education, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kin-insurance-and-florida-state-athletics-announce-historic-four-year-jersey-patch-partnership-302870157.html Partnership adds Kin's logo to uniforms across nearly every Seminole sport in Kin's largest market TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Sept. 4, 2026 -- Florida State University (FSU) Athletics and Kin, the direct-to-consumer provider of insurance and home finance solutions for homeowners,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hisense Brings True-to-Life Color, Eye Comfort and Immersive Entertainment to IFA 2026 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hisense-brings-true-to-life-color-eye-comfort-and-immersive-entertainment-to-ifa-2026-302870105.html BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 -- Hisense, a leading global brand in consumer electronics and home appliances, is showcasing its latest display, laser and audio innovations at IFA 2026 under the theme "Innovating a Brighter Life," bringing together vivid picture quality, viewing... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Exemplar Luxury Group Appoints Gretchen Koback Pursel as Chief People Officer 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/exemplar-luxury-group-appoints-gretchen-koback-pursel-as-chief-people-officer-302870143.html Company names luxury retail veteran to drive people strategy and culture NEW YORK, Sept. 4, 2026 -- Exemplar Luxury Group ("ELG" or the "Company"), the luxury collective that comprises leading multi-brand luxury retailers Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AI Leads, Future Succeeds: 2026 China International Consumer Electronics Exposition Kicks Off 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-leads-future-succeeds-2026-china-international-consumer-electronics-exposition-kicks-off-302869923.html QINGDAO, China, Sept. 4, 2026 -- On September 4, the 2026 China International Consumer Electronics Exposition (hereinafter referred to as the "CICE") officially opened at the Qingdao International Convention Center (Hongdao Hall). This year's Expo brings together over 300... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— iRobot Unveils Roomba® Duo at IFA 2026, Proving the Future of Floor Care Has a Familiar Name 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/irobot-unveils-roomba-duo-at-ifa-2026-proving-the-future-of-floor-care-has-a-familiar-name-302866825.html Combining a heavy-duty floor-washer main unit with an ultra-slim sub-unit, iRobot introduces an unique robot architecture, powered by a mechanical deployment arm and a unified self-navigating base station. BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 4, 2026 -- iRobot Corp., a leader in consumer... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— “Maxima Grupė’s” first half of 2026: revenue exceeded EUR 2 billion, profitability declined 2026-09-04 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/04/3356382/0/en/maxima-grup%C4%97-s-first-half-of-2026-revenue-exceeded-eur-2-billion-profitability-declined.html The consolidated revenue of the companies operated by MAXIMA GRUPĖ, UAB in the Baltic States (hereinafter – the Group) increased by 2.8% year on year in the first half of 2026, reaching EUR 2.03 billion. Consolidated like-for-like retail revenue grew by 2.1%. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Haier Announces Global Partnership with UEFA Champions League 2026-09-04 · PR Newswire · Retail, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/haier-announces-global-partnership-with-uefa-champions-league-302869814.html New brand building milestone deepens Haier's global consumer connections BERLIN, Sept. 4, 2026 -- Haier, the world's No.1 major home appliances brand, today announced a global partnership with UC3, under which Haier will become a Global Partner of the UEFA Champions League... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Crypto News Today: AlphaPepe Announces 11,500 Holders Crossed While Dogecoin Price Prediction Targets $1 2026-09-04 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/04/3356355/0/en/crypto-news-today-alphapepe-announces-11-500-holders-crossed-while-dogecoin-price-prediction-targets-1.html MONACO, Sept. 03, 2026 -- Crypto news today is turning toward AlphaPepe after the presale crossed 11,500+ holders, giving the project another major retail milestone before public trading begins. AlphaPepe has now raised $2.58 million and reached a current presale price of $0.02873. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Connected Retail Is Widening the Cyber Attack Surface While Security Ownership Remains Fragmented, Info-Tech Research Group Warns 2026-09-03 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Cybersecurity https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/connected-retail-is-widening-the-cyber-attack-surface-while-security-ownership-remains-fragmented-info-tech-research-group-warns-302869497.html Store systems, cloud platforms, IoT devices, vendor connections, and customer applications now operate as a connected ecosystem, while security accountability remains divided across technology domains and teams. Info-Tech Research Group's Build Cyber Resilience in Connected Retail... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MUNBYN Partners with Michaels to Bring Creative-Focused Smart Printing Solutions to U.S. Crafters Nationwide 2026-09-03 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/munbyn-partners-with-michaels-to-bring-creative-focused-smart-printing-solutions-to-us-crafters-nationwide-302868791.html MUNBYN's label printers and smart printing solutions will now be available on Michaels.com and in select Michaels retail stores across the U.S. HOUSTON, Sept. 3, 2026 -- MUNBYN, a smart printing solution provider for small businesses and DIY creators, has partnered with... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Formerra Receives 2026 Eaton Supplier Excellence Award 2026-09-03 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109785/ ROMEOVILLE, IL, Sept 4, 2026 - Formerra, a leader in performance materials distribution, was recognized for its partnership at Eaton's 2026 Global Supplier Conference & Excellence Awards, held Thursday, August 27 in Beachwood, Ohio. Formerra was one of only 30 suppliers recognized with Eaton's Supplier Excellence Award from among the company's global network of more than 30,000 supplier partners. Eaton grants the Supplier Excellence Award to suppliers that exceed expectations through exceptional performance, innovation, and contributions to growth. Formerra serves as Eaton's preferred plastics distribution partner, a role built through disciplined execution and engagement across Eaton's corporate organization and manufacturing sites. While the partnership began over 15 years ago in North America, it now extends into Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, where Formerra recently established dedicated logistics and warehousing capabilities in Dubai to support Eaton's expansion in the region. Formerra has broadened its support, extending beyond polymer distribution in response to Eaton's dynamic requirements. The scope now covers thermoset materials, finished goods distribution, supply chain optimization, global logistics, and technical application support. "Eaton holds its supply base to a high standard, and this recognition reflects work our teams do every day across three continents," said Tom Kelly, Chief Executive Officer, Formerra. "Our people earned it by understanding how Eaton operates, anticipating needs, and solving problems before they reach a production line. The relationship between Formerra and Eaton offers strengthened supply resiliency, reduced supply chain risk, vendor consolidation, and improved operational efficiency as Eaton continues to pursue global growth. Caption: (L to R) Mike Hibbs, Global Category Manager, Eaton; Susan Logue, Sr. Key Accounts Manager, Formerra; Tom Kelly, CEO, Formerra Key Details: Formerra received the Supplier Excellence Award at Eaton's annual supplier conference. Formerra was one of 30 suppliers recognized from a global network of more than 30,000. Formerra serves as Eaton's preferred plastics distribution partner across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Formerra has established warehousing capabilities in Dubai to support Eaton's regional operations. Support extends beyond plastics distribution into thermoset materials, finished goods distribution, supply chain optimization, and global logistics. About Formerra Formerra is a preeminent distributor of engineered materials, connecting the world's leading polymer producers with thousands of OEMs and brand owners across healthcare, consumer, industrial, and mobility markets. Powered by technical and commercial expertise, it brings a distinctive combination of portfolio depth, supply chain strength, industry knowledge, service, leading e-commerce capabilities, and ingenuity. The experienced Formerra team helps customers across multiple industries to design, select, process, and develop products in new and better ways - driving improved performance, productivity, reliability, and sustainability. To learn more, visit www.formerra.com. Contact Media Relations Global & Americas: Jackie Morris Email: Jackie.Morris@Formerra.com Phone: 630.849.3620 SOURCE: Formerra ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hypershell Redefines Human Mobility with Halo, Flagship Full-Leg Exoskeleton Built for All-Terrain Mobility 2026-09-03 · PR Newswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hypershell-redefines-human-mobility-with-halo-flagship-full-leg-exoskeleton-built-for-all-terrain-mobility-302869136.html BERLIN, Sept. 3, 2026 -- Hypershell, the world's leading consumer exoskeleton brand, today unveiled Hypershell Halo™, its flagship full-leg exoskeleton built for all-terrain mobility, at IFA 2026. Powered by the industry-first Hypershell Unified Architecture, HyperIntuition™... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— RIXOC Unleashes the GT60: A 4000W Peak Motor Electric Dirt Bike Built for Adults Who Refuse to Compromise on Riding Experience! 2026-09-03 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/03/3356104/0/en/rixoc-unleashes-the-gt60-a-4000w-peak-motor-electric-dirt-bike-built-for-adults-who-refuse-to-compromise-on-riding-experience.html RIXOC launches the GT60 e-dirt bike: 4000W, 60V36Ah, 20MPH default speed, 40 MPH off-road speed, 50-70mile range, UL2849-certified, $1,299 on Amazon. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CharterUP Appoints Joshua Trott as Chief Revenue Officer and Kristin Lavigne as General Manager of Marketplace 2026-09-03 · PR Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/charterup-appoints-joshua-trott-as-chief-revenue-officer-and-kristin-lavigne-as-general-manager-of-marketplace-302869108.html – Former Amazon and RigUp Leaders Join CharterUP to Accelerate its Expanding Mobility Businesses – ATLANTA, Sept. 3, 2026 -- CharterUP, North America's leading enterprise mobility platform and marketplace for bus and shuttle transportation, today announced the appointment of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Polo Assn. Marks Continued Success as Title Sponsor of the 2026 Pacific Coast Open 2026-09-03 · ACN Newswire · Retail, Gaming, Media, Education, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Biotech & pharma https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109714/ SANTA BARBARA, CA, Sept 3, 2026 - U.S. Polo Assn.®, the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), celebrated the conclusion of the 2026 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open, held August 14-30 at the renowned Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club in Carpinteria, California. As one of the oldest polo tournaments in the world and the most prestigious championship in the Western United States, the Pacific Coast Open once again delivered world-class competition while highlighting the enduring connection between sport, style, and community. 2026 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open Winners, Klentner Ranch, on stage with trophy; Photo Credit: Michelle Lauren This year marked the second time U.S. Polo Assn. served as Title Sponsor of the Pacific Coast Open and the ninth consecutive year partnering with the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club as Official Apparel Brand and Stadium Sponsor. The longstanding relationship reflects the brand's authentic connection to the sport of polo and its ongoing commitment to supporting the sport at every level, from elite competition and player development to fan engagement and community impact. "The Pacific Coast Open represents the history, competitive excellence, and strong sense of community that define the sport of polo," said Tim Kelly, Chairman of the United States Polo Association. "Through the continued support of U.S. Polo Assn. and the commitment of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, this championship provides an important stage for exceptional players and horses while introducing more fans to the excitement and traditions of our sport." Founded in 1908, the Pacific Coast Open remains a coveted event in the sport of polo and a fixture on the international polo calendar. Set against the backdrop of California's coastline, the tournament brought together talented players, passionate spectators, and longtime supporters for more than two weeks of high-goal competition at one of polo's most esteemed venues. U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open | At a Glance Tournament: U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open Dates: August 14-30, 2026 Location: Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, Carpinteria, California Significance: One of the oldest polo tournaments in the world and the most prestigious championship in the Western United States U.S. Polo Assn. Role: Title Sponsor, Official Apparel Brand and Stadium Sponsor Partnership Milestone: Nine consecutive years partnering with Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, two consecutive years as Title Sponsor for Pacific Coast Open Championship Matchup: La Karina (Brian Boyd (0), Carlos ‘Carlitos' Gracida Jr. (4), Felipe ‘Pipe' Vercellino (8), Lucas Escobar (5), SUB: Iñaki Wulff (0) vs. Klentner Ranch (Jake Klentner (2), Ignacio ‘Nachi' Viana (7), Jesse Bray (7), Justin Klentner (1) Champion: Klentner Ranch Final Score: 16-9 Most Valuable Player: Ignacio ‘Nachi' Viana (Klentner Ranch) Best Playing Pony: Dolfi Cautivadora Charity Beneficiary: Polo Training Center Santa Barbara (La Karina) and The Horse Project (Klentner Ranch) Game Highlights: Klentner Ranch set the pace early, seizing control of the U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open final with a commanding first-half performance. La Karina mounted a spirited fifth-chukker comeback, cutting the lead to just two goals, but Jesse Bray answered aboard Best Playing Pony Dolfi Cautivadora to swing the momentum back to Klentner Ranch. The team then erupted for five goals in the sixth chukker, powering to a decisive 16-9 championship victory. Action on the U.S. Polo Assn. Stadium between teams La Karina and Klentner Ranch for the 2026 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club; Photo Credit: Michelle Lauren2026 U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open Runner-Up, La Karina, on stage accepting the charity check donation to Polo Training Center Santa Barbara; Photo Credit: Michelle LaurenBeautiful U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open attendees on the field during the iconic divot stomp; Photo Credit: Michelle Lauren "The U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open is one of the great championships in our sport, steeped in history and respected by players and fans around the world," said J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the multi-billion-dollar U.S. Polo Assn. brand. "Our continued partnership with the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club and title sponsorship of this iconic tournament allows us to celebrate the sport's West Coast heritage while creating memorable experiences that connect people to the game in an authentic way." Throughout the tournament, U.S. Polo Assn. enhanced the fan experience with official Pacific Coast Open event merchandise available at the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club Boutique and online at www.uspashop.com. The brand also introduced guests to Divot Stomp™, U.S. Polo Assn.'s refreshing signature cocktail featured during Sunday matches, while celebrating America's 250th Anniversary with special red, white, and blue cap giveaways during the traditional on-field divot stomp for fans. In addition, U.S. Polo Assn. brought its award-winning global campaign, The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born From The Game™, to life through a large-scale inflatable polo shirt installation at the club entrance. The activation served as a visual reminder of the brand's authentic roots in the sport and its position as the only globally recognized sports brand inspired directly by the game of polo. On the field, the tournament featured an impressive roster of players of the sport's most accomplished competitors, such as Pipe Vercellino (8-goal), Nachi Viana (7-goal), Jesse Bray (7-goal), Nico Escobar (6-goal), and Lucas Escobar (5-goal), to name a few. Beyond the competition, U.S. Polo Assn. continued its commitment to supporting the broader polo community through charitable giving. During the final awards ceremony, the brand made donations on behalf of the finalists to local polo and equine organizations, The Horse Project Santa Barbara, and Polo Training Center Santa Barbara, alongside a separate donation to Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, helping support programs that promote education, horsemanship, therapeutic riding, and access to the sport. "Year after year, the Pacific Coast Open showcases the very best of our sport, and U.S. Polo Assn. continues to be an invaluable partner in helping us elevate the experience for both players and spectators," said Henry Walker, President of the Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club. "Our 115-year commitment to the sport and Santa Barbara has been unwavering, and the contributions to our communities and the prestige we bring cannot be measured." As another successful U.S. Polo Assn. Pacific Coast Open season comes to a close, the tournament continues to reinforce its place as a defining championship in the sport and a celebration of polo's enduring traditions. Through its ongoing investment in the game, its players, and its communities, U.S. Polo Assn. remains committed to advancing the sport while creating meaningful experiences for fans around the world. About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and polo players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a multi-billion-dollar global footprint and worldwide distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. retail stores as well as thousands of additional points of distribution, U.S. Polo Assn. offers apparel, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in more than 190 countries worldwide. U.S. Polo Assn.'s Global Polo Shirt Campaign, An Icon Born from the Game, is a powerful tribute to the iconic polo shirt's authentic sports origins and its evolution into one of the world's most enduring style essentials. The global sport brand sponsors major polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, held annually at NPC in The Palm Beaches, the premier polo tournament in the United States. Historic deals with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIn Sports in the Middle East now broadcast several of the premier polo championships in the world, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making the thrilling sport accessible to millions of sports fans globally for the very first time. U.S. Polo Assn. has recently been named one of USA Today's Most Trusted Brands and in 2026 was ranked the top sports licensor in the world, surpassing the NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. The sport-inspired brand has been recognized internationally with awards for global growth and sport content. Due to its tremendous success as a global brand, U.S. Polo Assn. has been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Modern Retail, and GQ, as well as on Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among many other noteworthy media sources around the world. For more information, visit uspoloassnglobal.com and follow @uspoloassn. USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the multi-billion-dollar sports brand, U.S. Polo Assn. USPA Global also manages the subsidiary, Global Polo, which is the worldwide leader in polo sport content. To learn more, visit globalpolo.com or Global Polo on YouTube. For Further Information, Contact: Stacey Kovalsky - VP, Global PR & Communications Phone +001.561.790.8036 E-mail: skovalsky@uspagl.com Shannon Stilson - VP, Sports Marketing & Media Phone +001.561.227.6994 E-mail: sstilson@uspagl.com SOURCE: USPA Global ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Telekom Srbija Group Expands DACH Presence with 10th MTEL Germany Store in Frankfurt 2026-09-03 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/telekom-srbija-group-expands-dach-104300708.html BELGRADE, Serbia, September 03, 2026--Telekom Srbija Group today opened MTEL Germany’s 10th retail store in Frankfurt, expanding its physical presence in one of the Group’s most important international markets and supporting its broader growth strategy across the DACH region. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Belkin Expands SoundForm Audio Lineup at IFA 2026, Bringing ANC and Everyday Listening Features to More Accessible Price Points 2026-09-03 · Business Wire · Energy, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/belkin-expands-soundform-audio-lineup-080000041.html LOS ANGELES, September 03, 2026--Belkin, a global leader in consumer electronics for over 40 years, today expanded its SoundForm by Belkin audio portfolio with three new products at IFA 2026: SoundForm Isolate, SoundForm Dot and SoundForm Play. The lineup brings features like active noise cancellation (ANC), long battery life and Bluetooth Multipoint connectivity to more accessible price points, with options designed for immersive listening, everyday value and older kids. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Belkin Introduces the Future of Portable Power with New UltraCharge Pro Semi-solid-state Power Banks 2026-09-03 · Business Wire · Energy, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/belkin-introduces-future-portable-power-080000607.html LOS ANGELES, September 03, 2026--Belkin, a global leader in consumer electronics for over 40 years, today announced new portable charging solutions powered by semi-solid-state technology. The new UltraCharge Pro with BoostSolid Cell line-up is among Belkin's first products to feature semi-solid-state technology, a next-generation battery that delivers improved durability, slim design and longer battery life – all without compromising performance. The newly announced products will debut at IFA 20 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Belkin Introduces New Solutions to Power, Locate and Personalize Everyday Technology 2026-09-03 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/belkin-introduces-solutions-power-locate-080000699.html LOS ANGELES, September 03, 2026--Belkin, a global leader in consumer electronics for over 40 years, today announced a new collection of connected accessories, device protection and lifestyle solutions designed to help consumers keep track of and personalize the devices they rely on. The new portfolio includes the SureFind collection, the BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Ring Stand, UltraCharge Smart Display Power Banks and fresh colorways of Belkin's popular BoostCharge Compact USB-C Charger 30W. The n ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fountain Tech Gives Pond Owners a Way to Stop Algae, Odor, and Fish Kills Before They Start 2026-09-03 · freePRnow · Retail http://www.freePRnow.com/pr/fountain-tech-gives-pond-owners-a-way-to-stop-algae-odor-and-fish-kills-before-they-start Fountain Tech is a fountain tech company operating under Fountain Mountain, Inc., serving pond owners, fountain manufacturers, hydroponics businesses, and garden centers with retail and wholesale pricing ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PLAY PALM ANGELS EXPANDS ITS U.S. RETAIL FOOTPRINT AT PACSUN 2026-09-02 · PR Newswire · Retail, Media https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/play-palm-angels-expands-its-us-retail-footprint-at-pacsun-302868254.html The New 41-Piece Collection from Palm Angels' Lifestyle Label Arrives at Pacsun, With New Pacsun-Exclusive Content Starring Avani Gregg LOS ANGELES, Sept. 2, 2026 -- Pacsun, the purpose-driven specialty retailer rooted in youth culture, is bringing PLAY Palm Angels, the newly... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Costco Wholesale Corporation Reports August Sales Results 2026-09-02 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/02/3355518/0/en/costco-wholesale-corporation-reports-august-sales-results.html ISSAQUAH, Wash., Sept. 02, 2026 -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $23.70 billion for the retail month of August, the four weeks ended August 30, 2026, an increase of 9.9 percent from $21.56 billion last year. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Edgewell Personal Care to Webcast Fireside Chat at the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-09-02 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/edgewell-personal-care-to-webcast-fireside-chat-at-the-barclays-19th-annual-global-consumer-conference-302868037.html SHELTON, Conn., Sept. 2, 2026 -- Edgewell Personal Care Company (NYSE: EPC) today announced that it will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference in Boston on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 11:15 A.M. ET. Rod Little, President... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tapan Dandnaik to Retire from Mediacom Communications Following 21 Years of Service 2026-09-02 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/tapan-dandnaik-retire-mediacom-communications-180000161.html MEDIACOM PARK, N.Y., September 02, 2026--Mediacom Communications today announced that Tapan Dandnaik, Senior Vice President of Operations, Product Strategy and Consumer Experience, will retire from the company in the coming months, concluding more than 21 years of dedicated service. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PAR Technology Corporation to Participate at Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference 2026-09-02 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Travel, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/par-technology-corporation-participate-goldman-174700236.html NEW HARTFORD, N.Y., September 02, 2026--PAR Technology Corporation (NYSE: PAR) a leading technology provider powering multi‑unit operations across restaurant, retail, and large-scale commerce, today announced that Savneet Singh, the Company’s CEO, will present to institutional investors at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia + Technology Conference at The Palace Hotel in San Francisco, CA. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OnePay Launches My Garage, Becoming the First Consumer Financial App to Bring the Full Picture of Vehicle Ownership Into One Place 2026-09-02 · PR Newswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/onepay-launches-my-garage-becoming-the-first-consumer-financial-app-to-bring-the-full-picture-of-vehicle-ownership-into-one-place-302867852.html The vehicle is one of the most valuable assets most Americans own. Now it has a home inside the app where they manage the rest of their money. NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2026 -- For many Americans, the vehicle in the driveway is one of their most valuable assets and, between loan or... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Is that message really from Amazon? Just ask Alexa for Shopping. 2026-09-02 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/how-to-verify-amazon-messages-alexa-for-shopping?utm_source=rss Amazon’s first-of-its-kind Alexa for Shopping feature helps protect consumers from scams. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— More Than Half of U.S. Consumers Would Consider a China-Made Vehicle, New Dave Cantin Group Market Outlook Report Finds 2026-09-02 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/02/3355114/0/en/more-than-half-of-u-s-consumers-would-consider-a-china-made-vehicle-new-dave-cantin-group-market-outlook-report-finds.html 77% percent of consumers under age 35 indicate openness to Chinese vehicles as affordability, changing product demand and accelerating dealership M&A reshape automotive retail 77% percent of consumers under age 35 indicate openness to Chinese vehicles as affordability, changing product demand and accelerating dealership M&A reshape automotive retail ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NIQ and Similarweb Advance Agentic Commerce Measurement for the AI Shopping Era 2026-09-02 · Business Wire · Finance, AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/niq-similarweb-advance-agentic-commerce-120000465.html TEL AVIV, Israel & CHICAGO, September 02, 2026--Similarweb (NYSE: SMWB) and NIQ (NYSE: NIQ) today announced a collaboration to enhance NIQ’s Agentic Commerce Measurement strategy. As leaders in digital and consumer intelligence, the companies are collaborating on a new solution to help brands, retailers and technology platforms understand how products are purchased in an increasingly agentic economy. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Asia's premier fashion event CENTRESTAGE officially kicks off 2026-09-02 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Retail, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109723/ HONG KONG, Sept 2, 2026 - Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, CENTRESTAGE, Asia’s annual premier fashion event and a flagship programme of the third edition of Hong Kong Fashion Fest, officially opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Running for four consecutive days until 5 September, the exhibition is open free of charge to both industry buyers and the public, and invites all to immerse themselves in the unique allure of Asia's fashion capital. Stepping into its 11th edition, this year's CENTRESTAGE has attracted a record-breaking convergence of some 270 international brands from 24 countries and regions. This vibrant tapestry of style encompasses renowned labels, emerging designers, and industry elites, showcasing the pinnacle of fashion trends and creative ingenuity. Furthermore, the four-day extravaganza features a rich programme of over 40 captivating events, including an unprecedented lineup of more than 30 runway shows, further cementing the fair’s international influence and sartorial magnetism. The 11th CENTRESTAGE officially opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, gathering a record-breaking some 270 international brands. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: “CENTRESTAGE gathers a constellation of global fashion brands and design luminaries. Through this platform, we aim to leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages as an international business hub and a superconnector. We enable Hong Kong brands to connect with overseas buyers, while simultaneously attracting international labels to use Hong Kong as a springboard into Asia, fostering two-way collaboration and creating more business opportunities. At the same time, it allows the public to experience the latest fashion and creative trends up close, further consolidating Hong Kong's position as Asia's fashion and creative hub.” This year, CENTRESTAGE debuts the Hype² zone, bringing together fashion brands led by local celebrities and KOLs to showcase the diverse charm of Hong Kong's streetwear culture. Hype² pavilion debuts with limited new releases Streetwear has experienced meteoric growth in recent years, propelled by Gen Z consumers who place a premium on "self-expression" and "emotional resonance". Responding to this cultural shift, CENTRESTAGE debuts Hype² pavilion, a dedicated zone spotlighting fashion labels spearheaded by local celebrities and KOL. The star-studded exhibitor lineup includes Rosita Kwok’s Claro, Vincent Wong’s OGIS, Kelvin Kwan’s PICK AND MATCH, ROSEMA.ESE X Jaime Cheung (a collaboration between Jaime Cheung and Ariel Leung), and Pakho Chau’s XPX.  During the fair, some 30 limited-edition and debut products were launched. Additionally, the "Hype² Runway Show" will take centre stage on 4 September, bringing together over 10 streetwear brands with special celebrity guest appearances. KIT WAN STUDIOS headlines grand opening fashion show Tonight (2 September), the grand opening fashion show, CENTRESTAGE ELITES, will put the spotlight on KIT WAN STUDIOS, a multidisciplinary design and visual arts studio led by Kit Wan, a Hong Kong-born creative director and visual artist. The studio’s collaborative roster of local artist is formidable, encompassing Miriam Yeung, Hins Cheung, MC Cheung, and Panther Chan. Designing “stage armour” for artists in Los Angeles at the Grammy Awards and Eurovision in the United Kingdom allow Hong Kong design to shine on a global stages. Over 30 brand-new looks will make their debut on the CENTRESTAGE ELITES runway, with select pieces displayed at the fairground. To share the three acts of this collection “MUTANT // MYTHOLOGY” to a wider audience, the show will be livestreamed across multiple platforms. Furthermore, on 4 September, he will engage in a sharing session with Dan Hastings, Editor of The Business of Fashion, to explore his inspirations and insights on operating a fashion brand both from an art studio. Korea joins as "Featured Partner" with largest-ever pavilion CENTRESTAGE’s global footprint continues to expand, welcoming exhibitors from 24 countries and regions, with Austria, Colombia, the Faroe Islands, Malaysia, Slovakia and the UAE making their inaugural appearances. Notably, Korea is serving as CENTRESTAGE's Featured Partner for the first time. Jointly organised by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), HISEOUL SHOWROOM, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong, the pavilion brings 12 renowned Seoul designer brands, including DOUCAN, ELNORE, and RE RH'EE, alongside the Gyeonggi Fashion Creative Studio, which presents 10 prominent local brands such as ARTS DE BASE, PHENOMENONSEEPER, and VEGANTIGER, showcasing the trendiest Korean styles. The pavilion will host a thematic fashion show, "SEOUListic: The Future is Sustainable," on 4 September, featuring former IZ*ONE member Lee Chae-yeon as a guest performer, blending fashion with entertainment. In addition to Korea, the exhibition features 11 overseas pavilions. The Austrian pavilion, participating for the first time and coordinated by Austrian Trade Commission, brings 7 brands with unique European flair, including Woody, My Magpie and more. The Austrian delegation staged a mini parade today, receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience while showcasing the distinctive European flair and sustainability ethos of Austrian design. The Canadian pavilion, led by the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao, gathers several high-end, female-founded and female-led brands, including Iris Setlakwe, known for elegant tailoring, and Devlyn Van Loon, focusing on minimalist and sustainable design, showcasing modern North American women's fashion. The Thai pavilion, organised by the Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP), returns with 14 brands, including KANZ BY THAITOR. Other pavilions include Quanzhou from the Chinese Mainland, Macao, Australia, and Slovakia. New Perfume Zone with fragrance experience with over 20 brands launching in Hong Kong for the first time This year's exhibition features seven thematic zones covering various fashion sectors and design styles. The newly added “Perfume” zone gathers renowned fragrance brands from around the world. Over 20 brands from Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are making their Hong Kong retail debut, alongside established names like local brand OCO, inviting buyers and fashion enthusiasts on an olfactory journey. The fair also featured a Scent Station, where visitors can sample and test their favourite fragrances. This year's exhibition features seven themed zones, with the Urban Zone highlighting casual city fashion. Brands include 8FIVE2, founded by Julius Brian Siswojo, a member of Hong Kong's hip hop group "24Herbs." He was present on the opening day, engaging closely with the public and adding star power to the zone. Building on last year's success, the "Accessories" zone has been expanded, featuring brands such as local label Bethel. The "Craftsmanship" zone celebrates artisanal excellence with Malaysia’s Maswira Majid and local brand Wanzzz. The "Contemporary" zone showcases avant-garde aesthetics, featuring Colombia’s STUDIO INGRID BURGOS and Chinese Mainland’s premium label Langdeng. The "Urban" zone captures the essence of casual city life, including local label 8FIVE2 by local Hip Hop group ‘’24herbs’’ member Julius Brian Siswojo. The zone also features another local label Petrolhead by artist Louis Cheung and Yorki Fan. Julius Brian Siswojo and Louis Cheung made appearances at the fair on opening day, drawing enthusiastic crowds and creating a lively atmosphere. The “Athleisure” zone merges sportswear with workwear, highlighted by local brand Plan216. Finally, the "Circular Fashion" zone champions sustainability, featuring local brand JESSE LEE, who will present three-dimensional garments crafted from upcycled fabrics and 3D printing technology. Select exhibitors will also offer retail sales, allowing the public to purchase their favourite designer pieces on the spot. Record-breaking runway shows Over 40 exciting events will take place during the exhibition, including a historic high of over 30 fashion shows covering various styles. A key highlight, the Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show organised by the HKTDC, will be held tomorrow (3 September). Inspired by "Hong Kong Dopamine", it will present the creative collections of four local brands: 112 mountainyam, ANGUS TSUI, ARTY:ACTIVE, and Z I D I, showcasing the city's fashion vitality. The first runway show of the event, FASHIONALLY Collection #26, showcased the latest works from local brands MARCCH, MURFI LAU, and OUS. FASHIONALLY, dedicated to promoting young Hong Kong designers, will also host several presentations. FASHIONALLY Collection #26 will showcase the latest works of MARCCH, MURFI LAU, and OUS; while phenotypsetter, Oplus2, and Szmannie will launch their new collections via FASHIONALLY Presentation. Other fashion shows boast equally impressive lineups, gathering numerous renowned and emerging local and overseas brands. Local representatives include KEVYIU, VICTOR CHAN STUDIO x atelierYVF, Cixi Jewelry, Classics Anew, Doris Kath, and Cecilia Yau Couture. The overseas lineup features works by Slovakian designers Bráz Noémi and Mišena Juhász, presenting diverse creative styles to the industry and audience. CENTRESTAGE is not only a brand showcase but also a crucial platform for industry exchange and discussing future developments. The "Meet the Designer" session has invited renowned Korean designer Rok Hwang to share his valuable experience in founding his brand ROKH and stepping onto the international stage. Additionally, organisations such as AiDLab and the Australian Fashion Council will host seminars exploring hot topics like sustainable fashion and fashion technology, further promoting industry cooperation and solidifying Hong Kong's status as an Asian fashion hub. The exhibition also features various thematic shows and industry competitions to promote the preservation and innovation of fashion culture. These include the GBA Fashion Fushion organised by the Fashion Farm Foundation, the "Young Knitwear Designers' RUNWAY 2026" by the Knitwear Innovation and Design Society (KIDS), and the SPARKLE by KAREN CHAN brand show. Meanwhile, the Grand Final of the Redress Design Award 2026, the world's largest sustainable fashion design competition, and the "Create Outside the Box" Fashion Design Competition 2026 will take place consecutively. The grand finale, the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC) 2026, will be held on 5 September. A professional judging panel will select the winners of four major awards—Champion, Excellence Award, Best Art Direction, and My Favourite Collection—from 10 shortlisted designers, unearthing the next generation of fashion luminaries. The public is invited to vote online for the "My Favourite Collection" award, with a chance to win one of five HK$2,000 Lee Gardens e-gift certificates sponsored by Hysan Development. (Voting link: https://www.fashionally.com/en/s/ydc2026-vote) Multiple Interactive Zones with Immersive Trend Experience The exhibition features a variety of interactive zones, offering visitors an immersive fashion journey. Highlights include the Fashion Sound Lab, where participants can record the voice on-site at the Lab installation and download their self-generated songs via QR code for replay. They can also create a souvenir in the form of a vinyl-inspired record design. The SNAPIO Stand captures chic fashion moments, allowing guests to preserve their exclusive style memories. In addition, the French Cultural Salon at FIGARO Café provides a space for fashion enthusiasts to engage in in-depth exchanges, experience the fusion of culture and trends, and appreciate live gigs. The HKTDC continues to invite buyers from around the world to source at CENTRESTAGE, including major retailers such as Chinese Mainland's B1OCK, Dongliang, Italy's 10 Corso Como, Korea's Muninsa, United Kingdom's Dover Street Market London and Selfridges. CENTRESTAGE is held concurrently with the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TE (1–5 September). Attendees can enjoy a one-stop shopping experience for global fashion apparel and luxury timepieces, and participate in the CENTRESTAGE X Watch & Clock Lucky Draw. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3T87B48 The 11th CENTRESTAGE officially opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, gathering a record-breaking some 270 international brands. This year, CENTRESTAGE debuts the Hype² zone, bringing together fashion brands led by local celebrities and KOLs to showcase the diverse charm of Hong Kong's streetwear culture. This year’s exhibition features seven themed zones, with the Urban Zone highlighting casual city fashion. Brands include 8FIVE2, founded by Julius Brian Siswojo, a member of Hong Kong’s hip hop group “24Herbs.” He was present on the opening day, engaging closely with the public and adding star power to the zone. The first runway show of the event, FASHIONALLY Collection #26, showcased the latest works from local brands MARCCH, MURFI LAU, and OUS. Ronja SCHERZINGER, CEO of FashionTouri International Enterprise, attended a sharing session to introduce how sustainable fashion can accelerate brand value. Korea became the exhibition's "Featured Partner" for the first time, creating its largest-ever pavilion with 22 participating brands. Organised by the Austrian Trade Commission, the Austrian pavilion presented a mini parade featuring seven fashion brands, showcasing the distinctive European flair and sustainability ethos of Austrian design. Some brands at the fair also offered retail sales, allowing visitors to purchase fashion apparel and accessories from around the world. Pictured is Cixi Jewelry from the Accessories zone. The fair also featured a number of interactive settings, including the FIGARO Café, a contemporary French-inspired cultural salon where fashion enthusiasts could connect, exchange ideas and experience the convergence of culture and fashion through an immersive journey. CENTRESTAGE: https://www.hktdc.com/event/centrestage/en CENTRESTAGE buyer online registration: https://bit.ly/4xydTct CENTRESTAGE Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centrestage_hktdc/?hl=tc Fashion Hong Kong: https://www.fashionhongkong.com/ Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers' Contest (YDC): https://www.fashionally.com/en/ Media enquiries PURPLE: Fiona Wong Tel: (852) 9221 1056 Email: fiona.wong@purplepr.com Yannis Sin Tel: (852) 6226 3398 Email: yannis.sin@purplepr.com HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Jane Cheung Tel: (852) 2584 4137 Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org HKTDC Newsroom: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/en About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.  About Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024.  CCIDA is  a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries.  CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. About Hong Kong Fashion Fest Announced by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive in the 2023 Policy Address, "Hong Kong Fashion Fest" will be organised to develop Hong Kong into a fashion design hub in Asia. Through consolidating various fashion design events and introducing innovative elements and affiliate activities annually, the Hong Kong Fashion Fest promotes Hong Kong’s fashion and textile design brands and boosts Hong Kong’s position as a prime destination for hosting mega cultural and creative events. Under the theme "Rhythm of the Heart", the third edition of Hong Kong Fashion Fest will be held from 1 to 14 September 2026 at various landmarks in Hong Kong. The event will bring together eight flagship programmes organised by six industry organisations and, for the first time, will be combined with CENTRESTAGE - the annual fashion extravaganza organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council - to generate stronger synergies. The event will attract fashion design industry players from all over the world to come to Hong Kong; foster collaboration, innovation and business opportunities; establish platform for local and international fashion designers and brands and connect with different sectors in the fashion design industry of Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— World No.1 with 56% Profit Surge: Saint Bella Redefines Family Care Economics 2026-09-02 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109696/ HONG KONG, Sep 2, 2026 - Postpartum care has historically presented a challenging unit economic profile: low purchase frequency, high labor intensity, and significant execution friction across regions. Constrained by these structural headwinds, most industry operators operate near break-even levels. Saint Bella Group (2508.HK), the world’s largest postpartum care provider by market share, has delivered a set of interim financial results that defies these broader sector dynamics. During the first half, profit growth significantly outpaced top-line expansion—demonstrating strong operational leverage. Five core financial metrics outline the mechanics driving this margin expansion: Revenue and Adjusted Profit Growth: H1 revenue grew 36.0% year-on-year (YoY) to RMB 611 million. Adjusted net profit surged 56.2% YoY to RMB 60.58 million, driving adjusted net margin up to 9.9%. Profit growth outstripped top-line gains as fixed-cost absorption improved. Core Brand Expansion (ASP up 15.9% to RMB 171,000): Across its brand portfolio—Saint Bella, Bella Isla, and Baby Bella (spanning ultra-luxury to upper-mid tiers)—group-wide average selling price (ASP) rose 15.9% YoY to RMB 171,000. Pricing power across core brands expanded despite broader macroeconomic discounting pressures in consumer services. Lifecycle Diversification: Postpartum care revenue grew 31.4% YoY to RMB 508 million. Non-postpartum, full-lifecycle services and products increased their revenue share to 31.5%, led by a 59.1% YoY surge in family care services and a 44.4% YoY gain in women’s health nutrition. Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) & Retention Metrics: The repeat-purchase conversion rate across non-postpartum offerings reached a record 96.3%. Conversion from core postpartum care to STB postpartum recovery services reached 94%. Average contract duration for family care extended to 169 days with a 57% renewal rate, indicating a transition from transactional engagements to multi-period recurring revenue. Global Footprint, Consolidation & AI Monetization: Operating centers in New York, Bangkok, and Singapore expanded operations, driving overseas revenue up 244% YoY. The acquisition of Wuhan-based Freya closed during the period. Proprietary AI agents generated RMB 6.9 million in revenue, marking initial financial validation for the group's technology stack. These operational data points signal a fundamental strategic shift: Saint Bella is transitioning from single-event postpartum care delivery to managing long-term customer lifetime value (LTV) across multiple brands and environments. While traditional peers remain focused on local bed-capacity competition, the industry leader is restructuring its growth flywheel. Core Operations: ASP Expansion, Penetration, and M&A Postpartum care remains Saint Bella’s foundational anchor and primary customer acquisition channel, generating RMB 508 million in H1 revenue (+31.4% YoY). Across its tiered multi-brand structure—Saint Bella, Bella Isla, and Baby Bella—group ASP increased 15.9% YoY to RMB 171,000. Delivering simultaneous volume and price growth sets the group apart in a consumer sector currently marked by price-cutting. Top-line performance is backed by deep service attach rates and high retention. During the reporting period, 94% of postpartum care clients cross-purchased STB postpartum recovery services. With overall repeat-purchase conversion reaching 96.3%, brand equity continues to reinforce customer retention. Saint Bella is executing a dual organic and inorganic growth strategy. The strategic acquisition of Freya—a premium maternal and infant care operator in Wuhan—added three standalone centers, 160 beds, and approximately 10,000 high-net-worth members, resolving a strategic coverage gap in central China. By integrating its standardized operational workflows and higher-margin recovery services into Freya’s network, Saint Bella expects near-term scale efficiencies. As of H1, Saint Bella’s global footprint stood at 148 operating centers. Strategic Pivot: Capturing Full-Lifecycle Customer Value While postpartum care acts as an efficient acquisition vector, full-lifecycle services drive long-term monetization. The Group's monetization sequence follows a structured funnel: Initial Acquisition & Trust: High-net-worth clients enter the funnel through premium postpartum care, establishing foundational brand trust. Postpartum Recovery Cross-Sell: STB services extend engagement beyond the standard 28-day stay, capturing spend across the full physiological recovery cycle. Family Care Retainers: Yujia’s age-tiered early childhood development framework (ages 0–3) extends average contract duration to 169 days, achieving a 57% renewal rate. Health & Nutrition Recurrence: Women’s health nutrition transitions the engagement model into high-frequency, mid-ticket daily wellness spending. This multi-stage model is driving tangible financial shift. Outpacing the core postpartum segment, family care revenue rose 59.1% YoY while health nutrition grew 44.4% YoY, driving non-postpartum revenue to 31.5% of total revenue. Furthermore, the addition of Freya’s ~10,000 member base provides an immediate addressable pool for cross-selling. Scalable Infrastructure: Global Network, Specialized Talent, and AI Execution Executing this expanded service coverage across geographies relies on three key operational pillars: skilled labor supply, international distribution, and standardized quality controls. Talent Development: The group’s certified family care specialist pool reached 11,495 headcount, adding 1,995 newly certified specialists in H1 (+42% vs. H2 of the prior year). In a labor-intensive sector, maintaining a deep talent bench is essential for cross-regional scaling and quality assurance. Global Footprint & Strategic Partnerships: Operating 148 centers worldwide, international sites in New York, Bangkok, and Singapore are progressively scaling operations. Complementing center-based models, an overseas in-home care program drove a 244% YoY increase in international revenue. To accelerate global expansion, Saint Bella entered into a strategic partnership with L Catterton, the consumer-focused private equity firm backed by LVMH. The partnership drives co-developing international market opportunities, introducing global brands, acquiring cross-border talent, and sourcing target M&A candidates. Proprietary AI Deployment: "Dr. Bella," the group's proprietary domain-specific large language model, is deployed across 60+ affiliated brands and 207 postpartum centers. The system automates clinical consultations, dynamic care plan generation, and customer management. AI-driven operations generated RMB 6.9 million in revenue during H1, validating initial technology commercialization. Over the longer term, codifying human service expertise into scalable software protocols enhances cross-center operational consistency and lowers asset-light expansion costs. Outlook Market leadership in the family care sector is shifting away from pure center footprint expansion. Future enterprise value will accrue to platforms capable of establishing early client trust, extending service lifecycles, and standardizing service delivery through digital technology and trained talent pools. According to Frost & Sullivan, Saint Bella ranked first globally by revenue in 2025, capturing a 0.5% market share—leading the second-largest operator by over 47%. While legacy operators remain focused on single-center economics, Saint Bella is leveraging high-end postpartum care as a customer acquisition bridge—building a full-lifecycle, omni-channel family care platform with defensible competitive moats. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Try Before You Buy: Azazie Brings In-Person Bridesmaid Dress Experience to San Diego 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Retail, Travel https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/try-before-you-buy-azazie-brings-in-person-bridesmaid-dress-experience-to-san-diego-302866918.html LOS ANGELES, Sept. 1, 2026 -- Azazie, the leading direct-to-consumer special-occasion brand, is bringing its bridesmaid dress pop-up to San Diego on Sunday, September 6, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Liberty Ballroom at Courtyard San Diego Airport/Liberty Station.... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AMAZON TEAMSTERS AT DJT6 TO LAUNCH UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE STRIKE 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amazon-teamsters-at-djt6-to-launch-unfair-labor-practice-strike-302866909.html Workers to Walk Off the Job at Amazon's Largest U.S. Facility RIVERSIDE, Calif., Sept. 1, 2026 -- Amazon Teamsters at the DJT6 facility in Riverside, California — Amazon's largest warehouse facility in the United States — will launch a one-day unfair labor practice (ULP)... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— StoneX to Offer Milk Price Risk Management Solutions to Retail Dairy Farmers in New Zealand 2026-09-01 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/01/3354654/11961/en/stonex-to-offer-milk-price-risk-management-solutions-to-retail-dairy-farmers-in-new-zealand.html StoneX Financial Pty Ltd (SFA), a subsidiary of StoneX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: SNEX), receives approval to offer milk price risk management solutions. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Caleres to Announce Second Quarter 2026 Results on September 9 2026-09-01 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/caleres-announce-second-quarter-2026-203000237.html ST. LOUIS, September 01, 2026--Caleres (NYSE: CAL), a market-leading portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands, today announced that it will report its second quarter 2026 financial results one day earlier than previously scheduled. The company will release its results before market open on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, followed by a conference call at 10 a.m. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Husband-Wife Duo Turn Dream into Reality by Opening a Pet Supplies Plus in Brookhaven 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/husband-wife-duo-turn-dream-into-reality-by-opening-a-pet-supplies-plus-in-brookhaven-302866422.html Neighborhood Pet Retailer Brings Best-Price Guaranteed Products, Grooming, Self-Wash Stations and Friendly Service to Local Pet Parents BROOKHAVEN, Ga., Sept. 1, 2026 -- Pet Supplies Plus, the largest and most trusted pet retail franchise, will open in Brookhaven on September... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GOPRO ENTERS INTO DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT TO MERGE WITH STARMAN OPTICAL, INC. 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gopro-enters-into-definitive-agreement-to-merge-with-starman-optical-inc-302866291.html Merger to Recapitalize and Reposition GoPro; Company to Remain Publicly Listed on Nasdaq Transaction Expected to Add U.S. Onshore Optical Transceiver Business, Positioning GoPro to Expand into AI Data Center, Government , Defense and Aerospace Markets GoPro to Continue Supporting its Existing Consumer Products and its Subscription and Cloud Platform While Investing in Growth GoPro, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPR ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SiteGround Launches AI Store Agent for eCommerce Businesses 2026-09-01 · Newsfile · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311955/SiteGround-Launches-AI-Store-Agent-for-eCommerce-Businesses Alexandria, Virginia--(September 1, 2026) - Web hosting and digital platform provider SiteGround has launched its AI Store Agent, a tool integrated into SiteGround eCommerce that allows businesses to access store insights, answer questions and complete selected store management tasks through AI-assisted commands.SiteGround launched its AI Store Agent to help eCommerce businesses access store insights and complete selected store management tasks through AI-assisted commands.To... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SharkNinja to Participate in the Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference 2026-09-01 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/sharkninja-participate-goldman-sachs-global-120000695.html NEEDHAM, Mass., September 01, 2026--SharkNinja, Inc. (NYSE: SN), a global product design and technology company, today announced that the Company will be participating in the Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference in New York City. SharkNinja is hosting a fireside chat that is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 45th Watch & Clock Fair and 14th Salon de TIME open today 2026-09-01 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Education, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109684/ HONG KONG, Sep 1, 2026 - The 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited and The Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, open today under the theme “Sparkling Moments Through Time”. The twin fairs have attracted more than 630 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, creating the world's largest one-stop watch and clock marketplace.  The 45th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME opened today. Guests at the opening ceremony included Algernon Yau (centre), Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Sophia Chong (fourth from the right), HKTDC Executive Director; SK Chong (first from the right) and Frankie Lam (first from the left), Co-Chairmen of HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2026 Organising Committee; and various industry representatives The physical fairs are taking place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) for five consecutive days from 1 to 5 September. Meanwhile, the Click2Match AI-powered business matching platform will remain open until 12 September, allowing exhibitors and buyers worldwide to continue their business discussions online. The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair showcases a wide variety of exquisitely crafted timepieces, accessories and components, offering a one-stop sourcing and trading platform for global buyers Salon de TIME will once again open to both industry professionals and the public for free. Selected brands will offer on-site retail sales, allowing visitors to purchase their favourite timepieces during the fair. A “Time Tunnel” has been specially created to celebrate the 45th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, allowing visitors to revisit three key stages in the fair’s development since its inception in 1982 The fairs officially opened today with an opening ceremony officiated by Algernon Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Joining him were Sophia Chong, Executive Director of the HKTDC, and SK Chong and Frankie Lam, Co-Chairmen of the HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair Organising Committee 2026. Speaking at the ceremony, SK Chong said: “This year marks the 45th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, a remarkable milestone for both the fair and Hong Kong’s watch and clock industry. The fair boasts a truly international line-up featuring strong global participation, including group pavilions from Francéclat, the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion, Guangzhou and Taiwan, as well as a first-time pavilion from Hengyang, Hunan province. In addition, we are pleased to welcome new exhibitors from Norway, Singapore and the US, further reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as a premier international trading hub for the global watch industry.” HKTDC Executive Director Sophia Chong said: “Amid the ongoing reconfiguration of global supply chains and changing market demand, the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME continue to provide the industry with an efficient business platform. By leveraging Hong Kong’s unique strengths as a superconnector and super value-adder, we help enterprises explore new markets and seize emerging opportunities. The fairs also support the watch and clock industry in moving up the value chain and strengthening brand development, further reinforcing Hong Kong’s leading position as an international hub for watch and clock trade.” “Time Tunnel” celebrates 45th edition-Salon de TIME reaches a new high The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair features multiple thematic zones covering every segment of the watchmaking value chain. Among them, Pageant of Eternity showcases premium finished watches from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and original design manufacturers (ODMs). One exhibitor, Time Grand Ltd, a Hong Kong company with more than 20 years of industry experience, provides product development, engineering design and manufacturing services for watch brands worldwide. The company also collaborates with Swiss watchmaking enterprises to offer one-stop watch production solutions, highlighting Hong Kong's strengths in connecting local expertise with international markets. Other exhibition zones cover a comprehensive range of products and services, including Complete Watches, Clocks, Machinery & Equipment, Packaging & Display, Parts, Components & Accessories, offering buyers a convenient one-stop sourcing platform. A “Time Tunnel” has been specially created to celebrate the 45th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, allowing visitors to revisit three key stages in the fair’s development since its inception in 1982: - 1980s to 1990s: The fair became a premier global sourcing platform for the watch and clock industry. - 2000s to 2020s: As Hong Kong’s watch industry evolved from OEM manufacturing to brand development, the fair became a professional platform for promotion, networking and industry exchange. - From 2020 onwards: The fair has further integrated manufacturing, sourcing and brand promotion, while expanding through cross-sector collaboration into a multifaceted platform that brings together craftsmanship, design, technology, lifestyle, culture and consumer engagement. Salon de TIME has reached a new record this year, attracting more than 150 watch brands from around the world. The event features six thematic zones, including Microbrands, where both the number of participating countries and regions and the number of brands have more than doubled compared with last year. A longstanding highlight of the fair, the World Brand Piazza returns for its 16th consecutive year, in collaboration with Prince Jewellery & Watch, showcasing luxury creations from six internationally renowned watch brands: Baume & Mercier, Corum, DeWitt, Franck Muller, Montblanc and Sarcar. Other themed zones include Chic & Trendy, Craft Treasure, Renaissance Moment and Wearable Tech. This year's exhibitors are introducing distinctive new timepieces that reflect the latest market trends, leveraging the fair to gain exposure and capture new orders. Featured innovative watches include: Sports and outdoor trends drive demand for professional timepieces To capitalise on the growing popularity of sports and outdoor lifestyles, exhibitors are showcasing professional sports watches that blend practicality with style. - EDOX presents the “The Water Champion” Delfin 1973 Automatic, featuring a double O-ring crown and pusher system that enhances water resistance to 200 metres. (Booth: 3F-H20) - Making its debut at the fair, Norwegian brand Micromilspec showcases the MILGRAPH, a timepiece developed for special operations forces. Its offset crown design helps reduce the risk of wrist injuries, while the QuadGrip bezel ensures easy operation even when wearing full tactical gear. (Booth: 3F-F22) - A variety of brands are also introducing sports and outdoor performance watches, including ALBA and LORUS by Seiko (Booth: 3G-E18), CAUGHT (Booth: 3F-D05), Quantum (Booth: 3G-C03), SPINNAKER (Booth: 3G-D02) and Slazenger (Booth: 3G-C03). Sustainability trend drives growth in eco-friendly timepieces As environmental protection and corporate social responsibility (ESG) continue to gain importance, the fair once again highlights exhibitors offering sustainable watch products through its Green Solutions Suppliers label, making it easier for buyers to identify environmentally conscious suppliers. - Local microbrand Sunrex showcases the Sunrex 611, powered by the brand’s proprietary VILUMINUS™ solar movement. Equipped solely with a solar-powered battery, the watch harnesses light as its energy source and continues to operate even in the absence of light. (Booth: 3F-F17) - Microbrand Robotfigs presents the Cubot watch, crafted from upcycled materials such as metal wires, copper and acrylic. Transforming everyday surplus materials into imaginative robot-inspired creations, each watch comes with a dedicated robot display stand and three exclusive designer toy accessories: a baseball bat, skateboard and dumbbell, redefining the concept of a “time companion”. (Booth: 3F-H24) - Several exhibitors are also showcasing environmentally friendly watches and accessories, including Hip Shing Leather Watch Straps Mfy Ltd (Booth: 1B-C35) and Gordon C & Co Ltd. (Booth: 1E-C09). Cross-sector collaborations and limited editions appeal to niche consumer segments Many brands are enhancing the value and artistic appeal of their timepieces through cross-industry collaborations and limited-edition releases. - LINK2CARE has partnered with Swiss watch brand MARVIN to launch a luxury smartwatch featuring a fishing-inspired relief dial and a bi-directional mechanical gear system that showcases MARVIN’s exquisite watchmaking craftsmanship. The watch features LINK2CARE’s patented leather strap, which incorporates medical-grade vital signs sensors, enabling wearers to monitor their health. (Booth: 3G-A07) - Memorigin presents the “Verdant Resonance Tourbillon Watch”, featuring a luminous carbon-fibre case designed to evoke the glow of fireflies under the night sky. A three-dimensional guzheng-inspired small-seconds display at the 9 o’clock position, complemented by green luminous incense-burner motifs, recreates the elegant atmosphere of traditional Chinese scholars’ gatherings. (Booth: 3F-C05) - The Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion showcases the “Corleone Mini Collection” by Pilo & Co Genève, created to celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary. Reinterpreting the classic Corleone design as a ladies’ watch, each colour variant is limited to just 10 pieces, making it highly collectible. (Booth: 3F-H07). Microbrands win over younger consumers with creative designs In recent years, microbrands have emerged as a new force in the watch industry, attracting younger consumers with their distinctive designs and competitive pricing. - Making its debut at the fair, US brand BREDA is showcasing the “Pulse Locket” Gold and Metal Bracelet Watch. Featuring a unique locket-style design, the watch dial remains concealed when closed and is revealed only when the wearer chooses to open it. (Booth: 3F-D16) - Other participating microbrands include CIMIER (Booth: 3F-H26), Fayy (Booth: 3F-G19), Leger A. Fah (Booth: 3F-H20), No Identity (Booth: 3F-H25), AISION (Booth: 3F-H20), INANLOU (Booth: 3F-F15), as well as the strap-focused microbrand Monves (Booth: 3F-F16). Exciting activities open to the public Salon de TIME will present a wide range of signature activities and watch showcases open to the public. On 4 September, renowned watch artist and collector Labeg will host a workshop on crafting watch models from corrugated cardboard. A special “Time Arena” zone has also been introduced this year, blending sports and fine timepieces to offer visitors a fresh, interactive experience. One highlight, “Watch2Care Smart x Lifestyle Experience Days”, will take place from 4 to 5 September and feature a variety of hands-on activities, including yoga and mobility training sessions. Visitors can try their hand at pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in recent years. Other highlights include a series of watch parades and new product launch events. Memorigin will welcome several celebrity guests, including celebrity Vic Teo, Hong Kong basketball star Alfred Wong Lut Yiu, and renowned face-changing performer Hathor Wai. A lucky draw will be held daily throughout the fair, offering visitors the chance to win premium watches. Industry leaders share insights on market trends This year’s Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair features more than 40 events, including forums, seminars and networking sessions designed to foster industry exchange and knowledge sharing. The Hong Kong International Watch Forum, held today, brought together leaders of watch associations from the Chinese Mainland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan and Korea to share the latest trade statistics and industry developments in their respective markets. Discussions also explored new opportunities arising from integrating traditional watchmaking craftsmanship with emerging technologies. The Asian Watch Conference, to be held tomorrow (2 September), will be themed “Hong Kong as the hub of International Watch Trades”. The conference will feature a senior analyst from international research firm Euromonitor International (Hong Kong), who will provide insights into the latest developments in the global watch market. Representatives from online watch resale platform Chrono24 will discuss how to connect with demand across global markets, while a representative from Lazada Hong Kong will share strategies for leveraging e-commerce platforms to accelerate market expansion. On 3 September, FIYTA will hold an aeronautics launch event for a watch specially designed in honour of Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first female payload specialist. The company’s Chief Designer, Sun Lei, will also share the inspiration and design concepts behind the timepiece. Also taking place that day is the Tick-Tock Showtime: The Media Spotlight Pitch, jointly organised by Watch CataVlog. The event will feature presentations by 10 microbrands, with a judging panel comprising media representatives from Indonesia, the Middle East and Hong Kong, each selecting their favourite brand. On 4 September, the seminar “Off the Beaten Path: Indie Watchmakers vs. Independent Brands – Trends & Trajectories” will explore the distinctions, evolution and future trends of independent watchmaking and independent brands. Speakers include Noel Wong, Founder of Watch The World, Watch Collector & Discerning Commentator; Benjamin Hui, Watch Collector & Founder of Independent Watcher; and Lu Jinzhi, Chairman of ZBIOLAND. Throughout the fair, watch brands including Watch2Care, SAGA, Peacock, Sea-Gull, Shanghai Watch, Franck Muller, Quantum and INANLOU will host a series of new product launch events, unveiling their latest timepieces to an international audience. The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition, jointly organised by the HKTDC, the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Ltd and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Ltd, aims to promote watch design exchange and nurture local talent. This year, the themes for the Open Group and Student Group are “Transcending Time” and “Contours of the Breeze” respectively. The competition will continue to feature The Made-to-Sell Award, recognising student entries with outstanding commercial potential. The award presentation ceremony will be held on 5 September at the fair’s event stage, with celebrity Joey Thye attending as a guest. In addition, CENTRESTAGE, another flagship event organised by the HKTDC, will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 2 to 5 September. Bringing together fashion brands and designer collections from around the world, the event will create strong synergies with the watch fairs and offer visitors a one-stop destination to source prestigious timepieces and stylish fashion apparel from across the globe. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3UOXqBY The 45th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME opened today. Guests at the opening ceremony included Algernon Yau (centre), Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the Hong Kong SAR Government; Sophia Chong (fourth from the right), HKTDC Executive Director; SK Chong (first from the right) and Frankie Lam (first from the left), Co-Chairmen of HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair 2026 Organising Committee; and various industry representatives The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair showcases a wide variety of exquisitely crafted timepieces, accessories and components, offering a one-stop sourcing and trading platform for global buyers A “Time Tunnel” has been specially created to celebrate the 45th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, allowing visitors to revisit three key stages in the fair’s development since its inception in 1982 Salon de TIME features over 150 international brands and comprises six major themed zones, all of which are open to the public Sponsored for the 16th consecutive year by Prince Jewellery & Watch, the World Brand Piazza showcases six world-class watch brands This year’s Salon de TIME features a strong lineup of Guochao-inspired brands and Chinese watchmakers, showcasing their craftsmanship and creativity. Among them is Zbioland, which presents the Barcelona ZBL1009 timepiece. The watch is powered by the brand’s first in-house developed Calibre 961 movement and draws inspiration from the works of renowned Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, reflecting distinctive architectural aesthetics in its design This year's exhibition features an impressive collection of award-winning timepieces. Among them is CIGA Design's AVENTUR·Blue Planet, which features a three-dimensional rotating globe on the dial. The watch was honoured with the “Challenge Watch Prize” at the 2021 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), widely regarded as the "Oscars" of the watchmaking industry During the fair period, a series of watch launch events and watch parades are being held, featuring models showcasing exquisite timepieces and bringing these remarkable creations to life on the runway The winning and shortlisted entries of the 43rd Hong Kong Watch and Clock Design Competition are currently on display in the foyer of Hall 1, showcasing local creative talent Media enquiriesPlease contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department: Johnny Tsui Tel: (852) 2584 4395 Email: johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org Websites Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkwatchfair/en Salon de TIME: https://www.hktdc.com/event/te/en HKTDC Media Room: mediaroom.hktdc.com About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Solv Integrates Amazon Pharmacy to Show Patients Same-Day Prescription Delivery Before Their Visit 2026-09-01 · Business Wire · SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/solv-integrates-amazon-pharmacy-show-090000545.html SAN FRANCISCO, September 01, 2026--Solv’s integration with Amazon Pharmacy gives patients delivery transparency at booking and providers receive pharmacy preferences automatically. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Tech Sales Forecast to Reach $1.4 Trillion in 2026, Even as 56% of Consumers Delay Purchases, NIQ Finds 2026-09-01 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/global-tech-sales-forecast-reach-070000102.html CHICAGO, September 01, 2026--Global sales of consumer technology and durable goods are forecast to reach $1.4 trillion in 2026, up 5.1% year over year, even as 56% of consumers say they have delayed a technology purchase because of price or while waiting for a discount, according to new research from NIQ (NYSE: NIQ), the Official Global Insights Partner of IFA. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ZonPrep Acquires FNSKU Studio and Wizard-Industries, Deepening Its Investment in Amazon Inbound Logistics 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zonprep-acquires-fnsku-studio-and-wizard-industries-deepening-its-investment-in-amazon-inbound-logistics-302865675.html The Amazon-focused supply chain operator now owns the inbound software it has run on for years, and that Amazon sellers, prep centers and 3PLs across the industry run on too. The acquisition will improve the processes and growth of both platforms without affecting current user operations.... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TP-Link Unveils World’s First Complete Wi-Fi 8 Lineup at IFA 2026 — Regional Pre-Orders to Start on September 30th 2026-09-01 · Business Wire · Retail, Semiconductors https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/tp-unveils-world-first-complete-040000652.html BERLIN, September 01, 2026--TP-Link Systems Inc., a global provider of consumer networking products, today unveiled its first Wi-Fi 8 lineup at IFA 2026, led by the Archer 8 Ultra router and the Deco 8 Ultra mesh system. Built on the upcoming IEEE 802.11bn standard, the growing lineup will pair Wi-Fi 8 chipsets from Broadcom, Qualcomm, and MediaTek with TP-Link's U.S.-led hardware and software engineering to deliver the most reliable Wi-Fi ever built. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— October 2026 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows: 25% Jump in Buyer Pre-registration as Europe, North America Lead the Surge 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/october-2026-global-sources-hong-kong-shows-25-jump-in-buyer-pre-registration-as-europe-north-america-lead-the-surge-302865589.html HONG KONG, Aug. 31, 2026 -- The fourth quarter has traditionally been the stocking season for overseas buyers. But in 2026, procurement decisions have grown markedly more complex. Faster-moving consumer trends and tighter regulatory requirements across major markets have... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— October 2026 Global Sources Hong Kong Shows: 25% Jump in Buyer Pre-registration as Europe and North America Lead the Surge 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Retail, Gaming https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/october-2026-global-sources-hong-kong-shows-25-jump-in-buyer-pre-registration-as-europe-and-north-america-lead-the-surge-302865571.html HONG KONG, Sept. 1, 2026 -- Global Sources Hong Kong Shows will be held from October 11 to 21, 2026 at AsiaWorld-Expo. This year's edition brings together 4,200+ suppliers across 8,000+ booths, showcasing 330,000+ new products spanning consumer electronics, gaming, mobile... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PrimeBOT to Showcase PrimeBOT T1 and PrimeBOT Q1 at IFA 2026 and ShowStoppers 2026-09-01 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/primebot-to-showcase-primebot-t1-and-primebot-q1-at-ifa-2026-and-showstoppers-302865541.html BERLIN, Sept. 1, 2026 -- PrimeBOT, an embodied intelligence company, will showcase its latest consumer-grade personal robots, PrimeBOT T1 and PrimeBOT Q1, at IFA 2026, with live demonstrations at Booth H25-150 throughout the show and an additional preview at ShowStoppers on... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— EnergyLIB strengthens Australian presence with local entity, NSW stock and Autra retail partnership 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353751/0/en/energylib-strengthens-australian-presence-with-local-entity-nsw-stock-and-autra-retail-partnership.html Local NSW stock and Autra Batteries Australia retail partnership mark the first stage of EnergyLIB’s nationwide Australian supply and support network ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CHICAGO AUTO SHOW: BEHIND THE WHEEL DEBUTS THIS FALL WITH EXPANDED TEST DRIVE EXPERIENCE 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-auto-show-behind-the-wheel-debuts-this-fall-with-expanded-test-drive-experience-302865367.html OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., Aug. 31, 2026 -- The Chicago Automobile Trade Association (CATA), producer of the Chicago Auto Show, is expanding its popular fall consumer test drive event with a new name, new branding and an even broader vehicle lineup. Formerly known as Chicago... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cal-Maine Foods to Participate in Barclays Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353698/0/en/cal-maine-foods-to-participate-in-barclays-global-consumer-conference.html Cal-Maine Foods management will participate in the Barclays Global Consumer Conference Sept. 9–10 in Boston and meet with institutional investors. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon’s response to the FTC’s lawsuit regarding Sponsored Ads 2026-08-31 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/company-news/amazon-ftc-sponsored-ads-lawsuit-response?utm_source=rss The FTC today filed a misguided lawsuit claiming Amazon misled advertisers about its Sponsored Ads pricing and auction. Amazon strongly disagrees. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— F&F Ventures Launches $10 Million Ecommerce Fund in Partnership with SHOPLINE 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ff-ventures-launches-10-million-ecommerce-fund-in-partnership-with-shopline-302865193.html Three general partners with operating exits behind them will pair capital with commerce infrastructure for the consumer brands they back. F&F Ventures, the venture capital arm of the Founders & Funders™ community, today launched a $10 million ecommerce fund in partnership with SHOPLINE, the global commerce platform serving more than 700,000 merchants worldwide. The fund invests from pre-seed through ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Apollo Group OÜ 2025/2026 Consolidated Annual Report 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353641/0/en/apollo-group-o%C3%BC-2025-2026-consolidated-annual-report.html Apollo Group OÜ (“Apollo Group” or “the Group”) comprises subsidiaries engaged in entertainment business, consisting of operation of cinemas and retail stores, and restaurant business. The Group operates across 4 markets: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Fujifilm Expands Consumer Photo Printing Capabilities with the Introduction of "Fujifilm for Google Photos Print Store" 2026-08-31 · Business Wire · SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/fujifilm-expands-consumer-photo-printing-160000773.html VALHALLA, N.Y., August 31, 2026--FUJIFILM North America Corporation, Imaging Division, announced today the launch of 'Fujifilm for Google Photos Print Store,' a new, integrated print storefront designed to bring high-quality physical photo products directly to Google Photos users. Fujifilm will assume leadership and responsibility for the photo printing functionality of the popular Google Photos platform, with plans to roll out new features, new products and a more robust user experience. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LAPIS® Celebrates Grand Opening of Porsche Livermore, Marking a New Chapter for Porsche in the Tri-Valley 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lapis-celebrates-grand-opening-of-porsche-livermore-marking-a-new-chapter-for-porsche-in-the-tri-valley-302865081.html Todd Blue and LAPIS bring a long-term commitment to Porsche, luxury automotive retail and the Northern California community LIVERMORE, Calif., Aug. 31, 2026 -- LAPIS, the privately held automotive group led by CEO and Dealer Principal Todd Blue, today celebrated the grand... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Natural Cat Litter Products Market to Reach USD 3.2 Billion by 2033 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353503/28124/en/global-natural-cat-litter-products-market-to-reach-usd-3-2-billion-by-2033.html Opportunities center on biodegradable, plant-based litter with superior clumping, odor control and low-dust performance. Premium, fragrance-free products and eco-friendly packaging can attract urban, younger pet owners, while e-commerce and specialty retail expand reach. Opportunities center on biodegradable, plant-based litter with superior clumping, odor control and low-dust performance. Premium, fragrance-free products and eco-friendly packaging can attract urban, younger pet owners, while e-commerce and specialty retail expand reach. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Pet Food Packaging Machinery Market to Reach USD 3.8 Billion by 2033, Driven by Rising Pet Ownership and Manufacturing Expansion 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Food & drink, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353502/28124/en/global-pet-food-packaging-machinery-market-to-reach-usd-3-8-billion-by-2033-driven-by-rising-pet-ownership-and-manufacturing-expansion.html Opportunities center on automated, flexible machinery for smaller packs, premium and customized pet foods, and e-commerce-ready formats. Rising pet ownership and expanding production are driving demand across developed and emerging markets. Opportunities center on automated, flexible machinery for smaller packs, premium and customized pet foods, and e-commerce-ready formats. Rising pet ownership and expanding production are driving demand across developed and emerging markets. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Ads Launches "First Day Ready," a Multi-Brand Campaign Connecting Brands to Gen Z at College's Biggest Moment 2026-08-31 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/amazon-ads-launches-first-day-144200931.html SEATTLE, August 31, 2026--Amazon Ads announces First Day Ready, a multi-phase brand partnership campaign developed by Brand Innovation Lab, the creative arm of Amazon Ads, that connects brands to Gen Z students heading to college. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Valvoline Inc. to Participate in Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference 2026-08-31 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Automotive https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/valvoline-inc-participate-goldman-sachs-140600116.html LEXINGTON, Ky., August 31, 2026--Valvoline Inc. (NYSE: VVV), the quick, easy, trusted leader in preventive automotive maintenance, today announced that the company will be participating in a fireside chat at the Goldman Sachs Global Consumer and Retail Conference on Monday, September 14, at 3:35 p.m. ET. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Skincare Market To Reach $275.2 billion by 2033 2026-08-31 · Good PR News · Retail, Automotive https://goodprnews.com/skincare-market-market-report/ Market Summary According to our research intelo, the Global Skincare Market size was valued at $163.5 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $275.2 billion by 2033, expanding at a robust CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period of 2025–2033. The primary driver for this impressive growth is the increasing consumer focus on personal appearance and wellness, which is... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TCL Expands TAB A1 Tablet Lineup with New 11-Inch Models 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-expands-tab-a1-tablet-lineup-with-new-11-inch-models-302864486.html The tablets round out TCL's TAB A1 portfolio with standard and NXTPAPER display options built for entertainment, productivity, and comfortable viewing IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 31, 2026 -- TCL®, one of the world's best-selling consumer electronics brands, today announced the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LG CNS Targets U.S. Ad Market with Agentic AI-Powered Marketing Solution 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lg-cns-targets-us-ad-market-with-agentic-ai-powered-marketing-solution-302864850.html Showcased Amazon-specialized e-commerce ad optimization solution 'LG Optapex' at ASD Market Week Agentic AI and mathematical optimization automate digital ad operations SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 31, 2026 -- LG CNS showcased its digital ad optimization solution, 'LG Optapex',... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Array Partners with Narmi to Embed Comprehensive Consumer Financial Tools into Digital Banking 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353240/0/en/array-partners-with-narmi-to-embed-comprehensive-consumer-financial-tools-into-digital-banking.html NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2026 -- Array, an embeddable fintech platform offering a robust suite of financial empowerment tools, has partnered with Narmi, a leading digital banking solutions provider, to integrate Narmi FinHealth within the Narmi Digital Banking platform. The collaboration gives financial institutions an easy way to deliver essential tools that help users monitor their credit, protect their identities, and manage their financial data, directly within their trusted banking experience. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Gentex Announces Third Quarter 2026 Cash Dividend 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353245/32299/en/gentex-announces-third-quarter-2026-cash-dividend.html ZEELAND, Mich., Aug. 31, 2026 -- Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based supplier of digital vision, connected car, dimmable glass, fire protection technologies, medical devices, and consumer electronics, today announced that its Board of Directors recently declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.12 (12 cents) per share that will be payable October 21, 2026, to shareholders of record of the common stock at the close of business on October 7, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kraft Heinz to Participate at 2026 Barclays Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-31 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/kraft-heinz-participate-2026-barclays-120000120.html PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO, August 31, 2026--The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC) will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, to discuss the Company’s business strategy. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Virtune strengthens its presence in Poland by appointing Tomasz Wróbel as Country Manager 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353108/0/en/virtune-strengthens-its-presence-in-poland-by-appointing-tomasz-wr%C3%B3bel-as-country-manager.html Warsaw, August 31, 2026 – Virtune, a leading Sweden-based regulated digital asset manager, is proud to announce that Tomasz Wróbel has been appointed Country Manager for Poland. This strategic hire marks an important step in Virtune’s continued European expansion and underscores the company’s commitment to making crypto investments accessible, secure, and transparent for both institutional and retail investors. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lateral Flow Assay Market Size, Industry Dynamics, Opportunity Analysis and Forecast 2026-2035 2026-08-31 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/31/3353105/28124/en/lateral-flow-assay-market-size-industry-dynamics-opportunity-analysis-and-forecast-2026-2035.html Opportunities center on digitally connected, lab-grade lateral flow tests for decentralized care, particularly infectious disease, multiplex and CRISPR assays, recurring-use kits, and distribution through clinics, pharmacies, homes and e-commerce. Opportunities center on digitally connected, lab-grade lateral flow tests for decentralized care, particularly infectious disease, multiplex and CRISPR assays, recurring-use kits, and distribution through clinics, pharmacies, homes and e-commerce. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Eluvio Tapped for Cricket TV: New Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Service for Live and Archive Coverage to Fans Across the Globe 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eluvio-tapped-for-cricket-tv-new-direct-to-consumer-streaming-service-for-live-and-archive-coverage-to-fans-across-the-globe-302863246.html New Direct-to-Consumer Streaming Service: New streaming service from Cricket Australia (tv.cricket.com.au), built upon Eluvio's Content Fabric and AI Video Intelligence, is now available for early access with full commercial launch later this year Unified Platform for Live and VOD... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Dowinx Reframes Everyday Seating Around the Way People Really Live 2026-08-31 · PR Newswire · Retail, Gaming https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dowinx-reframes-everyday-seating-around-the-way-people-really-live-302864516.html The QL-66B6 Executive Office Chair brings adaptive comfort to hybrid spaces for work, gaming and relaxation HONG KONG and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30, 2026 -- As the consumer technology industry looks toward IFA 2026 and the future of connected living, Dowinx is focusing on a more... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 35 Chinese Technology Companies to Showcase Innovation at LEAP 2026 in Riyadh 2026-08-30 · Arab Newswire · AI, Retail, Gaming https://arabnewswire.com/35-chinese-technology-companies-to-showcase-innovation-at-leap-2026-in-riyadh/ CHINA INNOVATION Pavilion Brings Robotics, AI, Smart IoT, Consumer Electronics, Gaming and More to Saudi Arabia ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SCHEELS Opens 35th Location to Massive Crowds in Cedar Park, Texas 2026-08-29 · PR Newswire · Retail, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/scheels-opens-35th-location-to-massive-crowds-in-cedar-park-texas-302864339.html Employee-owned industry leader expands footprint to Central Texas, showcasing the future of brick-and-mortar experiential retail with record foot traffic CEDAR PARK, Texas, Aug. 29, 2026 -- Employee-owned All Sports retailer SCHEELS officially opened its newest location in... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Newly Released SB 492 Confirms Major Victory for Wildfire Survivors and California Families, Says Consumer Watchdog 2026-08-29 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/newly-released-sb-492-confirms-major-victory-for-wildfire-survivors-and-california-families-says-consumer-watchdog-302864335.html Legislature Stands Up to Powerful Interests, Protects Survivors' Rights and Rejects Utility Bailout SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 29, 2026 -- At 7:26 this morning, the California Legislature published the newly amended text of SB 492, confirming a major victory for wildfire... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Valley & Summit Law Highlights New CPSC Compliance Challenges for Amazon Sellers 2026-08-29 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/29/3352923/0/en/valley-summit-law-highlights-new-cpsc-compliance-challenges-for-amazon-sellers.html Valley & Summit Law is a U.S.-based law firm dedicated to cross-border e-commerce compliance, consumer product safety regulations, and product liability. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FixGo Launches Next-Day Tire Delivery in Los Angeles and Expands San Diego Installer Network 2026-08-29 · Newsfile · SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Travel https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311953/FixGo-Launches-NextDay-Tire-Delivery-in-Los-Angeles-and-Expands-San-Diego-Installer-Network Los Angeles, California--(August 28, 2026) - Online automotive retail platform FixGo today announced the launch of Next-Day Delivery for EngineX tires in eligible Los Angeles ZIP codes, along with an expansion of its partner installation network in San Diego County to more than 20 independent shops. Both changes take effect ahead of Labor Day weekend travel.To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon is helping communities impacted by the Nepal flash floods 2026-08-28 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/nepal-floods-amazon-disaster-relief?utm_source=rss Amazon is working with aid organizations to help communities recover following flooding and landslides along the Nepal border. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mandatory Fast Pay For Wildfire Survivors Would Have Prevented Public From Finding Evidence That Showed Edison Started The Eaton Fire, Legislators Need To Make Voluntary, Says Consumer Watchdog 2026-08-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mandatory-fast-pay-for-wildfire-survivors-would-have-prevented-public-from-finding-evidence-that-showed-edison-started-the-eaton-fire-legislators-need-to-make-voluntary-says-consumer-watchdog-302863153.html SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 28, 2026 -- Consumer Watchdog said that if Governor Newsom's mandatory Fast Pay proposal – requiring wildfire survivors to complete the program before filing a lawsuit – had been law the public would not have learned that Edison's transmission... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Survivors Provide Recommendations for Any Wildfire Liability Legislation Written Today, Says Consumer Watchdog 2026-08-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/survivors-provide-recommendations-for-any-wildfire-liability-legislation-written-today-says-consumer-watchdog-302863039.html SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 28, 2026 -- Today is the final day any wildfire liability legislation can be put in print. Every Fire Survivor's Network and Consumer Watchdog issued the following principles to inform any legislation written in the remaining hours. Jamie Court,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Central Garden & Pet to Participate in Virtual Investor Meetings with KeyBanc Capital Markets 2026-08-28 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/central-garden-pet-participate-virtual-162400505.html WALNUT CREEK, Calif., August 28, 2026--Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA), a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries, today announced that Brad Smith, Central’s Chief Financial Officer, will participate in virtual investor meetings hosted by KeyBanc Capital Markets on September 1, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon's Second Chance Deal Days returns to Europe, with deals also available in the US, Mexico, and Brazil 2026-08-28 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/second-chance-deal-days?utm_source=rss Shoppers in Europe, Brazil, and Mexico can save up to 50% on high-quality returned and refurbished items, while U.S. customers can enjoy second-hand deals as part of the Labor Day Deals event. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CIMC Group Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-28 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Travel, Food & drink, Industrial, Aerospace & defense, Logistics, Semiconductors, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109593/ Financial Highlights RMB (million) 1H2025 1H2026 1Q2026 2Q2026 Quarter-on-Quarter Change Revenue 76,090 78,913 32,664 46,249 +42% Operating Profit 2,817 1,962 607 1,355 +123% Foreign Exchange Losses 47 803 228 574 The expanded loss is attributable to the expansion of business scale. Pre-FX Loss Operating Profit [1] 2,864 2,764 835 1,929 +131% Profit Before Income Tax 2,798 1,969 615 1,353 +120% Gross Profit 9,643 9,380 3,770 5,611 +49% Gross Profit Margin 12.67% 11.89% 11.54% 12.13% +0.6pct Net Profit 1,764 1,373 412 961 +133% Net Profit Attributable to Shareholders and Other Equity Holders of the Company [2] 1,278 740 209 531 +154% Notes: 1. Pre-FX Loss Operating Profit = Operating Profit + Foreign Exchange Losses 2. Net profit attributable to shareholders and other equity holders of the Company, with interest on perpetual bonds of approximately RMB47.8 million Results Highlights 1. Profitability of energy-related businesses continued to be released, with net profit increasing by RMB1.36 billion: The combined net profit of the offshore engineering segment and the finance and asset management segment (mainly drilling rig leasing) increased by approximately RMB1.339 billion, while that of the energy, chemical and liquid food equipment segment increased by RMB20 million. Among them, the gross profit margin of the offshore engineering segment increased by 10.1 percentage points year-on-year (“YoY”) to 20.9%, with net profit reaching RMB718 million, making it the Company’s largest profit-generating segment. The finance and asset management segment successfully turned losses into profits, with a net profit margin of 9.8%. As at the end of June, total orders on hand amounted to approximately RMB83.6 billion, with production schedules extending to 2030: orders on hand for the offshore engineering and energy, chemical and liquid food equipment segments amounted to US$7.62 billion and RMB31.77 billion, respectively. In particular, CIMC Raffles secured one FPSO and one FLNG EPCIC / EPC general contracting order during the year, making it the first offshore engineering enterprise in China with dual-project general contracting capabilities (EPCIC / EPC). Benefiting from rising demand for increased deepwater oil and gas production, new orders accelerated in the third quarter. 2. Double breakthroughs in modular data center deliveries and orders: The modular data center business recorded explosive growth, with revenue increasing by more than five times YoY. During the Reporting Period, new contracts were signed for 200MW of cloud computing and AI computing power data center projects. 3. Logistics-related businesses consolidated their industry positions, with demand bottoming out and recovering quarter-on-quarter: Core products including standard dry containers, reefer containers, chemical tank containers and semi-trailers maintained their global No. 1 positions. During the Reporting Period, the overall gross profit margin declined due to exchange rate fluctuations and pressure on demand, while demand for containers, road transportation vehicles, airport facilities and logistics equipment, and recycled load bottomed out and recovered quarter-on-quarter. 4. Interest expenses continued to be optimised, with a more robust financial structure: As at the end of Reporting Period, interest-bearing debt amounted to RMB34.8 billion, down RMB6.4 billion from the end of June 2025, with the interest-bearing debt ratio at approximately 20%. Benefiting from the optimisation of financing rates and scale, net interest expenses decreased by approximately RMB218 million YoY during the Reporting Period, and the financial structure continued to be optimised. HONG KONG, August 28, 2026 - China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd. (“CIMC Group” or the “Group”, stock code: 000039.SZ/02039.HK) is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Reporting Period”). The management of CIMC Group stated that in the first half of 2026, global changes unseen in a century accelerated, geopolitical conflicts reshaped the energy and trade landscape, while global merchandise trade demonstrated resilience amid fluctuations. Against a backdrop of opportunities and challenges, the Group closely followed the main business tone of “focusing on high-quality development and cultivating new growth drivers”, coordinated the reasonable growth of “quantity” and the effective improvement of “quality”, and, leveraging its diversified business portfolio and global operating platform, mitigated fluctuations in individual regions to achieve steady and high-quality development. In the first half of 2026, the Group achieved revenue of RMB78.9 billion and net profit of RMB1.37 billion, while net profit attributable to shareholders and other equity holders of the Company amounted to RMB740 million. During the Reporting Period, domestic revenue accounted for approximately 53.62%, while overseas revenue accounted for approximately 46.38%, maintaining a balanced market structure. To effectively safeguard shareholder value and convey confidence in long-term development, the Company repurchased H Shares amounting to approximately HKD173 million during the first half of 2026, with approximately 19.28 million H Shares repurchased in aggregate. As at the end of June, the Company had completed the implementation of its 2025 H Share repurchase plan. Meanwhile, to further enhance shareholder confidence, the Company announced in July 2026 its plan to repurchase a portion of its H Shares, with the total repurchase amount not exceeding HKD173 million. In respect of A Shares, the Company recently announced a proposal to change the use of the A Shares repurchased in 2023 and cancel such shares and reduce its registered capital, namely, to cancel the 24.65 million A Shares repurchased by the Company in 2023 and correspondingly reduce the registered capital of the Company, thereby adopting multiple measures to safeguard the interests of its investors. Segments Results (RMB million) 1H2026 Business Indicators Revenue % of Total Revenue Gross Profit % of Total Gross Profit Gross Profit Margin Net Profit Container manufacturing 21,920 27.78% 1,827 19.48% 8.34% 272 Road transportation vehicles 10,737 13.61% 1,551 16.53% 14.44% 356 Energy, chemical, and liquid food equipment 13,396 16.98% 1,962 20.92% 14.65% 480 Offshore engineering 7,935 10.06% 1,659 17.69% 20.91% 718 Airport facilities and logistics equipment, fire safety and rescue equipment 3,357 4.25% 706 7.52% 21.03% 71 Logistics services 13,945 17.67% 910 9.70% 6.53% 240 Finance and asset management 1,710 2.17% 287 3.06% 16.77% 167 The above major segments 72,999 92.52% 8,902 94.90% 12.19% 2,304 Core Business Performance 1. In the Logistics Field Container Manufacturing Business: During the Reporting Period, although global trade continued to face adverse factors such as high inflation and geopolitical frictions, the growth of global merchandise trade continued to maintain a certain degree of resilience. According to Container Trades Statistics, global container trade volume increased by approximately 5.2% YoY in the first half of 2026, mainly benefiting from the growth of trade related to the global technology industry. Meanwhile, the low efficiency of container shipping caused by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, disruption to the resumption of shipping routes in the Red Sea and port congestion supported demand for containers. During the Reporting Period, the growth in demand for container shipping together with the replacement and renewal requirements for the massive existing container fleet drove a steady rebound in new container sales across the industry in the second quarter, reversing the downward trend seen in the first quarter, while prices also stabilised simultaneously. During the Reporting Period, the Group’s container manufacturing business achieved growth in both production and sales volume. In particular, the accumulated sales volume of dry containers reached 1.1385 million TEUs, representing a YoY increase of approximately 1.12%; meanwhile, benefiting from the bountiful harvest of fresh fruits in South America and the harvest season in the Northern Hemisphere, sales volume of reefer containers reached 108,200 TEUs, representing a YoY increase of approximately 17.61%. During the Reporting Period, the container segment recorded revenue of RMB21.920 billion, representing a YoY increase of 0.85%, and net profit of RMB272 million, mainly affected by the YoY decline in the price of standard containers and exchange rates. Logistics Services Business: During the Reporting Period, the multimodal transport market environment gradually improved, particularly the container shipping market, where freight rates continued to rise since March. During the Reporting Period, the segment achieved revenue of RMB13.945 billion, representing a YoY increase of 2.70%, and net profit of RMB240 million, representing a YoY increase of 18.81%. CIMC Wetrans actively captured the upward trend by deepening customer relationship management, optimising product mix, accelerating overseas expansion and strengthening operational efficiency. During the Reporting Period, the proportion of direct customers in the sea transportation business continued to increase; the port logistics business added route, extra sailing and vessel space agency services for multiple leading shipping companies; the industry logistics business added new cold chain equipment deployment, with cold chain business volume increasing by 14% YoY; the customer structure of the air transportation business continued to be optimised, with business volume increasing by 11% YoY; and the service network of the land transportation business continued to expand. CIMC Wetrans ranked TOP 13 in the 2026 Top 50 Ocean Freight Forwarders list issued by Transport Topics, an authoritative magazine in the global logistics industry, up one place from last year and ranking fifth among Chinese enterprises. Road Transportation Vehicles Business: During the Reporting Period, CIMC Vehicles achieved revenue of RMB10.737 billion, representing a YoY increase of 10.09%, and net profit of RMB356 million. Among them, the global semi-trailer business achieved revenue of RMB7.602 billion, representing a YoY increase of 9.79%. In 2026, CIMC Vehicles continued to extend the production and marketing models of the StarLink Project to more product lines and regions, deepening ecosystem cooperation while improving efficiency and reducing costs. The core production efficiency of the semi-trailer business under the StarLink Project continued to improve, and its domestic market share remained No. 1 for seven consecutive years. In overseas markets, revenue and sales volume in the Global South increased significantly, while gross profit margin remained basically flat due to fluctuations in ocean freight rates; production in the European market recovered, while freight rates and equipment orders in the North American market showed marginal improvement in the second quarter. The market share of core DTB products further increased, with a total of 13,238 truck bodies products products sold. Meanwhile, sales volume of EV-DTB truck bodies products for new energy heavy-duty trucks increased significantly, with deliveries of EV-DTB dump truck and mixer truck truck bodies products continuing to rise. The pure electric tractor and trailer business officially established the world’s first EV-RT offline experience center. Airport Facilities & Logistics Equipment / Fire Safety & Rescue Equipment Business: During the Reporting Period, revenue amounted to RMB3.357 billion, representing a YoY increase of 7.58%; net profit amounted to RMB71 million, representing a YoY decrease of 11.25%, mainly due to exchange rate fluctuations. During the Reporting Period, orders on hand maintained steady growth. The airport facilities and logistics equipment business secured a series of major benchmark orders, including boarding bridge projects worth hundreds of millions of RMB for Paris Airport and Orly Airport in France, as well as bulk orders for A380 catering vehicles in Singapore, further enhancing its global competitiveness. The logistics automation business successfully implemented multiple e-commerce projects in Southeast Asia, and also secured new orders and contracts in newly expanded industries such as State Grid and China Tobacco. The operating results of the fire safety and rescue equipment business showed significant improvement, with the successful securing of a major procurement order for 13 dual-boom water tower fire trucks under the national government subsidy-funded project for hazardous chemical emergency rescue teams. Cumulative new orders reached RMB1.675 billion, achieving steady growth. II. In the Energy Industries Field In respect of the energy, chemical and liquid food equipment business, revenue amounted to RMB13.396 billion, representing a YoY increase of 2.98%; net profit amounted to RMB480 million, representing a YoY increase of 4.35%. Among them, CIMC Enric achieved revenue of RMB12.87 billion, representing a YoY increase of 2.0%; newly signed orders amounted to RMB13.71 billion, representing a significant YoY increase of 27.7%; and as at the end of June, orders on hand amounted to RMB31.77 billion, representing a YoY increase of 8.9%. Specifically, revenue of the clean energy segment grew steadily. Benefiting from expanding demand in areas such as semiconductors and off-grid distributed power generation, the segment delivered electronic specialty gas clean gas cylinders (Y-type cylinders) and specialty tube skid containers in batches, and launched new hydrogen-rich power generation module products. CIMC Enric successfully delivered an integrated LNG liquefaction plant in Indonesia, while implementing its third benchmark steelmaking coke integrated project — the Shougang Shuicheng Steel project in Liupanshui, Guizhou. It also secured newly signed domestic Panzhihua Iron and Steel projects and its first overseas steelmaking coke integrated project with Tsingshan in Indonesia. In the hydrogen energy field, it contributed to the construction of Hong Kong’s first commercial building hydrogen energy charging station and launched China’s first 20-foot Type IV cylinder hydrogen tube skid container. During the Reporting Period, the clean energy segment recorded newly signed orders of RMB10.61 billion, representing a YoY increase of 18.3%, among which newly signed orders for waterborne clean energy reached RMB4.535 billion, representing a significant YoY increase of 40.1%, with shipbuilding orders scheduled through 2029. The chemical and environment segment benefited from the recovery of the chemical industry and high-growth industries such as semiconductors, with demand for tank containers improving, while the medical equipment components business maintained steady growth. As at the end of June 2026, orders on hand increased by 86.8% YoY to RMB1.57 billion. The liquid food segment focused on the non-alcoholic beverage and new consumption sectors, successfully securing and signing multiple turnkey projects, including projects for Japanese breweries and Chinese whisky distilleries. Cumulative newly signed orders reached RMB1.44 billion, representing a strong YoY increase of 108.4%. In respect of the offshore engineering business, benefiting from the cost advantages of deepwater locations, the deepwater offshore engineering market for FPSO/FLNG continued to strengthen. CIMC Raffles, the main operating entity, achieved an important breakthrough in the international high-end offshore engineering general contracting market by signing China’s first FPSO EPCIC general contracting contract, further enhancing its industry competitiveness. During the Reporting Period, revenue amounted to RMB7.935 billion, representing a YoY decrease of 0.98%; net profit amounted to RMB718 million, representing a YoY increase of 155.52%. In terms of market orders, new orders amounted to US$3.2 billion during the Reporting Period, a substantial increase from US$106 million in the same period last year. As at the end of June, CIMC Raffles had cumulative orders on hand of US$7.62 billion, reaching a record high. In terms of project construction and delivery, in January, the PCTC with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles, “NOCC ADRIATIC”, constructed for a Norwegian shipowner, was delivered 70 days ahead of its contractual delivery schedule; in February, the Norse Energi, the world’s largest fully DC wind turbine installation vessel in terms of lifting capacity, completed its seaworthiness delivery; in March, construction commenced on the first vessel of a new generation of seabed rock dumping vessels built for Van Oord, a leading Dutch offshore engineering company; in April, the fore-body module of the P85 hull was slid onto a barge at the Haiyang base, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent successful major assembly of the P85 project; in May, construction of the VLCC tanker officially commenced, entering the substantive construction stage; and in June, the main upper module structure of the project constructed for Golar was successfully capped, marking a key milestone in the project’s construction. In respect of the offshore engineering asset operation and management business, all offshore engineering assets of the Group currently under lease have been operating normally under their respective lease contracts, and the Group continued to provide high-quality services to customers. Benefiting from the successful lease of the Blue Whale No. 1 platform, increased prices upon the renewal of contracts for multiple drilling platforms, and lower operating costs resulting from refined management, operating profit improved during the Reporting Period. During the Reporting Period, the sixth-generation semi-submersible drilling platform “Deepsea Yantai” secured a new drilling contract, injecting momentum into revenue growth; the semi-submersible lifting/life support platform Blue Gretha successfully arrived at its designated operating area to provide high-quality services to clients. Meanwhile, several semi-submersible drilling and life support platforms and other offshore engineering assets of the Group actively pursued new contracts. Future Development and Prospects The management of the Group stated, “2026 is the first year of the ‘15th Five-Year Plan’. The Group will be based on the new development stage, closely follow national policy guidance, and closely focus on ‘focusing on high-quality development and cultivating new growth drivers’. With a more proactive strategic approach, we will cultivate new opportunities and open up new prospects amid complex changes, striving to build ‘a high-quality and respected world-class enterprise’.” About China International Marine Containers (Group) Co., Ltd. The CIMC Group is a world-leading equipment and solution provider in the logistics and energy industries, and its industry clusters mainly cover the logistics and energy fields. In the logistics field, the Group has established a general transportation equipment portfolio covering “sea, land and air”: its container manufacturing business provides key circulation equipment for the container shipping industry; its road transportation vehicles business connects the arteries of land transportation; its airport facilities and logistics equipment/fire safety and rescue equipment businesses expand into aviation hubs and specialised scenarios; its logistics services business provides professional services across the entire-value chain; and its recycled load business provides professional supporting services. In the energy field, the Group is principally engaged in the energy, chemical, and liquid food equipment business and offshore engineering business. Meanwhile, the Group also continuously develops emerging industries and has finance and asset management businesses that serve the Group itself. As a diversified multinational industrial group serving the global market, CIMC has over 300 member enterprises across Asia, North America, Europe, and Australia, with a total of four listed companies, and customers and sales networks covering more than 100 countries and regions worldwide. In 2025, the Group recorded revenue of RMB 156.6 billion, ranking 154th on the 2025 Fortune 500 China list. The Group has maintained the world’s No.1 position for many consecutive years in core products such as standard dry containers, reefer containers, tank containers and semi-trailers. For more information, please visit http://www.cimc.com/. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Glucose Health, Inc. (OTCID: GLUC) Appoints Consumer Products Industry Veteran John Duffy as Chief Executive Officer to Accelerate Growth, Elevate Brand Leadership, and Maximize Long-Term Shareholder Value 2026-08-28 · GlobeNewswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/28/3352665/0/en/glucose-health-inc-otcid-gluc-appoints-consumer-products-industry-veteran-john-duffy-as-chief-executive-officer-to-accelerate-growth-elevate-brand-leadership-and-maximize-long-term.html Glucose Health, Inc. (OTCID: GLUC) Appoints Consumer Products Industry Veteran John Duffy as Chief Executive Officer to Accelerate Growth ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GLP-1 Users Are Spending Nearly 4x More on Fitness Than Other Consumers, New Report Finds 2026-08-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/glp-1-users-are-spending-nearly-4x-more-on-fitness-than-other-consumers-new-report-finds-302862120.html The Consumer Collective's national study of 500 U.S. adults shows GLP-1 users spend $449 a month on fitness, against $120 for non-users BROOKLYN, N.Y., Aug. 28, 2026 -- The Consumer Collective, a consumer insights and advisory firm, today released How America Spends on... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AEOCKY Named the No. 1 Best-Selling Dehumidifier Brand on Amazon U.S. for Full-Year 2025 2026-08-28 · GlobeNewswire · Energy, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/28/3352653/0/en/aeocky-named-the-no-1-best-selling-dehumidifier-brand-on-amazon-u-s-for-full-year-2025.html AEOCKY ranks No.1 in Amazon U.S. dehumidifier sales based on 2025 data. The Rhea dehumidifier delivers ENERGY STAR Most Efficient performance. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— B&G Foods to Participate in the Barclays Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-28 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/b-g-foods-participate-barclays-120000371.html PARSIPPANY, N.J., August 28, 2026--B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: BGS) today announced that it will participate in the Barclays Global Consumer Conference on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Boston, MA. The fireside chat will begin at 4:30 p.m. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Caleres Declares Regular Quarterly Dividend 2026-08-28 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/caleres-declares-regular-quarterly-dividend-104500332.html ST. LOUIS, August 28, 2026--Caleres (NYSE: CAL), a market-leading portfolio of consumer-driven footwear brands, today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per share to be paid on September 25, 2026, to shareholders of record as of September 11, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Commercial Vehicle Clutches Market Outlook 2026-2030 - Featuring Profiles of Leading Companies Eaton, ZF Friedrichshafen, and Valeo 2026-08-28 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Automotive, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/28/3352566/28124/en/commercial-vehicle-clutches-market-outlook-2026-2030-featuring-profiles-of-leading-companies-eaton-zf-friedrichshafen-and-valeo.html E-commerce logistics, heavy-duty fleets and electrification are driving demand for durable high-torque clutches, advanced friction materials, automated systems and remanufacturing. E-commerce logistics, heavy-duty fleets and electrification are driving demand for durable high-torque clutches, advanced friction materials, automated systems and remanufacturing. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— US Digestive Supplements Market 2026-2031 - Growing Consumer Focus on Gut Health Drives Market Growth 2026-08-28 · GlobeNewswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/28/3352559/28124/en/us-digestive-supplements-market-2026-2031-growing-consumer-focus-on-gut-health-drives-market-growth.html Demand is rising with digestive disorders and gut microbiome awareness. Probiotics lead, while enzymes, personalized nutrition and preventive wellness offer key opportunities. Demand is rising with digestive disorders and gut microbiome awareness. Probiotics lead, while enzymes, personalized nutrition and preventive wellness offer key opportunities. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ISEHAN's "KISSME Heroine Make" Eye Makeup Sales on Amazon U.S. Increase by 150% and Google Search Volume Surges by 5,000% 2026-08-28 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/isehans-kissme-heroine-make-eye-makeup-sales-on-amazon-us-increase-by-150-and-google-search-volume-surges-by-5-000-302862475.html TOKYO, Aug. 28, 2026 -- "KISSME Heroine Make," one of Japan's leading J-Beauty brands manufactured by ISEHAN Co., Ltd., is currently increasing its presence in the U.S. market with its flagship product, "KISSME Heroine Make Long/Volume UP Mascara Super WP N." The sales... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon is preparing for the energy needs of the future 2026-08-28 · Amazon · Energy, Retail, Sustainability https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-renewable-energy-updates?utm_source=rss Learn how we're supporting the transition to carbon-free energy and powering our business with sustainability in mind. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Modern Dental Group Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-28 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, Healthcare, Retail, Education, Sports, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109542/ RESULTS HIGHLIGHTS: - The Revenue for the six months ended 30 June 2026 was approximately HK$2,032.5 million, representing an increase of approximately 10.8% as compared to the same period in 2025. The growth in revenue was primarily attributable to the continued organic growth of the Group—driven by the accelerating adoption of digitalization across the global dental industry, particularly in Europe and Australia—alongside the stabilization and operational turnaround of the Mainland China market. This expansion was partially offset by a revenue decline in North America, which was impacted by a softer macroeconomic environment affecting high-value discretionary procedures, as well as management’s strategic decision to rationalize loss-making Dental Service Organization (DSO) accounts to optimize customer mix and protect margins. - The Gross Profit Margin for the six months ended 30 June 2026 was approximately 58.1%; the gross profit was approximately HK$1,180.9 million, reflecting an increase of approximately 17.4% as compared to the same period in 2025. - The Group’s EBITDA for the six months ended 30 June 2026 was approximately HK$ 560.7 million, representing an increase of approximately 22.8% as compared to the same period in 2025. - The Group’s Net Profit for the six months ended 30 June 2026 was approximately HK$ 377.6 million, representing an increase of 30.8% as compared to the same period in 2025. - Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2026 amounted to HK40.07 cents, representing an increase of approximately 31.9% as compared to the same period in 2025. - The Board declared an interim dividend of HK14.0 cents per ordinary share for the six months ended 30 June 2026. ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: - For the six months ended 30 June 2026, the Group’s digital solution cases that are produced from its Mainland China, Thailand and Vietnam production facilities increased to approximately 627,773 cases, reflecting an increase of 29.2% as compared with the same period in 2025 as a result of our clients’ continued adoption of intra-oral scanners. HONG KONG, August 28, 2026 - 27 August 2026, Modern Dental Group Limited (“Modern Dental” or “the Group”, stock code: 03600.HK), a leading global dental prosthetic device provider, is pleased to announce the unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June, 2026 (“the Period”). In the first half of 2026, the global macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, with geopolitical tensions and potential tariff changes continuing to create headwinds. However, the Group’s geographically diversified production footprint and global distribution network position us strongly to navigate these challenges. Unlike many competitors reliant on single-country manufacturing, our operations across China, Vietnam and Thailand (including the newly acquired Hexa Ceram) provide superior resilience and flexibility. This strategy, combined with our ability to adapt quickly to local market conditions, enables the Group to mitigate risks and capitalise on opportunities across regions. The dental industry has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience, underpinned by irreversible demographic trends, including aging populations and increasing awareness of oral health, which drive consistent long-term demand. Building on our well performance, the Group is well placed to sustain momentum and further strengthen its market leadership. Digitalisation remains an irreversible industry trend that is accelerating consolidation of the dental prosthetics industry. We are at the forefront of this transformation, with digital solution cases now representing approximately 35–43% of total volume. Our centralized digital workflows, intra-oral scanner partnerships, proprietary solutions and global education centers have enhanced operational efficiency, reduced turnaround times and delivers superior customer experiences. These initiatives create high entry barriers and will continue to drive margin expansion and market share gains in the coming years. European Businesses During the period under review, the European market recorded a revenue of approximately HK$1,093.3 million, representing an increase of approximately HK$173.0 million as compared with the six months ended 30 June 2025. This geographic market accounted for approximately 53.8% of the Group’s total revenue. The increase of revenue from the European market was attributable to the increase in sales order volume driven by the launch of new products, such as digital dentures, and our state-of-the-art digital workflows. North American Businesses During the period under review, the North American market recorded a revenue of approximately HK$331.3 million, representing a decrease of approximately HK$34.4 million as compared with the six months ended 30 June 2025. This geographic market accounted for approximately 16.3% of the Group’s total revenue. The top-line contraction in North America was primarily driven by a softer macroeconomic environment, which temporarily weighed on consumer sentiment and demand for high-value discretionary cosmetic procedures. In response, management proactively initiated a strategic rationalization of loss-making Dental Service Organization (DSO) accounts aimed at optimizing the customer mix, protecting gross margins, and focusing resources on higher-margin accounts. Concurrently, the Group’s diversified production footprint across the US, China, Vietnam, and Thailand continues to afford significant supply chain agility to navigate trade and tariff complexities—a key differentiator in the market. Demonstrating the resilience of this strategy, our US import business unit delivered a 1.4% period-on-period sales growth in the first half of 2026. This performance underscores how the accelerating trend toward clinical digitalization and the cost-competitiveness of our imported product lines have effectively mitigated and offset the impact of US tariffs. Greater China Businesses During the period under review, the Greater China market recorded a revenue of approximately HK$300.0 million, representing an increase of approximately HK$6.8 million as compared with six months ended 30 June 2025. This geographic market accounted for approximately 14.8% of the Group’s total revenue. Regional performance reflected diverging market dynamics across territories. In local currency terms, sales in Mainland China increased by approximately 0.9% year-on-year, signalling that the market has largely bottomed out from the initial impact of Volume-Based Procurement (VBP) policies and prolonged price competition. To protect sustainable profitability, the Group deliberately pivoted away from low-margin segments to focus on serving mid- to high-value customers. Conversely, sales in the Hong Kong market decreased by approximately 8.5% in local currency year-on-year. This contraction was primarily driven by a temporary reduction in local patient visits, as cross-border dental consumption increased due to aggressive promotions for dental treatments offered by Mainland China clinics targeting Hong Kong residents. Despite these near-term shifts, the Group remains optimistic about the mid- to long-term outlook for the Greater China region. Government procurement measures in Mainland China are expected to standardize prosthetic pricing and enhance market transparency, creating a more level playing field where the Group’s leading brand reputation, production scale, and operational efficiency serve as distinct competitive advantages. To capture evolving market demand, the Group is actively expanding its product portfolio, particularly in mid-end offerings and products. Australian Businesses During the period under review, the Australian market recorded a revenue of approximately HK$162.8 million, representing an increase of approximately HK$24.9 million as compared with the six months ended 30 June 2025. This geographic market accounted for approximately 8.0% of the Group’s total revenue. The increase in revenue from Australia was primarily driven by strong adoption of digital dental products and anti-snoring devices, and wins in dental service organization (DSO) customers. Other Markets Other markets primarily include Indian Ocean countries, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand. For the six months ended 30 June 2026, these markets recorded a revenue of approximately HK$145.2 million, representing an increase of approximately HK$27.4 million as compared with the six months ended 30 June 2025. This geographic market accounted for approximately 7.1% of the Group’s total revenue. The increase in revenue from Other markets was primarily driven by the strong revenue contributions from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. The scaled manufacturing hubs in Thailand and Vietnam have enhanced regional supply efficiency, broadened product availability, and strengthened the Group’s competitive footprint in the region. Future Prospects and Strategies Looking ahead, the Group remains committed to reinforcing its worldwide leading position through a multi-dimensional approach. We will continue to pursue selective acquisitions, joint ventures and partnerships to expand and complement our product offerings, particularly in our high-growth clear aligner, Trioclear, while strengthening our distribution and sales networks. Ongoing investments in mass-scale production facilities, AI, automation, research and development, and digital innovation will drive efficiency gains and secure our position at the forefront of the industry. With the Board’s extensive experience and prudent governance, the Group is well positioned to seize new business opportunities while remaining strict financial discipline to safeguard Shareholders’ interests. The Board expresses its sincere gratitude to our dedicated employees, loyal customers, suppliers, and business partners for their unwavering commitment. Their collective efforts have been instrumental in delivering another year of record results and will continue to support the Group’s long-term success. About Modern Dental Group Modern Dental Group Limited (Stock code: 03600.HK) is a leading global dental prosthetics provider, distributor and consultant with a focus on providing custom-made prostheses to customers in the growing prosthetics industry. Our product portfolio is broadly categorized into three product lines: fixed prosthetic devices, such as crowns and bridges; removable prosthetic devices, such as removable dentures; and other devices, such as orthodontic devices, sports guards, clear aligners, and anti-snoring devices. Modern Dental Group has a global portfolio of respected brands, including Labocast, Permadental and Elysee Dental in Western Europe, YZJ Dental in China, Modern Dental Lab in Hong Kong, Modern Dental USA and MicroDental in the United States, Modern Dental Pacific in Australia and New Zealand, Modern Dental SG in Singapore, Modern Dental TW in Taiwan, Apex Digital Dental in Malaysia and Hexa Ceram in Thailand. We have grown these brands by providing premium and consistent quality products and superior customer service. We have more than 80 service centers in over 30 countries and serve over 35,000 customers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Worldpanel by Numerator: Chinese Shoppers Prioritise Value as Retailers Embrace AI and Private Label Growth 2026-08-28 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/articles/worldpanel-numerator-chinese-shoppers-prioritise-010000213.html SHANGHAI, August 28, 2026--China's FMCG market is beginning to recover, but shoppers are continuing to make careful spending decisions as they look for better value in everyday purchases. According to the latest FMCG Market Review from Worldpanel by Numerator, consumer demand remained subdued during the first half of 2026, although performance improved in the second quarter as household spending recovered. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Luxshare Precision Reports 40.2% Revenue Growth in First Half 2026; Business Mix Supports Margin Expansion 2026-08-28 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/luxshare-precision-reports-40-2-revenue-growth-in-first-half-2026-business-mix-supports-margin-expansion-302861723.html Broad-based growth across consumer electronics, communications and data center, and automotive electronics, supported by targeted investment in AI infrastructure, intelligent vehicles and global delivery capacity DONGGUAN, China, Aug. 28, 2026 -- Luxshare Precision Industry... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FCPT Announces Acquisition of a 7-Eleven Property for $1.5 Million 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/fcpt-announces-acquisition-7-eleven-233600150.html MILL VALLEY, Calif., August 27, 2026--Four Corners Property Trust (NYSE:FCPT), a real estate investment trust primarily engaged in the ownership and acquisition of high-quality, net-leased restaurant and retail properties ("FCPT" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the acquisition of a 7-Eleven convenience store property for $1.5 million. The property is located in a strong retail corridor in Pennsylvania and corporate-operated under a long-term, triple net lease with approximately ten yea ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SupplyHouse Asks Americans: Who’s the Tradesman Who Saved Your Day? 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/supplyhouse-asks-americans-tradesman-saved-225600877.html MELVILLE, N.Y., August 27, 2026--SupplyHouse, a leading e-commerce distributor of plumbing, HVAC and electrical supplies, launched The Day Savers, a national contest inviting Americans to share the stories of tradesmen who showed up when it mattered most. In celebration of National Tradesmen Day, SupplyHouse will award $100,000 to 10 deserving tradespeople, with each receiving $10,000 and recognition as part of the 2026 Day Savers Crew. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Virtuoso Identifies the Trends Redefining Luxury Travel, From Fallcations to City-Maxxing 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Retail, Travel https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/virtuoso-identifies-trends-redefining-luxury-203500361.html NEW YORK, August 27, 2026--Virtuoso, the leading global network specializing in luxury and experiential travel, unveiled its latest travel trends during the 38th annual Virtuoso Travel Week. Drawn from proprietary data and ongoing advisor and consumer surveys, the findings show luxury travelers choosing fall over summer, lingering longer and investing more to enjoy destinations at their best, without the crowds. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Newegg Announces Second Quarter 2026 Results 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/newegg-announces-second-quarter-2026-203000503.html DIAMOND BAR, Calif., August 27, 2026--Newegg Commerce, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEGG), a leading global technology e-commerce retailer, today announced results for the three months ended June 30, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hilton Grand Vacations to Participate in Fireside Chat at Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail, Travel https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/hilton-grand-vacations-participate-fireside-201500526.html ORLANDO, Fla., August 27, 2026--Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV), the premier vacation ownership and experiences company, today announced that Dan Mathewes, president and chief financial officer, will participate in a live fireside chat at the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference on Thursday, Sept. 10 at noon ET. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sports Research® Expands Creatine Portfolio as the Category Evolves Beyond Traditional Sports Performance into Everyday Wellness 2026-08-27 · PR Newswire · Healthcare, Retail, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sports-research-expands-creatine-portfolio-as-the-category-evolves-beyond-traditional-sports-performance-into-everyday-wellness-302862115.html New Creatine Capsules launch at Costco and Amazon, delivering 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per serving in a convenient capsule format. LOS ANGELES, Aug. 27, 2026 -- Sports Research®, a leading health and wellness company, today announced the launch of its new Creatine... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Transparent Displays Market to Reach $8.7 Billion by 2030, Driven by Rising Adoption of Digital Signage and HUD Solutions Across Automotive, Retail, and Smart Infrastructure 2026-08-27 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/27/3352215/0/en/global-transparent-displays-market-to-reach-8-7-billion-by-2030-driven-by-rising-adoption-of-digital-signage-and-hud-solutions-across-automotive-retail-and-smart-infrastructure.html BCC Research LLC 50 Milk St., Ste. 16, Boston, MA 02109 press@bccresearch.com | +1 781-489-7301 www.bccresearch.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Advisar Lands $750K to Bring Clarity to Retail Media Spend 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/advisar-lands-750k-bring-clarity-150000927.html BENTONVILLE, Ark., August 27, 2026--Advisar, the independent AI-enabled decisioning layer for retail suppliers, today announced it has raised a $750K Pre-Seed round led by Clutch VC, an Austin-based, seed-focused venture firm, with participation from Venture Center Arkansas Fund, The Validation Fund at Winrock International, Rekall Capital, and White River Capital Advisors, along with angel investors Michael Paladino, Co-Founder of RevUnit, and Jeff Amerine, General Partner at Cadron Capital. Th ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— VVater Expands Global Presence Through New Partnership in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East 2026-08-27 · ACN Newswire · Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Travel, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109475/ AUSTIN, TX, Aug 27, 2026 - VVater, America's Next Water Company and the world's premier innovator in advanced water treatment solutions, today announced an expanded international presence across Asia-Pacific Middle East (APME) as the company continues to scale its innovative water treatment technology globally and support new sectors. Via a new partnership agreement, VVater APME will be established. This newly formed venture will bring VVater's technology to a wide range of markets and strategic customers around the world as water scarcity, water quality, regulatory expectations and long-term water stewardship become increasingly important drivers of operational resilience and economic performance. VVater APME is a partnership formed between VVater and Ecosafe International, a regionally recognised water risk management and water stewardship consultancy, which supports organisations to navigate their water journey through governance, assurance, risk reduction and practical innovation. With an extensive track record supporting organisations including BHP, Rio Tinto, Chevron, Shell, JLL and NEOM, Ecosafe advises governments, mining operators, healthcare and industrial organisations on achieving safer, more sustainable and more resilient water outcomes across APME. VVater APME will operate with dedicated sector exclusivity in Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. "What drew us to this partnership is how much overlap there already was," said Kevin Gast, CEO and Chairman of VVater. "Ecosafe has spent years building trust with operators in some of the toughest water environments in the world. Pairing that with our technology means we can move faster into markets that badly need it." "For years we've watched clients wrestle with sourcing credible, provable water treatment technology once a risk assessment tells them what they're up against," said Ryan Milne, Founder of Ecosafe International. "This partnership closes a critical gap for us. We've always helped clients understand and govern water risk. Now we can combine that trusted advisory capability with proven technology solutions that accelerate the transition from water risk to water certainty." VVater APME is designed with a defined path to expand into installation, operations, and eventually in-territory manufacturing, creating long-term capability and supporting regional water security outcomes as the partnership matures. The agreement gives VVater APME access to VVater's full suite of proprietary technology, led by the Farady Reactor, a breakthrough in water treatment. Wherever it's deployed, from remote, self-managed water systems and mine sites to municipal water systems and industrial plants, the Farady Reactor transforms wastewater, sewage and drinking water alike, offering a glimpse of what next-generation water infrastructure can look like. VVater APME is the latest step in the company's international growth, following recognition from TIME, CES and Fast Company, and deployments with partners including Nestle and the City of Bastrop, Texas. The agreement reflects VVater's continued push to bring advanced treatment and reuse technology into markets facing mounting water stress. About VVater VVater is America's Next Water Company, delivering the future of purification through its award-winning Farady Reactor (Time Best Invention Award 2025, CES Best of Innovation 2025, World Future Award 2025. The first company in history to win all 3 in 1 year achieving a Triple Crown), proprietary ALTEP (Advanced Low Tension Electroporation Process), Advanced Dissolved Air Flotation, and Micro & Nano Bubble technologies. Unlike outdated chemical, filtration, and membrane systems, VVater's electric-field breakthroughs eliminate microplastics, microorganisms, and other contaminants with record retention times, without producing toxic byproducts or requiring costly consumables. With over 4.3B gallons treated and validation from global leaders, VVater is scaling into municipal drinking water and wastewater, DPR/IPR, onsite reuse for data centers, commercial buildings, and resorts, residential purification, and consumer health water, delivering a 60% smaller footprint, 40% CapEx savings, 80% OpEx savings, and 40% less energy use. For more information, please visit www.vvater.com. Contact Information VVATER Media Office Global Media Room media@vvater.com Nicholas Koulermos vvater@5wpr.com SOURCE: VVater LLC ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— DesignRush Names Disruptive Advertising a Top eCommerce Agency for 2026 2026-08-27 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311386/DesignRush-Names-Disruptive-Advertising-a-Top-eCommerce-Agency-for-2026 Pleasant Grove, Utah--(August 27, 2026) - Disruptive Advertising has been named a top eCommerce marketing agency in DesignRush's 2026 rankings.Disruptive Advertising Earns a Spot Among DesignRush's Top eCommerce Marketing Agencies for 2026.DesignRush's 2026 ranking considers agencies based on factors including industry reputation, client feedback, and portfolio strength. Disruptive Advertising's listing covers eCommerce marketing as well as PPC, paid social, SEO, email marketing... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AI Innovation at Constructor Leads to 3 Gold 'Company of the Year' Wins Across 3 Stevie® Awards Programs 2026-08-27 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ai-innovation-at-constructor-leads-to-3-gold-company-of-the-year-wins-across-3-stevie-awards-programs-302861732.html Retail and ecommerce wins recognize Constructor's product discovery leadership; judges cite 'outstanding commercial results, meaningful AI innovation and compelling customer impact' SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 27, 2026 -- Constructor, the leading AI-powered search and product... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Iggy Azalea Invests in Shift - The AI Company Behind the Fastest-Growing Platform in the $1.3 Trillion Creator Economy, Fanvue 2026-08-27 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Sports https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109470/ LONDON, Aug 27, 2026 - Iggy Azalea, the four-time Grammy-nominated artist, entrepreneur, and active investor, has personally invested a substantial sum in Fanvue's parent company SHIFT - the AI infrastructure the platform runs on. As part of the investment deal, Azalea will also become the founding member of SHIFT's Creator Advisory Board. The move comes at a time when the world's biggest creators, athletes and music artists are increasingly looking to multi-million-dollar equity opportunities in the creator economy - recent examples include MrBeast and the Paul brothers, Jake and Logan. AI is transforming how people make money online. For two decades, the creator economy has run on a simple trade: creators build the audience, and advertisers rent it. That era is ending. Advertising isn't going away, but something else is the future: fans paying creators directly, for subscriptions, communities, experiences and digital products. Direct monetisation is the fastest-growing force in a creator economy projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2033 (Grand View Research), and it hands creators what advertising never did: ownership of their income. "I've spent my career watching the value creators generate flow everywhere except to the actual creators themselves," said Azalea. "Every now and then a Stripe or a Shopify comes along and changes who holds the leverage. I'm backing SHIFT to be that company for the creator economy. And I'm not just the face, I'm an owner." SHIFT's flagship platform, Fanvue, surpassed a $200 million annualised run rate in July - five months earlier the business hit $100m, making it the fastest-growing platform in the creator economy. The platform is home to Cardi B, footballer Alisha Lehmann, WNBA star Kysre Gondrezick and football journalist Fabrizio Romano. The business closed a $22 million Series A in January led by Inner Circle, the investment club whose portfolio includes Revolut, Anthropic and xAI. Fanvue was launched in 2020 by Joel Morris, Will Monange and Harry Fitzgerald. Morris, a teenage YouTube star with more than 2.5 million subscribers, saw the model from the inside: the audience was his, but the earnings ran through advertisers, not fans. Fanvue was built to flip that - and as it has scaled, the vision outgrew the platform alone and became SHIFT. SHIFT was built to transform how the creator economy earns. At its centre is Fanvue, the AI-first platform where creators run their businesses; around it, SHIFT is building a growing ecosystem of apps that expands what creators can sell, payment rails built for a new era of AI-driven & agentic commerce, and financial services designed to scale creator earnings. Creators using SHIFT's AI tools earn between three and six times more than those who don't. "AI is fundamentally changing how people make money online, and global talent like Iggy investing in SHIFT underlines the belief in our vision" said Joel Morris, Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "For twenty years creators could only really sell one thing, their audience's attention, and advertisers were the only buyer. AI removes that ceiling," said Will Monange, Co-Founder and Co-CEO. "Iggy shares the same vision as the SHIFT team - build the AI infrastructure that the whole creator economy will run on." said Harry Fitzgerald, Co-Founder & COO. About SHIFT: SHIFT is the AI infrastructure company for the creator economy, spanning the Fanvue platform, its AI engine, the first app store on any creator platform, and payment and financial rails. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in London. About Fanvue: Fanvue is the fastest-growing platform in the creator economy, with 17+ million monthly active users and over 325,000+ creators About Iggy Azalea: Four-time Grammy nominee, multi-platinum recording artist, and active entrepreneur and investor. Contact information Ryan Michael Gilks ryan@ideafarmer.co.uk 07568490267 SOURCE: Shift Holdings Ltd ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Freshpet, Inc. to Participate in the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-27 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/27/3351942/33052/en/freshpet-inc-to-participate-in-the-barclays-19th-annual-global-consumer-conference.html BEDMINSTER, N.J., Aug. 27, 2026 -- Freshpet, Inc. (“Freshpet” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: FRPT) today announced that members of the executive management team will participate in the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference in Boston, MA. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel Launches "Ticket to Relief" to Help Golf Fans Keep Moving and Stay in the Game 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Retail, Gaming, Education, Sports https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/voltaren-arthritis-pain-gel-launches-120000318.html WARREN, N.J., August 27, 2026--Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel today launched Ticket to Relief, a national consumer education campaign featuring actor, author and golf enthusiast Brian Baumgartner as Voltaren’s Lead Relief Caddie. The campaign makes arthritis joint pain education more approachable, connecting people with information and management options that can help them stay engaged in the activities they love. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Reconova Technologies Interim Results 2026-08-27 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Travel, Industrial, Aerospace & defense, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109491/ XIAMEN, August 27, 2026 - August 26, 2026, Reconova Technologies Co., Ltd. ("Reconova" or the "Company", Stock code: 7656.HK) today released its first interim results since its listing. During the reporting period, the Company achieved revenue of approximately RMB102 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 58.7%. The revenue growth was primarily driven by the synergistic momentum across its three business segments, underpinned by a solid core business foundation. R&D expenses accounted for approximately 48.8% of revenue, as strategic investments continued to build robust technological moats for the Company. Operating Performance Steadily Improves, Operational Efficiency Continuously Optimised From a profitability perspective, the Company recorded a net loss of approximately RMB64 million during the reporting period, narrowing by 6.7% year-on-year. This improvement was achieved despite a continued increase in R&D investment, which rose 51.2% year-on-year. As the Company is in the strategic investment phase for embodied intelligence, R&D expenses account for nearly half of revenue. The net loss was primarily attributable to increased R&D investment in embodied intelligence and one-off listing-related expenses incurred during the period. In terms of operational efficiency, selling and distribution expenses declined by approximately 5.3% year-on-year alongside revenue expansion, reflecting continuous efficiency gains. While the net loss narrowed year-on-year, trade receivables decreased to approximately RMB510 million, down 13.0% from the end of the previous year, indicating a notable improvement in collection efficiency. Looking at forward revenue visibility, contract liabilities stood at approximately RMB12 million as at the end of the reporting period, up 420% from the beginning of the year. Contract liabilities represent advance payments from customers for goods or services not yet delivered; these amounts will be progressively recognised as revenue in subsequent accounting periods, providing greater visibility into future revenue.. For technology companies in a strategic investment phase, trends in contract liabilities often better reflect the true trajectory of the business than current-period net profit. Three Business Segments Achieve Synergistic Growth, Customer Ecosystem Continuously Strengthened During the reporting period, all three business segments achieved year-on-year growth with ongoing structural optimisation, demonstrating the core business's sustainable cash-generating capability. The Intelligent Civil Aviation segment generated revenue of approximately RMB3 million, up 319.1% year-on-year, benefiting from enhanced customer stability. The Company maintained its No. 1 market position in China's enterprise vision intelligence product market for civil aviation, with its products deployed in over 60% of China's airports with annual passenger throughput exceeding 10 million. Benchmark projects continue to be replicated and iterated. It is worth noting that the civil aviation sector exhibits pronounced seasonal characteristics: due to the annual budget execution cycle of airports and project acceptance timelines, revenue recognition for this segment is typically concentrated in the second half of the year, particularly in the fourth quarter. The Smart Commercial segment accelerated the acquisition and servicing of high-value customers, driving growth in average customer value and transaction volume. Revenue reached approximately RMB34 million, up 95.5% year-on-year. The SINHON Business System for commercial spaces is being deployed at an accelerating pace, achieving rapid growth and a more diversified revenue base. The Smart Driving Safety segment generated revenue of approximately RMB66 million, up 41.2% year-on-year. A significant increase in new customer order volumes drove sales expansion. Full-Stack Technology System Evolves, Embodied Intelligence Achieves Multiple Commercialisation Milestones With 14 years of expertise in vision intelligence, Reconova has built an integrated enterprise-grade embodied intelligence core technology framework spanning "perception–cognition–physical execution," and is steadily advancing the large-scale deployment of commercial robot products for productivity-focused scenarios. In terms of concrete progress, the "AntOne" airport baggage handling robot, launched in September 2025, has completed pilot deployment at a major Chinese airport with more than 10 million annual passengers, supporting 24/7 uninterrupted operation. In April 2026, the Company iteratively launched its new VTFLA embodied intelligence technology architecture. Building on the conventional VLA (Vision-Language-Action) framework, VTFLA integrates multi-modal input perception including vision, tactile and force feedback. Its core design philosophy is to process over 80% of intelligence at the edge, employing a dual-system fast-slow coordination architecture that decouples and coordinates task planning with real-time control. The Company plans to further advance R&D in edge-side lightweight embodied intelligence technology, continuously enhancing multi-modal perception and execution capabilities. At the recently concluded 2026 World Robot Conference (WRC), the Company comprehensively presented an embodied intelligence solution for airport productivity scenarios. Through human-machine systems and multi-robot collaborative operations, the solution reshapes traditional manual baggage handling operations, creating a safe, reliable, and flexibly adaptable full-chain intelligent baggage handling system. In addition, the Company has initiated R&D on a wheeled dual-arm robot, expected to be launched in 2027 and commercialised in 2028. Its application scenarios will expand from fixed-position baggage handling to mobile loading and unloading operations under aircraft, and gradually extend to warehousing, industrial automation, and other scenarios. During the conference, the Company also signed a strategic cooperation agreement with SIIC Tech Capital to jointly build the Hong Kong Embodied Intelligence Super Accelerator, advancing industrial commercialisation and international expansion. Globalisation Strategy Fully Launched, Overseas Markets Achieve Multi-Point Breakthroughs For international expansion, the Company adopts a strategy of "expanding from nearby markets to more distant regions," with an initial focus on Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Currently, the Company has launched Proof of Concept (PoC) pilot projects at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, and Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan. The rollout follows the principle of "prioritising flagship airports first, then radiating to long-tail customers": the first phase focuses on hub airports in the Middle East and Southeast Asia to establish benchmark cases, before progressively expanding to long-tail customers and subsequently entering European and American markets. The Company is replicating its vision AI and embodied intelligence experience accumulated at domestic airports to global markets that are undergoing large-scale smart airport construction. In terms of partnership models, the Company emphasises local ecosystem collaboration and the export of technology standards, combined with product localisation, adopting an asset-light, deep-collaboration approach. Approximately 10.4% of the IPO net proceeds have been earmarked for expanding overseas sales channels, providing financial support for the globalisation strategy. Strategy Focused on Productivity Scenarios, Long-Term Market Potential Gradually Unlocks The Company adheres to a highly focused and disciplined strategic principle, concentrating on "productivity tools" in handling, depalletizing/palletizing, and specialty scenarios, rather than pursuing broad concepts such as consumer-grade robots or general-purpose humanoid robots. In the short term, the three business segments — Intelligent Civil Aviation, Smart Commercial, and Smart Driving Safety — will continue to generate stable cash flow. Over the medium to long term, leveraging a universal vision intelligence foundation reusable across scenarios, the Company will continuously strengthen its full-stack embodied intelligence core technology framework, iterate multiple categories of commercial robots, and complete a strategic upgrade from vision intelligence solutions to an integrated "perception–cognition–physical execution" enterprise-grade embodied intelligence framework. Embodied intelligence has been included as a key future industry to be cultivated under China's 15th Five-Year Plan. According to Frost & Sullivan forecasts, China's enterprise vision intelligence market will exceed RMB162.7 billion by 2030. As B2B customers' demand for cost reduction and efficiency improvement continues to rise and the technology maturity curve crosses its inflection point, commercial robots are expected to enter a period of accelerated demand growth in productivity scenarios such as airport baggage handling, warehousing logistics, and industrial automation over the next three to five years. Leveraging its 14-year vision intelligence foundation and multi-scenario engineering delivery experience, Reconova is accelerating the deployment of embodied intelligence in real industrial scenarios, completing its transition from vision intelligence to enterprise-grade embodied intelligence, with long-term market potential gradually unlocking. About Reconova Technologies Co., Ltd. Reconova Technologies Co., Ltd. (Stock code: 7656.HK) is a leading enterprise vision intelligence company in China, listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on 8 July 2026. The Company provides a series of visual perception, visual cognition, and visual reasoning intelligence products applied across civil aviation, commercial spaces, and driving safety scenarios. Ranked first in China's enterprise vision intelligence product market for civil aviation by 2025 revenue, Reconova is advancing its strategic evolution from vision intelligence to enterprise-grade embodied intelligence. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Watch & Clock Fair, Salon de TIME return this September 2026-08-27 · ACN Newswire · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Automotive, Education, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Sports, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109494/ HONG KONG, August 27, 2026 - The 45th Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and the 14th Salon de TIME, jointly organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, will be held from 1 to 5 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Salon de TIME will be fully open to the public throughout the event. The 45th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and 14th Salon de TIME take place from 1 to 5 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Introducing fair highlights at a press conference are Smilely Lam, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (fifth from the left), SK Chong (fourth from the right) and Frankie Lam (fourth from the left), Co-Chairmen, HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair Organising Committee 2026, and celebrity Joey Thye (fifth from the right). Under the theme “Sparkling Moments Through Time”, the two fairs are expected to attract more than 630 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, showcasing a wide range of watches, clocks and related products to meet evolving market trends and consumer demand. The Click2Match AI-powered business matching platform has been available since 25 August and will remain open until 12 September, enabling exhibitors and buyers from around the world to connect and conduct business discussions online during and beyond the physical fairs. Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair marks 45th Milestone HKTDC Associate Executive Director Smilely Lam said: “The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and Salon de TIME together form the world's largest one-stop watch and clock marketplace. As the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair celebrates its 45th edition this year, the two fairs are continuing to grow in both international reach and diversity, leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths as an international trading hub and Asia’s premier sourcing centre for watches and clocks. This year’s fairs welcome, for the first time, a pavilion from Hengyang, Hunan Province, alongside group pavilions from France, Switzerland, Guangzhou and Taiwan. New exhibitors from Norway, Singapore and the US are joining this year's fair, further strengthening the international profile of the fairs. Salon de TIME is expected to feature more than 150 global brands, reaching a new post-pandemic high. Participation from Hong Kong brands and Guochao-inspired brands has increased by more than 20%, while more brands from Italy, the United Kingdom and the US are joining, alongside the debut of Singaporean brands. This fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique role as an important bridge connecting the Chinese Mainland with international markets, as well as the global watch industry’s confidence in the Hong Kong market.” According to the latest trade statistics, Hong Kong is the world’s largest importer and second largest exporter of wristwatches. In the first seven months of this year, the total export value of watches reached approximately HK$30.5 billion, representing a 7.8% year-on-year increase. Several other Hong Kong export markets recorded double-digit growth, including Germany (+21%), Switzerland (+25%) and the United Arab Emirates (+91%). In addition, the watch industry’s export confidence index rose from 50.4 to 51.9 in the second quarter, reflecting the industry’s cautiously optimistic outlook for exports. Microbrand participation doubles, bringing greater diversity to the fair Located in Hall 3FG, Salon de TIME features six themed zones: World Brand Piazza, Chic & Trendy, Craft Treasure, Renaissance Moment, Wearable Tech, and Microbrands. The Microbrands zone has attracted 29 brands from eight countries and regions, with both the number of participating brands and the number of represented countries and regions doubling compared with last year. World Brand Piazza showcases prestigious international watch brands For the 16th consecutive year, the World Brand Piazza zone is organised in partnership with Prince Jewellery & Watch, featuring limited-edition and rare timepieces from some of the world’s most prestigious watch brands. This year, Prince Jewellery & Watch will showcase exceptional creations from six internationally renowned brands: Baume & Mercier, Corum, DeWitt, Franck Muller, Montblanc and Sarcar. World Brand Piazza will feature a selection of limited-edition and highly collectible timepieces. Among the highlights, Franck Muller will present a ladies’ watch created in collaboration with French street artist Jisbar, marking the second partnership between the two parties. The brand will also host a product introduction seminar on 2 September titled “Franck Muller 2026 WPHH Novelties ‘Vanguard Lady Crazy Hours Jisbar’”. Meanwhile, Sarcar has specially created a unique platinum version of its Medusa timepiece exclusively for the World Brand Piazza. The one-of-a-kind watch is set with 228 diamonds, complemented by red garnets and green agates, showcasing exceptional high jewellery craftsmanship. Two marquise-cut diamonds are used to represent Medusa’s eyes. At the same time, the signature snake-hair motif extends seamlessly from the dial to the case and lugs, all meticulously sculpted from solid gold, offering the charm of ancient Roman stone sculptures of beautiful women. The Renaissance Moment zone will also welcome the debut appearance of WOLF, the luxury watch storage box and winder brand from the United Kingdom. Built around the concept of preserving heritage, WOLF provides professional care solutions for high-end mechanical timepieces. On the opening day of the fair (1 September), the brand will unveil its latest innovation, The Rocket, the world's most compact travel watch winder, highlighting WOLF's commitment to innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship. Guochao timepieces showcase the strength of Chinese watchmaking Designs incorporating traditional Chinese cultural elements have gained strong market appeal in recent years. This year, Salon de TIME will bring together five leading independent watchmakers from the Chinese Mainland, all of whom will attend the fair in person. The Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI) which is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious independent watchmaking institutions, maintains exceptionally stringent membership requirements. Currently, only four AHCI members are from the Chinese Mainland, and this year's exhibition will feature three of them including Xushu Ma, who was the first watchmaker from the Chinese Mainland admitted to the association, as well as Zehua Tan and Lin Yong Hua. The opportunity to see such a distinguished line-up in one place is particularly rare. In addition, several Guochao-inspired brands and Chinese watchmakers will showcase their outstanding creations. Highlights include: Chinese watchmaker Qian Guobiao will present the limited-edition AB-05S “Skylight Sun”, restricted to just 18 pieces worldwide. The self-developed AB-05 manual-winding movement powers the timepiece. At the same time, its semi-skeletonized dial reveals the balance wheel and gear train, highlighting the watch's intricate mechanics and technical expertise. Shanghai Watch will present the ORIGINATE Collection A623 Revival Watch, a modern recreation of China’s first calendar watch, modelling after the original A623 timepiece worn for many years by Zhou Enlai, the first Premier of the People’s Republic of China. The brand will also unveil the Hong Kong Exclusive Edition featuring two interchangeable straps in grey and green, with colours inspired by the Zhongshan suits frequently worn by Premier Zhou, evoking a spirit and memory that transcend generations. Award-winning timepieces showcase innovation and craftsmanship This year’s fair brings together award-winning timepieces, highlighting the watch industry’s pursuit of technical excellence and design innovation. Highlights include: AGELOCER’s 29.51-Day MoonPhase Original Astronomer reimagines the traditional moon phase display by featuring an industry-first 28.5mm oversized moon phase aperture. Blending astronomical imagery with mechanical aesthetics, the timepiece has earned nine international design awards, including the German Design Award 2022, MUSE Design Awards Gold 2023, and European Design Award 2023. Making its debut at the exhibition, Singaporean brand Vario will present the Vario VERSA Reversible Dual Time Watch. With an innovative reversible case design, the watch features two independent dials, each showing a different time zone. Users can easily switch between the two displays, making it a practical companion for international travellers. The unique design earned the watch the 2025 iF Design Award. Collaborations, innovation and limited-edition collectibles cater to diverse market tastes The fairs will also feature collaborative, limited-edition, and debut timepieces, showcasing different styles and innovations to meet evolving consumer preferences, including: LINK2CARE has partnered with Swiss watch brand MARVIN to launch a luxury smartwatch that integrates LINK2CARE’s patented leather strap with concealed medical-grade vital sensor. The watch provides comprehensive health monitoring capabilities, including real-time tracking of mental resilience and stress levels, with data displayed directly on the watch dial. This year’s two major overseas pavilions, the Swiss Independent Watchmakers Pavilion (SIWP) and France’s Francéclat, together with other European exhibitors, will bring together around 80 brands from across Europe. Among the highlights, Swiss watchmaker Pilo & Co Genève will showcase the Corleone Mini Collection, created to celebrate the brand’s 25th anniversary. Reimagining the iconic Corleone design as a refined ladies’ timepiece, the collection blends elegance with contemporary sophistication, with each colour variant limited to just 10 pieces worldwide. Several product zones showcase industry strength; Time Tunnel celebrates 45th edition The Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, to be held in Hall 1, features seven dedicated product zones. Among them, Pageant of Eternity will showcase premium finished watches from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) and Original Design Manufacturers (ODM). One example is Hong Kong exhibitor Time Grand Ltd, which has more than 20 years of experience in product development, engineering design, and manufacturing services for global watch brands. Through its network of partnerships with Swiss watchmaking companies, the firm offers one-stop watchmaking solutions, demonstrating the strength of Hong Kong’s watch industry in connecting international watchmaking markets. Other zones include Complete Watches, Clocks, Machinery & Equipment, Packaging & Display, Parts, Components & Accessories. To celebrate the 45th edition of the Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair, organisers will present a special “Time Tunnel” exhibition, taking visitors on a journey through three key stages in the fair’s evolution since its debut in 1982. The exhibition will revisit the period from the 1980s to the 1990s, when the fair established itself as a major global sourcing platform for the watch and clock industry. It then traces the transformation of Hong Kong’s watch industry between 2000 and 2020, as the sector evolved from OEM manufacturing toward brand development, with the fair becoming an important platform for industry promotion, networking, and exchange. The final section covers the period from 2020 to the present, when the fair expanded beyond manufacturing, sourcing, and brand promotion. Through cross-sector collaboration and the integration of resources from different industries, it has evolved into a multifaceted platform that brings together craftsmanship, design, technology, lifestyle, culture and consumer engagement, reflecting the continuous transformation of both the watch industry and the fair itself. Experts to share insights on emerging global watch industry trends More than 40 events will take place throughout the fair, including forums, seminars, watch parades, and networking activities, giving industry professionals valuable insights into the latest market developments and business opportunities. On the opening day (1 September), the Hong Kong International Watch Forum will bring together leaders of watch industry associations from Chinese Mainland, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan and Korea to share the latest trade statistics and industry trends in their respective markets. Speakers will also explore new opportunities arising from the convergence of traditional watchmaking craftsmanship and technological innovation. On the second day (2 September), the Asian Watch Conference will be held under the theme “Hong Kong as the hub of International Watch Trades”. Senior analysts from international research firm Euromonitor International (Hong Kong) will present the latest developments in the global watch market. Representatives from online watch resale platform Chrono24 will discuss how businesses can connect with global demand through digital channels. At the same time, speakers from Lazada HK will share insights on how to leverage e-commerce platforms to accelerate market expansion and reach new customer segments. The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition, jointly organised by the HKTDC, the Hong Kong Watch Manufacturers Association Limited, and the Federation of Hong Kong Watch Trades & Industries Limited, aims to promote watch design exchanges and nurture local talent. This year, the themes for the Open Group and Student Group are “Transcending Time” and “Contours of the Breeze” respectively. The competition will continue to feature The Made-to-sell Award, recognising student entries with outstanding commercial potential. The award presentation ceremony will be held on 5 September at the fair’s event stage, with celebrity Joey Thye attending as a guest. Public activities and lucky draws offer an exciting visitor experience Salon de TIME will host a variety of special activities and luxury watch showcases open to the public. Among the highlights, renowned watch art specialist and collector Labeg will lead a workshop on 4 September, demonstrating how to craft wristwatches from corrugated cardboard. This year, the exhibition also introduces the “Time Arena” activity zone, combining sports and luxury watch elements to offer visitors a fresh and interactive experience. A key feature will be the “Watch2Care Smart x Lifestyle Experience Days”, taking place from 4 to 5 September, featuring a range of interactive activities. Visitors will also have the opportunity to try pickleball, one of the fastest-growing sports in recent years. Other highlights include yoga and body mobility sessions, watch parades, and product launch events. Memorigin will unveil the Verdant Resonance Tourbillon watch, and invite several celebrity guests to attend its activities, including celebrity Vic Teo, Hong Kong basketball star Wong Lut Yiu, and renowned face-changing performer Hathor Wai. A Lucky Draw will be held daily throughout the fair, offering visitors the chance to win premium watches sponsored by brands including Memorigin, SAGA, ELMER INGO, Allied Asia Enterprise (PVT) Limited, Alexus Christy, Claudia Koch and FOKSY. In addition, CENTRESTAGE, Hong Kong’s premier fashion event, will take place concurrently at the HKCEC from 2 to 5 September, bringing together fashion brands and designer collections from around the world. The co-location of the events will create strong synergies, allowing visitors to explore the latest collections from more than 400 watch and fashion brands under one roof. Photo download: https://bit.ly/4xqIloM The 45th HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair and 14th Salon de TIME take place from 1 to 5 September at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Introducing fair highlights at a press conference are Smilely Lam, HKTDC Associate Executive Director (fifth from the left), SK Chong (fourth from the right) and Frankie Lam (fourth from the left), Co-Chairmen, HKTDC Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair Organising Committee 2026, and celebrity Joey Thye (fifth from the right). Celebrity Joey Thye to host exclusive watch unboxing session, showcasing eight timepieces. The World Brand Piazza, organised in partnership with Prince Jewellery & Watch for the 16th consecutive year, has long been one of the exhibition’s signature attractions and remains a favourite among watch collectors. This year, Prince Jewellery & Watch is presenting luxury creations from six internationally renowned watch brands, including the Vanguard Lady Crazy Hours Jisbar (left), a collaboration between Franck Muller and French street artist Jisbar, as well as a unique platinum version of the Medusa timepiece (right) created exclusively for the exhibition by Sarcar.     Chinese watchmaker Qian Guobiao will present the limited-edition AB-05S “Skylight Sun”, restricted to just 18 pieces worldwide. The self-developed AB-05 manual-winding movement powers the timepiece. At the same time, its semi-skeletonized dial reveals the balance wheel and gear train, highlighting the watch's intricate mechanics and technical expertise. AGELOCER’s 29.51-Day MoonPhase Original Astronomer reimagines the traditional moon phase display by featuring an industry-first 28.5mm oversized moon phase aperture. Blending astronomical imagery with mechanical aesthetics, the timepiece has earned nine international design awards, including the German Design Award 2022, MUSE Design Awards Gold 2023, and European Design Award 2023. Vario VERSA Reversible Dual Time Watch’s innovative reversible case design, the watch features two independent dials, each showing a different time zone. Users can easily switch between the two displays, making it a practical companion for international travellers. The unique design earned the watch the 2025 iF Design Award. LINK2CARE has partnered with Swiss watch brand MARVIN to launch a luxury smartwatch that integrates LINK2CARE’s patented leather strap with concealed medical-grade biometric sensors. The watch provides comprehensive health monitoring capabilities, including real-time tracking of resilience and stress levels, with data displayed directly on the watch dial. Memorigin will unveil the “Verdant Resonance Tourbillon watch”, inspired by the refined lifestyle of ancient Chinese scholars, particularly the tradition of playing the zither while enjoying incense. It combines Chinese cultural aesthetics with contemporary haute horlogerie craftsmanship.    The 43rd Hong Kong Watch & Clock Design Competition features two categories, the Open Group and the Student Group, with design themes of “Transcending Time” and “Contours of the Breeze” respectively. Award-winning and shortlisted entries will be exhibited throughout the fair, showcasing the creativity and design talent of Hong Kong’s emerging and established watch designers. Photo shows representatives of the watch and clock industry together with the competition judges. Websites: Hong Kong Watch & Clock Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkwatchfair/en Salon de TIME: https://www.hktdc.com/event/te/en Media enquiries Please contact the HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:  Johnny Tsui Tel: (852) 2584 4395 Email : johnny.cy.tsui@hktdc.org About HKTDC The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Omdia: Global TV Shipments Grow 3.6% in 2Q26 as Market Headwinds Intensify 2026-08-27 · Business Wire · Retail, Sports https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/omdia-global-tv-shipments-grow-083900625.html LONDON, August 27, 2026--Global TV shipments grew 3.6% year-on-year (YoY) to 48.8 million units in 2Q26, supported by demand around the FIFA World Cup and Amazon Prime day timing, despite increasingly challenging market conditions, according to the latest research from Omdia. Persistent consumer inflation and tightening memory supply are increasing cost pressures across the industry, although these factors had a limited impact on TV shipment growth during the quarter. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— IC Group Reports Q2 2026 Results; Revenue Up 26% Year-over-Year, Driven By 97% Organic Growth of Annual Recurring Revenue 2026-08-26 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail, Sports https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311685/IC-Group-Reports-Q2-2026-Results-Revenue-Up-26-YearoverYear-Driven-By-97-Organic-Growth-of-Annual-Recurring-Revenue Toronto, Ontario--(August 26, 2026) - IC Group Holdings Inc. (TSXV: ICGH) ("IC Group" or the "Company"), a consumer engagement company driving commerce and data for global brands and professional sports teams, is pleased to announce its unaudited financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. All figures are reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated."Q2 2026 demonstrated continued execution across all three of IC Group's business segments, with... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AWS and NVIDIA to Deliver 2 Million Additional GPUs and Next-Generation Infrastructure for Agentic and Physical AI 2026-08-26 · NVIDIA · Finance, AI, Retail, Semiconductors https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/aws-and-nvidia-to-deliver-2-million-additional-gpus-and-next-generation-infrastructure-for-agentic-and-physical-ai Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) today announced a major expansion of their strategic collaboration to meet surging global demand for AI infrastructure as demand continues to accelerate. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Uniform Advantage Opens New Wesley Chapel Store with Grand Opening Event 2026-08-26 · PR Newswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uniform-advantage-opens-new-wesley-chapel-store-with-grand-opening-event-302860853.html TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 26, 2026 -- Uniform Advantage expanded its Florida footprint this week with the opening of a new retail location at 6009 Wesley Grove Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. Situated to serve healthcare professionals at AdventHealth, BayCare Health System, and Tampa General... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— What Sources Does ChatGPT Cite for Products? Azoma Publishes the Data and Explains How Brands Get Recommended 2026-08-26 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/26/3351631/0/en/what-sources-does-chatgpt-cite-for-products-azoma-publishes-the-data-and-explains-how-brands-get-recommended.html Azoma reveals which sources ChatGPT cites for product recommendations and how consumer brands can see, track and improve how often they show up. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Formic Opens Oakland Facility, Anchoring Humanoid and Physical AI Expansion in the Bay Area Alongside Tesla and Amazon 2026-08-26 · Business Wire · AI, Retail, Automotive https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/formic-opens-oakland-facility-anchoring-140000657.html OAKLAND, Calif., August 26, 2026--Formic opens Oakland facility, expanding Full Service Automation for U.S. manufacturers and reinforcing the Bay Area as a physical AI hub. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Dynasty Fine Wines Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-26 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Media, Food & drink, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109445/ Financial Highlights (Unaudited) (HKD Thousand) Six months ended 30 June 2026 2025 Revenue 83,046 122,775 Gross Profit 30,775 47,277 Profit Attributable to Owners of the Company 496 8,172 Basic Earnings per Share (HK cents) 0.04 0.58 HONG KONG, August 26, 2026 - Dynasty Fine Wines Group Limited (“Dynasty” or “the Group”) (Stock Code: 00828), a premier grape winemaker in China, today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. In the first half of 2026, due to weak demand of wine consumption market in the PRC, the Group’s sales of middle to high-end and red wine products declined, resulting in a 32% year-on-year decrease in revenue to HK$83.0 million. Although the impact of revenue decline on profit was partially offset by an increase in other income such as write-off of payables with long ageing and a decrease in administrative expenses, the profit attributable to owners of the Company was approximately HK$0.5 million. Earnings per share of the Company was HK0.04 cents per Share. With the Group’s stronger base of dry white market in coastal regions and the new launch of products of white and sparkling wines in response of the market trend, sale of white wine remained serving as the Group’s primary revenue contributor, though sale of white wine products recorded a decrease when compared with the corresponding period in 2025. Sales of red and white wines products accounted for approximately 28% and 63% of the total revenue respectively for the period (2025: approximately 41% and 54% respectively). The gross margin of red wine products and white wine products during the period were both 38% (2025: 38% and 39% respectively). The overall gross profit margin was 37% during the period (2025: 39%), mainly due to change of product mix at lower prices and margin adaptive to the mass market during the period. The Group has been actively pursuing innovation, embracing the “5+4+N” product strategy, with “N” standing for developing various customised products and continuously creating new products to meet the diverse needs of different Chinese consumer groups. During the period, the Group launched a new gift set product, i.e. Dynasty Chinese Zodiac Commemorative Dry Red Wine for the Bing Wu Year of Horse, integrating with the Chinese zodiac culture and the leading rise of Chinese-style fashionable products, by presenting the zodiac culture in a youthful visual language to attract potential consumers. At the same time, the Group continued carrying out activities “Dragon Across the Universities ” in different universities and colleges to promote wine culture, further broadening the brand’s awareness and reputation among young people. Based on its existing high-quality products, the Group continues to introduce new products and promote product upgrades. The Group participated in the 114th China Food & Drinks Fair in March 2026 and capitalised on the momentum to launch new products such as “Tipsy series ”, to further improve its product matrix and provide consumers with diverse consumption choices. The "Tipsy Series” forms two distinct product lines: nonalcoholic free-run grape juice beverages and low-alcohol sparkling wines. Its low alcohol content provides a gentle, pleasant buzz, and its sweetness comes solely from the natural sugars of the grapes, authentically showcasing the characteristics of the grape variety and the unique terroir of the region. During the China Food & Drinks Fair, the Group also held wine-tasting events during the fair, where the new muscat sparkling wine and tea-flavoured wine won industry praise for their unique flavour and exquisite craftsmanship. In addition, the Group has continuously expanded the product spectrum by introducing new categories of products for ready-to-drink consumption channels such as craft beer, and cultivated new business growth. The Group also sold chateau wine imported from France and other foreign branded wines in the PRC market through the Group’s existing distribution network to introduce some classic “old world” and “new world” varietals to cater for a market that prefers the taste of foreign premium wines. The two joint venture companies established by the Group in February 2025 made corresponding progress during the period. Regarding Dynasty Jiangsu, as of 30 June 2026, the construction of core section has been basically completed, accounting for approximately 90% of the overall project progress. Production machinery is at a trial run. Apart from construction of winery and testing of machinery, Dynasty Jiangsu has not yet commenced operation. Regarding Dynasty Renhuai, the company continued trading operations in 2026 after encountering a period of fluctuation in the baijiu market in the PRC at its establishment in 2025, the baijiu market is tending to be stable in 2026. Leveraging on the advantages of origin and brand, Dynasty Renhuai is actively expanding channels, promoting product structure stratification and building a diversified product matrix of sauce-flavour baijiu to increase the scale of the segment. The establishment of these new joint ventures aim to implement Dynasty’s strategic plan, further improving the industrial layout, expanding category tracks, tapping into industry potential, creating new performance growth in the long run, and realising the Group’s transformation into a full category, full industry-chain enterprise. Regarding online sales, the e-commerce team of the Group comprehensively operates online stores itself on the traditional e-commerce platforms, such as JD.com , Tmall and Pinduoduo  for product sales, as well as comprehensive innovation on its brand, product categories, and business systems, procedures and models via interest-based e-commerce platforms, including RED, Kuai  and TikTok . Based on this, the e-commerce team also actively cultivates e-commerce live broadcasting talents to further expand its sales channels so as to build up a new customer base. The Group has also strengthened the promotion of newly launched “Hi” tea-flavoured sparkling wines and "Tipsy Series ” in RED and TikTok during the period under review. The Group continues investing resources in a timely manner for improvement of the online sales channels and optimisation of online stores interface so as to respond to the change of customer consumption behaviour in the PRC. The Group jointly develops exclusive products with leading e-commerce platforms, and promotes AI livestreaming models in various channels to increase brand exposure and livestreaming sales, adopts big data analysis to accurately understand consumer demand. During the period, the Group achieved a staged growth in online sales. To establish an online brand matrix, the Group optimised online distributors during the period. The Group believes that the online platforms not only serve as a business-to-customer trading platform between the Group and the consumers, but also an additional marketing and promotion channel for the brand, which can enhance the overall business potential of the Group. During the period, the Group had boasted brilliant results in major wine appraisal competitions. Among the numerous awards, “Dynasty Dry Red Wine Seven Year Reserve” has won the Silver Award, at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition (“IWSC”). The competition is considered the international standard for wine and spirits quality. Dynasty 5 degree Muscat Sweet Sparkling Wine and Dynasty Eastern Tea Bubble Sparkling Wine - Maojian Teaare also awarded at the “2025 New Alcoholic Beverage Product Competition ” in respective categories hosted by China Alcoholic Drinks Association. These two wines have also won the Gold Medal at the France International Wine Awards (“FIWA”) China region, Spring 2026 for its excellent quality. These wines stood out from other entries for their elegant aroma, smooth body and round taste, and won the awards at the competitions, showing the charm and strengths of Dynasty wines to the country and the world. Mr. Wan Shoupeng, Chairman of Dynasty, concluded, “Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, the wine consumption market remains challenging, the Group will be cautious and continue to focus on market and consumer demand and promote product quality through technological innovation. At the same time, the Group will continue to innovate marketing strategies to stimulate brand vitality, further expand the market share of Dynasty’s products, strengthen Dynasty’s brand image representative of domestic wines, and set a benchmark for the Chinese wine industry, with the aim of bringing Dynasty’s superior wines to more consumers in the PRC. The Group will continue to proactively develop new marketing prospects through innovation in product categories and consumption scenarios, and adjust its business strategies by seizing the development trend of ready-to-drink and younger consumer markets.” About Dynasty Fine Wines Group Limited Dynasty Fine Wines Group Limited was listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited with the stock code 00828 on 26 January 2005. Founded in 1980, Dynasty is the premier grape winemaker in China. It is principally engaged in the production and sale of grape wine products under its reputable “Dynasty” brand. Dynasty is the first Sino-foreign joint venture wine company in China with Tianjin Food Group Limited and the French grape wine giant, Remy Cointreau, as its current major shareholders. The Group produces and sells more than 100 grape wine product series, and introduces imported wine products, providing high-quality and value-for-money grape wines to the full range of consumer groups in China. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AWS to acquire DuckLabs, the Amsterdam-based company behind DuckDB 2026-08-26 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/aws-ducklabs?utm_source=rss Amazon has announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire DuckLabs , the Amsterdam-based company behind the open source analytical database DuckDB. We expect the transaction to close shortly, subject to customary closing conditions. AWS and DuckLabs have worked together since 2024. The DuckLabs team brings world-class database engineering expertise and a track record of building software that developers lo ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sysco to Webcast Presentation at the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-26 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/26/3351303/2867/en/sysco-to-webcast-presentation-at-the-barclays-19th-annual-global-consumer-conference.html HOUSTON, Aug. 26, 2026 -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) today announced that the Company will webcast its presentation from the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 12:00 p.m. ET. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Zappi launches Synthetic Idea Pre-Screener to Bring Consumer Evidence into the Earliest Stage of Innovation 2026-08-26 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zappi-launches-synthetic-idea-pre-screener-to-bring-consumer-evidence-into-the-earliest-stage-of-innovation-302859739.html New solution uses synthetic respondents to directionally prioritize up to 300 early-stage product ideas before brands invest in deeper human research BOSTON, Aug. 26, 2026 -- Zappi, the connected insights platform for brands, today announced the release of its Synthetic Idea... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Adjust: Shopping App Sessions and Installs Climb in First Half of 2026 2026-08-26 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/adjust-shopping-app-sessions-installs-120000142.html SAN FRANCISCO, August 26, 2026--Leading measurement and analytics company Adjust released today its Shopping App Insights Report: 2026 Edition, revealing sustained growth in e-commerce app adoption and engagement. Global shopping app sessions grew 15% year-over-year (YoY) in the first half of 2026, and e-commerce app installs rose 2% globally, with North America standing out as the strongest-performing region at +46% installs and +26% sessions. The report benchmarks installs, engagement, retenti ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Consumer Trust in AI Is on Track to Grow by 15 Percentage Points by 2030 2026-08-26 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/consumer-trust-in-ai-is-on-track-to-grow-by-15-percentage-points-by-2030-302859907.html New BCG Research Finds That in More Than Half of AI-Assisted Journeys, AI Introduces Consumers to New Brands Nearly a Third of Consumers Now Use AI at Some Point in Their Purchase Journey, Roughly Triple the Rate of 18 Months Ago Value, Not Price Alone, Is Driving Purchase Decisions,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The New Galaxy Z Series Earns Strong Early Reviews From European Consumers 2026-08-26 · Samsung · Retail https://news.samsung.com/global/the-new-galaxy-z-series-earns-strong-early-reviews-from-european-consumers Samsung Electronics’ new Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold8, and Galaxy Z Flip8 have received strong early reviews from European consumers, following record-breaking pre-orders for the lineup in the region. The new Galaxy Z series has earned an average consumer review score of 4.8 out of 5 stars, with users highlighting its innovative design, […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FWD Group reports record profit amid continued growth 2026-08-25 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, Healthcare, Energy, Retail https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109421/ HONG KONG, August 26, 2026 - FWD Group Holdings Limited (“FWD Group” or “FWD”) today announced interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026[1]. - New business sales were up seven per cent on the prior corresponding period to US$1.35 billion on an annualised premium equivalent (APE) basis. New business contractual service margin was US$996 million, with year-on-year growth of 25 per cent. - Operating profit after tax was up 20 per cent to US$298 million with positive contributions from all four reportable segments: Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR; Thailand & Cambodia; Japan; and Expansion Markets. Net profit after tax of US$172 million was a three-fold increase on the first half of 2025 and represents another record result. - Shareholder value creation indicators continued to trend positively, with comprehensive tangible equity up five per cent to US$8.83 billion and Group embedded value up five per cent to US$6.95 billion compared to 31 December 2025. FWD Group retained a solvency ratio[2] of 203 per cent, after the adoption of economic value-based solvency regulation in Japan. - Announced a key hire in May for the high-net-worth (HNW) business, which serves the global HNW insurance market with diversified asset allocation, wealth management, and legacy planning. - Received globally recognised certification in July for the development, procurement, deployment, and use of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, reflecting the growing maturity and responsible use of AI at FWD Group with the ISO/IEC 42001 standard achieved from the International Organisation for Standardisation/International Electrotechnical Commission. Huynh Thanh Phong, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of FWD Group, said, “FWD Group had a very strong start to our first full year as a listed company. Once again, we’ve demonstrated our ability to sustain growth, and to convert that growth into rising bottom-line profitability, while expanding margins. This was driven by the diversification built into our geographic footprint and multi-channel distribution model over the past 13 years, as well as a capital structure that positions FWD Group well for the future.” In the company’s home market of Hong Kong SAR, momentum continued despite record prior-year growth, supported by resilient domestic demand and the city’s role as one of the world’s largest cross-border wealth hubs. Excellent growth in Japan was driven by the company’s expansion into the savings and retirement needs segment in July 2025, complementing its existing protection business as a rapidly ageing society continues to fuel the longevity economy. In Thailand, the focus on profitable new business continued in the company’s market-leading exclusive bancassurance partnership with Siam Commercial Bank and agency distribution channels. The transition to a new Chief Executive Officer for Thailand was completed in May when Khun Knattapisit Krutkrongchai (KK) joined the company. Strong growth in Expansion Markets – comprised of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam – was achieved despite the macroeconomic uncertainty in some countries in this segment. “These results are the latest example of the strong track record we’re building as a listed company serving more than 40 million customers across 10 markets in Asia. At FWD Group, we remain heavily focused on anchoring around the customer – aided by the golden age of transformational technological innovation that we’re living in,” added Huynh Thanh Phong. Across the region, 21 new products were introduced in the first half of 2026 in response to emerging customer needs. The FWD Group consumer outlook survey released in February 2026, prior to the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East and the associated global energy economic shocks, showed that most of Asia’s middle-class feel financially anxious and underprepared for retirement. About FWD Group FWD Group (1828.HK) is a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves over 40 million customers across 10 markets, including BRI Life in Indonesia. FWD’s customer-led and tech-enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience. Established in 2013, the company operates in some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world with a vision of changing the way people feel about insurance. FWD Group is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 1828. For more information, please visit www.fwd.com For media inquiries, please contact: groupcommunications@fwd.com Source: FWD Group Holdings Limited [1] The results are for the six months ended 30 June 2026 and are compared to the same period in 2025. Growth rates are represented on a constant exchange rate (CER) basis. The results are based on the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and embedded value supplementary report for the first half of 2026, unless otherwise stated. Operating profit after tax and net profit after tax represent the amounts attributable to equity holders of the company and are presented net of non-controlling interests. New business sales are calculated on an annualised premium equivalent (APE) basis, based on 100 per cent annualised first year premiums and 10 per cent single premiums. Group LCSM cover ratio, group embedded value and comprehensive tangible equity 2025 values are December 2025 balances/ratios and growth rates are shown accordingly. [2] Prescribed capital requirement (PCR) basis ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MFour Data Research Names Nikhil Nair Senior Vice President of Data Science & Governance 2026-08-25 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mfour-data-research-names-nikhil-nair-senior-vice-president-of-data-science--governance-302859872.html Former Amazon, Uber and Adobe analytics leader joins MFour to advance its connected first-party data and AI strategy IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 25, 2026 -- MFour Data Research today announced that Nikhil Nair has joined the company as Senior Vice President of Data Science &... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sectors Representing a Third of the S&P 500's Value Produced Just 7 Percent of LinkedIn's 2026 Top Voices, C-Suite Stack Analysis Finds 2026-08-25 · GlobeNewswire · Energy, Retail, Industrial https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/25/3350900/0/en/sectors-representing-a-third-of-the-s-p-500-s-value-produced-just-7-percent-of-linkedin-s-2026-top-voices-c-suite-stack-analysis-finds.html Analysis of all 150 honorees in LinkedIn's two 2026 US Top Voices cohorts finds executive visibility lags market value in industrials, energy, and consumer sectors, while LinkedIn's showcased posts favor short-form posts over long-form articles 97 percent of the time Analysis of all 150 honorees in LinkedIn's two 2026 US Top Voices cohorts finds executive visibility lags market value in industrials, energy, and consumer sectors, while LinkedIn's showcased posts favor short-form posts over long-form articles 97 percent of the time ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. to Participate at the 19th Annual Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference 2026-08-25 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Travel, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/25/3350892/12013/en/bj-s-restaurants-inc-to-participate-at-the-19th-annual-barclays-global-consumer-staples-conference.html HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., Aug. 25, 2026 -- BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJRI) announced today that management will be participating at the 19th Annual Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The Company will participate in a fireside discussion, which will be held at the Intercontinental hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— You can officially buy the Pixel 11 phones and Pixel Watch 5. 2026-08-25 · Google · Retail https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/devices/pixel/buy-pixel-11-phones-pixel-5-watch/ Our new Pixel 11 phones and Pixel Watch 5 are now on shelves at the Google Store and through our retail partners. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— I'm an Amazon SVP who hadn't coded in 25 years. Then I wrote 100,000 lines of code with AI. 2026-08-25 · Amazon · AI, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/workplace/amazon-svp-ai-tools-employees-careers?utm_source=rss Amazon’s HR leader, Beth Galetti, shares how AI tools are empowering employees to build and how the company is investing $2.5 billion to prepare people for the future of work. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Giadzy Brings Its Gluten-Free Pasta to Sprouts Farmers Market Nationwide 2026-08-25 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/giadzy-brings-gluten-free-pasta-164900101.html LOS ANGELES, August 25, 2026--Giadzy is expanding its retail presence with the nationwide launch of its gluten-free pasta at Sprouts Farmers Market. Created by entrepreneur and celebrity chef Giada De Laurentiis, the Italian-made pasta is now available at 480 Sprouts locations nationwide, marking Giadzy’s first partnership with a national retail chain. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ketteQ Names Jennie Vandegrift Chief Customer Officer to Lead Global Customer Delivery and Success as Company Scales 2026-08-25 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ketteq-names-jennie-vandegrift-chief-customer-officer-to-lead-global-customer-delivery-and-success-as-company-scales-302859553.html Seasoned customer experience executive brings 19+ years of retail, CPG, and supply chain leadership to accelerate customer growth and adoption ATLANTA, Aug. 25, 2026 -- ketteQ, the supply chain orchestration company powered by Free-Range AI™, today announced the appointment... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Update - ZenaTech Completes Acquisition of ESM Software, Adding Strategy Execution and Compliance Software to its Enterprise SaaS Division, with Revenue from Government, Healthcare and Financial Services Customers 2026-08-25 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Energy, Retail, Education, Aerospace & defense https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/25/3350625/0/en/update-zenatech-completes-acquisition-of-esm-software-adding-strategy-execution-and-compliance-software-to-its-enterprise-saas-division-with-revenue-from-government-healthcare-and-.html VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 25, 2026 -- ZenaTech, Inc. (Nasdaq: ZENA) (FSE: 49Q) (BMV: ZENA) (“ZenaTech”), a technology solution provider specializing in AI (Artificial Intelligence) drones, Drone as a Service (DaaS), enterprise SaaS, and Quantum Computing solutions, announces the acquisition of ESM Software, a Boston-based strategy execution and performance management software company. ESM serves government, school systems, healthcare, utilities and energy, financial services and retail customers across the United States and globally in Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. In operation since 1998, the company now supports over 8,000 users and has spent more than 25 years helping organizations turn strategic plans into measurable results. This 13th addition to the company’s SaaS portfolio of software brands provides important value to its growing platform and adds recurring revenue and long-standing, multi-year customer relationships. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— US Consumer Confidence Edged Down Slightly in August 2026-08-25 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-consumer-confidence-edged-down-slightly-in-august-302859371.html Expectations for the future became more pessimistic, offsetting improved assessments of the present situation NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2026 -- The Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index® decreased by 0.8 points to 89.4 (1985=100) in August, down from 90.2 in July. The Present Situation Index—based on consumers' assessment of current business and labor market conditions—rose by 6.8... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Truvant Acquires New Jersey-Based Multi-Pak Packaging, a Specialist in Vitamins, Supplements and OTC 2026-08-25 · PR Newswire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/truvant-acquires-new-jersey-based-multi-pak-packaging-a-specialist-in-vitamins-supplements-and-otc-302858781.html Acquisition adds specialist nutritional supplement, OTC, consumer health and beauty packaging capabilities as well as deepens Truvant's support for health, wellness and beauty brands. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 25, 2026 -- Truvant, a pure-play contract packaging and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Video gaming is the fastest-growing e-commerce vertical and is set to nearly triple in the U.S. by 2035 2026-08-25 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Gaming, Media https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/25/3350417/0/en/video-gaming-is-the-fastest-growing-e-commerce-vertical-and-is-set-to-nearly-triple-in-the-u-s-by-2035.html EBANX's analysis of WDL data shows spending growth in the U.S. is coming from older and wealthier consumers, while emerging markets bring in younger, middle-class players who are buying games for the first time EBANX's analysis of WDL data shows spending growth in the U.S. is coming from older and wealthier consumers, while emerging markets bring in younger, middle-class players who are buying games for the first time ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— FST Corp.'s KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 Selected as Stock Steel Shaft for TaylorMade Golf's New Hi-Toe 5 Wedge Family 2026-08-25 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail, Sports https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310780/FST-Corp.s-KBS-HiRev-2.0-Selected-as-Stock-Steel-Shaft-for-TaylorMade-Golfs-New-HiToe-5-Wedge-Family Boulder, Colorado--(August 25, 2026) - FST Corp. (NASDAQ: KBSX) ("FST", or the "Company"), a leading manufacturer and marketer of steel and graphite golf shafts and a provider of other golf-related services, today announced that its KBS Hi-Rev 2.0 wedge shaft has been selected by TaylorMade Golf as the stock steel shaft across the newly launched Hi-Toe 5 wedge family.TaylorMade introduced the Hi-Toe 5 and MyHi-Toe 5 wedges on August 13, 2026, with retail shipping beginning... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tobe Cohen Named Chief Executive Officer of Hyland’s Consumer Health and Hello Bello Consumer Wellness 2026-08-25 · Business Wire · Healthcare, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/tobe-cohen-named-chief-executive-120000645.html LOS ANGELES, August 25, 2026--Hyland’s Consumer Health ("Hyland’s"), a leading pediatric-focused consumer health and wellness company that comprises the Hyland’s Naturals and Hello Bello brands, today announced that it has appointed Tobe Cohen as Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Will Righeimer who will remain involved with Hyland’s as an Executive Advisor and Board member. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How to buy a car with Amazon Autos 2026-08-25 · Amazon · Retail, Automotive https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/how-to-buy-a-car-with-amazon-autos?utm_source=rss Amazon Autos lets you browse, compare, finance, and buy new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles—all online. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kao Steps Up EMEA Skincare Growth with Curél Launch in the Nordics 2026-08-25 · Business Wire · Retail, Fashion & luxury https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/kao-steps-emea-skincare-growth-073000285.html TOKYO, August 25, 2026--Kao Corporation (TOKYO:4452), a Japanese consumer goods manufacturer known for brands including John Frieda, Bioré, SENSAI and Molton Brown, today announced that its global skincare brand, Curél, will launch across the Nordics in September 2026. The launch further strengthens Kao’s skincare portfolio in Europe and reflects the company’s broader cosmetics growth strategy, with Curél, SENSAI, and Molton Brown among the six focus brands driving Kao’s global expansion. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— IFF Report Finds GLP-1 Is Reshaping Food Choices and Eating Behaviors Among Indian Consumers 2026-08-25 · Business Wire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Fashion & luxury https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/iff-report-finds-glp-1-053000014.html NEW DELHI, August 25, 2026--IFF (NYSE: IFF) — a global leader in flavors, fragrances and health and biosciences — released new research examining how GLP-1 use is influencing food behaviors among Indian consumers and what those shifts may mean for the future of food and beverage innovation. The study is the latest in IFF’s GLP-1 global consumer insights following the company’s 2025 GLP-1 Consumer Opportunity Outlook. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Nissin Foods Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-25 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109390/ Financial Highlights For the six months Ended 30 June 2026 (HK$ million) 2026 2025 Change Revenue 2,071.0 2,014.2 +2.8% Gross Profit 731.0 677.0 +8.0% Gross Profit margin 35.3% 33.6% +1.7pp Profit attributable to owners of the Company 175.2 157.0 +11.6% Net profit margin 8.5% 7.8% +0.7pp Adjusted EBITDA 330.8 303.2 +9.1% Earnings per share (HK cents) 16.79 15.05 +11.6% HONG KONG, August 25, 2026 - Nissin Foods Company Limited (“Nissin Foods” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) has announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“the reporting period”). During the reporting period, the Group delivered solid profit growth, primarily driven by the resilient performance of its instant noodle business. Revenue increased by 2.8% year-on-year from HK$2,014.2 million in 2025 to HK$2,071.0 million in 2026, reflecting continued momentum in its core instant noodle business and broader store coverage in the Chinese Mainland. Gross profit increased by 8.0% year-on-year from HK$677.0 million to HK$731.0 million. Gross profit margin improved by 1.7 percentage points from 33.6% year-on-year to 35.3%, driven primarily by the continued expansion of the higher-margin core instant noodle business, the effective execution of raw material procurement strategies which helped mitigate the impact of raw material price volatility, and improved production efficiency. Profit attributable to owners of the Company increased by 11.6% from HK$157.0 million in 2025 to HK$175.2 million in 2026, representing a net profit margin of 8.5% for the period. The Group’s basic earnings per share increased from 15.05 HK cents to 16.79 HK cents for the period. Adjusted EBITDA increased by 9.1% from HK$303.2 million to HK$330.8 million, representing the Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.0% for the period, reflecting improved profitability at the operating level. Review and Prospects of Different Business Regions During the reporting period, revenue from the Hong Kong and other regions operations remained stable, increasing by 0.2% to HK$793.5 million (2025: HK$792.3 million), mainly attributable to the continued steady performance of the instant noodle business in the Hong Kong market and increased demand in other regions. Revenue from Chinese Mainland operations increased by 4.5% (in local currency: -0.1%) to HK$1,277.5 million (2025: HK$1,221.9 million), mainly attributable to the increased sales volume of instant noodles and the positive impact of foreign currency translation. In Hong Kong, the instant noodles business delivered steady growth, driven by the resilient performance of flagship brands including Demae Iccho, Hokkaido Iccho, Cup Noodles and Cup Noodles BIG. To further enrich its instant noodle portfolio, the Group introduced a range of new SKUs, such as Nissin Stir Cup Noodles Seafood Flavour Instant Noodle and Nissin Viet Signature Beef Flavour Pho Noodle, and Demae Iccho Scallop and Salt Soup Flavour Instant Noodle. Continuing its IP promotion strategy, the collaboration with Japanese virtual singer “Hatsune Miku” also enhanced brand awareness and strengthened engagement with younger consumers. As for non-noodle business, the Group expanded its premium frozen food portfolio with the launch of the “Doll Dim Sum” series. The Group also introduced a series of limited-edition products to capture seasonal demand and drive sales. Meanwhile, health-focused products, including the Hong Kong-made Nissin Granola and fresh-cut vegetable, continued to gain popularity, reflecting the Company’s commitment to health and wellness. In May 2026, the Group entered into a strategic partnership with Itochu Hong Kong Limited through a joint investment in Nissin Marketing and Sales (H.K.) Limited, which is expected to support the long-term development and competitiveness of the distribution business in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. In other regions, the Company continued to strengthen its presence in Vietnam with a focus on the youth segment to support instant noodles brand growth and market penetration. In Korea, Gaemi Food’s business performance was stable during the period, with the strategic focus on the expansion of its e-commerce business, enhancement of consumer engagement through “KEMY Mall”, and continuous product innovation. Gaemi Food continued to expand its presence in overseas markets including Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Taiwan. In Australia, ABC Pastry recorded stable performance supported by the launch of a range of new premium products. Australia Nissin also maintained solid business momentum during the period, driven by increased sales of instant noodles across nationwide supermarket chains and Asian supermarket channels through ongoing market development efforts and product innovation. In the Chinese Mainland, the Group continued to advance its premiumisation strategy and strengthen its business foundation, while increasing instant noodle sales volume through broader market coverage and more diversified distribution channels. It upgraded select Cup Noodles products by increasing ingredient sizes to deliver an improved tasting experience for consumers. To further enrich its product line-up, the Company also introduced new products such as Nissin U.F.O. Singapore Chilli Crab Flavour, reinforcing its premium and innovative brand positioning. The Company continued its collaboration with the Japanese virtual singer "Hatsune Miku" to raise brand awareness and strengthen connections with consumers. As for the non-noodle business, the Company continued to strengthen its snacks, beverage and frozen food businesses through product innovation to address evolving consumer demand. Mr. Kiyotaka ANDO, Executive Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nissin Foods, said, “Despite continuing market volatility and geopolitical uncertainties, the Group delivered solid profit growth in the first half of 2026. This was supported by broader market coverage and the resulting increase in sales volume of our flagship brands. These results reflect the resilience of our business model and the effectiveness of our strategic initiatives. Our premiumisation strategy, diversified product portfolio and disciplined cost management have further strengthened our capability to navigate changing market conditions. As we continue to expand our presence in Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and overseas markets, we remain focused on delivering quality products and strengthening our brands. We are committed to achieving sustainable long-term growth and creating value for our shareholders.” About Nissin Foods Company Limited Nissin Foods Company Limited ("Nissin Foods”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; Stock code: 1475) is a renowned food company in Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, with a diversified portfolio of well-known and highly popular brands, primarily focusing on the premium instant noodle segment. The Group officially established its presence in Hong Kong in 1984 and is the largest instant noodle company in Hong Kong. The Group primarily manufactures and sells instant noodles, high-quality frozen food products, including frozen dim sum and frozen noodles, and also sells and distributes other food and beverage products, including retort pouches, snacks, mineral water, sauce and vegetable products under its two core corporate brands, namely “NISSIN” and “DOLL (公仔)” together with a diversified portfolio of iconic household premium brands. The Group’s five flagship product brands, namely “Cup Noodles”, “Demae Iccho”, “Doll Instant Noodle”, “Doll Dim Sum” and “Fuku” are also among the most popular choices in their respective food product categories in Hong Kong. In the Chinese market, the Group has introduced technology innovation through the “ECO Cup” concept and primarily focuses its sales efforts in first- and second-tier cities. In addition, Nissin Foods operates business in other regions including Vietnam, Taiwan, Korea and Australia markets. Nissin Foods is currently a constituent of five Hang Seng Indexes, namely: Hang Seng Composite Index, Hang Seng Composite SmallCap Index, Hang Seng Composite Industry Index - Consumer Staples, Hang Seng SCHK Consumption Index and Hang Seng SCHK Consumer Staples Index. Nissin Foods is eligible for trading under Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect. For more information, please visit www.nissingroup.com.hk. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Mech-Mind Launches IPO: Baillie Gifford Leads 9 Top Cornerstone Investors, HK$2.7B for AI R&D & Global Commercialization 2026-08-25 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Education, Industrial, Logistics, Semiconductors https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109383/ HONG KONG, August 25, 2026 - Mech-Mind Robot (stock code: 09615.HK) today officially commenced its initial public offering, with a proposed price range of HK$95.30 to HK$101.70 per share and an offering of approximately 23.14 million shares. Should the over-allotment option be exercised in full, the maximum gross proceeds could reach HK$2.706 billion. The offering has attracted a stellar cornerstone investor line-up, led by Baillie Gifford, the century-old Scottish asset management giant renowned for its long-term holdings in technology leaders such as Tesla and Nvidia. Other participating cornerstone investors include Taikang Life, a leading Chinese insurance asset manager; Jane Street, the legendary quantitative trading firm on Wall Street; Golden Link, the industrial capital arm of BYD; as well as Invus, Ghisallo, Ruihua, NGS Super Fund, and E Fund, among other well-known institutions. Standardized Robot “Eye-Brain-Hand”: Global Market Share Ranked First for Four Consecutive Years by a Dominant Margin Mech-Mind focuses on providing robots with a complete closed-loop execution system comprising “eyes” (3D vision), “brain” (AI decision-making), and “hands” (dexterous manipulation). The Company is committed to leveraging standardized, universal product components to break the long-standing industry challenge of high-cost, hard-to-replicate customized solutions. With highly standardized hardware and software suites, its products offer exceptional versatility and reusability, enabling flexible adaptation to diverse industrial scenarios, including automotive, new energy, consumer electronics, education, and general manufacturing. According to CIC Report, in 2025 Mech-Mind ranked first in the global AI + 3D vision-guided non-specialty intelligent robot component market with a market share of approximately 22.1% (revenue of approximately RMB389 million), with its revenue scale nearly 2.6 times that of the second-placed player (8.5%). In terms of shipment volume, the Company captured a 27.5% market share, exceeding the combined total of the next four manufacturers. Mech-Mind ranked first in the China, Japan, and North American markets, and also held a leading position in Southeast Asia, Europe, and South Korea, maintaining the No.1 global market share for four consecutive years. As of March 31, 2026, Mech-Mind has served more than 100 Fortune Global 500 companies in total, with over 29.000 units deployed globally, covering more than 50 different application scenarios across dozens of industries, and capable of handling over 100,000 types of goods. Its client portfolio encompasses global manufacturing giants including CATL, BYD, Midea, Foxconn, Toyota, Volkswagen, and suppliers within Tesla’s supply chain. The Company maintains exceptionally high customer retention. Revenue contribution from existing customers accounted for 78% of total revenue in 2025, and further increased to 86% as at March 31, 2026. Its products are deeply integrated into customers’ production processes, resulting in significant switching costs and underpinning long-term growth momentum. Furthermore, leveraging an extensive, efficient network comprising 1,369 system integrators across the globe, the Company serves end customers in close to 50 countries and regions. Robust Financial Growth: Gross Margin Surges to 64.6% with a Clear Profitability Path Financial data indicates that Mech-Mind is in a critical phase of rapid growth with markedly improved profitability quality. From 2023 to 2025, the Company’s revenue surged from RMB181 million to RMB389 million, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 46.6%. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue jumped 73.1% year-on-year to RMB107 million, demonstrating robust resilience amid slowing investment across the global manufacturing sector. Driven by the realization of economies of scale, supply chain cost optimization and an increased revenue share from overseas markets with favorable gross margin profile, the Company’s gross margin rose substantially from 39.1% in 2023 to 51.1% in 2024, further climbing to 64.6% in 2025, and hitting 64.8% in the first quarter of 2026. In terms of gross profit, it registered a year-on-year increase of 94.5% in 2024, 82.8% in 2025 and 79.7% in the first quarter of 2026, demonstrating strong growth momentum. Excluding non-operating factors such as fair value changes in redemption liabilities, the Company’s adjusted net loss narrowed significantly from RMB334 million in 2023 to RMB214 million in 2024, and further declined to RMB109 million in 2025. The adjusted net loss stood at merely RMB33 million in the first quarter of 2026, representing a 14.6% year-on-year contraction with sustained sequential quarterly improvement, which points to a clear path toward profitability. Meanwhile, operating leverage continued to strengthen. The sales expense ratio dropped substantially from 102.7% in 2023 to 42.4% in the first quarter of 2026; the administrative expense ratio fell from 58.2% to 29.9%; and the R&D expense ratio declined from 65.6% to 36.0%. Product sales volume and customer base expanded in tandem. Sales of intelligent robotic guidance products increased from 3,654 units in 2023 to 5,852 units in 2024, reaching 8,268 units in 2025 and 2,412 units in the first quarter of 2026. The number of ordering customers for the respective periods grew from 509 in 2023 to 605 in 2024 and 625 in 2025, and hit 258 in the first quarter of 2026. Globalization Gathers Pace: Over Half of Revenue Generated Overseas, Spanning Around 50 Countries and Regions Breakthrough progress in overseas markets has become a key pillar for Mech-Mind’s value rerating. Between 2023 and 2025, revenue from overseas customers rose from RMB58.6 million to RMB196 million, representing a CAGR of approximately 83%, well above the Company’s overall growth rate. In 2025, overseas markets contributed RMB196 million in revenue, accounting for 50.3% of total revenue — crossing the 50% threshold for the first time. Overseas gross profit also made up more than half of total gross profit, a clear reflection of the Company’s technical premium and pricing power. The Company embraced a globalization strategy from its early days. Back in 2019, it established its German subsidiary. To date, subsidiaries have been set up in the United States, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong. More than ten business centers operate in Tokyo, Seoul, Chicago, Munich and other locations, with business footprint covering roughly 50 countries and regions and over 900 cumulative overseas customers served. The Company has obtained major international certifications, including FCC, CE, IC, UKCA, VCCI, KC and NRTL. Its overseas organization is structured across three major regions: AsiaPacific, Europe and the Americas. It is progressively moving into the phase of penetrating lowertier geographic markets and accelerating indepth local cultivation. Tsinghua-Founded Core Team & World-Class R&D Capabilities Mech-Mind was founded in 2016 by Shao Tianlan, an alumnus of Tsinghua University. Its founding team boasts top-tier technical expertise and a global vision. Shao Tianlan, founder and chief executive officer, earned his bachelor’s degree from the School of Software, Tsinghua University, followed by a master’s degree in robotics from the Technical University of Munich (Technische Universitat Munchen) in Germany. Fu Ao, co-founder and vice president of business, holds a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Precision Instrument and a master’s degree from the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Tsinghua University, and previously worked at ABB prior to co-founding the Company. Ding Youshuang, co-founder and vice president of R&D, obtained his doctorate from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University. Zhang Jianwei, Chief Scientist, is an International Member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and a Member of the German National Academy of Engineering Sciences, a leading authority in intelligent robotics. As of March 31, 2026, the Company employed 229 R&D personnel, accounting for 36% of its total headcount. From 2023 to 2025, cumulative R&D expenditure represented 40.6% of total operating revenue over the period. As of the Latest Practicable Date, the Company held 162 invention patents, 152 utility model patents, 33 design patents and 70 software copyrights. Mech-GPT, its large multimodal model, was recognized by the World Economic Forum as World Economic Forum MINDS Programme. Blue Ocean Market Surges: Proceeds to Fuel AI R&D and Accelerate Global Commercialization From an industry perspective, global AI + 3D visionguided non-specialty intelligent robot component market is experiencing explosive growth. According to data from CIC, this market is expected to grow from RMB1.8 billion in 2025 to RMB10.6 billion in 2030, representing a CAGR of 43.2%, and is projected to further expand to RMB102.5 billion by 2035. Over the same period, the global non-specialty intelligent robot market is expected to grow from 590,000 units in 2025 to 2.25 million units in 2030, and reach 12.08 million units by 2035. As a specialist technology company applying for listing under Chapter 18C of the Listing Rules, Mech-Mind has crossed the critical watershed from technology validation to scaled commercialization. The Company possesses a stable and rapidly growing revenue base, a high gross margin level, and a clear path to profitability, standing in stark contrast to many technology enterprises that are still in the R&D-intensive stage and remain heavily reliant on external financing to sustain operations. Since its establishment, Mech-Mind has secured investments from a number of premier financial investors and industrial capital players. Under the Chapter 18C regime, the Company’s Pathfinder Sophisticated Independent Investor(s)” or “Pathfinder SII(s)” are Sequoia China and Qiming Venture Partners; its Other Sophisticated Independent Investor is Intel. In addition, Mech-Mind’s investor base also includes Meituan, IDG Capital, GIC, Source Code Capital, China Growth Capital, CICC-Porsche Fund, Coatue, among others. Through this IPO, the net proceeds will be precisely allocated to the following core strategic areas: approximately 31.8% for the continued enhancement of R&D investment (of which 14.6% for strengthening AI-centric software capabilities, 9.4% for optimizing core hardware competitiveness, and 7.7% for building scalable R&D infrastructure); approximately 29.4% for expanding global presence and accelerating commercialization (23.7% for overseas business development and 6.3% for domestic business expansion); approximately 25.2% or enriching product portfolios and broadening application scenarios (14.5% for the development of the next-generation “eye-brain-hand” solutions, and 10.7% for expanding into more scenarios such as services and households); approximately 5.0% for capacity expansion and operational efficiency improvement; and approximately 8.6% or working capital and general corporate purposes. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— VCREDIT Announces 2026 Interim Results: Prudent Operations and AI Empowerment Drive Quality-Focused and Sustainable Development 2026-08-25 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109379/ HONG KONG, August 25, 2026 - August 24, 2026, VCREDIT Holdings Limited ("VCREDIT" or the "Group"; stock code: 2003.HK), a leading technology-driven consumer financial service provider in China, today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended June 30, 2026 (the "Period"). The first half of 2026 saw continued softness in consumer credit demand amid macro headwinds, as the industry adapted to new regulatory requirements on financing cost disclosure, online marketing and consumer protection. Against this backdrop, the Group adopted a prudent approach, proactively controlling volume and improving quality, focusing on compliance and advancing steadily while strengthening risk management and enhancing operational efficiency. Throughout the Period, the Group focused on elevating technical standards and concentrating services on higher-quality borrowers, while deepening consumer rights protection in its business processes to support steady, quality-focused business development. During the Period, the Group's total loan origination volume was RMB6.06 billion, of which the Chinese mainland accounted for RMB5.69 billion and Hong Kong accounted for RMB0.37 billion; the Group recorded a net profit of RMB12.0 million and Non-IFRS adjusted net profit of RMB16.9 million. Focus on High-Quality Customers, Business Structure Continuously Optimised Facing the challenging environment, the Group strengthened risk control and improved operational efficiency across its operations, gradually shifting its focus toward higher-quality customer segments and more sustainable business models. Leveraging multidimensional risk models, the Group further optimised its customer mix, while enhancing the credit approval and drawdown experience, effectively strengthening the engagement of existing high-quality customers. In customer operations, the Group refined its approach across three dimensions: acquisition, existing customer management and product experience. On the acquisition front, the Group maintained a disciplined presence across premium platforms while continuously iterating its customer admission models to improve conversion efficiency. For existing customers, the Group deepened engagement with quality borrowers through tailored product solutions and refined segmentation, unlocking greater value from quality customers. Meanwhile, the Group integrated consumer rights protection throughout the product and service lifecycle, and completed the necessary system upgrades to comply with the new regulatory requirements on disclosure of comprehensive financing costs. These combined efforts contributed to improvements in overall marketing efficiency during the Period, with continuous quality enhancement of the transacting user base. AI Deeply Embedded in Core Operations, International Expansion Steadily Progressing Technology remains a core strategic pillar underpinning risk management, compliance and operational efficiency. During the Period, the Group continued to deepen the application of AI across its core operating functions. Its AI-powered customer service chatbot, enhanced with large language model capabilities, achieved notable improvements in self-service resolution rate. An intelligent quality inspection mechanism has replaced traditional manual reviews, while AI-driven automation has been introduced into post-loan operations to enhance collection efficiency and customer experience. Furthermore, the Group replicated and localised AI capabilities in its overseas markets, deploying AI customer service, collection and voice solutions locally, initially validating cross-market replicability. In the second half of the year, the Group will further enhance model coordination, data governance and engineering platform capabilities to support scalable, measurable and compliant AI applications. On the international expansion front, the Group's Hong Kong business, CreFIT, has served over 90,000 customers since its launch in 2023. In April 2026, CreFIT became the first licensed money lender in Hong Kong to partner with TransUnion to offer free downloadable credit reports to customers via its mobile application, with over 5,000 customers having accessed their credit reports through this service. The Group also launched "Capi Go", an AI-powered assistant that further enhances user experience. At the beginning of the year, the Group officially launched its Indonesia business, with a primary focus on building core operational infrastructure and developing foundational technology systems, laying a solid foundation for future expansion and sustainable growth. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— UL Solutions Launches Retail Total Access™ Software to Help Retailers Manage Supply Chain Quality and Risk 2026-08-24 · Business Wire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Logistics https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/ul-solutions-launches-retail-total-211600520.html NORTHBROOK, Ill., August 24, 2026--UL Solutions Inc. (NYSE: ULS), a global leader in applied safety science, today announced Retail Total Access, a software platform that helps retailers manage product quality and supply chain risk with a clearer, unified view of data. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SOL Reimagines Cannabis Retail With The Launch of SOL of Potomac - The Penthouse 2026-08-24 · PR Newswire · Retail, Media https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sol-reimagines-cannabis-retail-with-the-launch-of-sol-of-potomac---the-penthouse-302858694.html Technology executive and entrepreneur Jack Frost introduces a destination where cannabis, culture, community, content and technology come together. ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 24, 2026 -- SOL of Potomac - The Penthouse officially opened its doors today at 350 Fortune Terrace, Suite... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— U.S. Postal Service Will be Closed in Observance of Labor Day, September 7 2026-08-24 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-postal-service-will-be-closed-in-observance-of-labor-day-september-7-302858506.html Self-service options are available in many retail lobbies when Post Offices are closed WASHINGTON, Aug. 24, 2026 -- The U.S. Postal Service will observe Labor Day on Monday, September 7. All Post Office locations will be closed. Regular mail delivery and retail services will... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Morgan's Repellent Now Available on Amazon and Walmart.com Nationwide 2026-08-24 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/morgans-repellent-now-available-on-amazon-and-walmartcom-nationwide-302858557.html Plant-based rodent repellent formulated with 25% active essential oils reaches consumers through Amazon (five ASINs), Walmart.com (seven listings), and direct. NEW CENTURY, Kan., Aug. 24, 2026 -- Natural Environmental Solutions, Inc. today announced that Morgan's Repellent,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Did You Lose Money Investing in The Simply Good Foods Company? Robbins LLP Urges Investors with Significant Losses to Contact the Firm for Information About Their Rights Against SMPL 2026-08-24 · Newsfile · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/311119/Did-You-Lose-Money-Investing-in-The-Simply-Good-Foods-Company-Robbins-LLP-Urges-Investors-with-Significant-Losses-to-Contact-the-Firm-for-Information-About-Their-Rights-Against-SMPL San Diego, California--(August 24, 2026) - Shareholder rights law firm Robbins LLP reminds investors that a class action was filed on behalf of all purchasers of The Simply Good Foods Company (NASDAQ: SMPL) common stock between October 24, 2024 and April 8, 2026 (the "Class Period"). Good Foods sells consumer packaged foods and snacking products under its various brands.The complaint alleges that Good Foods misled investors regarding the successful integration of OWYN. ... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AI Disrupts the Functional Foods and Beverages Sector as Industry Giants Deploy Personalization, Formulation, and Sustainability Technologies at Scale 2026-08-24 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Healthcare, Retail, Food & drink, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/24/3349952/0/en/ai-disrupts-the-functional-foods-and-beverages-sector-as-industry-giants-deploy-personalization-formulation-and-sustainability-technologies-at-scale.html “AI is helping functional nutrition become more personalized, science-driven and responsive to changing consumer health needs.” ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Anti-Scam Summit America Convenes Government Officials, Silicon Valley Leaders, Financial Services Executives and Law Enforcement in San Francisco for the First Time 2026-08-24 · PR Newswire · Retail, Telecom https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-anti-scam-summit-america-convenes-government-officials-silicon-valley-leaders-financial-services-executives-and-law-enforcement-in-san-francisco-for-the-first-time-302858380.html Leaders from Amazon, Google, OpenAI, Meta, AT&T, Verizon, JP Morgan, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Treasury, the Attorneys General of California and Utah and others will headline a two-day program focused on identifying the most effective solutions to combat scams and how to... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Akins Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Named a 2026 Top Workplace, Earning Six Culture Excellence Awards and Axios Metro Atlanta Recognition 2026-08-24 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/akins-ford-chrysler-dodge-jeep-ram-named-a-2026-top-workplace-earning-six-culture-excellence-awards-and-axios-metro-atlanta-recognition-302858405.html America's Largest retail Volume Ford dealership is recognized for its people-first culture—the same standard of care customers experience across sales and service. WINDER, Ga., Aug. 24, 2026 -- Akins Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, one of the largest Ford dealerships in... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon hourly employees became satellite technicians—then watched their work launch into space 2026-08-24 · Amazon · Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/amazon-leo/amazon-career-choice-satellite-technicians-space-launch?utm_source=rss Career Choice is helping eligible Amazon employees earn certifications and launch new aerospace careers with Amazon Leo. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Global Can Opener Market Report 2026-2035 | Stainless Steel Can Openers Lead With 41.8% Market Share as Premiumization Accelerates 2026-08-24 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/24/3349703/28124/en/global-can-opener-market-report-2026-2035-stainless-steel-can-openers-lead-with-41-8-market-share-as-premiumization-accelerates.html Can Opener Market Gains Momentum as Safety-Focused Designs, Stainless Steel Premiumization and E-Commerce Expansion Reshape Consumer Demand Can Opener Market Gains Momentum as Safety-Focused Designs, Stainless Steel Premiumization and E-Commerce Expansion Reshape Consumer Demand ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Martha Stewart Kitchen Electrics Collection Expands to Kohl's Stores Nationwide 2026-08-24 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/martha-stewart-kitchen-electrics-collection-120500173.html NEW YORK, August 24, 2026--Following the successful debut of Martha Stewart’s first-ever kitchen electrics collection in April 2026 exclusively on Amazon, Stewart is expanding her collection to Kohl's stores nationwide and Kohls.com, allowing shoppers to experience the assortment of thoughtfully designed kitchen electrics in person. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Egg Packaging Global Market Report 2026-2035 | CKF, Hartmann Group, Huhtamaki, Pactiv Evergreen, and Tekni-Plex Dominate the Industry 2026-08-24 · GlobeNewswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/24/3349694/28124/en/egg-packaging-global-market-report-2026-2035-ckf-hartmann-group-huhtamaki-pactiv-evergreen-and-tekni-plex-dominate-the-industry.html Sustainable Paper-Based Egg Packaging Gains Momentum as Retail, Poultry Production and Organized Supply Chains Expand Sustainable Paper-Based Egg Packaging Gains Momentum as Retail, Poultry Production and Organized Supply Chains Expand ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— WildBrain Acquires Personality AI, a Trusted Partner for Bringing Beloved Characters to Life 2026-08-24 · Newsfile · Finance, AI, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310950/WildBrain-Acquires-Personality-AI-a-Trusted-Partner-for-Bringing-Beloved-Characters-to-Life Acquisition advances WildBrain's strategy in several key areas: PRIVO COPPA Safe Harbor Program certification: products go through independently assessed certification by an FTC-approved body for compliance with the Federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act Proven products include Hey Peppa Pig: interactive voice experience developed with Hasbro that lets kids talk with Peppa Pig on Amazon's Fire Kids tabletsStrengthens WildBrain's franchise flywheel: enables ongoing fan interaction... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AAC Technologies CFO Guo Dan: Full-Year 2026 Revenue is Expected to deliver Double-Digit Growth, AI New Businesses Poised to Exceed RMB8 Billion in 2027 2026-08-24 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Industrial, Logistics, Semiconductors https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109356/ SINGAPORE, August 24, 2026 - 20 August 2026, AAC Technologies Holdings Inc. (stock code: 2018.HK; “AAC Technologies” or the “Group”) today released its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Revenue for the first half of 2026 (“1H 2026”) reached a record RMB14.51 billion, up 8.9% year-on-year (“YoY”). Net profit attributable to owners of the Company rose 2.9% YoY to RMB901 million. After excluding other gains and losses related to fair value gains and losses, the growth rate of net profit for the first half of the year stood at 37.4%. This marks the third consecutive year the Group has achieved a record first-half revenue since pivoting toward AI-related new businesses. At the results briefing, CFO Guo Dan highlighted that AI new businesses have become the core driver of the Group’s top-line growth. As specialized business segments including liquid-cooling coolant distribution units (CDUs), wafer-level glass (WLG) optical communications, AR optical waveguide lenses and robotic motors ramp, the Group’s multi-engine growth model is accelerating, and the contribution from new businesses is set to expand further. Full-year 2026 revenue is expected to deliver double-digit growth, with the scale of AI new businesses potentially exceeding RMB8 billion in 2027. ( AAC Technologies CFO Guo Dan) Full-year revenue is expected to deliver double-digit growth Dan stated that despite external market pressures, management remains cautiously optimistic regarding full-year operations, expecting double-digit revenue growth with gross profit margin to improve steadily from the 22.4% recorded in 1H 2026. By segment, the acoustics and electromagnetic drives business is expected to deliver single-digit full-year revenue growth, with gross margin likely to improve further from the 28.6% recorded in the first half. The precision mechanics and heat dissipation business continues to be a powerful  growth engine, with full-year revenue expected to increase by more than 30%. Gross margin in this segment reached 23.1% in the first half and is expected to rise further in the second half. The optics business saw a YoY decline in revenue, reflecting industry conditions and customer mix, but overall gross margin remained resilient. Gross margin of plastic lenses and G+P hybrid lenses improved by more than 5 percentage points YoY, driven by yield and process optimization. The Group is increasing the shipment mix of 6P-and-above high-end lenses and accelerating certification and onboarding with overseas customers. The sensor and semiconductor business, benefiting from AI-driven upgrades in end devices, is expected to grow full-year revenue by 15%–20%, with gross margin improving steadily. Automotive acoustics, leveraging vertically integrated solutions spanning speakers, amplifiers and professional tuning, is expected to grow full-year revenue by 15%–20% despite a weaker auto market. Gross margin may decline by around 2 percentage points YoY, reflecting intensified industry competition and changes in product mix. Among the global leaders in AI thermal management Rapid advances in the AI industry have triggered a surge in thermal-management demand. In 1H 2026, AAC Technologies’ heat dissipation revenue surged approximately 400% YoY to RMB1.10 billion, highlighting its strong growth momentum. According to Dan, AAC Technologies now ranks among the global leaders in consumer-electronics thermal management and among China’s top-three AI-server liquid-cooling providers by market size. In consumer electronics, shipments of the Group’s high-performance innovative vapor chambers (VCs) continued to ramp, and mass-production preparations for next-generation products are progressing smoothly. In AI computing, the Group is pursuing a dual-market expansion strategy covering both domestic and overseas markets. Yuandi (Guangzhou) Digital Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Group, has commenced scaled mass production and global batch deliveries of high-power centralized liquid-cooling CDUs, with monthly delivery capacity exceeding 600 units, firmly placing it among the industry’s leading players. Proprietary WLG technology enters optical communications Dan noted that co-packaged optics (CPO), a key technology direction for next-generation high-speed optical interconnects, imposes more stringent requirements on optical alignment — opening an important application scenario for WLG technology. AAC Technologies’ proprietary, self-developed WLG wafer-level glass molding technology offers advantages in high precision, superior consistency and large-scale mass production. The Group is actively engaging in technical exchanges, factory audits and sample submissions with leading overseas optical communications companies, including top-tier players providing high-speed interconnect chips for AI and cloud infrastructure. In AR optics, AAC Technologies has built a one-stop optical system design and simulation solution covering waveguides and light engines. Dan said the Group has become the industry’s first company to achieve volume delivery of full-color light engines serving top-tier customers. In single-layer surface relief grating (SRG) diffractive optical waveguides, it is also the first in the industry to achieve mass production using etching processes. First-ever integration of acoustics and electromagnetic drives To capture AI industry growth opportunities, AAC Technologies has combined its former acoustics and electromagnetic drives businesses — the first organizational integration of these two core segments since the Company’s listing. The combined segment generated revenue of RMB6.01 billion in the first half, up 14.2% YoY, with a gross profit margin of 28.6%. During the reporting period, the segment secured key breakthroughs across several new business lines. Projects related to active cooling fans have successfully passed customer certification and are expected to become standard configurations for high-end models over time, with further expansion into servers, robotics and other markets. Robotic motors and modules secured project design wins from several leading global customers, with certain projects already entering mass production. In addition, AAC Technologies is strategically expanding into the robot systems business, with relevant projects expected to enter mass production by the end of 2026. “One of the Group’s core strengths is its technology platforms plus cross-scenario reuse,” Dan said. Going forward, the Group will further deepen the integration of the acoustics and electromagnetic drives segment, unlocking synergies across technologies, production capacity and customer resources. While solidifying its core position in consumer electronics, the Group will deliver comprehensive solutions into emerging tracks such as automotive, humanoid robotics and AI terminals, continuously unlocking product value-add and long-term growth potential. Robotics business expected to reach RMB400–700 million in 2027 Regarding the development pace of the robotics industry, Dan noted that the ultimate form of embodied AI remains unsettled. Beyond humanoid robots, task-specific robots for professional scenarios, desktop AI interactive devices and other form factors are being explored in parallel, with product maturity and commercialization timelines varying significantly across use cases. Leveraging its long-standing expertise in precision electromagnetic drives, the Group is building capability moats around universal core components for robots — including motors, rotary joints and gimbal modules. It has already established deep partnerships with several leading overseas robotics companies, spanning core-component supply and joint technology development, and can flexibly address the differentiated needs of different robot form factors. Based on the current project pipeline, Dan said the Group’s robotics-related business is expected to reach RMB400–700 million in 2027. Looking ahead, as large AI models migrate to the edge and multi-form robot applications penetrate faster with accelerating commercialization, the segment is expected to see even stronger growth in the coming years. AI new businesses poised to exceed RMB8 billion next year Addressing market concerns over the impact of rising memory chip prices on the smartphone supply chain, Dan said that, despite industry pressure, AAC Technologies’ traditional smartphone businesses maintained a stable-to-improving gross margin, thanks to the Company’s solid core technology foundation and continuous improvements in internal operational efficiency. Dan further noted that, based on first-half operating performance and the internal outlook for the second half, AAC Technologies has effectively withstood the pressure from declining smartphone shipments and managed the impact of this round of memory-chip price increases on the handset supply chain. Looking at the Company’s medium- to long-term strategic roadmap, Dan revealed that the overall scale of the Company’s AI-related new businesses is expected to reach RMB8–9 billion by 2027, transforming these emerging segments into AAC Technologies' core growth engine. By business line, 2027 scale is expected as follows: - Vapor chambers (VCs) and active cooling: around RMB5 billion - AI devices and gimbal modules: around RMB1.5 billion - CDU liquid cooling and cold plates: around RMB1 billion - robotic core components: RMB400–700 million - new automotive acoustics initiatives: around RMB500 million - WLG optical communications: around RMB100 million in initial revenue “The RMB8–9 billion scale is only a beginning,” Dan emphasized. AI-driven industry transformation is just getting started. The new businesses the Company is focused on — including edge AI hardware, data center liquid cooling, XR, robotics and intelligent cockpits — are expected to grow far faster than traditional businesses over the next three to five years, continuously unlocking growth momentum. Source: Hong Kong Commercial Daily Original article: https://www.hkcd.com.hk/content_app/2026-08/21/content_8770919.html ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TCL Secures Six EISA Awards, Showcasing Leadership Across Premium TVs and Home Theatre Audio 2026-08-24 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tcl-secures-six-eisa-awards-showcasing-leadership-across-premium-tvs-and-home-theatre-audio-302858170.html PARIS, Aug. 24, 2026 -- TCL, a global leader in consumer electronics and the world's number one Mini LED TV brand[1], has earned six EISA awards - one of Europe's leading recognitions for audio-visual innovation. Spanning premium television and home theatre audio, the awards... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Sustainable Cookware Industry Analysis and Forecast 2026-2035 Featuring Profiles of Groupe SEB, Meyer Corporation, ZWILLING J.A. Henckels, Scanpan, Tramontina and More 2026-08-24 · GlobeNewswire · Healthcare, Retail, Sustainability https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/24/3349518/28124/en/sustainable-cookware-industry-analysis-and-forecast-2026-2035-featuring-profiles-of-groupe-seb-meyer-corporation-zwilling-j-a-henckels-scanpan-tramontina-and-more.html Health, Safety and Sustainability Trends Drive Demand for Durable, Chemical-Free Cookware as Material Innovation and Direct-to-Consumer Sales Expand Health, Safety and Sustainability Trends Drive Demand for Durable, Chemical-Free Cookware as Material Innovation and Direct-to-Consumer Sales Expand ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Solana Unchained Emerges as a Closely Watched Solana Presale Following Product Ecosystem Reveal 2026-08-23 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/23/3349424/0/en/solana-unchained-emerges-as-a-closely-watched-solana-presale-following-product-ecosystem-reveal.html SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 23, 2026 -- The expanding decentralized finance landscape on the Solana network is entering a new chapter as capital moves away from purely speculative projects toward ecosystems anchored by functional software. Solana Unchained has quickly positioned itself as a standout participant in this rotation after unveiling its comprehensive product ecosystem. By designing a decentralized environment where native utility tokens are mandatory for powering artificial intelligence modules, retail commerce, and account security protocols, the platform establishes an internal demand loop tied directly to on-chain execution. With Phase 5 of the public presale currently active and less than 3 days remaining before the next scheduled pricing adjustment, market participants are watching the project closely as it scales toward its public market release. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Last-Minute Apparel Delivery (2026): Same-Day Options for Outfits, Shoes, and Event Essentials by Consumer365 2026-08-23 · PR Newswire · Retail, Fashion & luxury, Sports https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/last-minute-apparel-delivery-2026-same-day-options-for-outfits-shoes-and-event-essentials-by-consumer365-302857721.html NEW YORK CITY, NY, Aug. 23, 2026 -- Consumer365 has released a new guide examining how same-day retail services can help with last-minute outfit needs, event essentials, and sports or outdoor apparel. The article looks at DoorDash as one way consumers are using delivery and... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Understanding Lymph System Support Supplements: PureHealth Research Highlights Natural Ingredients for Everyday Wellness 2026-08-22 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/understanding-lymph-system-support-supplements-purehealth-research-highlights-natural-ingredients-for-everyday-wellness-302842673.html MANASSAS, Va., Aug. 22, 2026 -- PureHealth Research is highlighting the growing consumer interest in lymphatic wellness through everyday nutrition. Lymph system support supplements are formulas that commonly feature botanicals such as Burdock Root, Cleavers, and Echinacea,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kurly Expands Its Chef-Driven Food Collection with Udon Kaden's U.S. Retail Launch 2026-08-22 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kurly-expands-its-chef-driven-food-collection-with-udon-kadens-us-retail-launch-302857701.html Udon Kaden's two signature dishes — Signature Udon and Chilled Udon — launch in the U.S. Available at H Mart, Jagalchi, Mega Mart and other retail partners, and online at Kurlyglobal.com Chef Jung Ho Young will host in-store tastings at four California stores on August 22–23 LOS ANGELES,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Green Thumb Opens Its 24th Florida Location, RISE Dispensary Port St. Lucie, on August 22 2026-08-22 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/22/3349380/0/en/green-thumb-opens-its-24th-florida-location-rise-dispensary-port-st-lucie-on-august-22.html CHICAGO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 22, 2026 -- RISE Dispensaries, an industry leading cannabis retail chain owned by Green Thumb Industries Inc. (“Green Thumb” or the “Company”) (CSE: GTII) (OTCQX: GTBIF), today announced the opening of RISE Dispensary Port St. Lucie, Florida, on August 22. Located at 2092 NW Courtyard Circle, Port St. Lucie, FL, RISE Dispensary Port St. Lucie is the Company’s 24th retail location in Florida, adding to the Company’s 120+ owned and managed stores across the country. Beginning August 22, RISE Dispensary Port St. Lucie will bring patients across the Treasure Coast best-in-class products and in-store shopping. Open 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Sundays, RISE Dispensary Port St. Lucie will offer a broad selection of curated products from Green Thumb’s portfolio, including RYTHM premium flower, full-spectrum vapes and concentrates, Dogwalkers pre-rolls, Good Green flower, &Shine flower, and Doctor Solomon’s tinctures and topicals. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Electronics Delivery (2026): Same-Day Options for Chargers, Earbuds, Monitors, and Last-Minute Tech Needs by Expert Consumers 2026-08-22 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/electronics-delivery-2026-same-day-options-for-chargers-earbuds-monitors-and-last-minute-tech-needs-by-expert-consumers-302857632.html NEW YORK, Aug. 22, 2026 -- Expert Consumers has recognized the growing role of DoorDash in electronics delivery as consumers increasingly turn to same-day retail delivery for chargers, earbuds, computer accessories, monitors, and other technology needs. Electronics Delivery:... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Files Securities Class Action Against AEVEX Corp. (AVEX) 2026-08-21 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310861/ScottScott-Attorneys-at-Law-LLP-Files-Securities-Class-Action-Against-AEVEX-Corp.-AVEX New York, New York--(August 21, 2026) - Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP ("Scott+Scott"), an international shareholder and consumer rights litigation firm, has filed a securities class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California against AEVEX Corp. ("Aevex" or the "Company") (NYSE: AVEX), certain of the Company's directors and officers, and underwriters of the Company's initial public offering ("IPO"), alleging violations of §§11,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— GENESIS EXPANDS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PRESENCE WITH GRAND OPENING OF GENESIS OF SAN BRUNO 2026-08-21 · PR Newswire · Retail, Automotive https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/genesis-expands-northern-california-presence-with-grand-opening-of-genesis-of-san-bruno-302856995.html Genesis of San Bruno strengthens the brand's retail footprint in the Bay Area through continued investment from Cardinale Automotive Group Genesis continues to grow its standalone retail network, with 85 dedicated facilities nationwide Genesis today announced the grand opening of Genesis of San Bruno, a new standalone retail facility serving customers on the San Francisco Peninsula. The opening of G ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ceretone and Easter Seals Greater Houston Bring Hearing Technology to Local Seniors Through Community Initiative 2026-08-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ceretone-and-easter-seals-greater-houston-bring-hearing-technology-to-local-seniors-through-community-initiative-302857215.html Organizations came together to help seniors use technology with confidence and shape the future of hearing care Ceretone, a direct-to-consumer hearing technology company, partnered with Easter Seals Greater Houston, Catholic Charities, and AmeriCorps Seniors to help seniors experience over-the-counter hearing technology in a supportive community setting while gathering valuable insights to improve f ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CloudWalk Takes Pierre to the Nasdaq Tower 2026-08-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/cloudwalk-takes-pierre-nasdaq-tower-144300243.html NEW YORK, August 21, 2026--CloudWalk is a technology company building AGI and ASI. It makes its money in payments and credit. This week, Pierre, its consumer financial agent, is on the Nasdaq Tower in Times Square. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OnePay Expands Support for Apple Pay 2026-08-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/onepay-expands-support-for-apple-pay-302857381.html Apple Pay brings an easier and more secure way for OnePay customers to pay in person and online with any OnePay card NEW YORK, Aug. 21, 2026 -- OnePay, the consumer fintech trusted by millions of Americans to make money better, today announced that it has expanded its support... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— California Pizza Kitchen Partners With T-ROC Global for National Expansion of Automated Retail Kiosks 2026-08-21 · Business Wire · Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/california-pizza-kitchen-partners-t-133100433.html COSTA MESA, Calif. & CORAL GABLES, Fla., August 21, 2026--California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the iconic restaurant brand that revolutionized pizza with its California-inspired creativity, today announced a partnership with T-ROC Global, a leading provider of technology-enabled retail solutions, to dramatically expand access to CPK through a new generation of automated retail experiences. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AXIS-Y Expands GCC Presence with Landmark Kuwait and Bahrain Launch 2026-08-21 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axis-y-expands-gcc-presence-with-landmark-kuwait-and-bahrain-launch-302857311.html The vegan, climate-inspired K-beauty brand strengthens its Middle East footprint through Korea Town by Boutiqaat, debuting dedicated retail experiences and a three-day Kuwait launch activation. SEOUL, South Korea and KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait , Aug. 21, 2026 -- AXIS-Y, the vegan,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Synergy CHC Corp. Announces Receipt of Nasdaq Letter 2026-08-21 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Healthcare, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/21/3349031/0/en/synergy-chc-corp-announces-receipt-of-nasdaq-letter.html N. WINDHAM, Maine, Aug. 21, 2026 -- Synergy CHC Corp. (NASDAQ: SNYR) (“Synergy” or the “Company”), a consumer health and wellness company, today announced that it received a notice (the “Notice”) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) on August 20, 2026, indicating that the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) (the “Listing Rule”) due to the delayed filing of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2026 (the “Q2 Form 10-Q”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The Listing Rule requires companies with securities listed on Nasdaq to timely file all required periodic reports with the SEC. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Celsius Holdings to Participate in the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/celsius-holdings-participate-barclays-19th-120000182.html BOCA RATON, Fla., August 21, 2026--Celsius Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CELH) ("the Company") today announced it will participate in the following investor conference: ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 58% of Consumers Say They Don't Care Whether a Product is a National Brand or Private Label. They Just Buy What They Need 2026-08-21 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/58-consumers-dont-care-whether-100000945.html CHICAGO, August 21, 2026--As fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) prices rose 26% globally between 2021 and 2025, consumers have become more deliberate about where they save and where they spend. NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ) has released new findings showing that private label is no longer viewed simply as a lower-cost substitute, but as a credible competitor across value, mainstream, and premium segments. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Inter Pag Selects ACI Worldwide to Advance Intelligent Payments Orchestration in Brazil 2026-08-21 · Business Wire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/inter-pag-selects-aci-worldwide-060000659.html OMAHA, Neb. & SÃO PAULO, August 21, 2026--ACI Worldwide (NASDAQ: ACIW), an original innovator in global payments technology, and Inter Pag, the merchant acquiring business of Banco Inter, today announced a strategic partnership to help power the next phase of Inter Pag's growth in Brazil. Combining cloud-enabled acquiring capabilities with payments intelligence, AI-driven fraud prevention, analytics, advanced ecommerce tools and orchestration, the partnership will support Inter Pag's modernizati ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LibAI Lab Launches NewFace.AI, Extending Its Creative AI Expertise to E-Commerce and UGC Production 2026-08-21 · PR Newswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/libai-lab-launches-newfaceai-extending-its-creative-ai-expertise-to-e-commerce-and-ugc-production-302856980.html Agent-driven Canvas, field-tested Skills and Seedance 2.5 bring flexible production to sellers, creators and teams SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 20, 2026 -- LibAI Lab today announced the launch of NewFace.AI, an AI image and video creation platform built for e-commerce sellers,... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Roots Corporation Agrees to Go Private in Transaction Led by Marquee Brands, in Partnership with Canadian Retail Leaders Joseph Mimran and Frank Rocchetti, to Position Roots for Next Chapter of Global Growth 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/roots-corporation-agrees-private-transaction-212500772.html TORONTO, August 20, 2026--Canadian heritage outdoor and lifestyle brand Roots Corporation ("Roots" or the "Company") (TSX: ROOT) and Marquee Brands, the premier global brand management company and leading brand accelerator, today announced they have entered into an agreement (the "Agreement") whereby Marquee Brands will acquire Roots, through its strategic operating partner, in a transaction designed to preserve all that makes Roots uniquely Canadian, while bringing the brand to more consumers a ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tyson Foods To Participate in the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-20 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/20/3348825/7106/en/tyson-foods-to-participate-in-the-barclays-19th-annual-global-consumer-conference.html SPRINGDALE, Ark., Aug. 20, 2026 -- Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN) announced today that management will participate in the Barclays 19th Annual Global Consumer Conference in Boston on September 10th, 2026. The fireside chat with Jeff Schomburger, Incoming President & CEO and Curt Calaway, CFO will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time and will be available via a live audio webcast. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Murphy USA Debuts Automated Retail Technologies Foodservice Platform Featuring White Castle 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink https://finance.yahoo.com/small-business/articles/murphy-usa-debuts-automated-retail-203100638.html EL DORADO, Ark., August 20, 2026--Murphy USA (NYSE: MUSA) today announced an initial rollout of an emerging autonomous foodservice platform in select larger-format stores, providing customers another convenient way to access hot, branded food during their everyday stop. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bunge to Present at Barclays Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/bunge-present-barclays-annual-global-203000386.html ST. LOUIS, August 20, 2026--Bunge to Present at Barclays Annual Global Consumer Conference ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Constellation Brands to Present at the 2026 Barclays Global Consumer Conference on September 8, 2026 2026-08-20 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Food & drink https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/20/3348824/0/en/constellation-brands-to-present-at-the-2026-barclays-global-consumer-conference-on-september-8-2026.html ROCHESTER, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2026 -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ), a leading U.S.-based total beverage alcohol company, announced today that Nicholas Fink, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Garth Hankinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the 2026 Barclays Global Consumer Conference on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in Boston, MA. The presentation is scheduled to begin at 11:15 a.m. ET and is expected to cover the company’s financial metrics, operating performance, strategic business initiatives, and outlook for the future. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Announces Election of Mary Fox to its Board of Directors 2026-08-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/20/3348823/0/en/abercrombie-fitch-co-announces-election-of-mary-fox-to-its-board-of-directors.html Fox brings more than 25 years of experience across consumer products, retail, and omnichannel businesses Fox brings more than 25 years of experience across consumer products, retail, and omnichannel businesses ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— KBRA Assigns Preliminary Ratings to Upgrade Master Pass-Thru Trust, Series 2026-ST4 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/kbra-assigns-preliminary-ratings-upgrade-175300012.html NEW YORK, August 20, 2026--KBRA assigns preliminary ratings to four classes of notes issued by Upgrade Master Pass-Thru Trust, Series 2026-ST4 ("UMPT 2026-ST4"), a consumer loan ABS transaction. UMPT 2026-ST4 has initial hard credit enhancement levels ranging from 53.95% for the Class A Notes to 22.10% for the Class D Notes. Credit enhancement consists of overcollateralization, subordination of the junior note classes, except for the Class D notes, a cash reserve account, and excess spread. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Voghion Accelerates Its European Market Strategy with an Upgraded Seller Growth Program 2026-08-20 · Newsfile · SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310617/Voghion-Accelerates-Its-European-Market-Strategy-with-an-Upgraded-Seller-Growth-Program London, United Kingdom--(August 20, 2026) - London-based online marketplace Voghion is stepping up its European market strategy with an upgraded full-cycle seller growth program, strengthening support for merchants at every stage of their journey. The expanded program brings together market guidance, clearer platform policies, operational resources, category opportunities, promotional support, and ongoing market feedback to help sellers navigate Europe's evolving e-commerce... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hangover Rehydration Supplements (2026-2031) - Rising Demand for Convenient Post-Alcohol Recovery Solutions Drives Market Growth 2026-08-20 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/20/3348615/28124/en/hangover-rehydration-supplements-2026-2031-rising-demand-for-convenient-post-alcohol-recovery-solutions-drives-market-growth.html Demand is shifting to preventive, clinically backed supplements, convenient RTD and oral formats, e-commerce and subscriptions, led by Gen Z, corporate wellness and Asia-Pacific. Demand is shifting to preventive, clinically backed supplements, convenient RTD and oral formats, e-commerce and subscriptions, led by Gen Z, corporate wellness and Asia-Pacific. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CrowdStrike’s Fal.Con 2026 Unites Cybersecurity’s Ecosystem to Secure the AI Revolution 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Cybersecurity, Semiconductors https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/crowdstrike-fal-con-2026-unites-150000651.html AUSTIN, Texas, August 20, 2026--CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) today announced that Fal.Con 2026 will feature a record 150+ ecosystem sponsors, led by Amazon Web Services (AWS), Accenture, Anthropic, Dell Technologies, Ernst & Young LLP (EY US), Google Cloud, Horizon3, Intel, NVIDIA, and OpenAI. The sold-out conference will bring together more than 10,000 attendees from 4,000 organizations across 71 countries. Fal.Con is now the largest vendor-hosted conference in cybersecurity. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NAVR Backs Legal Challenge to California Law Restricting Veterans’ Right to Choose 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/policy/articles/navr-backs-legal-challenge-california-143500892.html WASHINGTON, August 20, 2026--The National Association for Veterans Rights (NAVR) today welcomed a federal challenge to California Senate Bill 694 (SB 694), saying the case underscores a principle NAVR has consistently championed: Veterans deserve strong consumer protections without sacrificing their freedom to choose how they pursue the benefits they earned. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Following National Advertising Division Challenge, Wellspring Meds Voluntarily Discontinues Claims 2026-08-20 · iCrowdNewswire · Healthcare, Retail https://icrowdnewswire.com/2026/08/20/following-national-advertising-division-challenge-wellspring-meds-voluntarily-discontinues-claims/ New York, NY – August 20, 2026 – Following a BBB National Programs’ National Advertising Division challenge brought by Reese Consumer Health, YYBA Corp. d/b/a Wellspring Meds voluntarily discontinued the challenged claims regarding PIN RID®, a chewable pinworm treatment for […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cox Capital To Expand Liquidity Solutions for Retail Investors in Private Markets 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/cox-capital-expand-liquidity-solutions-120000189.html PHILADELPHIA, August 20, 2026--Cox Capital Partners, LP ("Cox Capital"), a provider of liquidity solutions for retail holders of illiquid alternative investments, today announced plans to expand its existing tender offer program for non‑traded business development companies (BDCs) into the rapidly growing interval fund market. The move affirms the company’s role as a provider of liquidity solutions across the private markets landscape for the wealth advisory channel. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Emperor Watch & Jewellery Limited Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-20 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Travel, Fashion & luxury https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109275/ Financial Highlights   For the six months ended 30 June Changes 2025 HK$ million 2026 HK$ million Total revenue 2,794 2,934 + 5.0% Gross profit 840 969 + 15.4% Gross profit margin 30.1% 33.0% + 2.9pp Adjusted EBITD 1 297 448 + 50.8% Net profit 194 318 + 63.9% Basic earnings per share HK2.73 cents HK4.28 cents + 56.8% Interim dividend per share HK0.55 cents HK0.90 cents + 63.6% 1 Adjusted EBITD represents earnings before interest, tax and depreciation charge on the self-owned flagship store, which reflects the Group’s core operating performance HONG KONG, August 20, 2026 - Emperor Watch & Jewellery Limited (“Group” or “Emperor W&J”) (Stock code: 887), a leading retailer of European-made watches and jewellery products, announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“Period”). During the Period, the Group’s total revenue increased by 5.0% to HK$2,934 million (2025: HK$2,794 million). Revenue from Hong Kong increased by 11.1% to HK$1,771 million (2025: HK$1,594 million), accounting for 60.4% (2025: 57.1%) of total revenue, and revenue from the Chinese Mainland increased by 20.7% to HK$873 million (2025: HK$723 million), accounting for 29.8% (2025: 25.9%) of total revenue. Revenue from the watch segment increased by 9.8% to HK$1,866 million (2025: HK$1,700 million), accounting for 63.6% (2025: 60.8%) of the total revenue. The Group’s gross profit increased by 15.4% to HK$969 million (2025: HK$840 million) with an improved gross profit margin of 33.0% (2025: 30.1%). As a result, the Group’s net profit increased significantly by 63.9% to HK$318 million (2025: HK$194 million) during the Period. Basic earnings per share was HK4.28 cents (2025: HK2.73 cents). The Board declared an interim dividend of HK0.90 cents (2025: HK0.55 cents) per share. As at 30 June 2026, bank balances and cash on hand of the Group amounted to HK$1,573 million (31 December 2025: HK$1,610 million). Since the Group was in a net cash position, hence its net gearing ratio was zero (31 December 2025: zero). During the Period, the Group opened eight jewellery stores in the Chinese Mainland, which mainly in established first-tier or new first-tier cities. Apart from the jewellery stores, a multi-brand watch store was opened on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Subsequent to the Period, a multi-storey Rolex boutique was opened on Canton Road in Tsim Sha Tsui, further strengthening the Group’s leadership position in the market. As at 30 June 2026, the Group had a total of 69 stores in Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia. Ms. Cindy Yeung, Chairperson of Emperor W&J, said, “Considering several favourable factors such as a continued rebound in the stock market and higher tourist spending in Hong Kong, it is expected that the Hong Kong economy will remain resilient in the second half of 2026. In recent years, consumer behaviours have become more sophisticated, especially in the luxury market. Personalised and premium customer services as well as luxurious shopping environments are expected. In this regard, the Group has opened multi-storey Rolex boutiques in Beijing in the Chinese Mainland and Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, aiming to enhance its customers’ shopping experience and strengthen its foothold in the luxury watch market. In respect of the jewellery business, the Group has been actively exploring intellectual property (IP) collaboration opportunities in order to tap into the younger consumer market; in the meantime, gold jewellery has gained immense popularity among consumers and is gradually transforming into daily wearable accessories. The Group will therefore continue expanding its jewellery business segment, to seize market opportunities and elevate the brand presence.” About Emperor Watch & Jewellery Limited With long establishment history of over 80 years in Hong Kong since 1942, Emperor W&J (887.HK) is a leading retailer principally engages in the sale of European-made internationally renowned watches, and jewellery products under its own brand, “Emperor Jewellery”. Through its comprehensive watch dealership, unique marketing campaigns and extensive retail network at prime locations in Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia, Emperor W&J established a strong brand image amongst its target customers ranging from middle to high income groups worldwide. In recognition of its efforts in investor relations communications, Emperor W&J was granted with “Best IR Company” (Small Cap), “Best IR Team” (Small Cap) and “Best Investor Presentation Material” (Small cap) in HKIRA Investor Relations Awards 2026 by the Hong Kong Investor Relations Association. For more information, please visit its website: www.EmperorWatchJewellery.com. Investor/Media Enquiries Anna Luk Group Investor Relations Director Tel: +852 2835 6783 Email: annaluk@emperorgroup.com Janice Au Group Investor Relations Manager Tel: +852 2835 6799 Email: janiceau@emperorgroup.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Guoquan Reports 22% Revenue Growth in 1H2026, Existing Franchised Stores Sales up 7.4%, Farm GMV Soars Over Sixfold 2026-08-20 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Media, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109271/ HONG KONG, August 20, 2026 - Recently, Guoquan Food (02517) announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. The Group recorded revenue of RMB3,947 million, representing an increase of 21.8% year-on-year. Gross profit was RMB849 million, up 18.3% year-on-year, and net profit was RMB213 million, up 12.1% year-on-year. Core operating profit (non-IFRS measure) amounted to RMB225 million, up 18.3% year-on-year, representing a core operating profit margin of 5.7%. Existing Franchised Stores Sales up 7.4%; Large-Store Remodelling Reshapes Per-Store Value When assessing the operational quality of a chain retail enterprise, sales of products to existing franchised stores are a more meaningful metric than new store opening numbers. As of 30 June, the Group had a total of 12,198 stores, representing a net increase of 1,798 stores. During the period, 365 stores were closed, with a store closure rate of below 3%. Revenue from existing franchised stores amounted to RMB2,581 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.4%. Excluding the impact of new store ramp-up, this indicates that the existing franchised store network still possesses organic growth momentum. Behind the growth of existing franchised stores, large-store remodelling served as the primary driver. In the first half of the year, 684 stores completed the upgrade to the large-store model. This upgrade is not simply about expanding floor space, but rather about using larger physical space to accommodate a wider range of categories and extended operating hours – expanding consumption scenarios from hotpot and barbecue to cover all daily meal occasions, and upgrading stores from mere ingredient sales points into comprehensive community family dining entry points. Penetration into lower-tier markets progressed simultaneously. The number of stores in township markets reached 3,377. By precisely targeting these markets with high-cost-performance bulk-sale items and large-pack family packs, the “one store per town” strategy taps into the vast hinterland of approximately 38,000 townships nationwide, with penetration potential far from being exhausted. Farm Business Grows Over Sixfold, New Growth Engine Takes Shape Online and membership data also recorded rapid growth. Registered members reached approximately 82 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 63.0%. Member consumption accounted for 73.2% of total sales, up 12 percentage points year-on-year, indicating that the revenue structure is increasingly concentrated among highly loyal customer groups. The Douyin channel saw significant growth: platform exposure exceeded 6.97 billion views, up 117.8% year-on-year; store GMV on Douyin reached RMB910 million, up 97.2%, initially forming a closed loop between online traffic and offline conversion. Guoquan Farm was the fastest-growing business segment during the period. Its omni-channel paid GMV reached RMB240 million, up over 600% year-on-year, and it brought in over 1.92 million new members for the stores. This model does not set up an independent e-commerce platform; instead, it leverages the existing store network as front-end warehouses and pickup points, while online content seeding and traceability livestreams drive traffic, forming a closed loop of “direct sourcing – content seeding – online ordering – in-store pickup”, which theoretically reduces marginal costs. Among best-selling products, the Golden Pillow Durian Pulp attracted a total of 1.559 million buyers, with a repurchase rate of 22.06%, and also boosted sales of related categories such as durian mille-crêpe cakes, Beihai cooked salted duck eggs, and crispy ice cream. In August, the “Grassland Sheep Traceability” livestream achieved over 8.09 million total exposures within three hours, with a peak concurrent viewership of 173,000. The Farm model completely removes the physical constraints of store floor space and freezer capacity from Guoquan’s category boundaries – the “infinite shelf” combined with a 10,000-store fulfilment network represents a critical leap forward in its transformation from a hotpot ingredient retailer to a full-category platform for home dining. Institutionalised Return Mechanisms; Hong Kong Flagship Store Launched The Board proposed the payment of an interim dividend of RMB0.0503 per ordinary share (tax inclusive), totalling approximately RMB128 million. During the period, the Group repurchased a total of 82,201,200 H shares on the Stock Exchange at an aggregate consideration of approximately HK$192 million. The dividend together with the share buybacks amounted to approximately RMB296 million, equivalent to 139.9% of the profit attributable to owners of the parent for the period (RMB211 million). The shareholder return ratio increased from 5.6% in 2024 and 2025 to 7.1%. In addition to the amount, the Board also approved the 2026 H-Share Equity Incentive Plan, which adopts core operating profit as the performance indicator. The reference target values for the years 2026 to 2030 are set to gradually increase from no less than RMB600 million to no less than RMB1.2 billion. By anchoring the assessment to profit rather than revenue or store count, the plan helps guide management to focus on profitability, better aligning management’s interests with those of shareholders. The high dividend payout provides immediate returns, while the equity incentive focuses on long-term growth. The Hong Kong flagship store opened on 18 August, serving as the first stop for the brand’s overseas expansion. Its positioning is not rapid replication, but rather validating the large-store model in high-tier cities and localised supply chain capabilities. According to publicly available data, the Greater Bay Area, with a population of 87 million and an economic aggregate of RMB15 trillion, coupled with the logistics efficiency of the “one-hour living circle”, provides ample room for subsequent regional deepening. Integrated Manufacturing-Retail Closed Loop; Synergies Gradually Unfolding Linking these strategies together is the “manufacturing-retail integration” capability that Guoquan has built over the years. On the front-end “retail” ecosystem – community stores, township stores, large stores, camping stores, stir-fry stores, flash delivery, and Farm – it reaches consumers, understands scenarios, and accumulates member data. On the back-end “manufacturing” ecosystem – seven ingredient production facilities covering core categories such as seasonings, beef, surimi, and aquatic products, with a “single product, single factory” strategy complemented by digitalised central warehouses – it converts front-end demand into scaled product supply. During the period, external sales from the industrial end increased by 20.7% year-on-year, reflecting the potential for the supply chain capability to be externally deployed. The Danzhou Industrial Park in Hainan was topped out, Heyi Meat’s Phase II commenced production, and the Daixiaji Zhangzhou factory was contracted, indicating that the production capacity landscape continues to expand. Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, with the continued replication of the large-store model, the regular operation of the Farm traceability IP, and the gradual accumulation of operating data from the Hong Kong flagship store, Guoquan is expected to gain clearer market recognition of its positioning as a “home dining infrastructure platform”. From a 10,000-store scale to an ecosystem platform, Guoquan’s strategic transformation is entering a substantive realisation phase. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ATRenew Inc. Reports Unaudited Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results 2026-08-20 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail, Sustainability https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atrenew-inc-reports-unaudited-second-quarter-2026-financial-results-302856220.html SHANGHAI, Aug. 20, 2026 -- ATRenew Inc. ("ATRenew" or the "Company") (NYSE: RERE), a pioneer in technology-driven recycling and trade-in solutions for consumer products in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2026. Second... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Dyna.Ai, DOLBIX Consulting, and Nikkoku Soft Launch AI-Powered Insurance Sales Support Pilot 2026-08-20 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dynaai-dolbix-consulting-and-nikkoku-soft-launch-ai-powered-insurance-sales-support-pilot-302855992.html Joint pilot tackles Japan's auto retail labor shortage and heightened Insurance Business Act mandates by deploying frontline enterprise AI across Toyota Corolla Kagawa dealerships TOKYO, Aug. 20, 2026 -- Dyna.Ai Japan today announced the launch of a joint proof of concept... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Treon Flow Offers Seamless Continuation for Amazon Monitron while Optimizing Predictive Maintenance for Large Asset Fleets 2026-08-20 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/treon-flow-offers-seamless-continuation-for-amazon-monitron-while-optimizing-predictive-maintenance-for-large-asset-fleets-302855327.html DALLAS, Aug. 20, 2026 -- Treon Inc, a leader in AI-native Smart Industry solutions, today announced a seamless continuation path for Amazon Monitron users, helping organizations protect their existing condition monitoring investments while advancing to the next generation of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Addressing Cross-Border Transit Demand at New Huanggang Port: Weixin Pay, Wonder and Koon Wing Motors Join Forces to Introduce 'Wonder Transit X' Smart Mobility Platform 2026-08-20 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Education, Telecom, Travel, Food & drink, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109266/ HONG KONG, August 20, 2026 - With the imminent inauguration of the new Huanggang Port, cross-border transport demand between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is set to rise further. To drive the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s green minibuses and facilitate cross-border travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, Wonder, a leading FinTech and payments platform for merchants in Hong Kong and Asia-Pacific, Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), and Koon Wing Motors signed a cooperation intention at the “Hong Kong Minibus Smart Transit Cooperation Signing Ceremony” held on 18 August 2026. This cooperation marks a pivotal milestone in the integration of public transportation between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. By deploying the Wonder Transit X smart mobility platform across Hong Kong’s green minibus network, the initiative will comprehensively drive innovation in smart payments, smart ticketing, and digital operations, delivering a seamless, frictionless commuting experience for local residents and cross-border passengers, further deepening the integration of FinTech with Hong Kong’s public transit sector.   Under the cooperation agreement, Wonder Transit X will be integrated into the green minibus fleet operated by Koon Wing Motors, seamlessly bridging Weixin Pay, Wonder’s smart mobility solutions, and the local green minibus network. In particular, routes servicing the new Huanggang Port will introduce Wonder Transit X to support a versatile array of electronic payment methods, including Weixin Pay, thereby streamlining cross-border commutes for both tourists and local residents. This cooperation will introduce various digital payment options and digital operational capabilities to these critical routes, elevating the passenger journey while empowering operators to optimize ticketing, transaction processing, and daily administrative efficiency. This deployment signifies the official expansion of Wonder Transit X into Hong Kong’s green minibus sector, laying a solid foundation for the digital transformation of local public transport. Wayne Chen, Regional Head of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, Weixin Pay, said, “Minibuses are a cornerstone of Hong Kong's transit infrastructure, essential for both the immersive travel experiences of tourists and the everyday needs of Greater Bay Area residents. We believe this cooperation with Koon Wing Motors will significantly optimize transit efficiency, eliminate the friction of cash handling, and digitally transform the 'last mile' of cross-border connectivity.” Ma Kiu Sang, Director of Yan Yan Motors Ltd., a subsidiary of Koon Wing Motors, said, “To enhance the commuting experience for passengers utilizing our green minibuses post-clearance at the Heung Yuen Wai and new Huanggang ports, we have upgraded our fleet with a state-of-the-art digital payment system. In addition to Octopus, cross-border passengers can now pay fares using Weixin Pay, credit cards and a wide array of digital payment methods, making every journey smoother and more convenient.” Jason Ngan, Founder and CEO of Wonder, said, “This cooperation underscores Wonder’s unwavering commitment to advancing smart city infrastructure through FinTech. By integrating Wonder Transit X into an expanding network of green minibuses, we are delivering more accessible, diversified, and globally recognized payment options to passengers, while injecting fresh impetus into the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s public transit system. Whether serving local residents, mainland visitors, or international tourists, our platform ensures everyone can utilize their preferred payment methods for a frictionless and inclusive travel experience. Given the intensifying cross-border connectivity, incorporating commonly used payment tools in the Chinese Mainland like Weixin Pay into minibus routes connecting port-adjacent communities directly addresses the pragmatic needs of cross-border passengers. We look forward to working with Weixin Pay and Koon Wing Motors to seamlessly integrate smart payment capabilities into the daily commutes of Hong Kong citizens and facilitating cross-border travel, further cementing Hong Kong's leading position as an international smart city.” Wayne Chen, Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay), Regional Head of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; Ma Kiu Sang, Director of Yan Yan Motors, a subsidiary of Koon Wing Motors; and Jason Ngan, Founder and CEO of Wonder, at the Hong Kong Minibus Smart Transit Cooperation Signing Ceremony. Digitalizing Public Transit: Elevating the Passenger Experience and Operational Efficiency Public transportation is an integral component of daily life in Hong Kong. In tandem with ongoing smart city initiatives, the digital transformation of public transit has become paramount. This cooperation will offer convenience to passengers on the relevant green minibus routes. Local residents, Mainland visitors and international travelers can seamlessly settle fares using a comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions tailored to their preferences, including Weixin Pay, PayMe, UnionPay, UnionPay app, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Diners, and BOC Pay. This effectively eliminates the reliance on cash and exact change — a critical advantage during peak transit hours and short-haul journeys. Furthermore, digital payments ensure transparent transaction records and instant confirmation, granting passengers peace of mind and real-time visibility into their fare expenditures. Over the long term, this cooperation will drive the modernization of minibus services, aligning them more closely with the contemporary needs of the public.   Beyond serving local communities, this cooperation significantly refines the cross-border travel experience between Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland. Specific routes act as vital arteries connecting border communities, offering essential transit links for frequent cross-border travelers. Notably, as a flagship infrastructure project between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the new Huanggang Port's connecting minibus routes will feature this diversified digital payment system. Mainland visitors can utilize familiar platforms such as Weixin Pay, mitigating the friction of acquiring Hong Kong currency upon arrival and ensuring a fluid transit experience. As minibus services increasingly integrate with border checkpoints, community transit hubs, and broader railway networks, this streamlined payment infrastructure will be instrumental in enhancing cross-border travel convenience. For operators, the Wonder Transit X platform centralizes fare configuration, transaction logging, and operational data analytics, substantially reducing administrative overhead. The system dynamically accommodates complex fare structures across varying routes, section fares, and passenger categories, supporting fare collection and management for various ticket types including adults, children and seniors. Leveraging robust digital transaction ledgers and backend administrative tools, operational teams can gain better insights into transaction and operational conditions across various routes, laying the groundwork for digital fleet management and service optimisation, ultimately elevating the experience for both frontline drivers and passengers. Green minibuses under Koon Wing Motors now feature a new electronic payment system offering a wide range of payment methods including Weixin Pay, PayMe, UnionPay, UnionPay app, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, Diners and BOC Pay. Wonder Transit X: “Any Payments. Any Transportation.” Wonder Transit X is a comprehensive, all-in-one smart payment platform engineered specifically for the transit sector. Anchored by the product philosophy of “Any Payments. Any Transportation.”, it integrates passenger payment processing, fare routing rules, transaction confirmation, and fleet management into a single platform. The platform is designed to deliver a streamlined, intuitive, and secure payment experience for commuters, while empowering operators with robust tools for complex fare structures, transaction records, and day-to-day fleet operations. Beyond green minibuses, Wonder Transit X supports various modes of transport and integrates with existing transport systems, making it highly adaptable for taxis, ferries, and broader public transit applications.   Smart Upgrades for Green Minibuses: A Benchmark for Public Transit Digitalization This cooperation illustrates the seamless expansion of smart transit platforms from fundamental payment gateways into comprehensive ticketing and operational management solutions. By unifying payment processing, fare structuring, and operational analytics, the platform fosters a more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable public transit model. This implementation will serve as a benchmark and operational blueprint for other public transport operators considering smart mobility solutions in the future.   Through this cooperation, Weixin Pay is extending its frictionless payment ecosystem deeper into daily commuting scenarios. Passengers utilizing Weixin Pay will benefit from the enhanced convenience of using their preferred payment option on designated green minibuses. Ultimately, this cooperation not only accelerates the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s green minibuses but also enhances cross-border mobility by optimizing the transit payment experience at border checkpoints. It simultaneously promotes the growth of Hong Kong's local payment ecosystem, cross-border payment convenience, and smart mobility services, injecting new momentum into Hong Kong's smart city development. Green minibus routes operated by Koon Wing Motors serve vital port-adjacent communities, delivering a smart travel experience for cross-border passengers between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Wonder: Committed to “Making Payments Simple” Through Technology As a leading FinTech platform serving businesses in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, Wonder's mission is to "make payments simple", leveraging technology to simplify payment processing, collections, and capital management. The platform integrates online and offline collections, corporate accounts, digital payments, business expense management, transaction management, and digital financial services. Furthermore, it supports digital onboarding, e-KYC, instant settlement, and SME financing. Through these solutions, Wonder empowers businesses to maximize operational efficiency and expand their payment capabilities across diverse sectors, spanning business operations, public services, and daily mobility.  Backed by robust technological capabilities and a culture of innovation, Wonder has achieved notable milestones in recent years, including: secured a USD6 million Series A funding round led by Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) / PCCW in 2019; introduced the T+0 instant settlement for digital taxi payments in Hong Kong in 2023, accelerating daily fare reconciliation for drivers; recognized as the first FinTech firm authorized by the Hong Kong Transport Department to deploy digital payment acceptance infrastructure within taxis in 2024; appointed as Octopus's inaugural omnichannel payment service provider in Hong Kong, enabling merchants to accept Octopus and over 30 alternative payment methods seamlessly via a unified platform; and successfully raised a USD12 million venture debt from HSBC Innovation Banking in February 2026 to support business growth across the Asia-Pacific region and product development. Please click here to download the high-resolution images. About Wonder Wonder is a leading payments and FinTech platform for merchants in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, dedicated to leveraging technology to simplify payment processing, collections, and capital management for businesses across all industries. The platform provides one-stop payment, capital management and digital financial solutions for merchants and enterprises of varying scales, encompassing online and offline collections, corporate accounts, digital payments, business expense management, transaction management, and instant settlement.   Wonder is Hong Kong’s first full-stack omnichannel payments platform, allowing merchants to complete KYC onboarding digitally in minutes, open an account, accept payments, pay digitally, and manage transactions, all from a single platform. Key products include Wonder App, Wonder Terminal, Wonder Dashboard, Wonder Card, Wonder Taxi, and Wonder Transit X. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Wonder completed a USD 6 million Series A funding round led by Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) / PCCW and raised a USD 12 million venture debt from HSBC Innovation Banking. The Company has offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Chinese Mainland, continuously driving the advancement of payments, FinTech, and digital operational services across Asia. For more information, please visit https://wonder.app. About Weixin Pay (WeChat Pay) Weixin Pay is the mobile payment solution integrated within the Weixin/WeChat application and is one of China's leading mobile payment services. Its mission is to provide users and businesses with secure, convenient, and professional payment experiences. In China, Weixin Pay covers nearly every aspect of daily life, both online and offline. The cross-border Weixin Pay service is available in 78 countries and regions, supports 36 currencies, and covers a wide range of scenarios including restaurants, retail, transportation, tourist attractions, and education payments, helping international merchants effectively serve Chinese consumers. Visit https://pay.weixin.qq.com/  About Koon Wing Motors Koon Wing Motors manages a comprehensive network of green minibuses across Hong Kong, serving as a long-standing transit provider for residents. Capitalizing on extensive expertise in green minibus fleet management and operations, Koon Wing Motors remains steadfastly committed to enhancing the accessibility and reliability of public transportation, delivering a seamless, frictionless commuting experience for local residents and cross-border passengers. For media enquiries, please contact: Frement Financial PR Team Tel: (852) 9461 9199 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Addressing Cross-Border Transit Demand at the New Huanggang Port: Weixin Pay, Wonder and Koon Wing Motors Join Forces to Introduce 'Wonder Transit X' Smart Mobility Platform, Driving Digital Transformation of Green Minibuses and Fostering Public Transit Integration Between HK and the Chinese Mainland 2026-08-20 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Automotive, Education, Telecom, Travel, Food & drink, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109266/ HONG KONG, August 20, 2026 - With the imminent inauguration of the new Huanggang Port, cross-border transport demand between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is set to rise further. To drive the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s green minibuses and facilitate cross-border travel between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, Wonder (the “Company”), a leading FinTech and payments platform for merchants in Hong Kong and Asia-Pacific region, Weixin Pay, and Koon Wing Motors reached a cooperation intention at the “Hong Kong Minibus Smart Transit Cooperation Signing Ceremony” held on 18 August 2026. This cooperation marks a pivotal milestone in the integration of public transportation between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. By deploying the Wonder Transit X smart mobility platform across Hong Kong’s green minibus network, the initiative will comprehensively drive innovation in smart payments, smart ticketing, and digital operations, delivering a seamless, frictionless commuting experience for local residents and cross-border passengers, further deepening the integration of FinTech with Hong Kong’s public transit sector.   Under the cooperation agreement, Wonder Transit X will be integrated into the green minibus fleet operated by Koon Wing Motors, seamlessly bridging Weixin Pay, Wonder’s smart mobility solutions, and the local green minibus network. In particular, routes servicing the new Huanggang Port will introduce Wonder Transit X to support a versatile array of electronic payment methods, including Weixin Pay, thereby streamlining cross-border commutes for both tourists and local residents. This cooperation will introduce various digital payment options and digital operational capabilities to these critical routes, elevating the passenger journey while empowering operators to optimize ticketing, transaction processing, and daily administrative efficiency. This deployment signifies the official expansion of Wonder Transit X into Hong Kong’s green minibus sector, laying a solid foundation for the digital transformation of local public transport. Wayne Chen, Regional Head of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, Weixin Pay, said, “Minibuses are a cornerstone of Hong Kong's transit infrastructure, essential for both the immersive travel experiences of tourists and the everyday needs of Greater Bay Area residents. We believe this cooperation with Koon Wing Motors will significantly optimize transit efficiency, eliminate the friction of cash handling, and digitally transform the 'last mile' of cross-border connectivity.” Ma Kiu Sang, Director of Yan Yan Motors Ltd., a subsidiary of Koon Wing Motors, said, “To enhance the commuting experience for passengers utilizing our green minibuses post-clearance at the Heung Yuen Wai and new Huanggang ports, we have upgraded our fleet with a state-of-the-art digital payment system. In addition to Octopus, cross-border passengers can now pay fares using Weixin Pay, credit cards and a wide array of digital payment methods, making every journey smoother and more convenient.” Jason Ngan, Founder and CEO of Wonder, said, “This cooperation underscores Wonder’s unwavering commitment to advancing smart city infrastructure through FinTech. By integrating Wonder Transit X into an expanding network of green minibuses, we are delivering more accessible, diversified, and globally recognized payment options to passengers, while injecting fresh impetus into the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s public transit system. Whether serving local residents, mainland visitors, or international tourists, our platform ensures everyone can utilize their preferred payment methods for a frictionless and inclusive travel experience. Given the intensifying cross-border connectivity, incorporating commonly used payment tools in the Chinese Mainland like Weixin Pay into minibus routes connecting port-adjacent communities directly addresses the pragmatic needs of cross-border passengers. We look forward to working with Weixin Pay and Koon Wing Motors to seamlessly integrate smart payment capabilities into the daily commutes of Hong Kong citizens and facilitating cross-border travel, further cementing Hong Kong's leading position as an international smart city.” Wayne Chen (left), Regional Head of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, Weixin Pay; Ma Kiu Sang (center), Director of Yan Yan Motors Ltd., a subsidiary of Koon Wing Motors; and Jason Ngan (right), Founder and CEO of Wonder, are pictured at the Hong Kong Minibus Smart Transit Cooperation Signing Ceremony. Digitalizing Public Transit: Elevating the Passenger Experience and Operational Efficiency Public transportation is an integral component of daily life in Hong Kong. In tandem with ongoing smart city initiatives, the digital transformation of public transit has become paramount. This cooperation will bring significant convenience to passengers on the relevant green minibus routes. Local residents, Mainland visitors and international travelers can seamlessly settle fares using a comprehensive suite of digital payment solutions tailored to their preferences, including Weixin Pay, PayMe, UnionPay, UnionPay app, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Diners, and BOC Pay. This effectively eliminates the reliance on cash and exact change—a critical advantage during peak transit hours and short-haul journeys. Furthermore, digital payments ensure transparent transaction records and instant confirmation, granting passengers peace of mind and real-time visibility into their fare expenditures. Over the long term, this cooperation will drive the modernization of minibus services, aligning them more closely with the contemporary needs of the public.   Beyond serving local communities, this cooperation significantly refines the cross-border travel experience between Hong Kong and Chinese Mainland. Specific routes act as vital arteries connecting border communities, offering essential transit links for frequent cross-border travelers. Notably, as a flagship infrastructure project between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, the new Huanggang Port's connecting minibus routes will feature this diversified digital payment system. Mainland visitors can utilize familiar platforms such as Weixin Pay, mitigating the friction of acquiring Hong Kong currency upon arrival and ensuring a fluid transit experience. As minibus services increasingly integrate with border checkpoints, community transit hubs, and broader railway networks, this streamlined payment infrastructure will be instrumental in enhancing cross-border travel convenience. For operators, the Wonder Transit X platform centralizes fare configuration, transaction logging, and operational data analytics, substantially reducing administrative overhead. The system dynamically accommodates complex fare structures across varying routes, section fares, and passenger categories, supporting fare collection and management for various ticket types including adults, children and seniors. Leveraging robust digital transaction ledgers and backend administrative tools, operational teams can gain better insights into transaction and operational conditions across various routes, laying the groundwork for digital fleet management and service optimisation, ultimately elevating the experience for both frontline drivers and passengers. Green minibuses under Koon Wing Motors now feature a new electronic payment system supporting a wide range of payment methods including Weixin Pay, PayMe, UnionPay, UnionPay app, JCB, Visa, Mastercard, Discover and Diners, and BOC Pay. Wonder Transit X: “Any Payments. Any Transportation.” Wonder Transit X is a comprehensive, all-in-one smart payment platform engineered specifically for the transit sector. Anchored by the product philosophy of “Any Payments. Any Transportation.”, it integrates passenger payment processing, fare routing rules, transaction confirmation, and fleet management into a single platform. The platform is designed to deliver a streamlined, intuitive, and secure payment experience for commuters, while simultaneously empowering operators with robust tools for managing complex fare structures, transaction records, and day-to-day fleet operations. Beyond green minibuses, Wonder Transit X is also capable of supporting various modes of transport and integrating with existing transport systems, making it highly adaptable for taxis, ferries, and broader public transit applications.   Smart Upgrades for Green Minibuses: A Benchmark for Public Transit Digitalization This cooperation illustrates the seamless expansion of smart transit platforms from fundamental payment gateways into comprehensive ticketing and operational management solutions. By unifying payment processing, fare structuring, and operational analytics, the platform fosters a more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable public transit model. This implementation will serve as a benchmark and operational blueprint for other public transport operators considering smart mobility solutions in the future.   Through this cooperation, Weixin Pay is extending its frictionless payment ecosystem deeper into daily commuting scenarios. Passengers utilizing Weixin Pay will benefit from the enhanced convenience of using their preferred payment option on designated green minibuses. Ultimately, this cooperation not only accelerates the digital transformation of Hong Kong’s green minibuses but also enhances cross-border mobility by optimizing the transit payment experience at border checkpoints. It simultaneously promotes the growth of Hong Kong's local payment ecosystem, cross-border payment convenience, and smart mobility services, injecting new momentum into Hong Kong's smart city development. Green minibus routes operated by Koon Wing Motors serve vital port-adjacent communities, delivering a smart travel experience for cross-border passengers traveling between Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland. Wonder: Committed to “Making Payments Simple” Through Technology As a leading FinTech platform serving businesses in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, Wonder's mission is to "make payments simple", leveraging technology to simplify payment processing, collections, and capital management. The platform integrates online and offline collections, corporate accounts, digital payments, business expense management, transaction management, and digital financial services. Furthermore, it supports digital onboarding, e-KYC, instant settlement, and SME financing. Through these solutions, Wonder empowers businesses to maximize operational efficiency and expand their payment capabilities across diverse sectors, spanning business operations, public services, and daily mobility.  Backed by robust technological capabilities and a culture of innovation, Wonder has achieved notable milestones in recent years, including: secured a USD6 million Series A funding round led by Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) / PCCW in 2019; introduced the T+0 instant settlement for digital taxi payments in Hong Kong in 2023, accelerating daily fare reconciliation for drivers; recognized as the first FinTech firm authorized by the Hong Kong Transport Department to deploy digital payment acceptance infrastructure within taxis in 2024; appointed as Octopus's inaugural omnichannel payment service provider in Hong Kong, enabling merchants to seamlessly accept Octopus and over 30 alternative payment methods via a unified platform; and successfully raised a USD12 million venture debt from HSBC Innovation Banking in February 2026 to support business growth across the Asia-Pacific region and product development. Please click here to download the high-resolution images. About Wonder Wonder is a leading payments and FinTech platform for merchants in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region, dedicated to leveraging technology to simplify payment processing, collections, and capital management for businesses across all industries. The platform provides one-stop payment, capital management and digital financial solutions for merchants and enterprises of varying scales, encompassing online and offline collections, corporate accounts, digital payments, business expense management, transaction management, and instant settlement.   Wonder is Hong Kong’s first full-stack omnichannel payments platform, allowing merchants to complete KYC onboarding digitally in minutes, open an account, accept payments, pay digitally, and manage transactions, all from a single platform. Key products include Wonder App, Wonder Terminal, Wonder Dashboard, Wonder Card, Wonder Taxi, and Wonder Transit X. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Wonder completed a USD6 million Series A funding round led by Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) / PCCW and raised a USD12 million venture debt from HSBC Innovation Banking. The Company has offices in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Chinese Mainland, continuously driving the advancement of payments, FinTech, and digital operational services across Asia.   For more information, please visit https://wonder.app. About Weixin Pay Weixin Pay is the mobile payment solution integrated within the Weixin/WeChat application and is one of China's leading mobile payment services. Its mission is to provide users and businesses with secure, convenient, and professional payment experiences. In China, Weixin Pay covers nearly every aspect of daily life, both online and offline. The cross-border Weixin Pay service is available in 78 countries and regions, supports 36 currencies, and covers a wide range of scenarios including restaurants, retail, transportation, tourism attractions, and education payments - helping international merchants effectively serve Chinese consumers. About Koon Wing Motors Koon Wing Motors manages a comprehensive network of green minibuses across Hong Kong, serving as a long-standing transit provider for local residents. Capitalizing on extensive expertise in green minibus fleet management and operations, Koon Wing Motors remains steadfastly committed to enhancing the accessibility and reliability of public transportation, delivering a seamless, frictionless commuting experience for local residents and cross-border passengers. For media enquiries, please contact: Frement Financial PR Team Tel: (852) 9461 9199 ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Ant International’s FalconTST Model 2.0 Achieves SOTA, Elevating Predictive AI Application in Finance to New Levels 2026-08-20 · Business Wire · AI, Retail, Aerospace & defense, Logistics https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ant-international-falcontst-model-2-015500993.html SHANGHAI & SINGAPORE, August 20, 2026--Ant International has introduced Falcon Time-Series Transformer (TST) AI Model 2.0, its most advanced TST model so far designed to deliver more accurate forecasting in real-world FX risk management of cross-border payments, with more industry applications to come, such as demand forecasting for supply chain management for e-commerce platforms, and predictive operations management for aviation industry. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— IC Group Announces Q2 2026 Earnings Release Date and Investor Webinar 2026-08-19 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail, Sports https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310552/IC-Group-Announces-Q2-2026-Earnings-Release-Date-and-Investor-Webinar Toronto, Ontario--(August 19, 2026) - IC Group Holdings Inc. (TSXV: ICGH) ("IC Group" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled consumer engagement company driving commerce and data for global brands and professional sports teams, will announce its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after market close.The Company will host an investor webinar at 10:00 AM ET (7:00 AM PT) on Thursday, August 27, 2026, to discuss its financial... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Eightpoint CEO, Deniz Gezgin Accepted into Forbes Technology Council 2026-08-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eightpoint-ceo-deniz-gezgin-accepted-into-forbes-technology-council-302855561.html Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs, and technology executives. FORT MYERS, Fla., Aug. 19, 2026 -- Deniz Gezgin, Chief Executive Officer of Eightpoint, a global technology company that builds and scales consumer digital... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Zep® Returns as Primary Sponsor on Chase Briscoe's No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota for the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway 2026-08-19 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/zep-returns-primary-sponsor-chase-160000648.html ATLANTA, August 19, 2026--Zep, Inc., a leading innovator, producer, and distributor of professional and consumer cleaning solutions, will serve as primary sponsor on Chase Briscoe's No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE Sunday, August 23, in the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Introducing the MS NOW Membership – a New Way to Watch, Connect and Engage – Launching Wednesday, Sept. 9 2026-08-19 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/introducing-ms-now-membership-way-142200990.html NEW YORK, August 19, 2026--MS NOW will launch its inaugural Membership on Wednesday, Sept. 9, the organization’s first direct-to-consumer product. The first-of-its-kind Membership will serve as an additive experience to MS NOW's television and digital offerings, building on the audience's connection with its anchors and reporters. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— New AI Safety Council Brings Technology and Domestic Violence Experts Together to Advance Responsible AI Innovation 2026-08-19 · Business Wire · AI, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ai-safety-council-brings-technology-140700767.html AUSTIN, Texas, August 19, 2026--Amazon, EndTAB and the Texas Council on Family Violence have teamed up to launch the national AI Safety Council, dedicated to building responsible AI. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Kroger, One of the Largest American Retail and Supermarket Chains, Rolls Out Fold Bitcoin Gift Card™ Program Nationwide 2026-08-19 · GlobeNewswire · Crypto, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/19/3347707/0/en/kroger-one-of-the-largest-american-retail-and-supermarket-chains-rolls-out-fold-bitcoin-gift-card-program-nationwide.html Initial Seasonal Pilot Demonstrated Strong Interest Among Kroger Customers for the Fold Bitcoin Gift Card Reinforcing Fold’s Momentum with a Major Retail Distributor Initial Seasonal Pilot Demonstrated Strong Interest Among Kroger Customers for the Fold Bitcoin Gift Card Reinforcing Fold’s Momentum with a Major Retail Distributor ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vaynhanh AI Report Identifies Five Distinct Fast Loan Products in Vietnam’s Consumer Credit Market 2026-08-19 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/19/3347610/0/en/vaynhanh-ai-report-identifies-five-distinct-fast-loan-products-in-vietnam-s-consumer-credit-market.html Hanoi, Vietnam, Aug. 19, 2026 -- Vaynhanh AI has released its Vaynhanh Fast Loan Market Report 2026, examining the changing structure of Vietnam’s consumer credit market and identifying five major forms of credit: unsecured personal loans, credit cards, point-of-sale installment financing, buy now pay later (BNPL) and pre-approved credit limits or overdraft facilities. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Home Lenders Enhance Digital Impact with Accelerated Closing and Funding, Relationship Value-Adds and Visual Consumer-Education Content 2026-08-19 · PR Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Media, Education https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/home-lenders-enhance-digital-impact-with-accelerated-closing-and-funding-relationship-value-adds-and-visual-consumer-education-content-302854369.html Bank of America and PNC Remain Tied for the Lead in Keynova Group's 2026 Mortgage-Home Equity Scorecard WILMINGTON, Del., Aug. 19, 2026 -- Keynova Group, the leading competitive intelligence source for digital financial services, today announced the results of its 2026... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— General Mills to Webcast Remarks at Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on Sept. 8, 2026 2026-08-19 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/general-mills-webcast-remarks-barclays-120000970.html MINNEAPOLIS, August 19, 2026--General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) announced that Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Harmening and Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb will participate in a fireside chat discussion at the Barclays Global Consumer Staples Conference on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, beginning at 3:00 p.m. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Launching ‘Meta Startup School’ to Accelerate Growth For Early-Stage Startups 2026-08-19 · Meta · Retail, Education https://about.fb.com/news/2026/08/launching-meta-startup-school-to-accelerate-growth-for-early-stage-startups/ We are launching Meta Startup School, a three-month programme designed to help early-stage consumer brands accelerate growth. The first cohort will see 200 startups get exclusive access to support and training from venture capital firms and industry experts. The post Launching ‘Meta Startup School’ to Accelerate Growth For Early-Stage Startups appeared first on Meta Newsroom. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Prime Air drone delivery is expanding to nearly 500 US cities and towns this year 2026-08-19 · Amazon · Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-expansion?utm_source=rss Prime Air delivers millions of items in as fast as 30 minutes and will reach communities with tens of millions of customers by year-end. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Prime Air drone delivery is expanding to nearly 500 cities and towns this year 2026-08-19 · Amazon · Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-prime-air-drone-delivery-expansion?utm_source=rss Prime Air delivers millions of items in as fast as 30 minutes and will reach communities with tens of millions of customers by year-end. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Champion REIT Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-19 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Real estate, Retail, Travel, Fashion & luxury, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109240/ - Resilient occupancy across property portfolio reflecting proactive leasing efforts - Three Garden Road recorded positive rental reversion in selective renewal cases - Proactive retail tenant mix refinement driving positive impact on tenants’ sales - Successfully secured credit facilities for refinancing all debt due in 2026 HONG KONG, August 19, 2026 - Champion Real Estate Investment Trust (Stock Code: 2778), which owns Three Garden Road and Langham Place properties, announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Summary of financial results   1H 2026 1H 2025 Change Total Rental Income (HK$ million) 949 1,029 - 7.8% Net Property Income (HK$ million) 780 859 - 9.3% Distributable Income (HK$ million) 432 476 - 9.1% Distribution per Unit (HK$) 0.0633 0.0701 - 9.7%     30 Jun 2026 31 Dec 2025 Change Gross Value of Portfolio (HK$ million) 56,432 56,179 + 0.5% Net Asset Value per Unit (HK$) 6.48 6.45 + 0.5% Gearing Ratio 25.4% 25.4% no change OPERATING REVIEW Market Overview In the first half of 2026, global macroeconomic environment was marked by geopolitical uncertainties. Sentiment in Hong Kong’s commercial real estate market showed signs of stabilisation and a selective recovery. Central office leasing sentiment improved notably, while the Hong Kong retail sales recorded solid growth, supported by sustained inbound tourism and a steady pipeline of mega events. Occupancy across the Trust’s property portfolio demonstrated resilience, reflecting proactive leasing efforts. However, negative rental reversion continued to impact the Trust. Distributable income of the Trust decreased by 9.1% to HK$432 million and distribution per unit decreased by 9.7% to HK$0.0633. On financial management, we successfully secured credit facilities for the refinancing of all debt due in 2026 and also expanded our lender pool. Three Garden Road Proactive leasing efforts resulted in high retention rate with over 90% of leases expiring in 2026 confirmed to renew, among them were the major tenants. Occupancy of the property maintained at a stable level of 82.2% as at 30 June 2026 (31 December 2025: 81.6%). Site inspections momentum remained solid in the first half with double digit year-on-year growth. We observed stabilisation of market rents for the property as Central office leasing momentum improved. Positive rental reversions were achieved in some renewal cases. Langham Place Office Tower Rental income of the property showed signs of stabilisation. Occupancy remained resilient at 86.2% as at 30 June 2026 (31 December 2025: 86.9%) amid intense competition of the broader Kowloon office market. Wellness and lifestyle operators remained a key component of Langham Place Office Tower’s tenant profile, accounting for 67% of the tenant mix as at 30 June 2026. To enhance tenant diversification, we acquired an international direct sales company and distributors in its value-chain as new occupiers. Langham Place Mall Tenants’ sales at Langham Place Mall benefitted from the better retail market sentiment. The proactive tenant mix management continued to generate positive impact. The introduction of fashion labels tailored to the mall’s customer demographics resulted in double-digit sales growth in this segment, while lifestyle segment continued to outperform. The mall continued to launch creative campaigns to reinforce its retail trend-setting position. Occupancy maintained at high level of 99.5% as at 30 June 2026 (31 December 2025: 99.3%). Distribution Distributable income of the Trust decreased by 9.1% to HK$432 million (2025: HK$476 million) and distribution per unit ("DPU") dropped by 9.7% to HK$0.0633 (2025: HK$0.0701). Asset Value The appraised value of the Trust's properties was HK$56.4 billion as at 30 June 2026, compared with HK$56.2 billion as at 31 December 2025, mainly reflecting mild increase in rental rate assumptions for Three Garden Road. Sustainability Sustainability remains integral to the Trust's long-term value creation strategy. In the first half of 2026, we made steady progress across strategic priorities. On sustainable finance, we secured a HK$3.0 billion sustainability-linked loan with the support of eight banks. Moreover, Three Garden Road achieved WiredScore Platinum recertification, reaffirming its best-in-class digital connectivity standards. Through our flagship EcoChampion Pledge tenant engagement programme, we organised capacity-building and knowledge-sharing workshops to promote more sustainable workplaces. Outlook The global macroeconomic outlook is expected to remain uncertain. Policy measures to fortify Hong Kong as an international financial centre should continue to drive demand for office in the Central business district, while the recovery in inbound tourists should benefit the retail sector. Three Garden Road remains well positioned to capture future leasing opportunities with its convenient access to both Central and Admiralty business districts. We are also advancing plans for a major asset enhancement initiative to further strengthen the property’s competitiveness. Looking ahead, we will continue to adopt a prudent capital management strategy while remaining agile in the uncertain macroeconomic environment. About Champion REIT (stock code: 2778) Champion Real Estate Investment Trust is a trust formed to own and invest in income producing office and retail properties. The Trust focuses on Grade A commercial properties in prime locations. It currently offers investors direct exposure to nearly 3 million sq. ft. of prime office and retail floor area. These include two Hong Kong landmark properties, Three Garden Road and Langham Place, as well as a joint venture stake in 66 Shoe Lane in Central London. The Trust has been awarded the top five-star rating by GRESB for three consecutive years since 2023. Champion REIT is managed by Eagle Asset Management (CP) Limited, a member of the Great Eagle Group. Website: www.championreit.com For press enquiries: Jervois Finance Kenneth Tang Tel: +852 9827 2880 Email: kenneth.tang@jervoisfinance.com Ada Lau Tel: +852 9506 6017 Email: ada.lau@jervoisfinance.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Targeting Everyone Is Costing You Everything: Adella Pasos' Account Based Marketing Strategy Book 2026-08-19 · PR Urgent · Finance, Retail https://www.prurgent.com/2026-08-19/pressrelease476784.htm Available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes and Noble, the book shows B2B teams how to stop spraying and start closing — by focusing revenue effort on the accounts that actually matter. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SOUEAST Rides MENA’s Electrification Wave with Its Hybrid Portfolio 2026-08-19 · GlobeNewswire · Energy, Retail, Automotive https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/19/3347451/0/en/soueast-rides-mena-s-electrification-wave-with-its-hybrid-portfolio.html WUHU, China, Aug. 19, 2026 -- Driven by evolving government policies, expanding charging infrastructure, and consumer incentives, the new energy vehicle (NEV) market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has grown rapidly, unlocking new opportunities for global automotive brands. Building on its hybrid technology expertise, SOUEAST is strengthening its presence in this dynamic market and accelerating its global expansion strategy. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— UnionPay and Standard Bank Unlock Cross-Border E-Commerce Opportunities for Merchants Across Nine African Markets 2026-08-19 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unionpay-and-standard-bank-unlock-cross-border-e-commerce-opportunities-for-merchants-across-nine-african-markets-302855089.html JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 19, 2026 -- UnionPay International (UPI) and Standard Bank Group have expanded UnionPay e-commerce acceptance across nine African markets, enabling participating merchants to accept secure online payments from UnionPay cardholders and giving businesses... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Guoquan (2517.HK) 2026 Interim Results: Dual Growth in Scale and Efficiency, Powered by the Dual Drivers of Membership Stickiness and Product Matrix 2026-08-19 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Food & drink, Industrial, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109235/ HONG KONG, August 19, 2026 - Guoquan Food (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. ("Guoquan" or the "Company"; stock code: 2517.HK), a leading one-stop home meal products brand in China, announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026, which have been reviewed by the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Board. For the six months ended 30 June 2026, Guoquan recorded a revenue of RMB3,946.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 21.8%; gross profit was RMB848.6 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.3%, with gross profit margin of 21.5%, compared to 22.1% for the first half of 2025. Net profit for the period was RMB213.2 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 12.1%; core operating profit (non-IFRS measure) was RMB225.0 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.3%; and basic and diluted earnings per share were RMB0.0807, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.0%. Against the backdrop of a generally prudent macro consumption environment, the resilience of Guoquan's business model was further demonstrated, underpinned by its rigid-demand attributes and value-for-money positioning. Firmly advancing the "community central kitchen" strategy, the Company achieved double-digit growth in both revenue and core operating profit through the continuous expansion and refined operation of its omni-channel instant retail network, with the number of registered members reaching approximately 82.0 million, further consolidating its leading position in the home-dining retail market. Omni-channel Network Expansion Accelerated, with Scale and Store Efficiency Improving in Tandem As at 30 June 2026, Guoquan's total store count increased to 12,198, representing a net addition of 1,798 stores compared to the same period last year, covering 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the Chinese Mainland, as well as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the PRC. During the Reporting Period, the Company added 997 operating stores and reduced 365 operating stores, representing a net addition of 632 stores. Among them, township-level stores recorded a net increase of 367 to 3,377, further enhancing penetration in lower-tier markets. Store efficiency improvement and store format innovation advanced in tandem. During the Reporting Period, in addition to 24-hour unmanned retail stores, the Company completed large-store format upgrades for 684 stores which, leveraging the presentation of an enriched product portfolio and the creation of all-day consumption scenarios, effectively drove the growth of store sales; 96 Guoquan camping stores commenced operation, covering emerging consumption scenarios such as outdoor gatherings and countryside leisure. Revenue from sales of products to existing franchised stores was RMB2,581.5 million in the first half of 2026, representing a year-on-year increase of 7.4%. For online-offline synergy, Guoquan relied on its Guoquan APP, WeChat mini-program, third-party food delivery platforms and social commerce platforms such as Douyin to drive deep integration between offline stores and online channels. The Company achieved over 6.97 billion impressions on platforms through its multi-level Douyin accounts matrix, representing a year-on-year increase of 117.8%; stores generated GMV of RMB910 million via the Douyin channel, representing a year-on-year increase of 97.2%. Through a multi-channel, multi-scenario layout and the deep integration of online and offline operating models, Guoquan successfully established a holistic instant retail store network, providing consumers with the "Guoquan Instant Commerce" shopping experience. Dual Drivers of Membership Ecosystem and Product Matrix Significantly Strengthened Consumer Stickiness As at 30 June 2026, the number of Guoquan's registered members reached approximately 82.0 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 63.0%. More importantly, during the Reporting Period, the consumption amount of members accounted for 73.2% of the Company's total sales, representing a substantial year-on-year increase of 12 percentage points, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Company's membership program in building close online and offline connections and engagement with consumers and fostering consumer loyalty. The simultaneous growth in membership scale and consumption share provides a high-quality existing customer base for the Company's revenue growth. On the product front, during the Reporting Period, the Company introduced a total of 139 new SKUs of hotpot and barbecue products, and successively launched or upgraded a number of scenario-based set meal products such as "Barbecue Camping Container Set", "Chongqing Wanzhou Grilled Fish Pot" and "Crayfish Freedom Bucket"; around the drinks and beverage scenario, it launched a variety of NFC fruit juices, craft beer and flavored tea beverages, further enriching its one-stop meal offerings. Guoquan Farm delivered an outstanding performance, achieving an omnichannel paid GMV of RMB240.0 million during the Reporting Period through online channels such as Douyin livestreaming, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 600%, and newly launched a variety of new SKUs such as Monthong durian pulp, tiger skin durian mille-feuille cake, Beihai Cooked Salted Sea Duck Eggs and crispy mini ice cream, further improving the all-scenario product layout. Deepened Supply Chain and Industrial Layout Supports Scaled Development On the industrial front, Guoquan continued to promote the integrated closed-loop construction of "production, supply and marketing". As at 30 June 2026, the Company had a total of seven food ingredient production plants, covering core categories such as condiments, meatballs, paste and aquatic products, and beef products, forming a comprehensive and well-defined production capacity matrix; the food production base in Danzhou, Hainan Province is commencing construction, which upon completion will further expand its geographical coverage and optimise the supply chain's radiation radius. The Company's bargaining power in upstream procurement has been continuously enhanced, while economies of scale on the production side continued to be unlocked, providing support for cost optimisation. Digital supply chain management was deepened in parallel. Cooperating with warehousing and logistics suppliers and leveraging 21 digitalized central warehouses across China, Guoquan achieved swift circulation of products through digital stock and barcode management, with most orders delivered the next day from central warehouses to retail stores. Supply chain digitalisation covers all core segments including production, procurement, warehousing and logistics, enabling the Company to monitor supply and demand dynamics from the procurement end to the store end, closely monitor inventory levels, and ensure the timely availability of products for stores nationwide. Coordinated Development of Four Major Store Formats; Deepening Community Central Kitchen Strategy and Membership Operations Building a comprehensive channel ecosystem and fully expanding the sales network. Guoquan will firmly advance the coordinated development of four major store formats, namely large stores in townships, large community stores, Guoquan camping stores and Guoquan stir-fry stores; new stores in the second half of the year will predominantly adopt the large-store format, while existing community stores will be strategically upgraded into large-store models. The Company will continue to deepen its presence in county and rural markets, steadily replicate the camping store format and iterate the stir-fry store format, forming a highly efficient comprehensive channel traffic closed loop of "online traffic generation and accumulation, offline conversion and repurchase". Deepening the community central kitchen strategy to expand community consumption scenarios. The Company will continue to deepen the core strategy of "community central kitchen", closely aligning with the all-scenario dining concept of "One Home, Three Tables, Five Meals", build on the enrichment of the core scenarios of hotpot and barbecue, and simultaneously expand into diverse categories such as Chinese and western cuisine, breakfast pastries, bakery and fried foods, drinks and beverages, desserts and ice products and agricultural products, so as to optimise its full-matrix product offerings. Deepening digital and intelligent membership operations to convey the IP value proposition. The Company will empower tiered membership operations with AI intelligent tools to achieve highly personalized and precise reach; improve its membership rights system and membership points mall; and continue to operate the "Guobao" brand IP, leveraging the value of the IP to foster emotional connection with members and enhance their loyalty. Promoting industrial ecosystem synergy and empowering supply chain management with AI. Upholding the "one-product-one-factory" strategy, the Company will activate the synergy advantages of its seven self-owned food ingredient production plants and advance the construction of the food production base in Danzhou, Hainan Province; through digital and intelligent tools such as AI smart production scheduling, big data inventory monitoring, digitalized quality control management, and AI smart routing and order scheduling, it will achieve the precise matching of production with market demand, the efficient allocation of inventory resources, and a rapid response in terminal fulfillment. Deepening the construction of organizational capabilities and empowering franchisee management. Guoquan will further standardize franchisee management, deepen the development of the two major organizations, namely the Franchisee Committee and Store Manager Hubs, and build a standardized and replicable store operation system; it will optimise its training system, cultivate more career-oriented franchisees, and promote synergistic development and mutual benefit between franchisees and the Group. Developing overseas markets in phases to deliver the good taste of China. Guoquan will focus on launching pilot store operations in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China, accumulate overseas operational experience through refining localized operations, steadily explore overseas regional markets in a phased manner, and gradually achieve the implementation of its overseas product business. For the full-year 2026 results outlook, Guoquan expects its total store count to exceed 13,100, representing a net addition of over 1,534 stores; new stores in the second half of 2026 will predominantly adopt the large-store format, with an expected closure rate of below 4%; store efficiency is expected to achieve high single-digit growth; and the number of registered members is expected to exceed 95 million. Guoquan forecasts that core operating profit for the year will achieve stable growth. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— STARPRIME Completes Beta Testing of Market-Maker Model for Retail Brokers 2026-08-19 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/19/3347399/0/en/starprime-completes-beta-testing-of-market-maker-model-for-retail-brokers.html PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, Aug. 19, 2026 -- The Market-Maker Model developed by STARPRIME has completed an extensive beta-testing phase, working with a select number of clients. The term ‘market maker’ carries a stigma of being a bad actor in our industry. That reputation has identifiable origins, and some of it has been earned. What follows is how a properly governed market-making arrangement differs, and where it can materially improve outcomes for retail brokers. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Beyond Back-to-School, Canton Fair Helps Global Buyers Stay Ahead of Key Retail Seasons 2026-08-19 · PR Newswire · Retail, Education https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/beyond-back-to-school-canton-fair-helps-global-buyers-stay-ahead-of-key-retail-seasons-302854930.html GUANGZHOU, China, Aug. 19, 2026 -- As the back-to-school shopping season gains momentum, demand for stationery, learning tools, and educational technology products is on the rise. As one of the most essential items in students' daily learning routines, writing instruments... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— TEAMSTERS, ALLIES RELEASE REPORT ON AMAZON VIOLATIONS OF NEW YORK WARN ACT 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamsters-allies-release-report-on-amazon-violations-of-new-york-warn-act-302854592.html Amazon Leads State in Killing Logistics Jobs, Teamsters File Complaint with New York Department of Labor NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2026 -- Today, Teamsters were joined by the National Employment Law Project (NELP), the Action Lab, and the Alliance for a Greater New York (ALIGN) in... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— biBerk Business Insurance Offers Guidance on Ecommerce Business Insurance, Why it is Essential for an Online Store, Coverage Options, and Key Benefits 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3347300/0/en/biberk-business-insurance-offers-guidance-on-ecommerce-business-insurance-why-it-is-essential-for-an-online-store-coverage-options-and-key-benefits.html Ecommerce Business Insurance: What You Need to Protect Your Online Store, biBerk Business Insurance Offers Insights Ecommerce Business Insurance: What You Need to Protect Your Online Store, biBerk Business Insurance Offers Insights ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— IC Group Holdings Inc. Announces Change of Auditor 2026-08-18 · Newsfile · Retail, Sports https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310361/IC-Group-Holdings-Inc.-Announces-Change-of-Auditor Toronto, Ontario--(August 18, 2026) - IC Group Holdings Inc. (TSXV: ICGH) ("IC Group" or the "Company"), a technology-enabled consumer engagement company driving commerce and data for global brands and professional sports teams announces that it has changed its auditor.Effective August 10th, 2026, MNP LLP resigned as auditor of the Company at the request of the Company, and the Board of Directors has appointed PwC LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the Company's new... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— IFF to Webcast Fireside Chat at Barclays Global Consumer Conference on Sept. 10 2026-08-18 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/iff-webcast-fireside-chat-barclays-201500869.html NEW YORK, August 18, 2026--IFF (NYSE: IFF) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Erik Fyrwald will participate in a fireside chat at the Barclays Global Consumer Conference on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026 at 945 a.m. ET. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Total Wireless Expands Partnership with Western Union, Bringing Financial Services to Retail Locations Nationwide 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3347185/0/en/total-wireless-expands-partnership-with-western-union-bringing-financial-services-to-retail-locations-nationwide.html Total Wireless stores will now offer Western Union services including money transfers, bill pay and money orders. Select plan-holders will continue to receive one monthly fee-free money transfer Total Wireless stores will now offer Western Union services including money transfers, bill pay and money orders. Select plan-holders will continue to receive one monthly fee-free money transfer ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Columbia Bank Continues Utah Expansion with New Draper Commercial Office and Retail Branch 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/columbia-bank-continues-utah-expansion-with-new-draper-commercial-office-and-retail-branch-302852570.html TACOMA, Wash.,, Aug. 18, 2026 -- Columbia Bank (Columbia), a subsidiary of Columbia Banking System, Inc. (Nasdaq: COLB), today announced the opening of a new commercial office and retail branch in Draper, Utah. Situated 20 miles outside of Salt Lake City, the Draper location... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— CPS Announces $80.0 Million Securitization of Residual Interests 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3347175/13171/en/cps-announces-80-0-million-securitization-of-residual-interests.html LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Aug. 18, 2026 -- Consumer Portfolio Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPSS) (“CPS” or the “Company”) today announced the closing of a $80.0 million securitization of residual interests from previously issued securitizations. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Arizona 2026-08-18 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-arizona-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the Grand Canyon State's economy while creating opportunities for those who call Arizona home. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Voghion Enhances Delivery, Tracking and Returns Experience to Make Online Shopping More Predictable 2026-08-18 · Newsfile · Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/309942/Voghion-Enhances-Delivery-Tracking-and-Returns-Experience-to-Make-Online-Shopping-More-Predictable London, United Kingdom--(August 18, 2026) - For online shoppers, the experience does not end when an order is placed. Clear delivery expectations, reliable tracking updates and straightforward return options are increasingly important factors in building confidence in cross-border ecommerce. Recognizing this shift, Voghion is enhancing key parts of the customer journey, from delivery visibility and shipment tracking to product information and post-purchase support.Voghion... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vero Combines Stanford's Proteomic Organ and Cell Aging Technologies to Build a New Clinical and Consumer Tool for Predictive Health 2026-08-18 · Business Wire · SaaS, Healthcare, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/healthcare/articles/vero-combines-stanfords-proteomic-organ-150000442.html CORTE MADERA, Calif., August 18, 2026--Vero, a predictive health company on a mission to end age-related chronic disease, today announced it is adding cellular resolution to its OrganAge™ platform with an exclusive consumer license to Stanford’s proteomic Cell Clock technology. Developed in the laboratory of Vero co-founder Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray, Cell Clocks measure biological aging across specific cell types, providing a deeper view into the drivers of organ aging and disease risk. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vishay Intertechnology Short Distance Proximity Sensor Offers Idle Current Down to 5 μA and 14-Bit Resolution in Compact Package 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · Energy, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3347092/0/en/vishay-intertechnology-short-distance-proximity-sensor-offers-idle-current-down-to-5-%CE%BCa-and-14-bit-resolution-in-compact-package.html Featuring a VCSEL and Smart Dual I²C Slave Address, Space-Saving Device Is Ideal for Battery-Powered Consumer Applications, Including TWS Earphones and VR / AR Headsets Featuring a VCSEL and Smart Dual I²C Slave Address, Space-Saving Device Is Ideal for Battery-Powered Consumer Applications, Including TWS Earphones and VR / AR Headsets ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Btab Partners with Global Manufacturers to Expand Access to the U.S. Market 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · AI, Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3347078/0/en/btab-partners-with-global-manufacturers-to-expand-access-to-the-u-s-market.html SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA and NEW YORK, NY, Aug. 18, 2026 -- Btab Ecommerce Group, Inc. (OTC: BBTT) (“Btab” or the “Company”), a global ecommerce and technology company, today announced the expansion of its work with international manufacturers seeking greater access to the U.S. market through Btab’s business network, commerce platforms and AI capabilities. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Coca-Cola Company Announces Participation in Barclays Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-18 · The Coca-Cola Company · Retail https://investors.coca-colacompany.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1170/the-coca-cola-company-announces-participation-in-barclays-global-consumer-conference ATLANTA--The Coca-Cola Company announced today that CEO Henrique Braun will present at the Barclays Global Consumer Conference Sept. 9 at 11:15 a.m. ET. The company invites investors to join a webcast for this event at coca-colacompany.com/investors . Downloadable files, as well as a transcript, will be available within 24 hours after the event on the company’s website. About The Coca-Cola Company T ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— MySize's Naiz Fit Surpasses 500 Million Size Recommendations as AI Fashion Platform Expands Into Virtual Try-On 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Retail, Travel, Fashion & luxury https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mysizes-naiz-fit-surpasses-500-million-size-recommendations-as-ai-fashion-platform-expands-into-virtual-try-on-302854072.html MySize's Retail Technology Platform has served 10M+ users and connected 100M+ garments across 100+ fashion brands, creating a foundation for broader Size & Fit Intelligence solutions AIRPORT CITY, Israel, Aug. 18, 2026 -- MySize, Inc. (NASDAQ: MYSZ), a global provider of... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— JUNGL, All-Natural THC Drinks Brand, Celebrates First Year with Rapid Expansion Across 8 States and 400+ Retail Doors. 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · Retail, Food & drink https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jungl-all-natural-thc-drinks-brand-celebrates-first-year-with-rapid-expansion-across-8-states-and-400-retail-doors-302853480.html Sarasota-based beverage brand built a natural alternative to alcohol — and to the artificial, "gut rot" drinks that came before it — anchoring growth in strong customer loyalty and a commitment to wildlife conservation SARASOTA, Fla., Aug. 18, 2026 -- JUNGL, the all-natural... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hypershell Ushers in the "Offline Era" of Consumer Exoskeletons at Outdoor Retailer 2026 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hypershell-ushers-in-the-offline-era-of-consumer-exoskeletons-at-outdoor-retailer-2026-302854074.html As the world's best-selling consumer exoskeleton brand, Hypershell expands in-person experiences globally, offering North American retailers a high-growth, traffic-driving emerging category Retail Shift to In-Person Trial & Experiences: Hypershell, the global sales leader in consumer AI... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Groupon Announces Series of Direct Retail Investor Engagements 2026-08-18 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/310114/Groupon-Announces-Series-of-Direct-Retail-Investor-Engagements Company launches @GrouponIR investor relations account on XCEO Dusan Senkypl to appear live on Yahoo Finance on August 19Senkypl and CFO Rana Kashyap to host live X Spaces on August 25Investor Q&A to be livestreamed from Groupon's investor relations site on September 10Chicago, Illinois--(August 18, 2026) - Groupon, Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN) today announced a series of engagements over the coming weeks designed to give retail shareholders direct access to company management, along... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Nuclear Innovator Deep Isolation to Present at EnerCom Denver and OTC Markets Virtual Investor Conference in August 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3346740/0/en/nuclear-innovator-deep-isolation-to-present-at-enercom-denver-and-otc-markets-virtual-investor-conference-in-august.html Company Leadership to Update Institutional and Retail Investors at Two Upcoming Events Company Leadership to Update Institutional and Retail Investors at Two Upcoming Events ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— ADM to Present at 2026 Barclays Annual Global Consumer Conference 2026-08-18 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/stocks/articles/adm-present-2026-barclays-annual-120000783.html CHICAGO, August 18, 2026--ADM (NYSE: ADM) will present at the 2026 Barclays Annual Global Consumer Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 9, in Boston. The company will participate in a fireside chat at 9:45 a.m. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SM Investments reports 8% growth in H1 net income to PHP45.9 billion on sustained consumer demand 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sm-investments-reports-8-growth-in-h1-net-income-to-php45-9-billion-on-sustained-consumer-demand-302853906.html PASAY CITY, Philippines, Aug. 18, 2026 -- SM Investments Corporation (SM), the parent company of the SM Group, reported consolidated net income of PHP45.9 billion in the first half of 2026, up 8% from PHP42.6 billion a year earlier, as sustained consumer demand and the... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Temu partners with Danish Startup Group to support the Danish startup ecosystem 2026-08-18 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/temu-partners-with-danish-startup-group-to-support-the-danish-startup-ecosystem-302853845.html COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Aug. 18, 2026 -- Temu, the global e-commerce platform, today announced a partnership with Danish Startup Group (DSG) to support local founders and strengthen the Danish startup ecosystem. Copenhagen-based DSG has supported early-stage entrepreneurs in... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cliganic Launches at Planet Organic, Bringing Consumers Back to the Roots of Organic Beauty in the UK 2026-08-18 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/cliganic-launches-planet-organic-bringing-080000356.html NEW YORK, August 18, 2026--Cliganic®, the clean beauty and wellness brand known for its certified organic, ethically sourced essentials, announces its official launch at Planet Organic, one of the UK’s leading natural and organic retailers. The partnership marks Cliganic’s continued international expansion and reflects growing consumer interest in simple, plant-based beauty products made with ingredients people recognize and trust. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Tokyo Lifestyle Receives Independent Research Coverage from Broad Investment Securities; Note Highlights Asset-Light Shift and Global Expansion 2026-08-18 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109192/ NEW YORK, Aug 18, 2026 - Broad Investment Securities LLC, a U.S. SEC-registered investment adviser, has issued an independent fundamental research report on Tokyo Lifestyle Co., Ltd. (Nasdaq: TKLF), examining the Japanese consumer-products distributor’s business model, financial trajectory, channel mix and international expansion. Tokyo Lifestyle, formerly Yoshitsu Co., Ltd., operates as a retailer and wholesaler of Japanese beauty and health products, general merchandise, luxury goods, electronics and collectible cards. The company reaches end markets through four channels—company-operated stores, franchise outlets, wholesale distribution and cross-border e-commerce—across Japan, Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, North America, the UK and Australia. Its assortment spans roughly 69,800 SKUs. Supplier relationships include major Japanese brands such as Shiseido, Kao and Kose. The company also manages proprietary and licensed brands including Tokyo Lifestyle, Hare no Ryohin and REIWATAKIYA. In 2025 it began private-label product development and entered a strategic collaboration with an affiliate of Tasly Group aimed at joint research, development and global distribution of health products. As of the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, Tokyo Lifestyle reported nine franchise partners operating 11 stores in the United States, the UK, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan. Hong Kong continues to serve as the primary logistics and distribution hub linking Japanese supply chains to overseas markets. Net revenue for FY2026 rose 77.6% year-on-year to $373.2 million, the highest level since the company’s January 2022 Nasdaq listing. Revenue expanded from approximately $195.7 million in FY2024 to $210.1 million in FY2025 before accelerating to $373.2 million. The increase was driven principally by faster growth in the franchise and wholesale channels and by an expanded contribution from luxury goods, consistent with management’s stated transition from an asset-heavy company-operated model toward a lighter franchise-and-wholesale structure. Gross margin contracted from 11.4% in FY2025 to 7.5% in FY2026. Net income attributable to the company was about $0.72 million, or basic earnings per share of $0.02. The margin compression reflects the rising weighting of franchise and wholesale sales, which typically generate lower unit margins in exchange for greater scale and reduced capital intensity. The company remains in the investment phase of this strategic shift; the path to sustained profitability is still evolving. Geographic mix continued to internationalize. Japan accounted for 52.9% of FY2026 revenue, down from 70.5% a year earlier, while Hong Kong and other overseas markets rose to 47.1% from 29.5%. Total assets increased to $233.6 million from $157.8 million, of which accounts receivable stood at $186.8 million. Operating cash flow was negative during the period, primarily reflecting the working-capital build associated with expansion. At the July 29, 2026 close, the shares traded at $2.025 per ADS, implying a market capitalization of approximately $8.57 million, a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of about 11.96 and a price-to-book ratio of roughly 0.21. As a micro-cap issuer, Tokyo Lifestyle remains subject to Nasdaq continued-listing requirements as well as balance-sheet and cash-flow considerations, points the research note addresses directly. Overall, the report positions Tokyo Lifestyle as a relatively scarce Nasdaq-listed Japanese cross-border consumer-products platform with above-average top-line growth and a distinctly international revenue profile, while underscoring the operational and financial characteristics typical of a micro-cap company still executing a structural transition. For more information, please contact: Golden Fleece Cross-border Consulting Co., Limited Email: heidiho@goldenfleece.hk ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Designkit Launches AI Video Platform that Turns Product Photos Into E-Commerce Marketing Videos 2026-08-18 · GlobeNewswire · AI, SaaS, Retail, Media https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/18/3346565/0/en/designkit-launches-ai-video-platform-that-turns-product-photos-into-e-commerce-marketing-videos.html Designkit launches AI video platform that helps online sellers turn existing product photos into ready-to-use videos for marketing. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Trade Healthcare, Finance, and Consumer Giants on Zoomex 2026-08-17 · GlobeNewswire · Finance, Retail, Biotech & pharma https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/17/3346494/0/en/trade-healthcare-finance-and-consumer-giants-on-zoomex.html Victoria,Seychelles, Aug. 17, 2026 -- Zoomex has expanded its Stock Perpetuals lineup with twelve new USDT-margined contracts, giving traders 24/7 exposure to some of the most closely watched names in U.S. equities. UnitedHealth Group (UNH), General Electric (GE), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN), Amgen (AMGN), Walmart (WMT), Coca-Cola (KO), PepsiCo (PEP), Mastercard (MA), PayPal Holdings (PYPL), and Berkshire Hathaway Class B (BRK.B) are now live for long and short positions, with no traditional market hours required. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Desert Financial Credit Union's Desert Safe Spend Account Receives National Certification by Banking Advocates as Safe, Affordable Account 2026-08-17 · PR Newswire · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/desert-financial-credit-unions-desert-safe-spend-account-receives-national-certification-by-banking-advocates-as-safe-affordable-account-302853232.html The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund's Bank On National Account Standards Certification of the Desert Safe Spend Account indicates that it meets over 25 features for safe and affordable consumer transaction accounts. PHOENIX, Aug. 17, 2026 -- Desert Financial Credit... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Nevada 2026-08-17 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-nevada-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the Silver State's economy while creating opportunities for those who call Nevada home. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Colorado 2026-08-17 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-colorado-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the Centennial State's economy while creating opportunities for those who call Colorado home. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chief Media Acquires AMZ Advisers and Reach Social, Expanding Access to Amazon and TikTok Shop Retail Platforms 2026-08-17 · GlobeNewswire · Retail https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/08/17/3346412/0/en/chief-media-acquires-amz-advisers-and-reach-social-expanding-access-to-amazon-and-tiktok-shop-retail-platforms.html Independent agency expands commerce capabilities across Amazon, TikTok Shop and global ecommerce markets ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Vuori Names Carey Collins Krug as Chief Marketing Officer 2026-08-17 · Business Wire · Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/media-advertising/articles/vuori-names-carey-collins-krug-173000386.html ENCINITAS, Calif., August 17, 2026--Vuori, a global activewear brand rooted in Coastal California culture, is excited to appoint retail industry leader Carey Collins Krug as its new Chief Marketing Officer, effective Monday, October 5. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Chuangxin Industries Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-17 · ACN Newswire · Finance, Energy, Retail, Industrial, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109180/ Financial Highlights: - For the first half of 2026, the Company recorded revenue of approximately RMB 11.53 billion, representing a YoY increase of approximately 32.4%. - Net profit attributable to owners of the company was approximately RMB 2.30 billion, representing a YoY increase of approximately 166.1%. - Earnings per share reached approximately RMB 1.11, representing an increase of approximately 91.4% from RMB 0.58 in the corresponding period of last year. HONG KONG, August 17, 2026 - Chuangxin Industries Holdings Limited (“Chuangxin Industries” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 02788.HK) announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (the “Reporting Period”). During the Reporting Period, the Company recorded outstanding results with a significant improvement in profitability, achieving revenue of approximately RMB 11.53 billion, representing a YoY increase of about 32.4%. Net profit attributable to the parent company was approximately RMB 2.30 billion, representing a YoY increase of 166.1%, and earnings per share were approximately RMB 1.11, representing a YoY increase of 91.4%. The growth was primarily driven by a year-on-year increase in electrolytic aluminium product selling prices, reduced production costs from a higher proportion of green energy usage, and the Company’s ongoing efforts to optimise its financing structure and reduce finance costs. Leveraging its years of experience in building an integrated industrial chain encompassing “energy-alumina refining-electrolytic aluminium smelting”, the Company continues to enhance its resource security and cost control capabilities. It has made positive progress in industrial chain synergy, energy security, green energy transition, and global expansion, further improving operational efficiency and profitability. This has allowed the Company to demonstrate strong earnings resilience amid industry cyclical fluctuations and lay a solid foundation for future high-quality development. Integrated Industrial Chain Advantages Continue to Materialise, Driving a Step-Change in Profitability Over the years, the Company has been deeply rooted in the upstream aluminium industry, establishing an integrated industrial chain covering “energy, alumina refining and aluminium smelting.” Currently, the Company operates an electrolytic aluminium production facility with an annual capacity of 788,100 tonnes and a supporting captive power plant in Huolinguole, Inner Mongolia, as well as an alumina refining and aluminium hydroxide production base in Binzhou, Shandong, forming a stable and efficient resource security system. Relying on this comprehensive integrated layout, the Company’s self-sufficiency in alumina and electricity fully meets its production requirements, effectively mitigating the impact of raw material and energy price fluctuations and further consolidating its cost competitiveness. At the same time, the Company continues to advance refined management and cost control, fully leveraging industrial chain synergies. This has enabled it to demonstrate strong earnings flexibility and risk resilience during the market recovery cycle. During the Reporting Period, benefiting from a year-over-year increase in electrolytic aluminium product prices, the Company’s profitability improved significantly, fully reflecting the synergistic effects and counter-cyclical resilience brought by its integrated industrial chain layout. Additionally, the Company completed the acquisition of the remaining equity interest in Shandong Chuangyuan New Material Technology Co., Ltd. and a 100% equity interest in Tongliao Smart Mining Co., Ltd., further strengthening its upstream resource layout, enhancing raw material security, and improving industrial chain synergy to support sustained and steady future development. Green Energy Expansion Continues to Deepen, Accelerating Digital and Intelligent Transformation The Company remains committed to green and low-carbon development, actively advancing renewable energy projects and increasing the share of green energy in its energy mix. As of the end of June 2026, the Company had commissioned 1,040 MW of wind power and 110 MW of solar power capacity, with overall project completion at approximately 66%. As subsequent project phases are gradually completed and commissioned, the Company's proportion of green energy is expected to exceed 50%, which will further reduce energy costs and enhance profitability and market competitiveness. The green energy transition not only effectively reduces production costs but also enables the Company to produce green aluminium products that align with global low-carbon development trends, meeting the growing demand for low-carbon materials in sectors such as new energy vehicles, high-end manufacturing, consumer electronics, and green construction. This continues to increase the added value of its products and market competitiveness. Simultaneously, the Company is advancing smart manufacturing and digitalisation and smart-manufacturing upgrades, accelerating the development of production equipment, automated control systems, and information platforms, while promoting the adoption of fully graphitized cathode retrofitting, applications of copper-inserted steel collector bars, and other energy-saving and consumption-reduction technologies to continuously improve production efficiency, energy utilisation, and product quality. On the sustainability front, the Company continues to enhance its ESG governance framework, publishing its inaugural ESG report and establishing a board-level ESG committee. It remains dedicated to improving environmental, social, and governance standards, actively promoting green manufacturing, energy conservation and emission reduction, further strengthening its capabilities for sustainable development. Globalisation Strategy Progressing Steadily, Aiming to Build a World-Class Green Aluminium Group While consolidating its domestic industrial base, the Company is actively advancing its globalisation strategy, accelerating overseas capacity expansion to enhance global resource allocation capabilities and international market competitiveness. In 2025, the Company, together with partners, invested in the construction of an integrated 500,000-tonne-per-annum electrolytic aluminium project in Saudi Arabia. As of the end of June 2026, the project had completed all necessary compliance approval procedures, with on-site construction in full swing and all work progressing steadily according to plan. This project will fully leverage the energy cost and geographic advantages of Saudi Arabia, providing vital support for the Company’s global industrial layout. The global energy transition and the rapid growth of industries such as new energy and high-end manufacturing will continue to drive demand for high-quality, low-carbon aluminium products. Going forward, the Company will fully leverage its integrated industrial chain and green energy advantages to further improve cost competitiveness and operational efficiency. Building on its international expansion, it will continue to explore global markets and enhance its long-term sustainable development capabilities. Looking ahead, the Company will remain focused on deepening its presence in the aluminium industry, relying on its integrated industrial layout, green energy advantages, and continuously improving operational management capabilities to strengthen its core competitiveness. It will steadily enhance its market position and overall influence in the global aluminium industry, advancing toward its goal of becoming an internationally competitive green aluminium enterprise. About Chuangxin Industries Holdings Limited Chuangxin Industries Holdings Limited (Stock Code: 02788.HK), established in 2012 and listed on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in November 2025, is an integrated production enterprise focusing on the upstream of the aluminium industrial chain-alumina refining and electrolytic aluminium smelting. The Company has strategically established production bases in Huolinguole, Inner Mongolia, and Binzhou, Shandong, creating an integrated ecosystem covering “energy, alumina refining and aluminium smelting”. The Company’s ability to manage the total costs of aluminium per ton ranks among the top of all aluminium smelting companies in China and is competitive on a global scale. The Company is committed to sustainable development and the continuous advancement of its integrated electrolytic aluminium ecosystem. By leveraging its cost advantages and bolstering R&D investment, the Company aims to enhance its competitiveness and market standing. Furthermore, it strives to mitigate carbon emissions across the value chain, with the ultimate long-term goal of achieving a comprehensive green business transformation. Chuangxin Industries’ Official Website: https://en.innovationigi.com/ ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Food Expo and concurrent fairs attract over 520,000 visits, setting all-time record 2026-08-17 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Education, Food & drink, Fashion & luxury, Industrial, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109174/ HONG KONG, August 17, 2026 - The Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Home Delights Expo, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully today. The two trade fairs — Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair — also closed on 15 August. The five fairs brought together over 1,850 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, attracting over 520,000 public visits in total - a record high. Per capita spending continued to grow, reaching HK$1,685, reflecting the continued vibrancy of the local consumer market and strong public demand for gourmet food, healthy living and quality home products. For trade exhibitions, the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair drew some 20,000 buyers from 64 countries and regions. Apart from Hong Kong, buyers came from Chinese Mainland, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, as well as ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, among others, reinforcing Hong Kong's unique advantages as a food trading hub. The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products, organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, also concluded successfully on 15 August. Over 30 distinguished speakers attended to discuss innovation, research and development in Chinese medicine, and global opportunities. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "This year's fairs received an enthusiastic response. Attendance recorded solid growth, and per capita spending reached a record high alongside visitor numbers, reflecting the strong market demand for quality food, healthy living and novel experiences. This year's five fairs, themed 'Live Well · Stay Well', gathered a diverse range of food and beverage, wellness and related lifestyle products, services and experiences from around the world, comprehensively showcasing the latest trends in the health and wellness sector, and creating more business opportunities for the industry." Ms Lam added: "We are pleased to see the fairs attracting a broader range of international participation. Exhibitors, buyers and industry representatives concluded multiple cooperation and procurement agreements, underscoring Hong Kong's position as an important trade platform connecting Chinese Mainland and international markets, as well as its role as an international food trade hub. Buyers' purchasing intentions show that market demand continues to grow for health and functional products, convenience foods, specialty foods and premium tea products. Products with sustainable development concepts and international certifications such as Halal certification are also gaining popularity, reflecting the industry's proactive response to consumers' pursuit of healthy living, quality experiences and responsible consumption, injecting growth momentum into the market.” Per capita spending reaches record high of HK$1,685; Health and wellness products in the spotlight During the fairs, the organiser conducted a random sampling survey, interviewing more than 1,430 visitors. The per capita spending continued to grow, reaching HK$1,685, with 87% of respondents indicating that their actual spending was in line with or exceeded their budget, reflecting stable consumer sentiment. The fairs also successfully aligned with the healthy living consumption trend, with over 80% of respondents expressing interest in health and wellness-related products.  The product categories of greatest interest to respondents included health and functional foods (62%), health supplements and nutritional products (51%), as well as mental and physical wellness products and healthy lifestyle items (40%). Among the respondents who are aware that the fairs have a halal food and beverage label, more than half of the respondents (53%) believed that halal food and beverage label helps promote halal products, while 51% noted the silver-age products and services showcased at the fairground, reflecting the continued growth potential of these markets. Public fairs draw strong crowds; buoyant spending atmosphere Over five days, The Food Expo, The Beauty & Wellness Expo and The Home Delights Expo offered visitors a diverse range of international food, beauty and wellness products, as well as home living experiences. Five themed days were held throughout the fairs, encouraging visitors to embrace quality living through product showcases, expert sharing and interactive experiences. The fairs also featured a variety of special products and limited-time offers, attracting strong visitor traffic and generating encouraging sales results. The Food Expo's Gourmet Zone featured Hong Kong's first chewy treats themed market, featuring chewy desserts that received an enthusiastic on-site response. Henry Ling, Executive Director and General Manager (Asset Management) of Uni-China Group, said the 12 participating exhibitors expected to generate total sales of HK$1 million to HK$1.4 million during the fair. Held concurrently, the Beauty & Wellness Expo brought visitors a wide range of holistic wellness experiences, including fragrance, health and fitness demonstrations. Among the highlights was an aroma-emotion testing experience presented by Xuelei Fragrance Museum from Guangzhou, drawing a continuous stream of visitors throughout the fair. The newly launched "Stay Relax" zone showcased products designed to relieve fatigue and promote relaxation. Alan Ho, Founder and Chairman of Hong Kong wellness brand Vogue Bio, said the brand's expo-exclusive buy-one-get-one-free promotion was well received by visitors. He expected total sales during the five-day fair to exceed HK$1 million, far surpassing his expectations. The Home Delights Expo showcased a range of smart home solutions, trendy household products and sleep technology. Sleep Health Association, exhibiting for the first time, set up a "Go Sleep Exp", where many visitors came to learn about ways to improve sleep quality and related health information. Cyrus Chiu, president of the Association, said the pavilion featured a first-of-its-kind sleeping experiential project in Asia, drew strong visitor traffic through its innovative design and helped enhance public awareness and understanding of sleep health. Trade fairs expand business networks, help mainland enterprises reach new markets The HKTDC is actively assisting quality mainland food products in expanding into overseas markets. This year marks the fourth consecutive year of the Chinese Mainland premium agricultural products "Going Global" exchange and matchmaking event, which facilitates mainland enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong's international business platform to expand into overseas markets. The event was attended by Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, who delivered a keynote address. At the matching session, the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the HKSAR Government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with representatives from Hunan, Xizang and Shandong to strengthen cooperation between Hong Kong and these three regions. The event recorded intended transactions exceeding HK$1.8 billion, setting new records in both the breadth of industry participation and total intended deal value. Peng Tingjun, Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, said that more than 100 agricultural enterprises from over 10 Chinese Mainland provinces and regions brought more than 1,000 specialty products to Hong Kong, enabling visitors to experience distinctive agricultural traditions while helping Chinese agriculture reach global markets through Hong Kong. Making its debut at the Food Expo, the Xizang Pavilion achieved encouraging results Nagqu State-owned Capital Investment and Operation and Xizang Baqing Qizhen Industry successfully signed a MoU with a Hong Kong importer, with an estimated annual cooperation value exceeding RMB100 million, aiming to further expand the market for Xizang Naqu cordyceps. Another Chinese Mainland exhibitor, Henan Yunong Youpin Operation Management, following its participation in the Central Asia business delegation led by the Chief Executive in June this year, successfully connected with agricultural research and national investment bodies in Kazakhstan and plans to establish an agricultural industrial park there. Making its debut at the Food Expo this time, Fan Na, Chairperson of the company, stated that the company successfully connect with two wholesalers through the expo, with a target cooperation scale of RMB 10 million. This year, the Korea Pavilion expanded its size by 40%, gathering over 130 exhibitors and become the largest overseas pavilion. During the Food Expo PRO, the HKTDC signed a MoU with the Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. Kim Kwangseok, Branch Director of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation’s office in Hong Kong, said: “Hong Kong has long been a strategically important market for Korean agri-food products. It is not only our sixth largest export market, but also a crucial springboard for entering the Greater Bay Area and the Chinese Mainland markets. Beyond Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the expo also helps Korean enterprises connect with importers and distributors from Singapore and other Asian markets, making it an important platform for international expansion.” The Food Expo PRO and the Food Expo featured the halal food and beverage label for the third consecutive year. This year, over 130 food suppliers showcased halal food from around the world. Tai Po Chun Hing, a local heritage brand with nearly 60 years of history, has been a regular participant at the Food Expo and joined the Food Expo PRO for the first time this year. At the newly introduced "Meat Zone”, it presented halal-certified beef tendon balls made in Hong Kong. Pius Chan, Executive Director of the company, said “On the first day of the expo, we met over 20 buyers from the Philippines, Thailand, and the Middle East, and expect orders worth between HK$500,000 and HK$1 million. We are also showcasing carbon-neutral beef balls that meet carbon footprint standards, demonstrating our commitment to ESG." SBY Frozen Food Supply, a Singapore-based halal meat manufacturer and distributor with a history of nearly 80 years, also identified Brazilian suppliers of raw beef and chicken products during the Expo. Abdul Halim Hafizuddin, Business Development Manager of the company, estimated the company's annual procurement value could reach between US$3 million and US$5 million. The spotlighted “Food Science and Technology Zone” featured innovative food technologies, including pet food solutions that attracted strong buyer interest. Felix Cheung, Founder and CEO of IXON Food Technology, said: "We received enquiries from more than 200 buyers on the first day of the expo, including buyers from Korea, Kazakhstan, Timor-Leste, Europe and Arab markets. Based on current discussions, the potential business value is estimated at between US$500,000 and US$1.3 million." The Coffee Zone at Food Expo PRO highlighted the growing potential of the coffee market, showcasing coffee products from different origins, accessories and coffee machines. First-time exhibitor Hawaii Coffee Association promote Hawaiian coffee and other specialty products at the expo. Ralph Gaston, Board Member and Secretary of the Association, said they had connected with more than 100 buyers during the expo and expect to conclude business within the next two to three months. A seminar titled " Brewing ASEAN Connections: Coffee Origins, Market Trends and Business Opportunities" was also held. Prof. Simon Wong, Chairman of the Belt and Road International Coffee Alliance, stated at the seminar that the Alliance will connect around 150 Belt and Road markets, further consolidating Hong Kong's role as an international coffee trading hub. Combined with Hong Kong's unique advantage as a "super-connector," the city is well-positioned to become a two-way gateway for the coffee industry. Held concurrently, the Hong Kong International Tea Fair introduced the new "Tea Lifestyle" zone, featuring a variety of innovative tea beverages, tea-inspired products and interactive experiences. Among the exhibitors was local tea brand BASAO, which made its debut at the fair and launched its new mellow black oolong. Katherine Yu, Director of Operations of BASAO, said they conducted around 30 business meetings with buyers mainly from Thailand, Japan and Egypt during the fair. In addition to overseas buyers, the brand is also connected with local enterprises including Cathay Pacific and Yung Kee, as well as potential partners from the digital marketing, content creation and new retail sectors, opening up new cross-industry collaboration opportunities. The Tea Fair also featured the new Chinese Mainland Matcha Pavilion. Chen Haiyan, Manager of the Industry Development Department of Hangzhou Jingshan Tea Development, said the pavilion connected with buyers from Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Europe, and the United States during the fair. Among them, a Thai company expressed interest in purchasing around 20 tonnes of matcha powder, while buyers from India and Hong Kong indicated interest in procuring 10 and 100 smart matcha machines respectively. The Kenya Pavilion also reported encouraging results. This year, the Tea Board of Kenya led nine companies to exhibit at the fair. David Muriuki, Deputy Director of Trade Advisory of the Board, said the potential business deals made across the companies reached more than US$10 million, with one exhibitor alone connecting with more than 80 prospective business partners. During the fair, the Board also signed a MOU with HKTDC to strengthen market connections and trade promotion cooperation. Hybrid model connects local and overseas business opportunities This year, both the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair continued to adopt the hybrid exhibition model "EXHIBITION+" to allow global food and tea buyers to conduct business through both physical exhibitions and online platforms simultaneously. Until 22 August, exhibitors and buyers can still conduct online negotiations through the "Click2Match" intelligent matching platform to explore business opportunities. Chinese medicine international exchange promotes industry development The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products, funded by the HKSAR Government's Chinese Medicine Development Fund, was themed "Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine". It invited over 30 experts, scholars and industry leaders from 11 countries and regions to jointly discuss international regulations for Chinese medicine and the latest market development trends, promoting international exchange and cooperation in Chinese medicine. This year, the organiser featured interactive games and displays at a “Multi-Facet of Chinese Medicines” public education display at the Food Expo, as well as a "Chinese Medicine Health Public Forum", to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services and wellness culture, enhancing public awareness and understanding of Chinese medicine. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3UDevP9 Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo (three public exhibitions), together with the Food Expo PRO and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (two trade exhibitions), concluded successfully.The fairs attracted over 520,000 visits, setting a new all-time record. The Fish Marketing Organization and the Vegetable Marketing Organization expanded their exhibition space at this year's Food Expo to promote their new unified brand "Hong Kong Harvest", showcasing to the public the unique appeal of local fisheries and agricultural produce. The Food Expo's Gourmet Zone introduced a new “Dessert and Gelato” theme, featuring Hong Kong's first chewy treats themed market, which was highly popular among visitors. The Chinese Mainland premium agricultural products "Going Global" exchange and matchmaking event was held on 14 August, attracting more than 200 participants, including representatives of the Chinese mainland exhibitors, as well as Hong Kong buyers and distribution channel operators. During the Food Expo PRO, the HKTDC signed a MoU with Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. Halal food continued to attract market attention, with related products becoming one of the highlights of the exhibitions. The seminar titled "Brewing ASEAN Connections: Coffee Origins, Market Trends and Business Opportunities" invited industry representatives from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to analyse the development trends of the ASEAN coffee market, opportunities in specialty coffee and the potential for regional cooperation, while exploring business opportunities in the Belt and Road markets. Hong Kong International Tea Fair introduced a new "Tea Lifestyle" zone, showcasing innovative tea beverages and tea culture lifestyle experiences. ‍ Beauty & Wellness Expo marked its 10th edition this year, offering holistic health experiences for the mind, body and soul. Mannings provided a health experience zone with a series of free health screenings and professional consultations. Home Delights Expo featured a "Go Sleep Exp" that promoted the importance of quality sleep through interactive displays and professional sharing sessions. Throughout the exhibitions, a series of highly popular and exciting events were held, including "Star Chef Cooking Demonstrations”, "Smart Bidding", and lucky draws. International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products, themed "Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine", invited over 30 experts, scholars and industry leaders from 11 countries and regions to jointly discuss international regulations for Chinese medicine and the latest market development trends. The Food Expo featured a special “Multi-Facet of Chinese Medicines” public education display to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services and wellness culture, enhancing public awareness and understanding of Chinese medicine. To learn more about the opinions of exhibitors and buyers, please visit: HKTDC Food Expo PRO foodexpopro.hktdc.com Hong Kong International Tea Fair hkteafair.hktdc.com HKTDC Food Expo hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com HKTDC Home Delights Expo homedelights.hktdc.com The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM) icmcm.hktdc.com August Happy Buy website ecoupon.hktdc.com/food/ HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Winnie Kan Tel: (852) 2584 4055 Email: winnie.wy.kan@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw Tel: (852) 2584 4472 Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com About HKTDC  The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Food Expo and concurrent fairs attract over 520,000 visits, setting all-time record Strong demand for health and wellness solutions 2026-08-17 · ACN Newswire · SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Education, Food & drink, Fashion & luxury, Industrial, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109174/ HONG KONG, August 17, 2026 - The Food Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Home Delights Expo, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), concluded successfully today. The two trade fairs — Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair — also closed on 15 August. The five fairs brought together over 1,850 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, attracting over 520,000 public visits in total - a record high. Per capita spending continued to grow, reaching HK$1,685, reflecting the continued vibrancy of the local consumer market and strong public demand for gourmet food, healthy living and quality home products. For trade exhibitions, the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair drew some 20,000 buyers from 64 countries and regions. Apart from Hong Kong, buyers came from Chinese Mainland, Macao, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, as well as ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines, among others, reinforcing Hong Kong's unique advantages as a food trading hub. The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products, organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and ten scientific research institutions, also concluded successfully on 15 August. Over 30 distinguished speakers attended to discuss innovation, research and development in Chinese medicine, and global opportunities. Smilely Lam, Associate Executive Director of the HKTDC, said: "This year's fairs received an enthusiastic response. Attendance recorded solid growth, and per capita spending reached a record high alongside visitor numbers, reflecting the strong market demand for quality food, healthy living and novel experiences. This year's five fairs, themed 'Live Well · Stay Well', gathered a diverse range of food and beverage, wellness and related lifestyle products, services and experiences from around the world, comprehensively showcasing the latest trends in the health and wellness sector, and creating more business opportunities for the industry." Ms Lam added: "We are pleased to see the fairs attracting a broader range of international participation. Exhibitors, buyers and industry representatives concluded multiple cooperation and procurement agreements, underscoring Hong Kong's position as an important trade platform connecting Chinese Mainland and international markets, as well as its role as an international food trade hub. Buyers' purchasing intentions show that market demand continues to grow for health and functional products, convenience foods, specialty foods and premium tea products. Products with sustainable development concepts and international certifications such as Halal certification are also gaining popularity, reflecting the industry's proactive response to consumers' pursuit of healthy living, quality experiences and responsible consumption, injecting growth momentum into the market.” Per capita spending reaches record high of HK$1,685; Health and wellness products in the spotlight During the fairs, the organiser conducted a random sampling survey, interviewing more than 1,430 visitors. The per capita spending continued to grow, reaching HK$1,685, with 87% of respondents indicating that their actual spending was in line with or exceeded their budget, reflecting stable consumer sentiment. The fairs also successfully aligned with the healthy living consumption trend, with over 80% of respondents expressing interest in health and wellness-related products.  The product categories of greatest interest to respondents included health and functional foods (62%), health supplements and nutritional products (51%), as well as mental and physical wellness products and healthy lifestyle items (40%). Among the respondents who are aware that the fairs have a halal food and beverage label, more than half of the respondents (53%) believed that halal food and beverage label helps promote halal products, while 51% noted the silver-age products and services showcased at the fairground, reflecting the continued growth potential of these markets. Public fairs draw strong crowds; buoyant spending atmosphere Over five days, The Food Expo, The Beauty & Wellness Expo and The Home Delights Expo offered visitors a diverse range of international food, beauty and wellness products, as well as home living experiences. Five themed days were held throughout the fairs, encouraging visitors to embrace quality living through product showcases, expert sharing and interactive experiences. The fairs also featured a variety of special products and limited-time offers, attracting strong visitor traffic and generating encouraging sales results. The Food Expo's Gourmet Zone featured Hong Kong's first chewy treats themed market, featuring chewy desserts that received an enthusiastic on-site response. Henry Ling, Executive Director and General Manager (Asset Management) of Uni-China Group, said the 12 participating exhibitors expected to generate total sales of HK$1 million to HK$1.4 million during the fair. Held concurrently, the Beauty & Wellness Expo brought visitors a wide range of holistic wellness experiences, including fragrance, health and fitness demonstrations. Among the highlights was an aroma-emotion testing experience presented by Xuelei Fragrance Museum from Guangzhou, drawing a continuous stream of visitors throughout the fair. The newly launched "Stay Relax" zone showcased products designed to relieve fatigue and promote relaxation. Alan Ho, Founder and Chairman of Hong Kong wellness brand Vogue Bio, said the brand's expo-exclusive buy-one-get-one-free promotion was well received by visitors. He expected total sales during the five-day fair to exceed HK$1 million, far surpassing his expectations. The Home Delights Expo showcased a range of smart home solutions, trendy household products and sleep technology. Sleep Health Association, exhibiting for the first time, set up a "Go Sleep Exp", where many visitors came to learn about ways to improve sleep quality and related health information. Cyrus Chiu, president of the Association, said the pavilion featured a first-of-its-kind sleeping experiential project in Asia, drew strong visitor traffic through its innovative design and helped enhance public awareness and understanding of sleep health. Trade fairs expand business networks, help mainland enterprises reach new markets The HKTDC is actively assisting quality mainland food products in expanding into overseas markets. This year marks the fourth consecutive year of the Chinese Mainland premium agricultural products "Going Global" exchange and matchmaking event, which facilitates mainland enterprises in leveraging Hong Kong's international business platform to expand into overseas markets. The event was attended by Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong SAR Government, who delivered a keynote address. At the matching session, the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the HKSAR Government signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with representatives from Hunan, Xizang and Shandong to strengthen cooperation between Hong Kong and these three regions. The event recorded intended transactions exceeding HK$1.8 billion, setting new records in both the breadth of industry participation and total intended deal value. Peng Tingjun, Director-General of the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, said that more than 100 agricultural enterprises from over 10 Chinese Mainland provinces and regions brought more than 1,000 specialty products to Hong Kong, enabling visitors to experience distinctive agricultural traditions while helping Chinese agriculture reach global markets through Hong Kong. Making its debut at the Food Expo, the Xizang Pavilion achieved encouraging results Nagqu State-owned Capital Investment and Operation and Xizang Baqing Qizhen Industry successfully signed a MoU with a Hong Kong importer, with an estimated annual cooperation value exceeding RMB100 million, aiming to further expand the market for Xizang Naqu cordyceps. Another Chinese Mainland exhibitor, Henan Yunong Youpin Operation Management, following its participation in the Central Asia business delegation led by the Chief Executive in June this year, successfully connected with agricultural research and national investment bodies in Kazakhstan and plans to establish an agricultural industrial park there. Making its debut at the Food Expo this time, Fan Na, Chairperson of the company, stated that the company successfully connect with two wholesalers through the expo, with a target cooperation scale of RMB 10 million. This year, the Korea Pavilion expanded its size by 40%, gathering over 130 exhibitors and become the largest overseas pavilion. During the Food Expo PRO, the HKTDC signed a MoU with the Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. Kim Kwangseok, Branch Director of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation’s office in Hong Kong, said: “Hong Kong has long been a strategically important market for Korean agri-food products. It is not only our sixth largest export market, but also a crucial springboard for entering the Greater Bay Area and the Chinese Mainland markets. Beyond Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, the expo also helps Korean enterprises connect with importers and distributors from Singapore and other Asian markets, making it an important platform for international expansion.” The Food Expo PRO and the Food Expo featured the halal food and beverage label for the third consecutive year. This year, over 130 food suppliers showcased halal food from around the world. Tai Po Chun Hing, a local heritage brand with nearly 60 years of history, has been a regular participant at the Food Expo and joined the Food Expo PRO for the first time this year. At the newly introduced "Meat Zone”, it presented halal-certified beef tendon balls made in Hong Kong. Pius Chan, Executive Director of the company, said “On the first day of the expo, we met over 20 buyers from the Philippines, Thailand, and the Middle East, and expect orders worth between HK$500,000 and HK$1 million. We are also showcasing carbon-neutral beef balls that meet carbon footprint standards, demonstrating our commitment to ESG." SBY Frozen Food Supply, a Singapore-based halal meat manufacturer and distributor with a history of nearly 80 years, also identified Brazilian suppliers of raw beef and chicken products during the Expo. Abdul Halim Hafizuddin, Business Development Manager of the company, estimated the company's annual procurement value could reach between US$3 million and US$5 million. The spotlighted “Food Science and Technology Zone” featured innovative food technologies, including pet food solutions that attracted strong buyer interest. Felix Cheung, Founder and CEO of IXON Food Technology, said: "We received enquiries from more than 200 buyers on the first day of the expo, including buyers from Korea, Kazakhstan, Timor-Leste, Europe and Arab markets. Based on current discussions, the potential business value is estimated at between US$500,000 and US$1.3 million." The Coffee Zone at Food Expo PRO highlighted the growing potential of the coffee market, showcasing coffee products from different origins, accessories and coffee machines. First-time exhibitor Hawaii Coffee Association promote Hawaiian coffee and other specialty products at the expo. Ralph Gaston, Board Member and Secretary of the Association, said they had connected with more than 100 buyers during the expo and expect to conclude business within the next two to three months. A seminar titled " Brewing ASEAN Connections: Coffee Origins, Market Trends and Business Opportunities" was also held. Prof. Simon Wong, Chairman of the Belt and Road International Coffee Alliance, stated at the seminar that the Alliance will connect around 150 Belt and Road markets, further consolidating Hong Kong's role as an international coffee trading hub. Combined with Hong Kong's unique advantage as a "super-connector," the city is well-positioned to become a two-way gateway for the coffee industry. Held concurrently, the Hong Kong International Tea Fair introduced the new "Tea Lifestyle" zone, featuring a variety of innovative tea beverages, tea-inspired products and interactive experiences. Among the exhibitors was local tea brand BASAO, which made its debut at the fair and launched its new mellow black oolong. Katherine Yu, Director of Operations of BASAO, said they conducted around 30 business meetings with buyers mainly from Thailand, Japan and Egypt during the fair. In addition to overseas buyers, the brand is also connected with local enterprises including Cathay Pacific and Yung Kee, as well as potential partners from the digital marketing, content creation and new retail sectors, opening up new cross-industry collaboration opportunities. The Tea Fair also featured the new Chinese Mainland Matcha Pavilion. Chen Haiyan, Manager of the Industry Development Department of Hangzhou Jingshan Tea Development, said the pavilion connected with buyers from Hong Kong, Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Europe, and the United States during the fair. Among them, a Thai company expressed interest in purchasing around 20 tonnes of matcha powder, while buyers from India and Hong Kong indicated interest in procuring 10 and 100 smart matcha machines respectively. The Kenya Pavilion also reported encouraging results. This year, the Tea Board of Kenya led nine companies to exhibit at the fair. David Muriuki, Deputy Director of Trade Advisory of the Board, said the potential business deals made across the companies reached more than US$10 million, with one exhibitor alone connecting with more than 80 prospective business partners. During the fair, the Board also signed a MOU with HKTDC to strengthen market connections and trade promotion cooperation. Hybrid model connects local and overseas business opportunities This year, both the Food Expo PRO and Hong Kong International Tea Fair continued to adopt the hybrid exhibition model "EXHIBITION+" to allow global food and tea buyers to conduct business through both physical exhibitions and online platforms simultaneously. Until 22 August, exhibitors and buyers can still conduct online negotiations through the "Click2Match" intelligent matching platform to explore business opportunities. Chinese medicine international exchange promotes industry development The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products, funded by the HKSAR Government's Chinese Medicine Development Fund, was themed "Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine". It invited over 30 experts, scholars and industry leaders from 11 countries and regions to jointly discuss international regulations for Chinese medicine and the latest market development trends, promoting international exchange and cooperation in Chinese medicine. This year, the organiser featured interactive games and displays at a “Multi-Facet of Chinese Medicines” public education display at the Food Expo, as well as a "Chinese Medicine Health Public Forum", to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services and wellness culture, enhancing public awareness and understanding of Chinese medicine. Photo download: https://bit.ly/3UDevP9 Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the Food Expo, Home Delights Expo and Beauty & Wellness Expo (three public exhibitions), together with the Food Expo PRO and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair (two trade exhibitions), concluded successfully.The fairs attracted over 520,000 visits, setting a new all-time record. The Fish Marketing Organization and the Vegetable Marketing Organization expanded their exhibition space at this year's Food Expo to promote their new unified brand "Hong Kong Harvest", showcasing to the public the unique appeal of local fisheries and agricultural produce. The Food Expo's Gourmet Zone introduced a new “Dessert and Gelato” theme, featuring Hong Kong's first chewy treats themed market, which was highly popular among visitors. The Chinese Mainland premium agricultural products "Going Global" exchange and matchmaking event was held on 14 August, attracting more than 200 participants, including representatives of the Chinese mainland exhibitors, as well as Hong Kong buyers and distribution channel operators. During the Food Expo PRO, the HKTDC signed a MoU with Korea Agro-fisheries & Food Trade Corporation. Halal food continued to attract market attention, with related products becoming one of the highlights of the exhibitions. The seminar titled "Brewing ASEAN Connections: Coffee Origins, Market Trends and Business Opportunities" invited industry representatives from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to analyse the development trends of the ASEAN coffee market, opportunities in specialty coffee and the potential for regional cooperation, while exploring business opportunities in the Belt and Road markets. Hong Kong International Tea Fair introduced a new "Tea Lifestyle" zone, showcasing innovative tea beverages and tea culture lifestyle experiences. ‍ Beauty & Wellness Expo marked its 10th edition this year, offering holistic health experiences for the mind, body and soul. Mannings provided a health experience zone with a series of free health screenings and professional consultations. Home Delights Expo featured a "Go Sleep Exp" that promoted the importance of quality sleep through interactive displays and professional sharing sessions. Throughout the exhibitions, a series of highly popular and exciting events were held, including "Star Chef Cooking Demonstrations”, "Smart Bidding", and lucky draws. International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products, themed "Clinical Translation, Regulatory Policies and Global Innovative Pathways of Traditional Medicine", invited over 30 experts, scholars and industry leaders from 11 countries and regions to jointly discuss international regulations for Chinese medicine and the latest market development trends. The Food Expo featured a special “Multi-Facet of Chinese Medicines” public education display to promote the advantages of Chinese medicine services and wellness culture, enhancing public awareness and understanding of Chinese medicine. To learn more about the opinions of exhibitors and buyers, please visit: HKTDC Food Expo PRO foodexpopro.hktdc.com Hong Kong International Tea Fair hkteafair.hktdc.com HKTDC Food Expo hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com HKTDC Home Delights Expo homedelights.hktdc.com The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM) icmcm.hktdc.com August Happy Buy website ecoupon.hktdc.com/food/ HKTDC’s Communications and Public Affairs Department Katy Wong Tel: (852) 2584 4524 Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.org Winnie Kan Tel: (852) 2584 4055 Email: winnie.wy.kan@hktdc.org Clayton Lauw Tel: (852) 2584 4472 Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.org Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com About HKTDC  The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong's trade. With over 50 offices globally, including 13 in the Chinese Mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Unitech Launches EA530 Targeting TCO Optimization in Enterprise AIDC Deployments 2026-08-17 · PR Newswire · Retail, Logistics https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unitech-launches-ea530-targeting-tco-optimization-in-enterprise-aidc-deployments-302849640.html TAIPEI, Aug. 17, 2026 -- As digital transformation accelerates across retail, logistics, and warehousing, enterprises are placing increasing demands on AIDC devices for real-time data processing and long-term operational reliability. Performance limitations, rising... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— China Lilang Announces 2026 Interim Results 2026-08-17 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Industrial https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109168/ HONG KONG, August 17, 2026 - China Lilang Limited (“China Lilang” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 1234) today announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Mr. Wang Dong Xing, Chairman and Non-Executive Director of China Lilang, said: “In the first half of 2026, global geopolitical tensions remained high, while China’s economy maintained a stable growth momentum, and consumers have become more rational in their purchasing decisions. During the period, China Lilang adjusted its sales strategies in a timely manner to optimize sales performance while upholding its brand positioning and product quality. The Group remained focused on enhancing the competitiveness of both the core collection “LILANZ” and smart casual collection “LESS IS MORE”, improving operational efficiency and expanding market share. At the same time, the Group strategically increased the supply of value-for-money products to cater to the needs of a broader range of consumers. In addition, the Group continued to optimize its omni-channel sales and marketing network, actively promoting the integration of online and offline operations while advancing its Multi-brands and Internationalization strategies, further consolidating its leading position in the menswear industry. For the six months ended 30 June 2026, the Group’s revenue increased by 19.5% to RMB2,064.7 million. Among this, revenue of the smart casual collection and other collections surged 34.7%, mainly driven by strong momentum in its in-store sales and new retail business. The core collection also recorded an increase of 12.7%, primarily driven by the later Lunar New Year, which extended the peak sales season, as well as the rapid expansion of new retail channels and an increased supply of value-for-money offerings, effectively meeting market demand. Gross profit margin decreased by 1.3 percentage points year-on-year to 48.9%, primarily due to an increase in sales of value-for-money products and a higher proportion of sales of products from large-scale year-end promotional activities, which led to a decrease in average unit price. Profit attributable to equity shareholders for the period was RMB215.4 million (2025 Interim: RMB242.5 million). Profit margin attributable to equity shareholders decreased by 3.6 percentage points year-on-year to 10.4%. Earnings per share were RMB18.0 cents. The Board of Directors has recommended payment of an interim dividend of HK10 cents (2025 Interim: HK11 cents) per ordinary share and a special interim dividend of HK4 cents (2025 Interim: HK5 cents), thereby maintaining a relatively high payout ratio. The Group continued to deepen its well-differentiated brand matrix, driven by the dual core collections: the core collection “LILANZ” and the smart casual collection “LILANZ LESS IS MORE”. The “LILANZ” core collection continued to consolidate its position in the traditional menswear market. Through optimizing its product portfolio and continuing its strategic transformation towards the Direct-to-Consumer (“DTC”) model, and repurchasing the operating rights from its first-tier distributors in Hubei Province during the period, the Group strengthened the brand’s influence and penetration among its core customer base, as well as enhanced operational efficiency and market responsiveness. The "LESS IS MORE" smart casual collection that targets younger consumers continued to operate in a fully direct-to-retail model, with its store opening strategy focused on launching outlets at shopping malls preferred by consumers. Coupled with the seamless integration of online and offline channels, the brand was able to engage consumers more precisely and effectively enhance the consumer experience. As at 30 June 2026, there were 2,465 stores for the core collection and 355 stores for the smart casual collection, bringing the Group’s total store count to 2,820, representing a net increase of 3 stores. During the period, new retail channels were one of the Group’s core growth engines, with sales increasing by 39.0% year on year. The Group continues to strengthen mature sales platforms such as Tmall, JD.com, and TikTok, and actively expands into emerging channels such as Pinduoduo, WeChat Channels, Poizon, Xiaohongshu and Weibo, further broadening its online sales coverage, deepening emotional connections with consumers, and opening new growth opportunities for the new retail business. The Group steadily implemented its “Multi-brands and Internationalization” core strategy during the period. In Chinese Mainland, the Group continued to expand the physical store network of “MUNSINGWEAR”, adding 3 new stores during the first half of the year and successfully opening a flagship store at Nanjing Deji Plaza. At the same time, the Group further expanded its online sales channels to achieve synergistic integration between online and offline operations, thereby enhancing brand awareness and market penetration among its target customers, while strengthening its presence in the high-end market segment. In terms of overseas expansion, the Group continued to systematically expand its store network in the Malaysian market, opening 5 stores during the period, and completed the company registration process in the Philippines. The Group has also commenced the company registration process in Vietnam as part of its preparations for entering the local market. During the period, the Group adheres to the design philosophy of “Simplicity but Not Simple” and continuously deepens its proprietary research and development across its industrial chain, focusing on fabric innovation, craftsmanship upgrades and standard setting to strengthen its competitive advantage of “Technology-Empowered Products”, and transform its technological expertise into industry-wide reference standards. Looking ahead to the second half of 2026, the Group will continue to implement its channel upgrade and high-quality development strategy, focusing on enhancing the operating efficiency and profitability of store network. With Hubei Province having completed its DTC model transformation, the Group will focus on consolidating and developing the operation of the transformed regions and fully leveraging the advantages in management efficiency and market responsiveness brought about by the channel reform. In the future, the Group will prudently evaluate the development of the model and continuously improve the sales network layout, based on the market environment and operating performance in various regions. The Group will continue to focus on potential locations such as high-quality shopping malls and outlets to promote store image upgrades and enhance store efficiency. In terms of new retail business, the Group will pursue integrated online and offline development, fully leverage its omni-channel advantages to enhance customer engagement and shopping experience. The Group aims to achieve revenue growth of 20% or more for its new retail business in 2026, and overall retail value growth of not less than 10%, further reinforcing its position as a core growth engine of the Group. The Group will continue to enrich the product portfolio of “MUNSINGWEAR” and expand its retail network layout, thereby enhancing brand influence and market coverage. Regarding international expansion, the Group will gradually expand its local retail network in Malaysia, strengthen its brand-building efforts, and actively accumulate operational experience in overseas markets, thereby laying a more solid foundation for its long-term development. Mr. Wang Dong Xing, Chairman of China Lilang, concluded: “Looking ahead to the second half of the year, the Chinese economy still faces the imbalance of ‘strong supply and weak demand’, which will continue to affect consumer confidence in the short term and pose challenges to the recovery of the consumer market. Amid a complex and ever-changing operating environment, China Lilang will continue to leverage its solid brand foundation and market leadership advantages, adhere to its prudent operating strategy, and further enhance its competitiveness in products, channels and operations. By capturing opportunities arising from industry developments, the Group remains committed to delivering sustainable returns to shareholders.” About China Lilang China Lilang is one of the leading PRC menswear enterprises. As an integrated fashion enterprise, the Group designs, sources and manufactures high-quality business and casual apparel for men and sells under brands of LILANZ and LESS IS MORE. Its products are sold primarily through an extensive retail and distribution network in the PRC and overseas markets. For further inquiries, please contact: Keris Leung / Mel Lai Tel: (852) 2864 4863 / 2864 4855 Email: chinalilang@sprg.com.hk ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Digital Heroes Surpasses 2,000 Brand Clients and Publishes 1,073 Shopify Buyer Guides as Agency Expands Global Shopify Development Operations 2026-08-17 · Newsfile · SaaS, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/309825/Digital-Heroes-Surpasses-2000-Brand-Clients-and-Publishes-1073-Shopify-Buyer-Guides-as-Agency-Expands-Global-Shopify-Development-Operations New York, New York--(August 16, 2026) - Digital Heroes, a Shopify development agency headquartered in New York, today announced it has served more than 2,000 brands across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the Middle East, and has published a library of 1,073 industry-specific buyer guides covering Shopify development costs, workflows, and platform decisions. The guides are publicly available and include real cost bands for theme customization, custom... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PureHealth Research Explores Horse Chestnut and Butcher's Broom in Supplements for Vein Health 2026-08-15 · PR Newswire · Healthcare, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/purehealth-research-explores-horse-chestnut-and-butchers-broom-in-supplements-for-vein-health-302842586.html MANASSAS, Va., Aug. 15, 2026 -- PureHealth Research is highlighting the growing consumer awareness of circulatory and vein wellness. Supplements for vein health are nutritional formulas that commonly feature ingredients such as Horse Chestnut and Butcher's Broom, used to help... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Think Like the Rich Actually Do: Adella Pasos' "The Profit Mindset" Rewires How Entrepreneurs See Money 2026-08-15 · PR Urgent · Retail https://www.prurgent.com/2026-08-15/pressrelease476782.htm Available on Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes and Noble, The Profit Mindset teaches readers how to think like a successful entrepreneur — because profit starts as a decision, not a windfall. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— LightInTheBox Completes $5.49 Million Private Placement to Accelerate AI-Driven Transformation 2026-08-15 · PR Newswire · Finance, AI, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lightinthebox-completes-5-49-million-private-placement-to-accelerate-ai-driven-transformation-302850706.html Chairman and CEO Jian He Participates in the Financing, Reinforcing Long-Term Alignment with Shareholders LightInTheBox Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE: LITB ) ("LightInTheBox" or the "Company"), a global consumer lifestyle company, announced the completion of a private placement financing on August 10, 2026, raising approximately $5.49 million in gross proceeds. Pursuant to the private placement, the Compa ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— NextPlat Reports 21% Sequential Quarterly Revenue Growth, 87% Reduction in Quarterly Net Loss to $144,000 and Record Gross Margin of Approximately 40% 2026-08-15 · PR Newswire · Finance, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nextplat-reports-21-sequential-quarterly-revenue-growth-87-reduction-in-quarterly-net-loss-to-144-000-and-record-gross-margin-of-approximately-40-302850329.html Growth Momentum Continues Across the Business, Highlighted by Increased Higher-Margin 340B Healthcare Prescription Volumes and Over 27% Sequential Growth in E-Commerce Revenue NextPlat Corp (NASDAQ: NXPL ) ("NextPlat" or the "Company"), a global consumer products and services company providing healthcare and technology solutions through e-commerce and retail channels worldwide, today announced signi ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— WEBs Investments Inc. Announces Intention to Close 11 Defined Volatility Sector ETFs 2026-08-14 · Business Wire · Healthcare, Energy, Retail, Industrial https://finance.yahoo.com/markets/options/articles/webs-investments-inc-announces-intention-230000040.html PARK CITY, Utah, August 14, 2026--WEBs Investments Inc. (WEBs) announced today its intention to close 11 series within its Defined Volatility Sector ETFs suite of funds: WEBs Energy XLE Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Materials XLB Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Industrials XLI Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Consumer Discretionary XLY Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Consumer Staples XLP Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Health Care XLV Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Financial XLF Defined Volatility ETF, WEBs Tec ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SEC Charges Boiler Room Operator and Three Entities with Defrauding Retail Investors in $74 Million Pre-IPO Investment Scam 2026-08-14 · Newsfile · Finance, Retail https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/309752/SEC-Charges-Boiler-Room-Operator-and-Three-Entities-with-Defrauding-Retail-Investors-in-74-Million-PreIPO-Investment-Scam Washington, D.C.--(August 14, 2026) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged New York resident Andrew Spaventa and three entities he owned and controlled with fraud and other violations in connection with unregistered securities offerings of private funds that purportedly provided retail investors an opportunity to invest in shares of “pre-IPO” private companies while charging hidden fees. According to the SEC’s complaint, between approximately... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Utilities' Phony "Wildfire Victims First" Coalition Trots Out Utility-Paid Spokespeople to Push Wildfire Bailout, Says Consumer Watchdog 2026-08-14 · PR Newswire · Real estate, Energy, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/utilities-phony-wildfire-victims-first-coalition-trots-out-utility-paid-spokespeople-to-push-wildfire-bailout-says-consumer-watchdog-302852161.html SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 14, 2026 -- The utility-funded coalition pushing for a utility bailout in Sacramento, deceptively named "Wildfire Victims First," issued a press release August 10(opens in new tab) touting three "housing advocates and labor leaders" encouraging Newsom... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Seritage Growth Properties Reports Second Quarter 2026 Operating Results 2026-08-14 · Business Wire · Finance, Retail https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/seritage-growth-properties-reports-second-202200696.html NEW YORK, August 14, 2026--Seritage Growth Properties (NYSE: SRG) (the "Company"), a national owner and developer of retail, residential and mixed-use properties today reported financial and operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Analysts See SHEIN at US$35-40bn Ahead of IPO, Citing Global Fashion Scale and Strong Financials 2026-08-14 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Industrial, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109132/ HONG KONG, August 14, 2026 - In recent years, the digital economy has deeply penetrated global consumer markets. The online fashion industry, with its unique advantages of lightweight operations, high iteration speed, and global reach, has entered a golden period of rapid growth, unlocking substantial development space and opportunities for related sectors. In this context, enterprises equipped with digital core capabilities, global expansion advantages, and distinctive supply chain systems are gradually securing a competitive edge in industry development. As a leading enterprise in the global online fashion industry, SHEIN accurately captures the trends of digital consumption. Relying on its original business model, intelligent supply chain system, and global operational capabilities, it continues to break through industry bottlenecks, drives the transformation and upgrading of the global fast fashion sector, and sets a benchmark for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas. Benchmarking Against Fashion Enterprises Inditex and H&M: Forging a Distinctive LATR Operational Model Founded in 2012, SHEIN is a global online fashion and lifestyle enterprise. The Company has consistently pursued a global footprint, benchmarking itself against leading international fashion conglomerates including Inditex and H&M, setting it apart from conventional region-focused Chinese brands. The Company now owns an array of globally renowned fashion brands, with its business footprint spanning roughly 160 markets worldwide. It has cultivated diversified revenue streams to effectively mitigate risks stemming from over reliance on a single market, forged a robust and sophisticated global commercial ecosystem, and secured a prominent position within the core global fast fashion sector. The distinctive LATR operational model is the core moat that propels SHEIN to the forefront of the industry. In contrast to peers such as Inditex and H&M, whose models tend to converge and lack meaningful differentiation, SHEIN’s proprietary operational system has significantly optimized the operational value chain of the fashion industry, cultivating a distinctive and defensible competitive advantage. In terms of business model innovation, SHEIN has achieved a disruptive breakthrough by pioneering its proprietary operational model, the Large-scale Automated Test Reorder (LATR) system. This model represents the optimal solution to the long-standing trilemma confronting the fashion apparel industry, and has fundamentally revolutionized the traditional operational logic governing apparel production, sales, and iteration. Supported by the Company’s end-to-end smart supply chain and responsive global fulfillment infrastructure, the LATR system facilitates the optimal equilibrium across product assortment diversity, speed-to-market in design, and inventory control. Consequently, it addresses the persistent trilemma that has long beset the industry, and serves as a catalyst for the global fast-fashion sector’s transition from a conventional extensive-growth model to a refined, digitally-enabled, and sustainable development trajectory. The impressive growth figures underscore SHEIN’s robust momentum. From 2023 to 2025, the Company’s active customers increased from 186 million to 273 million, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.2%, significantly outpacing traditional international industry giants. In terms of operational efficiency and value creation, SHEIN’s advantages are particularly distinctive. Its operational efficiency substantially surpasses that of its peers, with inventory turnover days of only 36 days, markedly better than the industry benchmarks of 71 days for Inditex, 114 days for Fast Retailing, and 164 days for Adidas. Meanwhile, underpinned by a rigorous cost-control and highly pragmatic corporate culture, the Company has consistently pursued cost reduction and efficiency enhancement initiatives, continuously optimizing its cash flow. Furthermore, SHEIN demonstrates strong cash generation capabilities and has made a solemn commitment to maintain a dividend payout ratio of no less than 50% following its listing, thereby delivering stable returns to investors. Sound Financial Fundamentals and Valuation on Par with Global Fashion Giants Driven by its proven business model, continuously iterating technological capabilities, and global channel footprint, SHEIN has recorded sustained and solid growth in operating performance, alongside steadily improving profitability. According to the Prospectus, SHEIN generated net revenue of US$41.8 billion in 2025, representing a CAGR of 14.2% from 2023 to 2025, with steady revenue expansion and sustained growth momentum. During the same period, the Company achieved a net profit of US$2.064 billion, reflecting excellent earnings quality and underscoring its exceptional operational resilience and growth vitality. In the first quarter of 2026, the Company sustained its steady growth trajectory, generating net revenue of US$9.1 billion for the period, representing a year-over-year increase of 1.1%. Against the backdrop of global consumer market volatility and intensifying industry competition, it maintained positive growth, demonstrating solid commercialization and monetization capabilities as well as robust resilience to risks. Against the industry benchmark of 25x price to earnings ratio (P/E ratio) for Inditex in FY2027 and 20x P/E ratio for H&M in FY2027, SHEIN, underpinned by its differentiated business model, strong growth momentum and leading operational efficiency, possesses the fundamental basis for a valuation that is comparable to, or even on par with, global fashion giants. Current market analysts assign SHEIN a P/E valuation range of 20x to 30x, positioning it between H&M and Inditex. According to Reuters, the Company’s target valuation for this IPO is in the range of US$35 billion to US$40 billion, fully reflecting its solid operational fundamentals and long-term growth potential. Innovation drives industrial upgrading. Deep cultivation fuels global development. With over a decade of deep engagement in the industry, SHEIN, leveraging its unique business model, solid supply chain capabilities and deep global brand equity, has completed a transformative leap from a rising Chinese cross-border player to a global fashion leader. Following its successful listing on the Hong Kong capital market, SHEIN will leverage the international capital platform of the Hong Kong stock market to further deepen technological innovation, optimize its global footprint and reinforce its industry moats. With vast market headroom and abundant growth momentum, the Company’s future development potential is well worth investors’ high expectations. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Visa and SFHK Unlock Tap to Pay, Elevating Doorstep Pickup and Delivery Payment Experience 2026-08-14 · ACN Newswire · Finance, SaaS, Retail, Logistics https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109123/ - Customers can now make Visa card payments directly when using SFHK’s doorstep pickup and delivery services, adding a more secure and convenient card payment option to SFHK’s service. - From today until 30 November 2026, Visa cardholders can enjoy an exclusive HKD3 cash rebate for every HKD30 spent on eligible single SFHK transactions after registering on the designated rewards platform, applicable to both doorstep delivery payments and parcel shipments at SF Stores.   HONG KONG, August 14, 2026 - 13 August 2026, Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today announced a partnership with S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited ("SFHK"), to bring secure, seamless and contactless card payment experiences to everyday sending and receiving services, enabling customers to pay conveniently and confidently throughout their logistics journey. Building upon Visa acceptance currently available at SF stores, this collaboration extends contactless payment to more touchpoints, allowing customers to pay with Visa directly at their doorsteps when sending or receiving parcels via couriers. By integrating Visa’s safe and efficient payment capability from purchase to delivery, the partnership delivers a smoother, safer and more flexible experience for consumers. Enhancing logistics payment flexibility to meet evolving consumers and merchant needs As eCommerce continues to grow, delivery has become one of the most frequent consumer touchpoints. While cash on delivery has traditionally remained popular by giving buyers a sense of comfort and reassurance when receiving physical goods, there is a growing preference for digitalised payment options. As cashless habits take hold, the market is transitioning from traditional cash on delivery to modernised digital payment on delivery at the point of handover. To meet this demand, Visa provides a trusted, secure payment method that consumers already rely on daily. By expanding Visa card acceptance across SFHK's network, customers can now use their preferred Visa cards when receiving or sending parcels at their doorsteps. SFHK couriers equipped with smart handheld devices – enabled by The Payment Cards Group (Yedpay)’s digital payment solution – can process payments directly upon delivery or pickup, covering a full range of payment scenarios including freight charges and Cash-on-Delivery (COD). This preserves the reassurance of paying only when the package arrives, while delivering the speed, security, and convenience of digital payments.   Furthermore, as a major global trade hub, Hong Kong is experiencing rising demand for doorstep payment options when consumers purchase from international merchants. By extending Visa acceptance across the delivery process, Hong Kong consumers can shop from overseas merchants and boutique brands with greater ease, enjoying a familiar and trusted payment option upon delivery. "As one of the world's most important trading hubs, Hong Kong depends on the efficient movement of goods, services and payments," said Paulina Leong, General Manager of Visa Hong Kong and Macau. "SFHK plays a vital role across logistics customer touchpoints, making it an ideal partner as we work to deliver a seamless and secure end-to-end commerce journey. By integrating Visa's global payment capabilities with SFHK's extensive delivery network, we are helping to modernise how payments are accepted across logistics touchpoints, streamlining operations, reducing cash handling, and bringing greater efficiency, convenience and security to courier and delivery services. As digital trade continues to grow, we believe this model can be scaled across markets to benefit logistics providers, merchants and consumers alike.” SFHK’s extensive service network drives seamless integration of digital payments across delivery touchpoints As one of Hong Kong’s leading logistics providers, SFHK operates an extensive network with service coverage across Hong Kong supported by over 140 SF Stores, providing convenient access points across the city. With high daily parcel volumes and multiple consumer touchpoints, SFHK has evolved into a high-frequency platform connecting customers with delivery services across both physical and digital environments. Mr. Steve Shum, Head of Hong Kong and Macau Regions at SF Express, stated, "We are pleased to partner with Visa to bring greater payment flexibility to our customers across Hong Kong. At SF, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance the logistics and delivery experience, and offering more payment choices is an essential part of that commitment. This collaboration extends Visa payment beyond our SF stores directly to customers’ doorsteps, enabling a seamless contactless payment experience when sending and receiving parcels. We look forward to exploring further opportunities with Visa to seamlessly integrate digital payment into smart logistics, continuously elevating the overall logistics service experience in Hong Kong." Exclusive promotional offers for Visa cardholders in Hong Kong To celebrate the partnership, Visa and SFHK are launching an exclusive limited-time promotional offer for customers across Hong Kong. From today until 30 November 2026, Visa cardholders can enjoy HKD3 cash rebate for every single HKD30 spent on eligible SFHK transactions.  To participate, customers can register via the Visa Select Rewards platform prior to making a transaction. Eligible rebates will be credited directly to the cardholder’s statement, providing a seamless and rewarding payment experience. For registration and more details, please visit the Visa Select Rewards Platform: https://visaselectrewardhk.com/campaign/C202607290001 Please click here to download the high-resolution images. [1] Eligible Cardholders can enjoy the Promotion up to four 4 times during promotional period. Terms and Conditions apply. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, sellers, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com. About SFHK SFHK leverages its robust logistics network to provide customers with a diverse range of courier services and one-stop integrated logistics solutions. Our core business in Hong Kong encompasses local, cross-border, and international express and logistics services, cold chain delivery, warehouse management and distribution, as well as SF Locker services for last-mile delivery. For more details, please visit our website: https://htm.sf-express.com/hk/en Media Contact Visa Visa Stefanie Wong   Melody Kung  Corporate Communications Manager  Senior Account Executive  Visa Hong Kong and Macau  Hoffman Hong Kong     Tel: +852 2842 2314    Tel: +852 6056 7860    Email: stefanie.wong@visa.com   Email: mkung@hoffman.com    SFHK Jessie Chan Assistant Manager, Public Affairs S.F. Express (Hong Kong) Limited Tel: +852 3123 5106   Email: sfnws@sf-express.com ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— 5 ways Amazon is investing in Maryland 2026-08-13 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-investment-maryland-jobs-infrastructure-small-business?utm_source=rss Amazon's investments are boosting the state's economy while creating opportunities for those who call Maryland home. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SunScout Debuts on NYSE, Aiming at $4.7 Billion Global Robotic Mower Market 2026-08-13 · ACN Newswire · Finance, AI, SaaS, Real estate, Energy, Retail, Automotive, Sports, Industrial, Aerospace & defense, Logistics, Sustainability https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/109110/ NEW YORK, Aug 13, 2026 - SunScout Holding Limited (NYSE American: SNSC) develops autonomous solar-powered robotic mowers and complementary solar energy solutions. The company has principal operations in New Zealand and the United States and is incorporated in the Cayman Islands. SunScout commenced concurrent trading on NYSE American and NYSE Texas on August 12, 2026, becoming the first issuer with this combination of domicile and operational footprint to list on both exchanges. The offering was priced at $5.00 per Class A ordinary share, yielding gross proceeds of approximately $15.5 million. Upon closing, the company will have approximately 23.1 million Class A ordinary shares outstanding, implying a market capitalization of roughly $115.5 million based on the offer price. NYSE Texas, launched by Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in March 2025 and headquartered in Dallas, currently hosts listed companies with an aggregate market capitalization exceeding $3.9 trillion, positioning it as a significant U.S. capital‑markets hub. The dual listing is expected to enhance SunScout’s brand visibility across the United States, particularly in Texas, where the company is pursuing strategic expansion, while also broadening its investor base. Three‑Pronged Clean‑Tech Portfolio; SunScout Products Emerges as Key Growth Driver As detailed in its prospectus, SunScout designs, develops, manufactures, and commercializes autonomous solar‑powered robotic mowers alongside complementary solar‑energy solutions. Its operations are organized into three segments: SunScout Products (autonomous solar-powered robotic mowers and complementary products), solar power development solutions, and engineering products and services under the Brunton Engineering brand, which encompasses clean‑energy hardware and high‑precision manufacturing. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, the company reported total revenue of approximately $4.8 million, representing year‑over‑year growth of 93.6%. Solar power development solutions contributed approximately 40.9% of total revenue, while engineering products and services accounted for approximately 31.1%. Revenue from SunScout Products rose to approximately 28.0% of total revenue, up from approximately 18.5% in FY2024, demonstrating strong growth momentum. The prospectus explicitly notes that while solar power development and engineering services currently generate the majority of top‑line revenue, the SunScout Products segment captures long‑term growth opportunities aligned with global market expansion and is positioned as a core growth engine, accelerating the company’s transition toward a higher‑value, product‑driven business model. According to Mordor Intelligence, the global robotic lawn mower market is on a robust growth trajectory, valued at roughly $2.4 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $4.7 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.4%. Robotic mowers still represent a small fraction of the broader lawn‑equipment market, leaving significant room for penetration. Rising labor shortages and escalating lawn‑maintenance costs are fueling demand for automation. Concurrently, regulatory initiatives worldwide to phase out gasoline‑powered outdoor equipment are gaining momentum, accelerating industry electrification. Shifting consumer preferences toward intelligent, convenient solutions are fostering deeper integration of robotic mowers with smart‑home ecosystems and the Internet of Things (IoT), creating substantial headroom for automated electric mowing solutions. Proprietary DSA Technology Enables True Off‑Grid Operation SunScout’s core competitive advantage lies in its proprietary Deployable Solar Array (DSA) technology, which allows its robotic mowers to operate entirely on solar power, achieving genuine off‑grid performance without reliance on electrical outlets. Conventional gasoline‑powered mowers emit carbon emissions, and while existing electric mowers eliminate direct emissions, they remain dependent on fixed charging infrastructure, constraining operational range and flexibility. The DSA mechanism enables solar panels to automatically deploy when stationary, tripling the surface area to maximize solar‑energy capture for onboard battery charging; panels retract during movement to preserve maneuverability. This design supports fully solar‑dependent, zero‑emission autonomous mowing, augmented by autonomous navigation and AI‑powered obstacle avoidance capabilities. According to the company, few competing products can function completely independent of external power sources. This capability unlocks deployments at sites without power outlets or charging facilities—such as golf courses, public parks, and large‑scale green spaces—delivering meaningful advantages for continuous autonomous field operations. Over the longer term, DSA‑based hardware insulates operating costs from electricity‑price inflation and enables rollouts in regions with limited or unreliable grid infrastructure. SunScout also emphasizes that its technology platform is highly adaptable and platform‑agnostic, opening potential applications beyond lawn mowing, including agricultural robotics, onboard solar‑charging systems for electric vehicles, autonomous patrol robots, and other mobile machinery. Three‑Tier Product Lineup and Rapidly Expanding Global Distribution SunScout’s autonomous solar‑powered robotic mower portfolio comprises three modular models: the residential‑grade SunScout Eco, light‑commercial SunScout Pro, and large‑institutional‑focused SunScout ProMax. The modular architecture supports incremental upgrades without extensive redesign, facilitating efficient global deployment across diverse terrain and climate conditions. For example, the entry‑level SunScout Eco integrates high‑efficiency photovoltaic panels into the top housing, converting sunlight to supply all energy required for propulsion, cutting assemblies, and onboard electronics. The unit employs a multi‑sensor suite and AI‑enhanced dual‑camera visual navigation to map work zones, identify lawn boundaries and obstacles, and optimize mowing routes. For larger and more complex sites, RTK satellite navigation is available to deliver centimeter‑level positioning accuracy. On commercial‑channel development, SunScout has established distribution partnerships with Wrissmer Werkstattsysteme GmbH (WWS) in Europe and MowBot Limited in Australia and New Zealand, and is in active discussions regarding potential distribution cooperation with major retailers, including Walmart. Beyond robotic hardware, the company provides end‑to‑end solar power development solutions, including system design, installation, and full engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services for commercial, industrial, and institutional clients. Through its Brunton Engineering brand, it also offers engineering products and services leveraging nearly 30 years of precision‑fabrication and mechanical‑engineering expertise, and is an accredited supplier to the New Zealand Defence Force. On the manufacturing front, assembly is currently conducted via SunScout Asia in Thailand. The company is advancing the establishment of an assembly and distribution center in Austin, Texas, through its U.S. subsidiary, which will build domestic production capacity and support long‑term North American expansion, aligning with U.S. policy emphasis on domestic robotics and technology supply chains. Recent actions by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) restricting authorizations for certain foreign‑produced robotic products further underscore the growing importance of domestic manufacturing and supply‑chain resilience. Net proceeds from the offering are expected to be used primarily for: (i) construction of the Austin manufacturing facility; (ii) sales and marketing activities; (iii) product research and development; (iv) inventory procurement; (v) repayment of one loan; (vi) consideration for the acquisition of Brightway Energy LLC; and (vii) general working capital purposes. Against the backdrop of accelerating global clean‑energy transition and continued expansion of the robotic‑mower market, market participants will closely monitor whether SunScout can leverage its proprietary off‑grid solar‑robotics technology to differentiate itself amid intensifying industry competition. Note: This translation has been calibrated against the company’s registration statement on Form F‑1 (File No. 333‑295248), as declared effective by the SEC on August 11, 2026. All financial data, segment descriptions, and legal status reflect the prospectus disclosures. Certain distributor names and retail discussions are retained as stated in the prospectus; for definitive terms, please refer to the final prospectus. For more information, please contact: Golden Fleece Cross-border Consulting Co., Limited Email: heidiho@goldenfleece.hk ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Oracle e AWS ampliam colaboração estratégica à medida que a adoção empresarial do Oracle AI Database@AWS acelera 2026-08-13 · Oracle · AI, Retail https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/oracle-and-aws-deepen-strategic-collaboration-as-enterprise-adoption-of-oracle-ai-database-at-aws-accelerates-2026-08-13/ Austin, Texas—Aug 13, 2026 Oracle today announced the general availability of Oracle Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure on Oracle AI Database@AWS , bringing Exadata-class performance and pay-per-use economics to Oracle AI Database workloads of any scale. Oracle and Amazon Web Services (AWS) also signed an expanded, long-term strategic collaboration agreement focused on accelerating customer migration ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— SAP Order Management Services Named a Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide AI-Enabled Order Orchestration and Fulfillment Applications for Retail and B2C 2026 Vendor Assessment 2026-08-13 · SAP · AI, Retail https://news.sap.com/2026/08/sap-order-management-services-a-leader-idc-marketscape-worldwide-ai-enabled-order-orchestration-fulfillment-applications-retail-b2c-2026-vendor-assessment/ SAP is committed to innovation in order management. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— The Future Is for Everyone: Free AI Glasses for Every Blind and Visually Impaired Adult Vision Ireland Supports 2026-08-13 · Meta · AI, Retail, Gaming https://about.fb.com/news/2026/08/the-future-is-for-everyone-free-ai-glasses-for-every-blind-and-visually-impaired-adult-vision-ireland-supports/ “What I really like about the glasses is the speed at which I get the information I need – instead of waiting for someone to read a letter or waiting for someone to tell me what I have in the fridge, I’ll just do it on impulse. Now I’m doing things for myself independently, that maybe before I wouldn’t have done.” — Brian Manning, Vision Ireland  Meta is donating 15,000 Ray-Ban Meta glasses to Vision Ireland, Ireland’s national sight loss charity. This is enough for every blind and visually impaired adult the charity supports  – because we believe the Future is for Everyone.  Ray-Ban Meta glasses, built in collaboration with Europe’s EssilorLuxottica, are one of the fastest growing consumer products and we are making sure we are building them for everyone. People use our glasses because they’re genuinely helpful – from listening to music, to live translation and hands-free calls – and they can be life-changing for people who are blind or have low vision.  These glasses will give people who are blind or low vision in Ireland access to transformative AI technology that can help with everyday tasks like reading text, identifying objects and accessing information about the world around them. Vision Ireland is Ireland’s national sight loss charity and earlier this year jointly hosted an AI glasses Demo Day at Meta Ireland HQ. Team members from Vision Ireland and advocates from across the blind and low vision community were given hands-on tutorials with Meta’s AI glasses, and took part in a roundtable discussion where demo participants shared their feedback on their experience using the glasses. How People will Receive Their Glasses Eligible people who are blind or low vision can register their interest online via meta.vi.ie or via the dedicated phone number +353 1 882 1910. Vision Ireland will then manage a phased roll-out process from application, assessment, eligibility and selection through to in person training and support. Training & Support Every pair of glasses will include access to training, funded by Meta, designed to help people use them effectively. Training will cover how their glasses can identify objects, read text, and manage everyday tasks using only their voice — a step change in daily independence. In-person events: Vision Ireland will host events across the country where people can receive their glasses, get hands-on guidance from trained staff, and connect with other participants in the programme. Helpdesk support: Vision Ireland helpdesk will be available to support recipients with follow up questions after their training. Ireland is the home of Meta’s international headquarters and one of Meta’s largest hubs outside the US. We’ve had a significant presence in the country dating back to 2009 and now have multiple sites across the country, including our Reality Labs facility in Cork – which has played a crucial role in the development of next-generation display solutions for Meta’s AI and AR wearables, the next generation of computing. Clonee Data Center in Meath is also part of Meta’s global infrastructure that brings to life our technologies and services.    Anne O’Leary, Vice President and Head of Meta Ireland, said: “I’m incredibly proud of today’s landmark donation of 15,000 Ray-Ban Meta glasses to Vision Ireland, our country’s national sight loss charity. We’ve already seen how these glasses can transform the daily lives of those with sight loss, and this partnership means that this game changing technology will continue to have a far-reaching impact for those who are blind or visually impaired.” Dina Powell-McCormick, President and Vice-Chair, Meta said: “Through this partnership with Vision Ireland, we are bringing Ray-Ban Meta glasses to thousands of blind people across the country. I’ve seen firsthand how meaningful this technology is for blind veterans in the U.S., and we’re committed to making it accessible around the world. We believe the future is for everyone, and this partnership is a powerful example of that commitment.” Chris White, Chief Executive Officer, Vision Ireland: “This transformative gift of 15,000 Ray-Ban Meta glasses to the blind and vision-impaired community will give thousands of people greater independence, confidence and choice in their everyday lives. As Ireland’s national sight loss charity, Vision Ireland is immensely proud to lead the national rollout and help ensure this innovative technology delivers meaningful and lasting impact.” The post The Future Is for Everyone: Free AI Glasses for Every Blind and Visually Impaired Adult Vision Ireland Supports appeared first on Meta Newsroom. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon's AI shopping assistant makes hundreds of millions of products feel personal 2026-08-12 · Amazon · AI, Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/alexa-for-shopping-learn-and-be-curious-podcast?utm_source=rss Doug Herrington, Amazon's CEO of Worldwide Stores, explains why conversational AI is the next format shift in retail—just as the catalog gave way to the search bar. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Oracle Health’s AI-Powered Patient Portal Now Generally Available 2026-08-12 · Oracle · AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail https://www.oracle.com/news/announcement/oracle-health-ai-powered-patient-portal-generally-available-2026-08-12/ Austin, Texas—Aug 12, 2026 The AI-powered Oracle Health Patient Portal is now generally available in the U.S. The new offering combines the ease-of-use and simplicity of a consumer application with a highly secure and comprehensive integration with the Oracle Health Electronic Health Record (EHR), so patients can quickly review and share their medical records, easily connect with providers, and remain engaged and in ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon's water conservation and replenishment efforts around the world 2026-08-12 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/sustainability/amazon-water-conservation-replenishment-sustainability?utm_source=rss Get the latest updates on how we’re reducing our water footprint and investing in innovations to address water scarcity. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon is supporting communities impacted by the Colombia earthquake 2026-08-11 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/colombia-earthquake-amazon-disaster-relief?utm_source=rss Amazon is working with local nonprofits to help communities recover. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Daybreak models are now available on AWS 2026-08-11 · OpenAI · Retail, Cybersecurity https://openai.com/index/daybreak-models-are-now-available-on-aws OpenAI and AWS are making Daybreak cybersecurity capabilities available through Amazon Bedrock to support enterprise security workflows. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Blair Ethington on recommerce and solving the hard problems 2026-08-11 · eBay · Retail https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/blair-ethington-on-recommerce-and-solving-the-hard-problems/ The eBay VP for buyer, seller, and C2C shared the ideas driving her work in a Retail Brew interview. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Intel Gamer Days 2026 Kicking Off with AAA Gaming Bundle & Partnerships 2026-08-10 · Intel · Retail, Gaming, Media, Semiconductors https://newsroom.intel.com/client-computing/intel-gamer-days-2026-kicking-off-with-aaa-gaming-bundle-partnerships What’s New: Intel’s annual Gamer Days campaign officially kicks off today, bringing gamers around the globe exciting new retail promotions, giveaways, and content collaborations with participating partners.Headlining this year’s Intel® Gamer Days campaign is the Intel retail bundle running August 10th through September 13th. With this bundle, gamers can secure their own digital copies of … The post Intel Gamer Days 2026 Kicking Off with AAA Gaming Bundle & Partnerships appeared first on Newsroom. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Inside Amazon's first-ever drone delivery site in the UK 2026-08-07 · Amazon · Retail, Aerospace & defense https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/transportation/amazon-drone-prime-air-uk?utm_source=rss The Prime Air site in Darlington, England is the first of its kind outside of the U.S. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon is supporting communities impacted by wildfires in Spokane, Washington 2026-08-06 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/spokane-washington-fires-amazon-disaster-relief?utm_source=rss Amazon is working with the American Red Cross, Save the Children, and local nonprofits to support thousands of people in Spokane County who can’t go home. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Cision Wins 2026 MarTech Breakthrough Awards for Social Listening, Press Release Distribution, and AEO 2026-08-06 · PR Newswire · SaaS, Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cision-wins-2026-martech-breakthrough-awards-for-social-listening-press-release-distribution-and-aeo-302838567.html Brandwatch named "Social Listening Solution of the Year," while PR Newswire secures top honors for "Press Release Distribution Company of the Year" and "AEO Platform of the Year" Cision, a global leader in consumer and media intelligence, today announced that two of its brands, Brandwatch and PR Newswire, have together earned three major category honors in the 2026 MarTech Breakthrough Awards. The a ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon Pharmacy now delivers GLP-1 medications to eligible Medicare patients for $50 a month 2026-08-06 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/retail/amazon-pharmacy-glp-1-medicare?utm_source=rss Amazon Pharmacy handles the majority of the paperwork and delivers Wegovy, Zepbound, and Foundayo to patients' doors—with Same-Day Delivery and kiosk pickup. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Amazon in the community: Here’s what’s happening in Seattle, Bellevue, and the Puget Sound 2026-08-05 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-seattle-bellevue-puget-sound-news?utm_source=rss Learn how we invest in the community, help power the local economy, and support our employees in the Puget Sound region. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Soup Dumpling Market to Reach USD 12.7 Billion by 2033 2026-08-05 · Good PR News · Retail, Food & drink https://goodprnews.com/soup-dumpling-market/ Market Summary According to latest research by Growth Market Reports, the global soup dumpling market size reached USD 6.8 billion in 2024, driven by a surge in consumer interest for ethnic and convenience foods. The market is poised to grow at a robust CAGR of 7.1% from 2025 to 2033. By the end of 2033, the market is forecasted to... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Home Entertainment Devices Market To Reach USD 534.8 billion by 2034 2026-08-05 · Good PR News · Retail https://goodprnews.com/home-entertainment-devices-market/ Market Summary According to our Growth Market Report, the global home entertainment devices market size reached USD 313.4 billion in 2025, reflecting robust consumer demand and accelerating technological advancements across the sector. The market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period, reaching a value of USD 534.8 billion by 2034. This sustained growth is primarily... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Amazon is helping communities impacted by southwest France wildfires 2026-08-04 · Amazon · Retail https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/community/amazon-europe-wildfires-response?utm_source=rss We are donating and delivering emergency supplies to communities impacted by the Gironde wildfires. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How Salling Group Uses SAP and AI to Improve Everyday Retail 2026-08-04 · SAP · AI, SaaS, Retail https://news.sap.com/2026/08/salling-group-ai-improve-everyday-retail/ The European retailer is positioned to apply AI at scale with its SAP Cloud ERP backbone. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bayer operationally on track, decisive progress on strategic priorities 2026-08-04 · Bayer · Finance, AI, SaaS, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Biotech & pharma, Legal, Marketing & advertising, Agriculture https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/bayer-operationally-on-track-decisive-progress-on-strategic-priorities/ Leverkusen, August 4, 2026 – The Bayer Group continued to make headway in the second quarter of 2026, capping off a successful first half of the year. “Operationally, we’re well on track to achieve our full-year outlook,” CEO Bill Anderson said when presenting the company’s Half-Year Financial Report on Tuesday. All three divisions are on target, he noted. Bayer has also made decisive progress on its long-term strategic priorities, Anderson emphasized. The landmark US Supreme Court ruling in the Durnell case is one such example, he said, adding that it puts Bayer in a stronger position for the proposed class settlement agreement. “Overall, our containment strategy is in a strong place, with some important milestones ahead,” Anderson explained. Bayer is also advancing its other strategic priorities, Anderson said, pointing to progress in rejuvenating the Pharmaceuticals pipeline and executing the Five-Year Framework to improve profitability at Crop Science. In addition, Bayer’s lean, entrepreneurial operating model is driving efficiency gains across the entire Group, while also positioning the company well to effectively capitalize on the opportunities of artificial intelligence, he noted. “Over the past two and a half years, we’ve progressed in each of these areas. Each of them has demanded intense focus – and it’s imperative that we maintain that focus,” Anderson emphasized. “We’re concentrating on delivering our commitments and ensuring the best future for Bayer.” Dr. Judith Hartmann, who took over the CFO role in June, shared her perspective. “I am excited to be part of the team driving Bayer forward at such an important time in its journey. While we’ve delivered strong strategic and financial progress, including meaningful steps on our balance sheet, important opportunities remain ahead of us. Bayer benefits from a powerful innovation engine and growth prospects across all three businesses. Our financial priorities are clear: to further strengthen the balance sheet, enhance productivity and improve cash generation, while continuing to invest behind growth and creating sustainable value,” Hartmann said. Sales and EBITDA before special items up against prior year Group sales came in at 10.872 billion euros in the second quarter of 2026, up 2.2 percent on a currency- and portfolio-adjusted basis (Fx & portfolio adj.). There was a negative currency effect of 63 million euros (Q2 2025: 550 million euros). EBITDA before special items increased by 1.9 percent to 2.144 billion euros, and included a negative currency effect of 70 million euros (Q2 2025: 184 million euros). EBIT amounted to 827 million euros (Q2 2025: 13 million euros) after net special charges of 172 million euros (Q2 2025: 981 million euros) that were primarily attributable to litigation-related expenses. Net income came in at 219 million euros (Q2 2025: minus 199 million euros). Core earnings per share decreased by 16.7 percent to 0.95 euros, with the improvement in earnings in the Crop Science Division only partially offsetting a normalization in tax expense and lower earnings in the Reconciliation. Free cash flow amounted to minus 371 million euros (Q2 2025: 125 million euros), partly due to higher payments to resolve litigation. Net financial debt came in at 33.647 billion euros as of June 30, 2026, representing a 3.5 percent increase against March 31, 2026, and a 1.1 percent rise from a year-on-year perspective. Crop Science: Topline growth and efficiencies in cost of goods sold drive higher earnings In the agricultural business (Crop Science), sales increased by 3.5 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to 4.910 billion euros. Business was up at Soybean Seed & Traits and Cotton Seed following the return of the dicamba label in the United States, with gains of 16.9 and 69.2 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), respectively. By contrast, sales at Corn Seed & Traits were down 2.5 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), with substantial gains in Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia/Pacific only partially offsetting lower volumes in North America, where business was impacted by volume phasing into the first quarter. In the Crop Protection business, growth was primarily driven by the division’s glyphosate-based herbicides. Sales of these products rose by 12.6 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) fueled by higher volumes and prices, especially in Europe/Middle East/Africa. The Insecticides business recorded a 15.9 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) increase in sales that was mainly attributable to higher volumes and prices in Europe/Middle East/Africa and Asia/Pacific. EBITDA before special items at Crop Science advanced by 30.2 percent to 902 million euros. The increase in earnings was largely fueled by high-margin topline growth as well as a decline in the cost of goods sold that was driven by efficiency programs, as the division continues implementation of its Five-Year Framework. The EBITDA margin before special items increased by 3.9 percentage points to 18.4 percent. Pharmaceuticals: Continued growth momentum for Nubeqa™ and Kerendia™ Sales of prescription medicines (Pharmaceuticals) came in at 4.458 billion euros, in line with the prior year (Fx & portfolio adj. plus 0.8 percent). The division again registered significant gains for its cancer drug Nubeqa™, as well as for Kerendia™, its product for the treatment of chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Nubeqa™ sales advanced by 63.9 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), mainly driven by volume growth in the United States and Europe, while the 82.9 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) rise in Kerendia™ sales was largely fueled by higher volumes in the United States and China. The Mirena™ product family also delivered very strong topline performance, especially in the United States, with global sales rising 9.0 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.). In the Radiology business, the division recorded gains of 26.8 and 8.1 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) for Ultravist™ and CT Fluid Delivery, respectively. Business benefited from higher volumes, while prices remained stable. By contrast, Xarelto™ and Eylea™ sales were down significantly, as anticipated. After encountering headwinds from patent expirations, the oral anticoagulant posted a decline of 42.4 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), while business with the ophthalmology drug decreased 32.8 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.). The Eylea™ 8 mg formulation offering extended treatment intervals accounted for around 55 percent of overall Eylea™ sales. EBITDA before special items at Pharmaceuticals decreased by 3.6 percent to 1.055 billion euros. The decline in earnings was primarily attributable to the division channeling higher investments toward marketing its growth products Lynkuet™ (for the hormone-free treatment of menopause symptoms), Nubeqa™ and Kerendia™. In addition, the prior-year quarter had benefited from proceeds from the sale of non-core businesses. By contrast, earnings benefited from a reduction in allocations to provisions for the Group-wide short-term incentive (STI) program, as well as an inventory write-back. The EBITDA margin before special items decreased by 0.8 percentage points to 23.7 percent. Consumer Health sales up in almost all categories and regions Following a strong first quarter, sales of self-care products (Consumer Health) increased by 1.5 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to 1.445 billion euros. Business was up in almost all categories, with Digestive Health delivering the strongest growth, at 9.4 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.). By contrast, sales in the Allergy & Cold category were down 8.0 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) due to soft seasonality. Regionally, the division continued to face headwinds from a weak market environment in the United States, while business was up year on year in Europe/Middle East/Africa, Latin America and Asia/Pacific. EBITDA before special items at Consumer Health decreased by 3.6 percent to 319 million euros. The decline in earnings was mainly due to an increase in the cost of goods sold and unfavorable product mix effects. These headwinds were only partially offset by the division’s continuous cost and price management efforts. The EBITDA margin before special items declined by 1.1 percentage points to 22.1 percent.   Group sales and earnings up in first half of the year In the first six months of 2026, Group sales rose by 3.3 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to 24.277 billion euros. EBITDA before special items advanced 6.6 percent to 6.597 billion euros, while core earnings per share increased 3.4 percent to 3.66 euros. Currency-adjusted Group outlook confirmed Bayer has affirmed its currency-adjusted Group guidance for full-year 2026 for all metrics except net financial debt, which it now expects to come in lower than originally projected, at 29 to 30 billion euros (previous forecast: 32 to 33 billion euros). The revised guidance for this KPI reflects the already announced agreement with Apollo-managed funds and affiliates. They will obtain a minority, non-controlling stake in a newly established entity holding Bayer’s long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC) business in exchange for a €3.0 billion capital contribution. In addition, applying the closing rates as of June 30, 2026, instead of March 31, 2026, results in the following changes: Group sales are now expected to come in at 44.7 to 46.7 billion euros (44.5 to 46.5 billion euros at previous closing rates), and core EPS at 4.20 to 4.70 euros (4.10 to 4.60 euros at previous closing rates). Notes: The following tables contain the key data for the Bayer Group and its divisions for the second quarter and the first six months of 2026. The full Half-Year Financial Report is available online at: www.bayer.com/halfyearreport. There is also a digital version available. The speech given by Bill Anderson and Dr. Judith Hartmann to the media will be available online from around 9 a.m. CEST at: www.bayer.com/speeches Live broadcast of the Media Update from around 9 a.m. CEST and recording available from around 12 p.m. CEST at: www.bayer.com/live-mc Additional information for investors, including presentation charts, and access to the live broadcast of the Investor Video Call (from around 2 p.m. CEST) and recording (from around 6 p.m. CEST) available at: www.bayer.com/live-ic Print-quality photos can be found online at: www.bayer.com/photo-footage You can find FAQ on this topic here. Find more information at www.bayer.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. Bayer AG is a holding company with operating subsidiaries worldwide. References to “Bayer” or “the company” herein may refer to one or more subsidiaries as context requires. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hyundai Motor Appoints Naomi Fudo as President and CEO of Hyundai Mobility Japan 2026-08-01 · Hyundai Motor Company · Retail, Automotive, Software & IT https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/newsroom/detail/0000001251 Naomi Fudo brings extensive experience in digital transformation and customer experience to drive sustainable growth in Japan Leadership transition aims to accelerate One ZEV Strategy across passenger and commercial mobility segments Brand evolves from direct-to-consumer pioneer to comprehensive customer journey innovator ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— eBay completes acquisition of Depop 2026-07-30 · eBay · Finance, Retail, Fashion & luxury https://www.ebayinc.com/stories/news/ebay-completes-acquisition-of-depop/ Today eBay announced it has completed its acquisition of Depop, a leading consumer to consumer fashion marketplace with a highly-engaged Gen Z and Millennial customer base. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How avatarin built a 24/7 retail agent with GPT-Realtime 2026-07-30 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/avatarin avatarin uses OpenAI’s GPT-Realtime to give Yamada Denki shoppers 24/7 multilingual support. In two weeks, 30,000 people used the agent and 92% of survey responses were positive. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PayPal and Amazon Launch Buy Now, Pay Later for Customers in Germany and Austria 2026-07-28 · PayPal · Retail https://newsroom.paypal-corp.com/2026-07-PayPal-and-Amazon-Launch-Buy-Now-Pay-Later-for-Customers-in-Germany-and-Austria Berlin, July 28, 2026 – PayPal and Amazon today announced that starting in August eligible Amazon customers in Germany and Austria will be able to use PayPal Ratenzahlung on Amazon.de1 and in the Amazon app over the coming weeks, giving shoppers more flexibility to pay over time for eligible purchases. Amazon customers will benefit as PayPal continues to expand its Pay Later footprint and brings its trusted Buy Now, ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hyundai Motor Reports Second-Quarter and First-Half 2026 Global Retail Sales Results 2026-07-23 · Hyundai Motor Company · Retail https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/newsroom/detail/0000001235 Second-quarter total sales led by accelerating growth in the Americas and India, powered by record hybrid demand in North America North America had best first-half in history; sales rose 4 percent in the second quarter; Central and South America grew 13 percent; India increased 7 percent First-half electrified momentum continued as hybrids reached an all-time high in North America Genesis delivered its strongest-ever first half in the United States and advanced its global roll-out ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Hyundai Motor Group Opens ‘UX Studio Shanghai’ to Shape the Future of Mobility Experiences in China 2026-07-22 · Hyundai Motor Company · Retail, Automotive https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/newsroom/detail/0000001231 User experience (UX) research hub advances ‘In China, For China, To Global’ strategy by deepening local insights and driving global innovation UX Studio Shanghai strengthens Hyundai Motor Group’s global UX co-creation network spanning Seoul, Frankfurt and Irvine Local talent and academic partnerships unlock deep understanding of Chinese consumer behaviors and emerging mobility needs Shanghai hub taps China’s fast-evolving smart mobility market to lead innovation in next-generation connected mobility ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Samsung Launches New Bespoke AI Washer and Dryer Lineup With AI-Enhanced Fabric Care and Seamless Connectivity 2026-07-14 · Samsung · AI, Energy, Retail https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-launches-new-bespoke-ai-washer-and-dryer-lineup-with-ai-enhanced-fabric-care-and-seamless-connectivity Samsung Electronics today announced the launch of its new Bespoke AI Washer and Dryer lineup, designed to meet growing consumer demand for appliances that can reduce everyday effort, help manage energy consumption and integrate seamlessly into connected homes. Combining enhanced AI features, an intuitive Smart Screen experience and SmartThings-enabled energy management, the lineup helps users […] ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Disney Consumer Products Ushers in a New Era of Collaboration and Culture at Licensing Expo with ‘Icons Unleashed’ 2026-05-21 · The Walt Disney Company · Retail, Media https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/news/consumer-products-licensing-expo-icons-unleashed/ The post Disney Consumer Products Ushers in a New Era of Collaboration and Culture at Licensing Expo with ‘Icons Unleashed’ appeared first on The Walt Disney Company. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Bayer reports solid start to the year and confirms currency-adjusted Group guidance for 2026 2026-05-12 · Bayer · Finance, Healthcare, Retail, Media, Biotech & pharma, Legal, Marketing & advertising, Agriculture https://www.bayer.com/media/en-us/bayer-reports-solid-start-to-the-year-and-confirms--currency-adjusted-group-guidance-for-2026/ Leverkusen, May 12, 2026 – The Bayer Group has reported a solid performance across all divisions for the first quarter of 2026. “We’re pleased with how our businesses started the year and we’re confirming our currency-adjusted outlook for 2026,” CEO Bill Anderson said when presenting the company’s Quarterly Statement for the first quarter on Tuesday. Commenting on the company’s strategic priorities, he explained that “we continue to advance our plan and we’re dialed in on delivering our commitments in the current year.” Group sales came in at 13.405 billion euros in the first quarter of 2026, up 4.1 percent on a currency- and portfolio-adjusted basis (Fx & portfolio adj.). There was a negative currency effect of 886 million euros (Q1 2025: 55 million euros). EBITDA before special items increased by 9.0 percent to 4.453 billion euros. This figure included a negative currency effect of 321 million euros (Q1 2025: 165 million euros). EBIT rose by 51.8 percent to 3.528 billion euros after net special gains of 324 million euros (Q1 2025: net special charges of 587 million euros) that mainly related to the sale of the global Avelox™ business for 250 million euros. Net income came in at 2.763 billion euros, and was therefore more than two times higher than a year earlier. Core earnings per share climbed 12.9 percent to 2.71 euros, largely driven by the increase in earnings at the Crop Science Division. However, growth was partially held back by a negative currency effect of 0.20 euros (Q1 2025: 0.13 euros). Free cash flow came in at minus 2.320 billion euros (Q1 2025: minus 1.528 billion euros). This was mainly attributable to payments to resolve legal proceedings, which increased as expected and largely related to the PCB and glyphosate litigations. Overall, these payments resulted in a net outflow of 2.002 billion euros (Q1 2025: 66 million euros). Net financial debt as of March 31, 2026, came in at 32.518 billion euros, up 9.0 percent from December 31, 2025, as a result of the negative free cash flow. Compared to March 31, 2025, however, net financial debt was down 5.1 percent. Crop Science posts gains in seed and traits In the agricultural business (Crop Science), sales increased by 6.8 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to 7.558 billion euros. Growth was mainly driven by Soybean Seed & Traits, which saw sales double (Fx & portfolio adj.) largely due to the previously announced resolution of a licensing agreement with Corteva in North America, with this effect contributing the equivalent of 448 million euros to the topline. The Soybean Seed & Traits business also benefited from price recovery following the return of the dicamba label in the United States. In addition, the division posted a gain of 7.1 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) at Corn Seed & Traits that was fueled by higher volumes at the start of season in North America and growth across all other regions as well. By contrast, the crop protection business declined, as expected. At Herbicides, for example, sales were down 10.2 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) overall, with glyphosate-based products experiencing a 15.1 percent decline (Fx & portfolio adj.). In addition, sales at Fungicides decreased 10.7 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.). EBITDA before special items at Crop Science rose by 17.9 percent to 3.014 billion euros. Strong growth in the Soybean Seed & Traits and Corn Seed & Traits businesses, as well as a decrease in the cost of goods sold due to efficiency programs more than offset the negative currency effect of 277 million euros (Q1 2025: 26 million euros). The EBITDA margin before special items increased by 6.2 percentage points to 39.9 percent, in line with the strategic objectives of the Five-Year Framework announced in 2025. Pharmaceuticals records further significant gains for Nubeqa™ and Kerendia™ Sales of prescription medicines (Pharmaceuticals) came in at 4.249 billion euros, in line with the prior year (Fx & portfolio adj. minus 0.5 percent). The division again registered significant gains for Nubeqa™, the cancer drug, and Kerendia™, for the treatment of chronic kidney disease and heart failure. Nubeqa™ sales advanced 57.1 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) thanks to higher volumes in the United States and Europe, while Kerendia™ sales were up 84.2 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) due to volume growth in the United States and China. In addition, the division posted further gains in the Radiology business, which includes products such as Ultravist™ and CT Fluid Delivery, with growth driven by higher volumes. By contrast, sales of the oral anticoagulant Xarelto™ declined substantially as expected, falling 40.4 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) due to patent expirations, while business with the ophthalmology drug Eylea™ was down 20.5 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) as a result of competitive pressure from generics. The launch of Eylea™ 8 mg offering extended treatment intervals accounted for around 46 percent of overall Eylea™ sales. EBITDA before special items at Pharmaceuticals declined by 7.5 percent to 1.242 billion euros. The decline in earnings was largely due to an increase in selling expenses that primarily related to the marketing of Lynkuet™ (elinzanetant), Bayer’s non-hormonal treatment for menopause symptoms, as well as Nubeqa™ and Kerendia™. Furthermore, the division made higher investments in its R&D activities. In addition, earnings were diminished by price declines, which were mainly attributable to patent expirations and were only partially offset by higher volumes. There was also a negative currency effect of 77 million euros (Q1 2025: 48 million euros). By contrast, earnings benefited from an increase in income from the sale of non-core businesses as well as lower inventory write-offs. The EBITDA margin before special items declined by 0.3 percentage points to 29.2 percent. Consumer Health reports topline growth (Fx & portfolio adj.) driven by Nutritionals and Dermatology Sales of self-care products (Consumer Health) rose by 5.3 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.) to 1.491 billion euros. The division registered gains (Fx & portfolio adj.) in almost all categories and regions. Performance was driven by the Nutritionals and Dermatology categories, which saw sales rise 12.5 percent and 9.6 percent (Fx & portfolio adj.), respectively. Growth in the Nutritionals category was fueled by very strong performance in the Natsana e-commerce business, along with good topline results for Elevit™ that were partly driven by a product-line extension. The Dermatology category continued to benefit from substantial gains for Bepanthen™ in Europe/Middle East/Africa. However, the division continued to encounter a weak market environment in the United States, along with a soft cold season, that weighed on growth. EBITDA before special items at Consumer Health decreased by 1.5 percent to 337 million euros. Earnings were impacted by a negative currency effect of 31 million euros (Q1 2025: no material currency effects) and higher investments in marketing the division’s innovative products. These effects were largely offset by the increase in sales as well as a one-time gain from the sale of minor, non-strategic brands. The EBITDA margin before special items declined by 0.2 percentage points to 22.6 percent. Currency-adjusted guidance confirmed Commenting on the company’s expectations for the year, CFO Wolfgang Nickl said: “We reiterate our outlook at constant currencies for the full-year 2026, while continuing to monitor the geopolitical dynamics.” Bayer has also prepared its guidance based on closing-day rates. Applying the rates in effect on March 31, 2026, the company now expects sales to come in at 44.5 to 46.5 billion euros (previous forecast: 44 to 46 billion euros), EBITDA before special items at 9.4 to 9.9 billion euros (previous forecast: 9.1 to 9.6 billion euros) and core earnings per share at 4.10 to 4.60 euros (previous forecast: 4.00 to 4.50 euros), with the changes solely reflecting the impact of currency effects. “This is just a point-in-time analysis,” noted Nickl, adding that “we would still expect ongoing volatility around foreign exchange rate developments for the rest of this year.” Notes: The following tables contain the key data for the Bayer Group and its divisions for the first quarter of 2026. The full Quarterly Statement for the first quarter is available online at: www.bayer.com/quarterly-statement. There is also a digital version available. The speech given by Bill Anderson and Wolfgang Nickl to the media will be available online from around 10 a.m. CEST at: www.bayer.com/speeches Live broadcast of the media update from around 10 a.m. CEST and recording available from around 1 p.m. CEST at: www.bayer.com/live-mc Additional information for investors, including presentation charts, and access to the live broadcast of the Investor Video Call (from around 2 p.m. CEST) and recording (from around 6 p.m. CEST) available at: www.bayer.com/live-ic Print-quality photos can be found online at: www.bayer.com/photo-footage Find more information at www.bayer.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. Bayer AG is a holding company with operating subsidiaries worldwide. References to “Bayer” or “the company” herein may refer to one or more subsidiaries as context requires. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— HSBC Hong Kong introduces Asia Pacific's first World Legend Mastercard 2026-05-07 · Mastercard · Retail https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/hsbc-hong-kong-introduces-asia-pacifics-first-world-legend-mastercard-302765069.html HSBC Hong Kong Privé cardholders are the first in Asia Pacific to experience Mastercard's most premium consumer credit tier through HSBC Privé World... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Rakuten fixes issues twice as fast with Codex 2026-03-11 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/rakuten Rakuten⁠⁠(opens in a new window) is a global innovation company operating across e-commerce, fintech, and mobile communications, serving both consumers and merchants at massive scale. With 30,000 employees worldwide, its engineering teams ship across a large, complex product ecosystem where both speed and reliability are essential. That’s why Yusuke Kaji, General Manager of AI for Business at Rakuten, has spent the p ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wayfair boosts catalog accuracy and support speed with OpenAI 2026-03-11 · OpenAI · Retail https://openai.com/index/wayfair Wayfair uses OpenAI models to improve ecommerce support and product catalog accuracy, automating ticket triage and enhancing millions of product attributes at scale. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OpenAI and Amazon announce strategic partnership 2026-02-27 · OpenAI · AI, SaaS, Retail https://openai.com/index/amazon-partnership OpenAI and Amazon announce a strategic partnership bringing OpenAI’s Frontier platform to AWS, expanding AI infrastructure, custom models, and enterprise AI agents. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Scaling AI for everyone 2026-02-27 · OpenAI · Finance, AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/scaling-ai-for-everyone Today we’re announcing $110B in new investment at a $730B pre money valuation. This includes $30B from SoftBank, $30B from NVIDIA, and $50B from Amazon. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Introducing the Stateful Runtime Environment for Agents in Amazon Bedrock 2026-02-27 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/introducing-the-stateful-runtime-environment-for-agents-in-amazon-bedrock Stateful Runtime for Agents in Amazon Bedrock brings persistent orchestration, memory, and secure execution to multi-step AI workflows powered by OpenAI. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— PVH reimagines the future of fashion with OpenAI 2026-01-27 · OpenAI · AI, Retail, Fashion & luxury, Logistics https://openai.com/index/pvh-future-of-fashion PVH Corp., parent company of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, is adopting ChatGPT Enterprise to bring AI into fashion design, supply chain, and consumer engagement. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Neuro drives national retail wins with ChatGPT Business 2025-11-12 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/neurogum Neuro uses ChatGPT Business to scale nationwide with fewer than 70 employees, saving time, reducing costs, and turning faster execution across sales and operations into growth. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Introducing gpt-oss 2025-08-05 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/introducing-gpt-oss We’re releasing gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b—two state-of-the-art open-weight language models that deliver strong real-world performance at low cost. Available under the flexible Apache 2.0 license, these models outperform similarly sized open models on reasoning tasks, demonstrate strong tool use capabilities, and are optimized for efficient deployment on consumer hardware. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— How we’re responding to The New York Times’ data demands in order to protect user privacy 2025-06-05 · OpenAI · AI, SaaS, Retail https://openai.com/index/response-to-nyt-data-demands OpenAI is fighting a court order at the demands of The New York Times and plaintiffs, which involves retention of consumer ChatGPT and API user data indefinitely. Learn how we’re working to uphold user privacy, address legal requirements, and stay true to our data protection commitments. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Lowe’s leverages AI to power home improvement retail 2025-05-05 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/lowes-chandhu-nair A conversation with Chandhu Nair, Senior Vice President of Data, AI, and Innovation. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Wayfair is shaping the future of retail with AI 2025-02-13 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/wayfair-fiona-tan A conversation with Fiona Tan, Chief Technology Officer of Wayfair. ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— OpenAI’s commitment to child safety: adopting safety by design principles 2024-04-23 · OpenAI · AI, Retail https://openai.com/index/child-safety-adopting-sbd-principles OpenAI, alongside industry leaders including Amazon, Anthropic, Civitai, Google, Meta, Metaphysic, Microsoft, Mistral AI, and Stability AI, has committed to implementing robust child safety measures in the development, deployment, and maintenance of generative AI technologies as articulated in the Safety by Design principles. This initiative, led by Thorn⁠(opens in a new window) , a nonprofit dedicated to defending c ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Smartphones Driving Website Traffic for Brands Across Industries in India: Adobe Best of the Best Report 2017-07-04 · Adobe · Retail, Travel https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/smartphones-driving-website-traffic-for-brands-across-industries-in-india-adobe-best-of-the-best-report-632442233.html Retail websites most visited in 2016, followed by media & entertainment and travel A new Adobe Digital Insights report, Best of the Best JAPAC, was... ———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— Unsupervised sentiment neuron 2017-04-06 · OpenAI · Retail https://openai.com/index/unsupervised-sentiment-neuron We’ve developed an unsupervised system which learns an excellent representation of sentiment, despite being trained only to predict the next character in the text of Amazon reviews.