By Leslie Patton | Bloomberg Costco Wholesale Corp. is switching manufacturers for its popular Kirkland Signature brand of diapers as its supplier moves away from store brands to increase profitability. First Quality is replacing Kimberly-Clark Corp. as the maker of Costco’s diapers, with the official change set to happen in January, according to people familiar with the decision who weren’t authorized to speak publicly about the matter. More on Costco: Not a Costco member? Shoppers have tips to skip new entry scanners Consumer goods makers have been focused on restoring profit margins to pre-pandemic levels and scrutinizing their business models after years of higher costs. For Kimberly-Clark, which makes the Huggies brand of diapers, that means a shift away from low-margin private label contracts and a stronger focus on selling more higher-priced premium items under their own brand names. First Quality didn’t respond to requests for comment. Representatives for Costco and Kimberly-Clark declined to comment. Earlier this month, Kimberly-Clark Chief Financial Officer Nelson Urdaneta said that the company’s exit of private label businesses, “allows us to dedicate our capacity and our investments to our own technologies and brands to differentiate them.” In October, Chief Executive Officer Mike Hsu said that the company’s percentage of sales from private label will go from about 4% in 2023 to about 2% next year, and that it would decline further “over time.” Also read: Discount retailer Panda Mart leases former Sears in Orange First Quality, which also makes Cuties diapers along with paper towels and toilet paper, hasn’t disclosed the arrangement with Costco. In May, the New York-based company said it was increasing capacity for diapers and training pants by 50% at its Macon, Georgia, manufacturing factory. Costco’s Kirkland Signature diapers have become popular with parents, especially as years of inflation for basic goods crimps spending. The company has said in past years that private label items are a good value versus brand names, thanks to their price point. Costco says it expects to increase sales of Kirkland-branded items, which generally earn higher margins for the retailer versus national labels. Kirkland diapers made by Kimberly-Clark have a curved fit that many shoppers perceive to be more ergonomic for their babies, said Natalia Richer, director of business development at consultant Diaper Testing International. “It will be noticeable to the consumer if they change it,” she said. Kimberly-Clark also makes Kotex tampons and pads, along with Kleenex tissues and Scott toilet paper. Huggies recently introduced a new type of diaper and wipes, dubbed Skin Essentials, designed to protect against rashes. Related Articles Retail | Cyber Monday shoppers expected to set a record on the year’s biggest day for online shopping Retail | SunFed cucumbers and Costco eggs recalled due to potential salmonella contamination Retail | Gifting on a budget: 5 secrets to being generous without going broke Retail | After flood of pre-Black Friday deals, stores open early Friday across Southern California Retail | Is Black Friday still a holiday shopping juggernaut in 2024?Saquon Barkley became the ninth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season as the Philadelphia Eagles clinched the NFC East title with victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The 27-year-old achieved the feat with a 23-yard run during the fourth quarter of the Eagles’ crushing 41-7 success at Lincoln Financial Field. Barkley is 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984 for the Los Angeles Rams, ahead of next week’s regular season finale against the New York Giants. Single-season rushing record in reach. @saquon @Eagles pic.twitter.com/iSHyXeMLv1 — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 However, he could be rested for that game in order to protect him from injury ahead of the play-offs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept alive their dreams of reaching the play-offs by overcoming the Carolina Panthers 48-14. Veteran quarterback Baker Mayfield produced a dominant performance at Raymond James Stadium, registering five passing touchdowns to equal a Buccaneers franchise record. he BAKED today 👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/eFX9fd1w5P — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 The Buffalo Bills clinched the AFC conference number two seed for the post season with a 40-14 success over the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Josh Allen passed for 182 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for another. Buffalo finish the 2024 regular season undefeated at home, with eight wins from as many games. The Indianapolis Colts’ hopes of reaching the play-offs were ended by a 45-33 defeat to the Giants. FINAL: Drew Lock accounts for 5 TDs in the @Giants victory! #INDvsNYG pic.twitter.com/N8HJYth09F — NFL (@NFL) December 29, 2024 Malik Nabers exploded for 171 yards and two touchdowns and Ihmir Smith-Marsette broke a 100-yard kick-off return to give the Giants their highest-scoring output under head coach Brian Daboll. Quarterback Drew Lock threw four touchdown passes and accounted for a fifth on the ground to seal the win. Elsewhere, Mac Jones threw two touchdowns to help the Jacksonville Jaguars defeat the Tennessee Titans 20-13, while the Las Vegas Raiders beat the New Orleans Saints 25-10.
NEW YORK , Dec. 6, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- RIA Eyewear (" RIA "), a New York -based performance eyewear company, is thrilled to announce that professional golfer Rocco Mediate has joined the brand as its latest ambassador. Mediate, renowned for his charismatic personality and remarkable on-course achievements, will bring his years of professional golf experience to further RIA's commitment to performance and innovation. Rocco's impressive career includes 6 PGA Tour victories along with 5 wins on the PGA Tour Champions, including the Senior PGA Championship. With his latest PGA Tour Champions victory, Mediate has now won PGA Tour-sanctioned events in 5 decades. As one of the game's greats, Mediate will be an integral part in representing RIA Eyewear's commitment to providing athletes with high-quality eyewear, designed for optimal performance on the course. "I'm excited to partner with RIA Eyewear," said Mediate. "Their commitment to innovation and quality is something I truly admire. In golf, having the right equipment can make all the difference, and I believe RIA's eyewear will help me—and golfers everywhere—perform at our best." RIA Eyewear is dedicated to enhancing the visual experience for golfers. With their proprietary Golf HD+ technology, RIA's lenses are designed to provide optimal contrast on the course while keeping golfers' eyes feeling fresh and protected during long rounds in the sun. "Rocco is not only a world class golfer but also an inspiration when it comes to pushing the boundaries of product development," said Jordan Kemp and Chris Hanson , co-founders of RIA Eyewear. His passion for the sport and commitment to excellence makes him a great ambassador for RIA." The addition of Rocco Mediate to RIA's ambassador team comes as the company continues to expand its collection in response to the overwhelming success of its proprietary Golf HD+ lens technology. RIA's Golf HD+ lens offering was designed with ZEISSTM, the global leader in lens optics, using rigorous color science research to find the balance between enhanced contrast and eye comfort, all while providing 100% UVA/B protection. RIA's lenses are specifically not polarized to help golfers maintain their depth perception, making it easier to see slopes and breaks on the greens. All of RIA's performance frame styles are handmade in Italy and built to stand up to the most challenging conditions. To find out more about RIA Eyewear, visit www.riaeyewear.com About RIA Eyewear RIA Eyewear is an independent performance eyewear brand started in 2017 to give athletes a visual edge on the court and course while protecting their eye health. RIA's lenses are developed through extensive color science research with world-renowned lens maker Carl ZEISS to enhance a wearer's visual acuity and eye comfort. With a growing list of pro ambassadors from the golf, tennis, and pickleball pro tours, including Rocco Mediate , Kim Clijsters , and the Bryan Brothers, RIA is changing the way golfers and racquet sport athletes see the game for the better. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ria-eyewear-welcomes-golf-legend-rocco-mediate-as-new-brand-ambassador-302325280.html SOURCE RIA IncNone
How Washington outsider Jimmy Carter wooed voters tired of Vietnam and Watergate(Source: Nasdaq) Wall Street’s main indexes were mixed in volatile trading on Thursday, with Alphabet’s losses weighing on the benchmark S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, while the blue-chip Dow touched a one-week high, boosted by shares of cloud company Salesforce. Alphabet (GOOGL.O), slid 6.2% to touch a more than three-week low after the Justice Department argued to a judge that Google must sell its Chrome browser and take other measures to end its monopoly on online search. The stock’s losses weighed on the communication services sector (.SPLRCL), which fell 2.6%, while nine of the 11 S&P 500 sectors traded higher. Megacaps also took a hit, with Meta (META.O), down 1.2% and Apple (AAPL.O), flat. Amazon.com (AMZN.O), lost 3% after a report said it will likely face an EU investigation next year into whether it favors its own brand products on its online marketplace. Shares of Wall Street’s biggest company, Nvidia , were choppy and were last down 0.5%. The chip company surpassed expectations for quarterly results, and projected fourth-quarter revenue above estimates. However, some investors were unimpressed that the forecast was its slowest in seven quarters. “It has a lot to do with some disappointments in terms of Nvidia’s guidance on the margins, the story on Google doesn’t help (either) and that’s bringing down the entire technology complex,” said Dan Eye, chief investment officer at Fort Pitt Capital Group. The broader Philadelphia SE Semiconductor index (.SOX), was up 1%. At 11:42 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI), rose 372.11 points, or 0.86%, to 43,780.58, the S&P 500 (.SPX), gained 18.99 points, or 0.32%, to 5,936.10 and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC), lost 48.96 points, or 0.26%, to 18,917.19. Nvidia has led much of the U.S. market rally since mid-2023 on expectations that AI integration could boost corporate profits. The stock has risen more than nine-fold in the past two years and the company boasts a market value of $3.5 trillion. Gains on the blue-chip Dow were aided by Salesforce’s (CRM.N), 4.5% advance after three brokerages lifted their price targets on the stock. On the data front, a weekly report on jobless claims showed they fell unexpectedly last week, suggesting a rebound in job growth in November. Money market bets tiled in favor of a 25 basis points interest rate cut by the Fed at its December meeting, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch. Meanwhile, Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin said the United States is more vulnerable to inflationary shocks than in the past, according to a media report. Comments from Federal Reserve officials Austan Goolsbee and Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr are on tap. Traders also monitored geopolitical tensions between Ukraine and Russia, that sent crude prices higher and aided a 1.4% gain in the energy sector (.SPNY), opens new tab. Deere (DE.N), opens new tab shares gained 7.8% after reporting an upbeat fourth-quarter profit, while Snowflake (SNOW.N), jumped 32% after rais ing its annual product revenue forecast. Crypto stocks were mixed as bitcoin prices came off session highs. MARA Holdings (MARA.O), jumped 7.6%, while Coinbase Global (COIN.O), opens new tab dropped 4.4%. Advancing issues outnumbered decliners by a 3.44-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and by a 1.88-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq. The S&P 500 posted 52 new 52-week highs and four new lows, while the Nasdaq Composite recorded 102 new highs and 108 new lows. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Purvi Agarwal and Johann M Cherian in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Maju Samuel)
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It happened again. A few weeks back I called my wife and asked her about a charge on our credit card statement. “Were we still using a certain app subscription that we had agreed to cancel last year?” For several minutes, we discussed swapping out that app on our family’s iPhones. And then, surprisingly, within minutes of ending that conversation, I started receiving emails for several competing products from other companies. Yes, I was alarmed. The crazy part about this situation was that I had never even heard of these other companies before, nor had I ever received these emails in the past. Furthermore, I had not searched for these companies, nor for any related topic using any browser. In fact, my wife and I had not discussed anything related to this topic (or application) in more than six months. And no, I had not said, “Hey, Siri” or used any of the other words that most of us have become familiar with when asking for help from virtual assistants. Indeed, that incident got me thinking a lot more about privacy and what else my phone was listening to and acting upon. Depending upon who you ask, the scenario I described above can be either a common occurrence, a rare incident that was likely just a one-off, or completely a figment of my imagination. But one thing is beyond dispute: Many thousands of people all over the world are talking about this topic. Here are some stories to consider: The following is an excerpt from a recent episode of the podcast with Clare Duffy, “ ” David Choffnes: “Online is we didn't find any evidence that companies were recording from the microphone or camera when they shouldn't.” Clare Duffy: “That's right. David says they're not listening.” David Choffnes “As far as we know, we're not seeing it.” Clare Duffy: “David's experiment took place in 2017. Since then, most experts have basically agreed that our phones aren't listening to us, because they don't need to. We give up a whole lot of personal information that's useful for targeting ads just by using the Internet every day, often without realizing it.” But on the other side, we have this article from " ," saying the opposite: “For years, people have noticed advertisements for products they recently discussed in conversation — even without searching for them online — suddenly appear on their devices. While many dismissed this as a coincidence or attributed it to targeted advertising based on online searches, it turns out there’s more to the story. According to a report by , a marketing firm has confirmed that smartphones are not just tracking users' online activity — they are also listening to what you say out loud, near your phone. “Smartphones might indeed be listening to our conversations, thanks to a technology known as “active listening.” This unsettling discovery comes after a marketing firm, whose clients include tech giants like Google and Facebook, admitted to using software that monitors users’ conversations through the microphones of their devices. This admission has raised serious questions about privacy, user consent, and the ethics of targeted advertising. ...” For some comic relief on this topic, check out this YouTube video: This past week, the ran an article entitled, " ." "Cybersecurity experts have devised a simple test that will tell you if your phone is eavesdropping on your conversations. "The four-step test, by researchers at NordVPN, begins with you selecting a unique topic that you've never searched for. ..." The chart below is from the NordVPN process: If you determine that you are not happy with the results, consider following the advice from this article from late last year on " ." “You can go to your iPhone Settings > Privacy & Security and check which apps have access to the mic. You can also go to Tracking and turn off 'Allow Apps to Request to Track.' “If any apps are already tracking you on your iPhone, you can view and turn this off here. “If you are extra cautious, you can disable Apple’s voice assistant Siri in your settings by going to Settings > Siri & Search > where you can turn 'Listen for Siri' off.” For better or for worse, there is generally nothing illegal about using audio information to target advertising. While it is obviously illegal to spy on someone without their consent, most phone users have given their permission for this practice without knowing, according to legal experts. So my advice is to check on your situation and see if your values match your iPhone privacy settings. And to recognize that conversations at home and work may be shared with others if your phone is nearby during conversations or video chats.A Judas act of biblical proportions This divine drama gets even spicier. Zuma, who rallied the AAAM to back MKP and secure enough votes to shove the EFF into the political wilderness of fourth place, is accused of turning his back on his allies after their job was done. It seems Msholozi had no intention of sitting in parliament pews with the -bishops, leaving them in the wilderness of political betrayal. As the bishops head to court to reclaim their sanctified seats, South Africans are left asking: Did Msholozi sell out the -clergy or merely ghost them? Either way, the political gospel according to Zuma has taken a turn for the unholy. Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content**RIA Eyewear Welcomes Golf Legend Rocco Mediate as New Brand Ambassador**