As highlighted in a recent report, The Fairtrade mark, once only visible in independent grocery shops or on the odd shelf in the supermarket, has come a long way since the launch of the Max Havelaar Fairtrade Certification Mark in the Netherlands in 1988. Worldwide consumers spent over 2.3 billion euros on Fairtrade certified products in 2007, representing a 47% increase on the previous year. This means that over 1.5 million producers and workers in 58 developing countries now benefit from Fairtrade sales.

Continue reading “Interest in Fairtrade Products Soar as the Concept Matures Worldwide” »

The number of wealthy women is soaring while the wealth gap between men and women is quickly narrowing. As a result, banks have placed considerable effort in various initiatives to attract more female clients. However, a recent report warns that this ‘champagne and chocolate’ approach will not work as women are looking for more from their private bank than a spa discount and a pink website.

Continue reading “Banks Attempt to Woo Female Clients” »

The wind energy industry is growing rapidly on the back of technological advancements, political will and government subsidies. Utility companies, independent power providers, institutional investors and oil companies are all seeking to capitalize on lucrative support mechanisms to unlock greater commercial and competitive advantages, meet their renewables targets and boost their green credentials.

Continue reading “Oil Price Rises Increase Attraction of Wind Farms” »

It is hard to believe that less than a century ago, windshields were offered as optional equipment. In 1909, Henry Ford offered his Model T with a windshield. Today, glazing continues to play an important part in vehicle design, providing a combination of aesthetic, functional and structural properties. As a result, automakers are increasingly looking for their glazing suppliers to play a key role in the vehicle development process as a new report discusses.

Continue reading “Glazing Continues to Play an Important role in Vehicle Design” »

French wine and spirit producer Pernod Ricard has announced its acquisition of V&S Vin & Sprit AB from the Swedish government. The acquisition, which has occurred after months of speculation over the future of V&S, will see Pernod Ricard take control of the Absolut vodka brand. The purchase is indicative of the growing popularity of premium positioned vodkas in the European market.

Pernod Ricard’s $9.4 million purchase of V&S has seen the French producer take control of Absolut vodka, the world’s fourth largest international spirit brand. Continue reading “Pernod Ricard: tapping into European premium vodka market” »

Despite raised salaries and lower taxes, Swedes won’t spend as much money this summer, new research from the largest Scandinavian bank Nordea says.

The Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter writes that the global economy is to blame: “The increasing food prices, fuel prices and property interests have affected Swedes’ budgets. Subsequently you cut down on your holidays abroad.”

Continue reading “Swedes Affected by the Credit Crunch” »

With news of the cheaper iPhone being launched this summer, is it part of the mobile industry having to undergo profound changes? Or did O2, which sells the phone in the UK, and T-Mobile, the German distributor, significantly overestimate the number of first version iPhones that would sell in Europe just because of the ‘hype’?

Continue reading “Is the New Apple iPhone Launch Part of Profound Changes in the Mobile Market?” »

Being Swedish I have never really understood the bottled water industry (if you order water in Sweden expect tap water.) Anyway, I just cannot see the purpose of paying for water, not least in a restaurant where they charge you double the price (actually 1000 times the price of tap water!) But it seems as if ordering tap water in the UK is a sign of being cheap; so many times have I experienced the the waiter’s raised eyebrows…

Continue reading “Is Tap Water the New Bottled Water?” »

We could accept that if we would purchase medicines on the Internet, they could be fake. However, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) even prescribed medicines could be harmful counterfeits.

A new report shows that last year’s breach of the pharmaceutical supply chain in the UK has put the issue of parallel trade at the top of the agenda for the European Commission.

Continue reading “Counterfeit Drugs may be Prescribed By your Doctor” »

Despite the notion of hip-hop culture being a bad influence on young people today, a new report shows that it has become part of mainstream American consumer culture.

Although being related to controversy, significant sales can be attributed to products prominently featured in lyrics, spontaneously embraced by the hip-hop world and products that appear to be genuinely used by an artist prior to the relationship.

Continue reading “Despite Critique Brands Cash in on Hip-Hop Culture” »