WTXL Road Trip: Exploring Monticello’s "Haunted" History – WTXL ABC 27
Posted: June 23, 2017 at 9:43 am
Video Gallery - WTXL Video Template
MONTICELLO, Fla. (WTXL) - Historic Monticello Florida. It's a charming small town, and a place where history and heresay collide.
Much to the delight of many a superstitious tourist, history buff, or supernatural hobbyist, Monticello is widely regarded as one of the most haunted small towns in the South.
It is a haven for people like Betty Davis, who founded Big Bend Ghost Trackers. When Davis describes her life, she talks about a string of otherworldly encounters, conversations with ghosts, and psychic experiences. She got "Ghost Trackers" off the ground because she wanted people like her, who believe in a thin veil between our lives and the afterlife, to have a place to gather without judgement and search for hauntings in their communities.
It's also difficult to walk through the cells in the Old Jefferson County Jail, which housed prisoners from the turn of the century until the 1970s, without getting goose flesh.
The building's brick screams truths at historians, demanding more research when the building was originally thought to be a mere 90 years old. Anne Holt, a local historian who published her doctoral dissertation on correctional history, says "You can feel the weight of the years in an old building. A lot of old hard things have happened here."
When you walk through the cells, the floor crackles under your step, chipped paint littering the aging floors. White bricks in the inmate "excercise" area bear notes from prisoners. They bear witness with words like "Disturbed," and ominous phrases like, "I need someone to talk to me about my soul," scrolled over the walls in penmanship no longer taught in schools.
Just a short walk away is the John Denham house. A Bed and Breakfast now, it was originally the home of the Scottish business man whose name it bears. The place is allegedly haunted by the ghost of a former occupant. A school marm named Sarah. Childless and kind, guests report that Sarah helps pat their children to sleep, and tucks adult visitors in at night. Owner Pat Inman says guests have similar experiences, and having never met or talked will recount the same stories after staying in Sarah's room (now appropriately nicknamed the "blue room" describing the color splashed on the walls).
Inman says she first learned the house might be haunted from strangers, and finds the folklore a fun and family friendly feature for her establishment. "Every B&B should have a ghost or two, and we have a ghost or two." She says with a warm smile.
John Denham house is one of fourteen stops on the Historic Monticello Ghost Tour. It is clear the tours are held for entertainment value, and the guides (including Betty Davis) dress in period clothing. The tours are just one way that visitors to the town can take a stroll through allegedly haunted town, blurring the lines between fear and fun and bringing money in to the Jefferson County town.
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WTXL Road Trip: Exploring Monticello's "Haunted" History - WTXL ABC 27
Bhopalites to witness Aradhna today – Daily Pioneer
Posted: June 22, 2017 at 11:44 am
Thursday, 22 June 2017 | Staff Reporter | Bhopal | in Bhopal
The Bhopalites would witness a mild evening of devotional songs and classical music at Dushyant Kumar Memorial Museum of Manuscript. The event Aradhna will be held at the museum on Thursday.
Organized by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), a noted devotional singer from Ujjain Anuj Sharma would give a performance before the music lovers.
Notably, Anuj Sharma would perform along with his troupe in the concert. He is a noted and a talented devotional singer of the city. He has the essence to capture the attention of the audiences he manages to maintain the interest of the audience during the concert.
Anuj is into singing since his childhood and belong to a family with musical background. He has given various performances across the nation and has received a huge response from the music lovers.
Anuj further has received various awards for his spontaneous performances. He is one of those artists to whom the audiences listen with a rapt attention. He manages to maintain the innocence and purity of the classical music when he performs. It would be a fest for the music lovers to listen to the relaxing music live in a concert.
Notably, the event will be organized as a part of the horizon series of dance and music of ICCR. This event would be like a fest for the music lovers of the city as they would be witnessing an evening wrapped with soothing and mild music. Moreover, ICCR often organize similar concerts to promote the Indian culture of music and dance among the citizens.
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Musical brunch serenades dads on Father’s Day – Caribbean Life
Posted: at 11:43 am
Photo by Jon Farina
Dads day: Angelo Moultair and his five-year-old daughter Kailani, at the Fathers Day jazz brunch at Marine Park Golf Course on June 18.
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A day for the daddies!
Dozens of dads and children celebrated fatherhood at a Fathers Day jazz brunch in Marine Park on June 18. Pops and their tots kept each other company at the Marine Park Golf Course for a day of food, dance, and music by trumpeter Etienne Charles and Pan Fusion. The sounds kept guests on their toes, and was even a favorite for the kids, said one dad who came with his young daughter who
She definitely liked the music she kept on dancing, said Angelo Moultair, who spent the evening with his five-year-old Kailani. She loved everything the food, especially the macaroni, and just hanging out with me.
Invited by a friend to the event, it turned out to be a much more enjoyable that he imagined and even got to relive his music-playing memories, added Moultair.
I used to play the trumpet and to have a trumpeter there was special because he played some great music he can really play the trumpet, he said. I was invited and I didnt know what to expect but it exceeded my expectations.
The jazz brunch was organized by the Carlos Lezama Archives and Caribbean Cultural Center, a Brooklyn-based organization named after Carlos Lezama, the founder of the West Indian American Day Parade. The center aims at celebrating Caribbean music and culture in the city.
Other dads said they were just happy to enjoy their day among friends and families, said Queens father Gary Faustin.
I saw people I didnt see in a long time and did some catching up, said the father of two. My entire family was in town and it was really a good time to spend with family.
And some fathers were honored not only for their parenting, but for their community work. Organizers presented Carl Fanfair, who runs the Ile Osa Kanran Yoruba Cultural and Spiritual Temple with his wife, with an award for his work assisting the needy. He said the acknowledgment was humbling and a reminder that good deeds never go unrecognized.
It felt great to be honored for the things that Im doing, said Fanfair. Sometimes I think we take for granted what we have accomplished and whats being done mostly because its a natural thing Im doing and doesnt look or seem like much to me, but to hear people bring it up and say it to me, means that someone is always watching.
The dad to three boys and a girl did not attend with his kids, but said he wished they were there to see him being honored. Fanfair said that he did enjoy the day, particularly the music with his wife Camille.
The music was very soothing and relaxing to me, he said.
Posted 12:00 am, June 22, 2017
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Musical brunch serenades dads on Father's Day - Caribbean Life
Music around MK: seven of the best events in the next week – Milton Keynes Citizen
Posted: at 11:43 am
08:22 Thursday 22 June 2017
From a festival in glorious surroundings to a show by hip hop pioneers, there's lots going on...
Ultimate Beatles
Wolverton Recreational Ground, June 25
Join Paul, John, George and Ringo as Wolverton does its bit for the MK50 celebrations with a great big, free event.
Take a right by Penny Lane and youll find it on the left, just after Strawberry Fields. Oh no, wait a moment, its actually by Wolverton Leisure Centre.
Youll love it, yeah, yeah, yeah, promise organisers.
Jared James Nichols
The Craufurd Arms, June 24
Following last years European tour with Zakk Wylde, and UK tour with Walter Trout, Wisconsin-bred guitarist Jared James Nichols returns to these parts. Hes a new single too, Last Chance. I let it all hang out and went wild! Even the guitar solo is off the wall, and absolutely crazy, he said.
FB: jaredjamesnichols
Sensation
The Stables, June 23
Take a seat and enjoy the greatest hits of The Who, blended with songs from the musicals Tommy and Quodrophenia in what can only be described as a mod-ern delight.
West End performers will be bringing you the Who-dunnit in style, so dont erm, accept any substitute.
Boom-boom.
The Sugarhill Gang
Bedford Esquires, June 22
The collective who were the first ever hip-hop mob to crack the billboard Top 40, with the seminal single Rappers Delight, rock up in Bedford this week. Its amost too cool for school.
A wee bit special, this date is a warm-up for their Glastonbury appearance this weekend. Its going to be hot.
Marty Wilde & the Wildcats
The Stables, June 22
Join one of the greatest names from the 50s and 60s music scene as he looks back at a career spanning more than half a century.
Marty will be joined by members of The Wildcats as he presents a stunning evening of rock memories from the vaults. Settle back and prepare to be entertained.
Irit Dekel
The Stables, June 22
Originally from Haifa, Irit grew up on a diet of jazz, classical, radio pop and the amazing rhythms of Ladino. Later teaming up with Jonathan Quarmby, they set to work crafting an album of 12 rhythmic, bright, colourful pop-influenced songs. Not quite Latin, not quite jazz, but uplifting...
Togfest
Bradwell Abbey, June 23 and 24
The small family friendly festival with the big reputation returns to Bradwell Abbey for two days of fun ready to roll against a cool backdrop.
The venue is a haven of historic beauty, a perfect setting for a relaxing weekend listening to a range of music.
A bar, lots of festival stalls and food providers will be on site and there will be activities to keep the younger festival-goer entertained.
Those playing include Dirty Bizness, Jasper in the Company of Others, Jonny and the Mental Breakdown, Kalon Rae, Late Night Legacy, Bea Munro and the all important headliners, Togmor.
The original Togfest in 1998 was just a party, but in true new city style, the event has grown and grown, says organiser Ian Rowe. It is now a prestigious festival, with an enviable reputation.
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Music around MK: seven of the best events in the next week - Milton Keynes Citizen
Front Porch: Gentle touch makes for ideal spa visit – The Spokesman-Review
Posted: at 11:43 am
UPDATED: Wed., June 21, 2017, 6:30 p.m.
Soothing music. Delightful fragrances. The absolute absence of ringing phones or pinging emails. And best of all, the only time anyone says my name is to ask me how Im feeling.
Theres nothing like a spa day to refresh my soul.
The Spokane and Coeur dAlene area is blessed with ample places to bliss out, and Ive visited most of them. For work. Seriously.
A few years ago, I took on a bunch of travel writing assignments for several regional magazines. Interestingly, most of them wanted me to cover spas and resorts. It was a rough gig, but somebody had to do it.
Not all experiences delighted. At a media day at one resort, my masseur looked like Bill Gates, and sounded like him, too. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, but all I could think about were the questions Id like to ask Mr. Gates. Like would he care to subsidize my writing career? And what the heck is up with the Blue Screen of Death?
And sometimes the choice of music in the massage rooms isnt exactly restful. Many places use the sound of ocean waves or a tinkling stream. It may sound soothing, but isnt if youve had a mimosa or a cup of coffee before your appointment.
One of my favorite spa experiences involved my husband. An airline magazine had asked me to write about fun local activities for couples including a spa day at a local resort.
Derek had never been to a spa and was a little apprehensive.
I dont have to get my toenails painted, do I? he asked.
Only if you want to, I replied.
The couples package included a soothing private aromatherapy bath in a huge jetted tub, and then a candlelight massage.
Derek followed a male attendant to the mens changing room, and I went to the womens. Luxurious robes with our names stitched on the lapels awaited us.
The attendants then ushered us into a suite, lit by flickering candles. They poured lovely smelling things into a tub that could easily hold a half dozen of our closest friends. Then they gave us each a glass of wine and told us theyd be back in an hour.
As they closed the door behind them, we got ready to climb into the tub.
Thats when I knew Derek was out of his depth. He dropped his robe and revealed he was wearing swim trunks.
I doubled over with laughter. He says I hooted and shrieked. I say I chuckled softly.
Hey,the guy said I could wear them if I felt more comfortable! I didnt know we were going to be ALONE, he said.
I may have giggled intermittently throughout the hourlong massage that followed, but it was just because I was having such a fabulous time.
While I enjoy massages, manicures and pedicures, theres one traditional spa activity that I havent cared for facials. Be they European, aromatherapy, collagen or paraffin, I just havent found the facial experience relaxing. For one thing, Im pretty claustrophobic and having my face wrapped in a hot towel with only my nostrils exposed feels suffocating. And once, the aesthetician got a little exuberant with an astringent and splashed some in my eye. My skin looked pink and rosy. So did my eye.
But recently with a gift card to my favorite spa burning a hole in my pocket, I decided to give facials another try.
And you know, it wasnt that bad. The aesthetician explained each application and treatment, was careful with the hot towel mummification and didnt splash anything in my eye.
One thing gave me pause: Most of the products used, she said, were to help with fine lines and wrinkles. After hearing fine lines and wrinkles for an hour, I started to get paranoid. Just how fine were those lines? And by wrinkles, did she mean laugh lines or wadded up linen blouse tucked in a drawer wrinkles? I was afraid to ask.
However, the organic masks, toners and scrubs smelled delicious, delectable even. There were applications of strawberry-rhubarb stuff, pink grapefruit potions and liberal lime mistings. In short, a fruit salad was applied to my face.
While facials still arent my favorite spa experience, Id probably do it again. Especially if Im hungry.
Contact Cindy Hval at dchval@juno.com. She is the author of War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation. You can listen to her podcast Life, Love and Raising Sons at SpokaneTalksOnline.com. Her previous columns are available online at spokesman.com/columnists. Follow her on Twitter at @CindyHval.
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Front Porch: Gentle touch makes for ideal spa visit - The Spokesman-Review
VIDEO | The 29th annual duPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival is the largest free jazz fest on the East Coast – WDEL 1150AM
Posted: at 11:43 am
Wilmingtonians who appreciate the craft and artistry of spontaneous sound should head to Rodney Square for the start of the 29th annual duPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival.
It is the largest free jazz festival on the East Coast.
Jazz music is a whole different kind of music, said Capes Riley, a festival-goer there to take in the sights and sounds. It picks up your mood, your feelings, and it just makes you understand what [life] is all about. Its a beautiful thing.
The festival is in honor of Clifford "Brownie" Brown, a Wilmington-native jazz trumpeter. Brown was born in 1930 and lived on the city's East Side. Throughout his young career, he had a strong jazz influence over Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, Booker Little, Arturo Sandoval, and Freddie Hubbard.
Unfortunately, in 1956, at the age of 25, Brown died in a car accident. Now, his legacy is preserved in the annual music gathering, the biggest of its kind on this side of the country.
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I look forward to just coming out [to the festival] and relaxing and enjoying some good jazz, said Riley.
Throughout a four-day festival, over 10 different jazz performances, food trucks, and a relaxing afternoon are for locals and visitors alike to take in the great outdoors of Downtown Wilmington.
We are jazz enthusiasts," said Mary Flattery. "We have come to the first one--and everyone since.
The 29th annual duPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival takes place in Rodney Square, 1000 North Market Street, Wilmington, fromJune 21st to June 24th.
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Saigon’s best live music bars – VietNamNet Bridge
Posted: at 11:43 am
VietNamNet Bridge - Live music in HCM City is never far away. Whether you are looking for relaxing background melody or a rip roaring rock session, Vietnams largest city has a place for you. And here are the best live music bars in the city.
Acoustic Bar
The Acoustic Bar is the venue of choice for Vietnams up and coming rock musicians. This is the place where legends never die and you can hear amazing renditions of amongst others Jimi Hendrix, The Doors and John Lennon. But its not limited to the classics; the international roster of musicians is free to rock on with anthems from any era.
The place itself is part bar, part cafe, with plenty of sofas for chilling with a coffee in the early evening and standing room for when it heats up at night there is no food served at The Acoustic Bar though so be sure to fill up beforehand.
This place is packed practically every night with a pleasant mix of Vietnamese and foreigners so if you only have one night for live music in HCM City, it should be The Acoustic Bar. Youll have no trouble finding the bar, just look out for an artistically upturned VW Beetle to guide the way.
Opening Hours: 18:00 24:00 (live music from 21:00, except on Sunday)
Address: 6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, District 3
Sax n Art Jazz Club
Dark and smoky, this live jazz bar is unique in Ho Chi Minh City somewhere to listen to contemporary jazz with subtle Vietnamese influences thanks to the talented owner who plays several traditional instruments on stage.
Sax n Art is more expensive than most bars in the city, but that is the price you must pay to listen to Vietnams best jazz band in a compact and personal space.
The house band weaves between jazz standards and into some more avant-garde compositions, and many touring musicians have been known to frequent the club owned by Vietnams foremost jazz saxophone player.
Opening Hours: 19:00 24:00 (live music from 21:00)
Address: 28 Le Loi, District 1
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe is a bar that needs no introduction creative cocktails, huge portions of tex-mex favourites, memorabilia on the walls and a kick ass live band to entertain you after dinner.
Its a formula that has won plaudits from New York to New Deli and keeps tourists returning again and again.
The live bands at Hard Rock Cafe in Saigon are technically excellent and play a varied and middle-of-the-road selection of rock ballads and a few anthems to get people out of their chairs and singing along.
Hard Rock Cafe HCM City is tourist and family-friendly with a bar menu of Western classics that could quell the hunger of a wildebeest. Particular favourites include the intimidating barbeque rack of ribs and their legendary burgers.
Opening Hours: Weekdays 11:00 24:00, Weekends 11:00 02:00 (Live music from 21:00)
Address: 39 Le Duan Street, District 1
Yoko Bar
A short moto-taxi out from HCM Citys tourist centre, Yoko Bar plays host to an assortment of bands playing rock and acoustic jazz pop in a smallish bar with a unique lived in style.
This is a true live music bar so there are bands playing every night of the week with a regular crowd of Ho Chi Minh City scenesters and expats.
Expect to hear some classic rock tunes along with some singer/songwriter type songs and if the feeling grabs you, you are free to go up and sing with the band! There are plenty of comfy sofas and a small upstairs space with a great view of the performers.
Opening Hours: 19:00 24:00 (Live music from 21:00)
Address: 22A Nguyen Thi Dieu Street, District 3
Seventeen Saloon
Seventeen Saloon Saigon is a Western Saloon themed bar and one of the best live music bars, hosting two different bands every day.
In the bar upstairs you can listen to a Filipino band playing Western songs and some Vietnamese on request, while downstairs in the main area a rock, heavy metal band is rocking the stage.
Seventeen Saloon is a nice place to spend some hours after a long day in the city if you love rock music, guitar shredding and loud sing-a-longs.
Opening Hours: 19:00 02:00 (live music from 21:00)
Address: 103A Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1
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What’s new in Tazewell County? – Pekin Daily Times
Posted: at 11:43 am
By David Zimmerman / Tazewell County Board Chairman
Often in talks with friends and family we come to a point in the conversation where one of us asks, Whats new? Fortunately, we rarely run out of things to talk about when it comes to the new things happening in Tazewell County. Our County is a vibrant and integral part of the region with fun activities and new developments occurring on a regular basis. I would like to highlight just a few of the new events and businesses that you can participate in this summer.
On Memorial Day of this year, two of our communities dedicated new veterans memorials honoring those who served our country. In Hopedale, the Hopedale Area Veterans Memorial was dedicated with a stirring speech by Pekin native and astronaut Scott Altman. This beautiful monument contains six large granite stones listing the names of those who served in the armed forces going back to the Civil War including the 109th Infantry. The memorial also has a bronze statue of Marine Captain Reid Nannen, a Hopedale native who lost his life in an F/A-18 accident in 2014. You can find this display near the entrance of the Hopedale Medical Center.
The Memorial Plaza in Morton was also dedicated before a large crowd this past Memorial Day. The Plaza is designed as a gathering place for the community and has as the focal point, the Veterans Memorial with pavers honoring Morton area vets. In addition to the memorial, a waterfall, sitting areas and a childrens play area are also featured.
One old, new thing I look forward to every year is the return of the farmers markets. East Peoria has one every Friday from 3-6 p.m. in the Levee District on the pedestrian promenade near the Target. Thirty separate vendors offer a wide variety of fresh foods and locally sourced goods. In addition, the market will feature local musicians showcasing their talent.
For those with a creative bent, Old School Arts just opened their doors in Morton with the goal of teaching and connecting generations through the arts. Scott and Heidi offer a fun, retro studio where individuals and groups can come paint, draw, write and create in a relaxing, open atmosphere. Are you looking for something for the kids to do this summer that is both fun and educational? Check OldSchoolArts.com and see where your imaginations can take you.
New also this year in Tazewell County is the Fourth Friday Art Loop. As the name implies, every fourth Friday Pekin, Delavan, Tremont and Morton will feature local artists playing their music, displaying their art and other exhibits and demonstrations. Of course there will be food and beverages at each location and everyone is encouraged to explore and shop in each community. What better way to spend a relaxing Friday after a long week in the workplace.
Pekin will be hosting the HOI Food Truck and Music Festival 2017 the weekend of June 24th and 25th. The festival will feature over one dozen bands and awesome eats from area food trucks will be serving delicious meals. This event will be at the Pekin VFW and additional information can be found at EnjoyPekin.com.
The events listed above only scratch the surface as to whats new in Tazewell County. The list could also include the fireworks displays, festivals that each community hosts, camping, floating down the Mackinaw River, fun runs, new restaurants and many other things that keep this area an exciting place to live and play. The next time you are talking with someone and they ask, Whats new, you will have plenty to talk about in answering the question.
David Zimmerman is the Tazewell County Board chairman.
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Why Amazon’s Whole Foods Deal Is Terrifying Food Makers – Fortune
Posted: at 11:43 am
For years, Amazon ( amzn ) has been the specter looming over retail, as once-dominant department stores and specialty chains fell on harder and harder times. But up until now, the e-commerce titan has managed to irrevocably alter the industry without making much of a dent in retails biggest moneymaker of allthe $800 billion grocery business.
That changed on June 16 when Amazon announced its intention to acquire Whole Foods , the upscale supermarket chain that played a pivotal role in taking organic and natural foods mainstream. Whole Foods ( wfm ) itself may have been under duress, pressured by an activist investor and softening sales, but the healthy-food movement and the meticulously curated store experience that it pioneered is alive and well. Amazon is placing its bet on the future of the food industry, says Errol Schweizer, a former Whole Foods executive who is now an industry adviser, and they see Whole Foods as the leadership.
Most Amazon watchers are focused on the some 450 stores the e-commerce behemoth scoops up in the deal. These brick-and-mortar locations instantly give it a national physical presence, as well as a network of mini distribution centers for fresh produceby far the most challenging part of the grocery delivery business because of spoilage and the fragility of fruits and vegetables. (Upon news of the bid, grocery stocks took a nosedive accordingly.)
But Amazon isnt just trying to change how we buy groceries. Remember the companys original disruption: bookselling. Jeff Bezos not only shifted how and where books were sold; he also changed how they were made, by forcing publishers, authors, and everybody else along the book supply chain to cut their costs. The same thing could very well happen in food, and the outcome for food manufacturers could be as dire it was for book publishers. I would be terrified if I were a consumer packaged-goods company right now, says Benzi Ronen, CEO and founder of food hub management software startup Farmigo. Indeed, packaged-goods producers businesses are already under stress, with manufactured-food volumes at large companies declining 4% this year, as consumers seek out less-processed fare. And on the long-shot chance that Walmart ( wmt ) , playing defense, swoops in with a bigger bid, the same pressures will still be in play.
The overlooked asset Amazon gets in the deal is Whole Foods 365 house brandone of the most coveted in the organic and natural space, private label and otherwise. This is not your mothers generic box of cornflakes, with its bad design and perceived quality issues. A Piper Jaffray survey last spring found that 365 is customers favorite organic-food brand, ahead of premium names like Kelloggs-owned Kashi and General Mills Annies. The 365 brand is virtually unavailable online, but that will change if Amazon is smart about it. The opportunity to use the 365 brand as a mainstay of their online offering is really profound, says Bernstein analyst Alexia Howard. It puts a huge amount of pressure on branded food sales.
Amazon has tried to develop its own private label in food for years. In 2016 it rolled out its Happy Belly coffee, Mama Bear baby food, and Wickedly Prime snacks. These brands are available only to Amazon Prime members, who pay $99 a year for free two-day shipping, among a litany of other benefits. In a sign of how powerful its private label can be, analytics company 1010data found that for a 12-month period ending last year, 94% of all batteries sold online went through Amazon sites, and Amazons own brand made up about a third of all online battery sales. Its Amazon Elements baby wipes, introduced in 2014, have managed to capture 16% of online market share, despite being available only to Prime members.
Amazon and Whole Foods might seem like they are on opposite ends of the retail spectruma relatively small, high-end grocer vs. the massive e-commerce Everything Storebut they overlap in the power of their brands. Thats a rarity for a purveyor of food. Under the old model of food retailing, the brand you trusted was the manufacturer, Ronen says. Today you go onto Amazon and filter everything by whats Prime. Similarly, Whole Foods acts as a curator for shoppers by banning ingredients like saccharin and bleached flour from the products it sells. Together, the two trusted brands should create an even more powerful one. That could fundamentally alter the way grocery aisles lookand even make the aisles themselves obsolete.
A version of this article appears in the Jul. 1, 2017 issue of Fortune with the headline "The Deal That Made an Industry Shudder."
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Why Amazon's Whole Foods Deal Is Terrifying Food Makers - Fortune
Danone Looks to Ride Healthy Food Revolution Wave – New York Times
Posted: at 11:43 am
"We are losing them. They are getting out of our shops, out of our brands. They are going for food without the food industry. Not only without us, but maybe against us," he said.
Danone has bought U.S. organic food producer WhiteWave in a $12.5 billion (9.87 billion pounds) deal, bringing the company more into line with healthier eating trends.
The deal also aims to boost growth at Danone, whose shares trade at a discount to rivals. The company's depressed valuation was highlighted this week as a reason for it being touted as a potential bid target.
Faber told Reuters that Danone, which has no large controlling shareholder, was "no more and no less than usual" vulnerable to a possible takeover bid.
Danone is seeking to build on the WhiteWave deal with a campaign to promote itself as a leader in terms of healthy eating habits.
"The global industrial food system is reaching its limits," Faber told Reuters in a phone interview before his speech in Berlin. He said evidence of this included obesity and malnutrition, wasting water and food, soil depletion, and climate change.
"Everywhere people want to regain control over their food," said Faber, a rock climber and campaigner for corporate social responsibility.
BUYING INTO THE FUTURE
WhiteWave's products have outsold mainstream packaged food businesses in recent years, highlighting the consumer shift toward natural foods and healthier eating. The deal should also help Danone to cope with tougher market conditions in dairy products in Europe, and babyfood in China.
WhiteWave makes Danone the world's biggest producer of organic food and gives it a stronger foothold in North America, which is becoming its biggest market, accounting for $6 billion, or around 25 percent of group sales against 13 percent previously.
Faber said he hoped the new Danone signature would help to address a general consumer mistrust of big, corporate brands.
"Small brands communicate on their intentions, they are activists. It is key that big brands also state their intentions," he said.
Faber, the first Danone CEO from outside the founding Riboud family, is pushing on with a dual economic and social agenda, which - like that of many blue-chip companies - aims to not only boost shareholder value and profits but also meet other targets on the environment and social policies.
"The big risk is to avoid transforming ourselves and end up only cutting costs to return cash to shareholders," he said.
A pledge at the annual shareholder meeting in April for Danone to be certified as a for-profit corporation that commits to positive social and environmental goals - was in line with that strategy, he said.
BID TALK
Bid speculation around Danone pushed its shares sharply higher this week. Broker Exane said it could be an acquisition target for Kraft Heinz, also citing PepsiCo and Coca Cola as credible suitors.
Analysts at Berenberg wrote in a research note that investors would need concrete evidence of Danone's progress in its new areas.
"We believe investors will need to see further evidence of organic growth and margin momentum to agree with the CEO that Danone is 'uniquely placed to embrace the food revolution' and for its valuation discount to the sector to close fully."
Faber is confident Danone will deliver. "I am absolutely convinced our strategy creates value for the long-term but also the short-term," he said, adding he expected sales growth to improve in the third quarter.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, additional reporting by Emma Thomasson in Berlin; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Jane Merriman)
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Danone Looks to Ride Healthy Food Revolution Wave - New York Times