Latest news with #QuakerOats
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Marketing clouds are now a big part of industry-specific IT services.
Miami, Florida, USA - June 1, 2015: Selection of brand name groceries. In full view are SPAM meat, ... More Libby's Viena sausages, Pompeian Olive Oil, Heinz brand Tomato Ketchup, Bubble Bee Tuna, Tostitos Salsa, Chez Boyardee Spaghetti and meat balls. Other products are partially visible in the is a collection of some of the basic staples found in many American kitchens. Other brands includes Kirkland, Quaker Oats, Pomi,Aunt Jemima, Kraft,Hunt's,and International delight. That's just marketing. It's a term that many of us use to dismiss a promotion, suggestion or statement of some kind that we feel is overly fabricated and potentially flaky, without any attachment to real world realities. Now that cloud computing has diversified to offer dedicated service bundles to industry-specific use cases, the technology industry has popularized the notion of human resources clouds, financial clouds, healthcare clouds and just about every other workplace function-specific cloud all the way through to marketing clouds. But is this just marketing? A basic vanilla cloud consists of compute power, storage, data analytics functions, AI services and management controls to enable system administrators and architects to configure its use and direct its state of being at any one time. An industry-specific cloud is an extension of this basic model, but is more likely to have its own custom-aligned data model to treat information according to a specific regulatory approach or framework. With its own access and user identity policy, an industry-specific cloud is engineered to offer the 'burstability' needed to increase and decrease its capacity in line with the type of workloads likely to be present in the industry it works in i.e. a tourism cloud might be more seasonably balanced than a retail cloud and so on. A marketing cloud is therefore optimized for marketing-specific activities and can be thought of as a more 'opinionated' technology with its own operational constraints, amplifications and abstraction layers. While you could (in theory) use a marketing cloud to drive a financial services application, it would be akin to cleaning your clothes in the dishwasher. 'In effect, industry cloud platforms turn a cloud platform into a business platform, enabling an existing technology innovation tool to also serve as a business innovation tool,' said Gregor Petri, VP analyst at Gartner. 'They do so not as predefined, one-off, vertical SaaS solutions, but rather as modular, composable platforms supported by a catalog of industry-specific packaged business capabilities.' Well-known for driving marketing cloud services are Adobe, Salesforce, SAP and Oracle. Also in this space, usual suspects include HubSpot, WebEngage and Braze (both more aligned to customer engagement, but still a marketing cloud tool) and also CleverTap, MoEngage and Iterable, with its emphasis on cross-channel marketing communications. According to AI communications company RingCentral, 'With a marketing cloud, [users] can also use event-driven triggers to set specific responses to customer actions in motion. For example, should customers sign up for a loyalty scheme, marketing clouds can then send each one of them automatic thank-you messages via push notifications.' Developments in this market in recent times include work by data cloud company Snowflake and data-driven marketing company Acxiom focused on providing what the firms call an 'AI-powered marketing data infrastructure' for brands to use in marketing campaigns. Snowflake highlights its privacy and security features here, which means this direct integration eliminates the need to move first-party data. Really important to marketing people, first-party data is defined as data resources that sit within the customer itself. This is (often sensitive or personal, or both) information detailing the interactions that a company has through its own communication channels that covers buyer demographics, purchase (and unfulfilled order) history. It may also extend to website click analytics and more unstructured forms of information, such as email engagement and phone call records with customer service agents. Denise Persson, chief marketing officer at Snowflake points to Acxiom's status as the connected data and technology foundation of Interpublic Group of Companies. Interact, IPG's integrated platform for brand marketing. She suggests that this development is a key part of an AI-powered marketing approach today. 'Brands can automatically optimize campaigns, predict performance and generate personalized content by leveraging Interact's AI features, powered by Snowflake Cortex, unlocking a new level of AI-driven marketing transformation,' said Persson and team. According to database and analytics software company Teradata, using an industry cloud in the vein of a marketing cloud, enterprises with lots of data in legacy systems can more readily get value from it. Industry cloud solutions can be customized for those specific systems, simplifying the cloud migration process and the eventual creation of data analytics from a sea of information. Teradata further states that industry clouds (marketing, manufacturing, healthcare, financial or otherwise) are particularly suited to more easily ingesting industry-particular sources and then sending their data to the schema best aligned with the industry's applicable regulations and best practices. The company says that they're also better-suited to piping that data to specialized applications and machine learning and analytics engines, in order for it to be able to deliver clearer analytics to its intended 'data consumers' or into other data products. 'Today's customers expect hyper-personalized experiences, but many brands fall short because marketing teams are stretched too thin. The way that companies and their customers interact is being reshaped (and the bar for customer experience) continues to rise, so it's imperative that marketers rethink their strategies to meet this demand. Marketing Cloud Next uses Agentforce [Salesforce's agentic AI platform] to empower marketing teams with AI agents that can handle tasks and deliver two-way conversations with customers at scale. This gives marketers the time they need to focus on high-impact initiatives and cultivate deeper customer relationships that were previously out of reach,' said Kimen Warner SVP of personalization & marketing intelligence at Salesforce, when questioned directly on this topic. Balaji Balasubramanian, president, SAP CX, also has views on this subject and explains that 'most marketing clouds operate in isolation' from the core enterprise data and applications. That means they need complex integrations to align customer engagement with business operations. Ever the brand-man, Balasubramanian offers a proposition to claim that SAP Emarsys 'takes a different approach' because it's built to work natively with SAP data models and applications. This he says allows marketing to 'operate in sync' with the whole business suite i.e. sales, service, commerce, HR supply chain and finance. 'This approach gives our customers and ecosystem partners structured workflows and curated reference models based on real marketing use cases (from loyalty orchestration to lifecycle automation) without the overhead of custom builds,' said Balasubramanian. 'Critically for enterprises operating in regulated markets, this enables us to respect data governance frameworks. Customer data can be processed and activated where it lives, supporting GDPR compliance and data residency requirements without needing to route through external tools or environments.' What comes next in the marketing cloud space then? Well, you don't need to be a marketing guru to work this one out… it's market-specific marketing software services. Food and beverage data intelligence platform Tastewise is gaining momentum as a company providing services for food and drink brands. The company says that this is because brands face surging ingredient prices, shrinking shelf space and growing pressure to keep pace with consumers. By tracking what it calls 'trillions of real-time food signals' to automate marketing and sales execution across the F&B industry, the company is works across both the retail and foodservice sectors. These are not just marketing cloud services, these are food and beverage marketing cloud services. According to Alon Chen, CEO and co-founder of Tastewise, F&B companies face a perfect storm from factors including margin pressure, retail space and global volatility. He notes that Tastewise supports 80% of the world's top food and beverage companies, including Mars, Campbell's and Kraft-Heinz.' 'At Kraft-Heinz, a deep understanding of rapidly evolving consumer needs and trends, fueled by data-driven insights, is critical,' said Peter Hall, Kraft-Heinz president of away-from-home division, North America. 'Tastewise's generative AI accelerates our execution speed, enabling us to proactively anticipate and deliver relevant innovations that consistently satisfy both our business goals and what consumers want.' To answer the question then, are marketing clouds 'just' marketing? The answer appears to be no; they have a range of service capabilities and data functionalities that they share with other industry-specific clouds. It's also yes, they are just marketing-aligned service layers, which even the most cynical marcoms-averse person might think is a good thing, because it means the brands you do like will be more adept when iterating with you. Check your email, you may have a special offer.
Scottish Sun
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
I tried UK's wackiest ice cream flavours from pickled onion to Bisto – the crazy £4.50 winner surprised me
How does Sriracha ice cream sound? I SCREAM! I tried UK's wackiest ice cream flavours from pickled onion to Bisto – the crazy £4.50 winner surprised me WHATEVER will Mr Whippy say? To compete, he may need to stick more than a 99 Flake in his cone. An ice-cream parlour in posh Knightsbridge, Central London has come up with some very crazy flavours, ranging from, er, Twiglets, to Bisto and Irn-Bru. 11 Alexander McLeod has tested some of the craziest ice cream flavours Credit: Ian Whittaker Summer pop-up The Ice Cream Project is the idea of eccentric fashion designer Anya Hindmarch, as Waitrose recently revealed Gen Z enjoy a twist of baked beans, soya sauce or cheese in their tubs. She bills her ices, at £4.50 a scoop, as 'a celebration of Britain's kitchen cupboard culture'. But do we likey-lick? Alexander McLeod, right, tries Anya's ice creams and gives his verdicts and marks out of ten . . . read more on TASTE TESTS CRUSH IT I tested budget slushie makers vs £350 Ninja – and a £10 dupe works just as well Jacob's Twiglets 11 The Jacob's Twiglets ice cream has a Marmite tang Credit: Peter Jordan MALTY, yeasty and spiked with a Marmite tang. It's also smooth, which feels strange given how much your brain expects crunch. Oddly, I quite liked it. Rating: 7/10 Punters divided over Scots takeaways loaded ice cream fries Quaker Oats 11 The Quaker Oats offering tasted bland Credit: Peter Jordan SWEET, toasted oat flavour was bland and packed all the joy of a cold bowl of porridge. This ice cream has a velvety vanilla base but is a little coarse. Rating: 5/10 Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil 11 The extra virgin olive oil version was Alexander's favourite Credit: Peter Jordan CREAMY base has fruity richness of quality olive oil. Gentle peppery taste lingers to keep you interested. Smooth and balanced. Rating: 8/10 Bisto Gravy 11 The Bisto ice cream nearly works as a treat Credit: Peter Jordan SUBTLE gravy flavour brings roast-dinner warmth but frozen into a silky, scoopable form that nearly works. Shows even Bisto can be made posh. Rating: 6/10 Romney's Kendal Mint Cake 11 The Romney's Kendal Mint Cake version captures its mint sweetness Credit: Peter Jordan AS snow-white as the original slab, this captures that sharp mint sweetness. Refreshing palate- cleanser. Rating: 7/10 Flying Goose Sriracha 11 The Sriracha flavour is bold and strange but not entirely unlikeable Credit: Peter Jordan IT'S Sriracha from the first icy hit – tangy, garlicky, with a slow-building heat that creeps up on you. Bold and strange but not entirely unlikeable. Rating: 6/10 Garner's Pickled Onion 11 The Garner's Pickled Onion flavour tastes more like a dare than dessert Credit: Peter Jordan NORMALLY, when you smell a dish from across the room, it's a good sign. Not here. Vinegary, briny punch feels more like a dare than dessert. Rating: 2/10 Ovaltine 11 The Ovaltine ice cream is really quite nice Credit: Peter Jordan MALTED warmth comforts like a favourite jumper. Balances the sweetness and slight earthiness well, and is really quite nice. Rating: 7/10 Irn-Bru 11 The Irn-Bru flavour looks and tastes just like the drink Credit: Peter Jordan BRIGHT orange and proudly so, this sorbet looks and tastes just like the drink. Fizzy on the tongue, and very sweet. Perfect for a hot summer day. Rating: 6/10 McVitie Club Orange 11 The Club Orange version includes crushed-biscuit pieces for a nice crunch Credit: Peter Jordan NOSTALGIC mix of milk chocolate and zesty orange. The crushed-biscuit pieces provide enjoyable texture and crunch. Rating: 8/10 Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermilion Advantage using a grant to help City of Danville
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — One organization is getting closer to improving the economic life of Danville. Vermilion Advantage was awarded an $80,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration Local Technical Assistance Program. Another $10,000 came from the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, which Vermilion Advantage matched. Danville may get new sports facility thanks to local legend Now, Vermilion Advantage has a $100,000 planning project. The goal is to start planning and figuring out which types of businesses will be successful for the city. 'It was a little over a year ago that we got the news [that] Quaker Oats closed, and it was important to me that I wanted to send the message to the community that we had a plan in place and that we weren't going to just take that closure lying down,' Mike Marron, CEO of Vermilion Advantage said. 'We were going to do something about it. And so that's how this whole plan came about and it starting to happen and starting to unfold. And it's pretty exciting.' He said the work has already started. Right now, the main area they're looking at is along East Voorhees Street. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hindustan Times
24-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Quaker Oats class action lawsuit settlement: Here's a list of products eligible for refunds
Quaker Oats has agreed to pay out $6.75 million to settle the lawsuit that claimed it misled consumers by selling some snacks and cereals as safe, although they were actually contaminated with salmonella. Notably, the lawsuit was filed after the recalls of several Quaker products in December 2023 and January 2024. Concerns led to the recall because several packages were produced at a facility that tested positive for salmonella. Quaker hasn't admitted to any wrongdoing, but it has agreed to a settlement. Now, if you purchased one or more of the recalled products, you may be eligible for a full or partial refund. ALSO READ| Obama divorce rumors ramp up after Michelle gets 'flirty' with billionaire: 'If I were single… With proof of purchase (such as receipts), you can receive a full refund of the recalled items you bought. Without proof, you can still get a refund for up to two products, based on average retail price, plus 10% for sales tax. If you have already received a reimbursement from Quaker, that amount will be deducted from your settlement. Deadline to submit a claim: June 27, 2025 Deadline to opt out or object: June 27, 2025 Final approval hearing: August 4, 2025 ALSO READ| US dad stumped by son's 5th grade math quiz, internet reacts to confusing homework Granola Bars & Dipps Quaker Big Chewy Bars (Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Variety Pack) Quaker Chewy Bars (multiple flavors including Chocolate Chip, S'mores, Oatmeal Raisin, Less Sugar varieties, and holiday editions) Quaker Chewy Dipps (Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Variety Pack) Quaker Chewy Mini Dipps (Birthday Blast, Summer Night S'mores) Fruity Fun Granola Bars (Amazing Apple, Splendid Strawberry, Variety Pack) Yogurt Granola Bars (Strawberry, Blueberry, Variety Packs) Cereals Quaker Puffed Granola (Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry Vanilla) Quaker Simply Granola (Oats, Honey & Almonds; Oats, Honey, Raisins & Almonds) Quaker Protein Granola (Oats, Chocolate & Almonds) Quaker Oatmeal Squares (Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, Honey Nut, Variety Pack) Quaker Chewy Granola Breakfast Cereal (Chocolate, Strawberry, Variety Pack) Snack Packs & Mixes Quaker Chocolatey Favorites Snack Mix Quaker On The Go Snack Mix Frito-Lay & Quaker variety snack packs (including Lunch Box Mix, Snack Time Favorites, Ultimate Flavor Snack Care Package) Cap'n Crunch Products Cap'n Crunch Cereals (OOPS! All Berries, Cinnamon Crunch, Sea Berry Crunch) Cap'n Crunch Instant Oatmeal (Regular, OOPS! All Berries, Variety Pack) Cap'n Crunch Treats Bars (Crunch Berries, Peanut Butter Crunch, Original Crunch, Variety Pack) ALSO READ| Australian MP pours beer into his sneakers, drinks it. All about the drinking tradition Shoey Other Gatorade Protein Bars (Peanut Butter Chocolate) Gamesa Cereal (Gamesa Marias)
Scotsman
21-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Fasten your seat belts as morning flights will be very grumpy
A better morning could mean a better flight. New research reveals an astonishing 67 per cent of British passengers admit they've boarded their flight feeling irritable or unwell. That figure rises to 79 per cent among 25-34-year-olds. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Many say it's because they've missed out on breakfast. With one in six (17 per cent) admitting to usually skipping the most important meal of the day before a flight, that's a lot of grumpy passengers. Missing breakfast is becoming an actual relationship issue, with over one in six say they've had a tense moment with their partner over their missed morning meals. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The study, commissioned by Heathrow Express, has also revealed rushing to catch an early flight can lead to many of us failing to keep to basic hygiene measures. Passengers boarding the new 4:34am Heathrow Express train - the earliest-ever service - were treated to a surprise breakfast from Quaker Oats and foodie TV personality David Templer One in four (28 per cent) admit they've skipped washing to make an early departure time, while one in six (16 per cent) have confessed to leaving the house without brushing their teeth. Meanwhile one in five (19 per cent) didn't even use the toilet before heading out the door. The research has been done to support the launch of Heathrow Express's new 4.34am departure from London Paddington – its earliest-ever train to Heathrow, running Monday to Saturday. Aoife Considine, business lead at Heathrow Express, says:We know early flights can turn mornings into a scramble, and that often means the important things – like breakfast – get pushed aside. By looking closely at how and when our passengers travel, we identified a clear need for earlier services to help reach 6am departures. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Our new 4.34am train is designed to make those early flights easier to catch. With just a 15-minute journey from Central London to Heathrow, it's a smarter, more efficient way to travel – so you can arrive calm, prepared, and with time to start your day right. The new earlier non-stop 15-minute connection between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport means you can make sure you are washed and fed before going on holiday or a business trip. With spacious seating, free Wi-Fi, and generous luggage space it's the fastest, smoothest, and most stress-free way to reach the airport. And to launch the new 4.34am service - and help passengers arrive better prepared for their flights - Heathrow Express provided them with an early breakfast treat. The airport rail link teamed up with Quaker and food-loving TV personality David Templer to offer passengers two exclusive oat-based breakfasts. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Templer explains: I'm always looking for ways to make life more efficient – and nothing says efficient like a 15-minute train to the airport and breakfast already sorted. These oat breakfasts were designed for those early starts when you're short on time but still want something that hits the spot – both nutritious and delicious.
