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Tag: Boosting

  • Buccellati Unveils Palatial Asia-Pacific Flagship Store in Bangkok, Boosting Presence in Southeast Asia

    Buccellati Unveils Palatial Asia-Pacific Flagship Store in Bangkok, Boosting Presence in Southeast Asia

    Renowned Italian jewelers Buccellati have recently expanded their presence in the Asia-Pacific region with the inauguration of their largest store in Thailand. The store, situated on the M Floor of Siam Paragon in Bangkok, signifies the brand’s debut in the Thai market, contributing to its burgeoning retail network across the region.

    An Italian Heritage in a Modern Setting

    The design of the store is a tribute to Buccellati’s Italian lineage, featuring wooden paneling, handmade stucco finishes, and adornments reminiscent of European palaces. The store’s interior also includes a collection of antique furniture and mirrors from the 18th and 19th centuries. Two 16th-century mirrors from Naples, preserved with their original mirror plates and made using the traditional doratura a mecca gilding technique, are among the notable pieces on display. According to Buccellati, these mirrors were handpicked for the Bangkok location.

    The store offers a diverse range of Buccellati’s jewelry collections, such as Macri, Opera, and Tulle. In addition, customers can find high-end jewelry pieces, silverware, flatware, and giftware. The boutique also provides customers with an opportunity to witness the hand-engraving techniques that have become a signature of the Italian fashion house.

    Buccellati was established in Italy by Mario Buccellati and has since carved a niche for itself for its handmade jewelry and silverware. The brand is currently under the ownership of Richemont, and members of the Buccellati family continue to serve in key managerial positions of the enterprise.

    Questions & Answers

    What is unique about the new Buccellati store in Bangkok?
    The Buccellati store in Bangkok is the brand’s largest in the Asia-Pacific region and features a design that reflects the company’s Italian heritage.

    What does the store offer to its customers?
    In addition to offering a selection from Buccellati’s various jewelry collections, the store features high-end jewelry pieces, silverware, flatware, and giftware. Customers can also experience the brand’s signature hand-engraving techniques.

    Who currently owns the Buccellati brand?
    Buccellati is currently owned by Richemont, and members of the Buccellati family continue to hold senior management positions within the company.

  • DKNY Debuts First Chinese Flagship Store, Boosting Fashion Footprint in Shanghai

    DKNY Debuts First Chinese Flagship Store, Boosting Fashion Footprint in Shanghai

    DKNY, the renowned fashion label, has marked its first significant stride in China, with the inauguration of its flagship store. The store is situated along Huaihai Middle Road, thus fortifying the brand’s foothold in the country.

    The expansive store, spread across 245 square meters, finds its place on the ground floor of Lady Huaihai. Here, DKNY’s presence amplifies the area’s retail diversity that already includes eminent brands like Gentle Monster and Songmont.

    The shop’s unique design mirrors New York City’s dynamic spirit and attitude. It boasts polished aluminium finishes, intricate wood detailing, and upholstery inspired by the city’s iconic yellow cabs.

    The DKNY store is a one-stop-shop for fashion enthusiasts as it offers the brand’s latest ready-to-wear collections, footwear, handbags, and accessories. The retail space also highlights images from DKNY’s Spring 2026 campaign featuring popular model Hailey Bieber.

    Jeff Goldfarb, the executive vice president of G-III Apparel Group, DKNY’s parent company, shared his enthusiasm about the store’s location. Goldfarb believes Shanghai, one of the world’s most influential fashion markets, is the perfect place for DKNY’s next expansion in China.

    He also expressed his anticipation for DKNY’s future growth in China. He emphasized the brand’s effort to create a deeper connection with the Chinese consumers through elevated retail experiences and collections that evoke the energy of urban life.

    DKNY made its initial foray into the Chinese market through the online platform Tmall in 2017.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the significance of DKNY’s new store in China?
    The new flagship store marks DKNY’s first major step in expanding its physical presence in China.

    What distinguishes the store’s design?
    The store’s design reflects the energy and attitude of New York City, featuring polished aluminium finishes, wood detailing, and yellow cab-inspired upholstery.

    When did DKNY first enter the Chinese market?
    DKNY first entered the Chinese market in 2017 through the online marketplace Tmall.

  • Qantas Freight Expands Asia Pacific Presence with New Singapore Stop, Boosting Changi Airport’s Air Cargo Network

    Qantas Freight Expands Asia Pacific Presence with New Singapore Stop, Boosting Changi Airport’s Air Cargo Network

    Qantas Freight, a subsidiary of the Australian airline Qantas, recently announced the launch of its dedicated freighter services to Singapore. These services, which are expected to begin on April 3, 2026, will operate twice a week and include stops in Sydney, Shanghai, and Singapore.

    New Freight Services

    Qantas Freight’s new services are expected to further bolster the cargo network at Changi Airport. The services will provide increased capacity, more routing options, and more flexible scheduling for shippers and freight forwarders. The services will be carried out through Qantas’ A330 freighter flights on Fridays and Sundays, delivering more than 50 tons of cargo capacity per flight.

    The Singapore stopover is a new addition to Qantas’ existing Sydney-Shanghai freighter operations, which is set to enhance connectivity across the Asia Pacific cargo network.

    First Dedicated Freighter Service

    This is the first time Qantas is offering a dedicated freighter service to Singapore. This service is expected to complement its existing belly-hold cargo capacity on scheduled passenger services. Moreover, this new routing reflects the growing demand for time-sensitive air cargo moving across Asia, Australia, and beyond.

    Singapore’s strategic location and significant global air cargo connectivity make Changi Airport an essential consolidation and transshipment hub for regional and intercontinental cargo flows.

    Statements from Qantas Freight and Changi Airport Group

    Lim Ching Kiat, Executive Vice President of Air Hub and Cargo Development at Changi Airport Group, stated that Qantas Group’s decision to expand its freighter operations to Singapore couldn’t have come at a better time. According to him, there has been an increase in air cargo demand in the Asia-Pacific region, and the region is playing a more significant role in global air cargo growth.

    Igor Kwiatkowski, Qantas Freight Executive Manager, also remarked on the importance of the new Singapore stop. He said that it would be a significant addition to the airline’s Asia Pacific presence and freight network. According to Kwiatkowski, Singapore’s status as one of the world’s major cargo hubs will play a crucial role in connecting shipments between Australia, China, and Southeast Asia. He added that the new stop would provide freight forwarders with more routing options and flexibility, especially for high-tech goods and e-commerce.

    Questions & Answers

    What is Qantas Freight’s new service?
    Qantas Freight’s new service is a dedicated freighter service to Singapore, with twice-weekly operations that include stops in Sydney, Shanghai and Singapore.

    What benefits does this new service bring to shippers and freight forwarders?
    The new service provides increased capacity, more routing options, and more flexible scheduling to shippers and freight forwarders.

    How will the new service impact Qantas Freight’s presence in the Asia Pacific region?
    The new Singapore stop is expected to significantly enhance Qantas Freight’s presence and freight network in the Asia Pacific region. It will connect shipments between Australia, China, Southeast Asia, and improve routing options and flexibility for freight forwarders.

  • HPE Partners with Chunghwa Telecom: Boosting Cyber Resilience with Innovative Disaster Recovery Center in Taiwan

    HPE Partners with Chunghwa Telecom: Boosting Cyber Resilience with Innovative Disaster Recovery Center in Taiwan

    Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Chunghwa Telecom’s Enterprise Business Group have recently revealed their plans to establish an international disaster recovery (DR) center in Taiwan. The alliance aims to reinforce cyber resilience and data protection for local companies.

    A Cyber Resilience Vault for Taiwan

    The upcoming DR center will leverage HPE’s Cyber Resilience Vault, incorporating sophisticated ransomware protection and a blend of cyber and disaster recovery technologies. The proposed solution aims to support Taiwanese businesses in setting up a global off-site backup system with second-level Recovery Point Objectives (RPO) and minute-level Recovery Time Objectives (RTO). Furthermore, it promises Continuous Data Protection (CDP) for faster recovery and enhanced defense against ransomware attacks.

    This move comes amidst growing apprehensions about ransomware and data disruption. Recent studies show that organizations globally face an average of 4.2 data disruption incidents annually, including at least one ransomware attack. Surprisingly, despite having backups, 48% of organizations opt to pay ransoms to expedite recovery or limit data loss. Yet, only 20% manage to fully recover their data.

    Addressing Ransomware Attacks and Data Loss

    Jon Wang, HPE’s Managing Director of Taiwan and Hong Kong, commented on the initiative. He highlighted that the HPE Cyber Resilience Vault, integrated with Chunghwa Telecom’s Internet Data Center services, would enable businesses to recover swiftly, decrease downtime, and restore lost data within seconds, thus ensuring full protection and backup of confidential information.

    Pen-Yuang Chang, General Manager of Chunghwa Telecom Enterprise Business Group, emphasized the importance of preventing significant business damage from ransomware attacks. He stated that their collaboration with HPE will allow local businesses to implement extensive disaster recovery mechanisms, thereby boosting their cyber resilience and international competitiveness.

    Through this partnership, Chunghwa Telecom plans to offer this new disaster recovery capability via its Internet Data Center (IDC) Value-Added Services – Equipment Subscription Service. Customers will have the opportunity to deploy protected virtual machines with enterprise-grade reliability, back up mission-critical workloads to Chunghwa Telecom’s robust IDC facilities, and conduct regular disaster recovery drills to validate readiness. The operator also intends to introduce a Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) model, priced according to the number of protected virtual machines, offering customers greater flexibility and scalability.

    A Proven Disaster Recovery Solution

    A prominent Taiwanese petrochemical manufacturer has already adopted this collaborative solution to secure sensitive operational data. By duplicating critical plant information to Chunghwa Telecom’s data center and utilizing HPE’s continuous data protection, the company has reduced cybersecurity risk, decreased maintenance overhead, and improved confidence in meeting recovery objectives.

    On a technical note, HPE Cyber Resilience Vault integrates various HPE technologies including HPE Alletra Storage MP B10000, HPE ProLiant Compute servers, HPE Zerto disaster recovery software, and HPE Networking wired and wireless solutions. The platform creates an air-gapped, isolated data vault with immutable, FIPS-compliant storage. Its journal-based CDP tracks recovery checkpoints every five to ten seconds, enabling near-synchronous replication, second-level RPO, and minute-level RTO.

    The solution, deployed within Chunghwa Telecom’s IDC satellite data centers, is expected to significantly decrease recovery times and reduce data loss from hours to seconds. It will also speed up service restoration from days to minutes, whilst providing Taiwanese enterprises with a more robust foundation for cyber resilience amid an escalating threat landscape.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the primary goal of the HPE and Chunghwa Telecom partnership?

    The collaboration aims to establish an international disaster recovery center in Taiwan to strengthen cyber resilience and data protection for local enterprises.

    How does the HPE Cyber Resilience Vault benefit businesses?

    The HPE Cyber Resilience Vault enables businesses to swiftly recover from data loss, minimize downtime, and restore lost data within seconds, ensuring comprehensive protection and backup of confidential information.

    What specific services will Chunghwa Telecom offer through this collaboration?

    Chunghwa Telecom will offer the new disaster recovery capability via its Internet Data Center (IDC) Value-Added Services – Equipment Subscription Service. This will allow customers to deploy virtual machines with enterprise-grade reliability, back up mission-critical workloads, and conduct regular disaster recovery drills. They also plan to introduce a Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) model.

  • Cooee Cookies Unveils Allergy-Free Indigenous-Inspired Snacks, Boosting Gut Health with Native Australian Ingredients

    Cooee Cookies Unveils Allergy-Free Indigenous-Inspired Snacks, Boosting Gut Health with Native Australian Ingredients

    Cooee Cookies, an indigenous-led snack brand, has recently joined forces with Australian biotechnology firm Health Food Symmetry (HFS) to develop a new range of cookies that promote gut health.

    This collaboration utilises PhytoBiome, a prebiotic product developed by HFS, to create an allergen-free cookie line. The partnership is striving to make the product accessible in rural Indigenous communities.

    Creation of Health-Driven Snacks

    Gordon Edwards, HFS founder and CEO, shared that the cookies are manufactured in Australia using regionally sourced, premium-grade produce and are backed by leading-edge research. Edwards expressed that both firms are thrilled by their joint initiative, which allows them to showcase their scientific functional food capabilities at national and international levels.

    Edwards also explained that each cookie, thanks to PhytoBiome, now contains clinically proven benefits for gut health, immune strength, and metabolic balance. This has transformed an otherwise simple snack into a functional food with genuine health benefits.

    Utilization of Native Ingredients

    The gut-friendly cookie range is made using native ingredients like Kakadu plum, wattle seed, lemon myrtle, and finger lime. These ingredients, known for their high antioxidant content and therapeutic potential, aid in bolstering immunity and maintaining a balanced digestive system.

    Terri-Ann Daniel, founder and CEO of Cooee Cookies, said that their partnership with HFS allows them to continue to enhance their allergy-free snacks. The collaboration enables them to offer improved gut and metabolic health benefits without compromising on taste or cultural significance.

    Questions & Answers

    What is the main goal of the partnership between Cooee Cookies and Health Food Symmetry (HFS)?
    The primary objective of their partnership is to develop an allergen-free cookie line that promotes gut health, immune strength, and metabolic balance.

    What native ingredients does the gut-friendly cookie range contain?
    The range includes native ingredients such as Kakadu plum, wattle seed, lemon myrtle, and finger lime, recognised for their high antioxidant content and therapeutic potential.

    What are the benefits of consuming these gut-healthy cookies?
    Apart from being allergen-free, these cookies offer numerous health benefits including enhanced gut health, bolstered immune system, and balanced metabolism.

  • Boyu Capital Poised to Secure $4 Billion Stake in Starbucks China, Boosting Brand’s Asian Market Footprint

    Boyu Capital Poised to Secure $4 Billion Stake in Starbucks China, Boosting Brand’s Asian Market Footprint

    Boyu Capital, a private equity firm from China, is leading the race to acquire a majority stake in Starbucks’ China operations, a deal that could potentially value the unit at over US$4 billion.

    Boyu Capital remains in the bid after the final contender, Carlyle Group, chose to withdraw. Key partners from both companies travelled to the U.S. to engage in final discussions with the Seattle-based coffee chain.

    Starbucks’ Stake in China

    After the sale is finalized, it’s expected that Starbucks will retain a substantial minority stake in its China operations. The company expressed that it has received strong interest from numerous high-quality partners, all of whom have faith in the long-term growth potential for Starbucks in China.

    The company is currently assessing bids from five contenders, though it declined to comment further. Starbucks China was valued at roughly $4 billion by the bidders who submitted binding offers, which is approximately ten times its core earnings.

    Starbucks’ Future Plans

    Starbucks CEO, Brian Niccol, previously indicated that the anticipated valuation of the China business would exceed $10 billion, factoring in the upfront investment from a potential partner, Starbucks’ retained stake in the China business, and future royalty payments.

    There is also the possibility of other parties, such as internet companies, joining the discussions as limited partners to assist in funding the deal.

    Competition and Sales

    Starbucks’ decision to divest in China comes amidst fierce competition from local coffee chains that have gained market share by offering less expensive products during an economic slowdown that has altered consumer behavior.

    In response to these challenges, Starbucks has implemented strategies such as lowering prices for selected non-coffee beverages in China and increasing the introduction of new, localized products.

    Sales in comparable stores in China increased by 2% in the quarter that ended on June 29, following a quarter with no growth. Starbucks’ earnings for the fourth quarter and the 2025 fiscal year will be reported on October 29.

    Questions & Answers

    Who is the frontrunner to buy a controlling stake in Starbucks’ China business?
    Boyu Capital, a private equity firm from China, is leading the race to acquire a controlling stake in Starbucks’ China operations.

    What is the potential value of Starbucks’ China unit?
    The deal to acquire the majority stake in Starbucks’ China operations could potentially value the unit at over US$4 billion.

    What strategies has Starbucks implemented in response to increasing competition in China?
    Starbucks has lowered prices for selected non-coffee beverages in China and increased the introduction of new, localized products to counter the competition.