Latest news with #Meli
Time Out
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Eat well, sing loud: this is a night at Yatai Yatoi
Friday night — a day to eat well and catch up with friends. The plan? Check out the new Yatai Yatoi spot in Palermo and feel like we're on a little trip. And why not, dare to sing some great hits in the cozy karaoke room. Here's how it went. Drinks at Yatai Yatoi: The Bar as a Starting Point We met at 8 p.m. and settled at the bar, ordering some drinks to set the mood: the week's over, time to relax. We asked the bartender for recommendations and ended up with two off-menu cocktails. For me, a Penicillin — made with whiskey, ginger (caramelized live with a kitchen torch in a fiery, aromatic show), honey syrup, and lemon juice. For my friend Meli, a classic Negroni. And Cami, who was driving, ordered a mocktail that the three of us loved: the Better Tha Melona, with green tea syrup, melon juice, and activated chia. Here are more can't-miss mocktails in Buenos Aires. Drink in hand, we took on the challenge: try to win a plush toy from the claw machine. We played twice but no luck. Heads up: at one point we almost grabbed a very cute pink bear, but it slipped out of the claws before reaching the prize chute. Luckily, our appetizers arrived at the table, so there was no time to get sad. What's on the Yatai Yatoi Menu? We settled into our table, which looked like a set from a Korean movie. The whole Yatai Yatoi décor is spectacular: very kitsch, very cool. Tables with iridescent pandas that reminded me of the changing-image erasers I used to have in my pencil case (panda, dolphin, panda, dolphin). Posters of Mao, fans, paper lamps — every corner a different world, every table a party. We started with a complimentary otoshi: trout for Meli and me, and cucumber for Cami, who is vegan. For starters, we ordered just one tempting dish: veggie baos with classic bao buns, oyster mushrooms, aioli, sriracha (yes, it's for the brave), and cilantro. They come two per order. For mains, we didn't hold back. We shared Yatai Yatoi's take on a 'panchito': the Pancho teri, with bao bun, teriyaki sauce, Viennese sausage, cucumber pickles, kimchi, and aioli, served with memorable smoked paprika fries. We also ordered the Pad Thai with shrimp, squid, and veggies... A squeeze of lime and pure enjoyment. For Cami, they made a veggie version with oyster mushrooms, just as delicious as the original. And if that wasn't enough, we also tried the Ramen — chicken broth, noodles, naruto (fish cake), nori seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms. Amazing. And then came dessert. Because we know life calls for appreciating the sweet stuff, we ordered a Taiyaki, which is a fish-shaped waffle filled with banana ice cream (the gourmet version of what you'd get at any Chinatown stall), and a Kuro roll: dulce de leche mousse, a sushi-shaped delight. In Britney Mode: This Is Yatai Yatoi's Karaoke Here's a key fact: the food is delicious, the décor transports you through time and space, but honestly, the real highlight of Yatai Yatoi is the karaoke. After eating, or whenever you want, you go into a little Korean-style room and sing your heart out. Singing lets it all go. It's therapy, it's an exorcism. It's pretending to be Britney Spears and doing the same choreographies you did at 16 in your living room. You probably know how private karaoke rooms work because you've seen it in the movies. You order drinks (or you can even eat there!), get comfortable on the couches, and play concert with your friends. You sing solo or together, each with a mic, reading the lyrics on the screen. So we left with full bellies, slightly hoarse throats — but happy — and joyful hearts. Would we go back? Absolutely. But next time, we're going to win that plush toy. Feeling tempted? Yatai Yatoi is open every day from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. Book, eat well, and sing your heart out.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Is MercadoLibre Stock Your Ticket to Becoming a Millionaire?
MercadoLibre has two strong businesses that are growing fast. Its region is still underdeveloped in e-commerce and fintech, leaving a long growth runway. It's easy to see how the stock could climb over the next few years. These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires › Investors are celebrating the S&P 500 being back in the positive in 2025, but it's up only 2% as there's plenty of uncertainty remaining in the economy. The S&P 500 is only an average, but it reflects trends in the broader market, and it tends to be quite accurate. Many of today's hottest stocks are similarly up or down a bit this year, like Nvidia stock going up 7% after gaining 171% last year and Amazon stock going down 2% after climbing 44% last year. But not all stocks are in that boat. E-commerce powerhouse MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI) continues to thrive as a business, and its stock is trouncing the market, up 41% this year. Let's see whether this top stock can make you a millionaire. Investors may be focusing on non-U.S. stocks right now, but MercadoLibre has been a market-beating stock for a long time. It consistently reports outstanding performance in nearly all areas. Its main business is e-commerce, and it operates an online marketplace similar to Amazon in 18 Latin American countries. Despite being around for quite a while, this business continues to grow rapidly. In the 2025 first quarter, gross merchandise volume increased 40% year over year (currency neutral). Items sold increased 28%, and unique active buyers were up 25%. That's its fastest growth since the pandemic started, when it accelerated. The company credits its investments for enhancing its value proposition with driving growth in unique buyers. It has one of the fastest delivery rates on the planet, with 74% of orders reaching their destinations within 48 hours in Q1. That's a slowdown from a high of 80% in 2021, and for good reason. The company offers a membership program called Meli+ with the option for a weekly delivery day, and while it brings down its two-day delivery rate, it cuts down on costs. The company has developed a robust fintech platform to service its underbanked customers, and this business is also flourishing. Total payment volume increased 72% year over year in Q1, and monthly active users were up 31% to more than 64 million. The fintech platform includes a large credit business, with different kinds of accounts, loans, and credit cards. Assets under management more than doubled from last year in the first quarter, and the credit portfolio increased 75%. MercadoLibre is demonstrating fantastic performance right now, but there are also many reasons to be confident about the future. E-commerce in Latin America is still way behind other parts of the world. Penetration is in the mid-teens, which lags behind the U.S. by about a decade. The marketplace has a self-reinforcing network effect where as there are more buyers, more sellers get on the platform. This leads to more choices and more competitive pricing, a higher value proposition, and more buyers. As buyers become more comfortable with the platform, engagement increases, and more buyers purchase across more categories. There's a similarly huge opportunity in fintech, where the banking industry is being disrupted. MercadoLibre has an edge because of its ecosystem, and platform users are already in the system. In Brazil, one of its biggest markets, legacy banks still have about 59% of the market, but that's changing. In Argentina, another of its large markets, the loan-to-gross domestic product ratio is less than 10%, while it's above 50% in Brazil. It's also growing its advertising business and sees opportunities to further expand into new areas, giving it a long growth runway in many directions. Like any stock, how much you put in will somewhat determine how much you can make. Do I see MercadoLibre becoming a multibagger for new investors? I do. As an example, let's say it can grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% over the next five years. With a 64% increase (currency neutral) in Q1, and similar performance in general, that seems credible. That would lead to revenue of $78 billion in five years. Keeping its price-to-sales ratio constant, the stock would nearly quadruple. There's no guarantee that this will happen, but it's a possible scenario. If you put in enough money and have a long time horizon, it could turn into $1 million. However, that will only work for investors who have that much to invest in one stock while remaining well diversified. If you don't have that much to invest, buying MercadoLibre stock today can still be a valuable addition to a portfolio that could lead to millionaire status. Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this. On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a 'Double Down' stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves: Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $373,066!* Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $38,158!* Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $664,089!* Right now, we're issuing 'Double Down' alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join , and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Jennifer Saibil has positions in MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and MercadoLibre. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is MercadoLibre Stock Your Ticket to Becoming a Millionaire? was originally published by The Motley Fool Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
By brewing with 100 percent quinoa, Meli is ‘giving beer a wellness makeover'
'That beer in Peru didn't have the typical characteristics that I associated with beer,' says Oster. 'The flavor was crisp and light, with none of the malty or bitter aftertaste that I had come to expect of beer. I also loved the health halo of a beer made from quinoa — it caught my attention and drew me in, when I normally wouldn't have been interested in drinking a beer. Get Winter Soup Club A six-week series featuring soup recipes and cozy vibes, plus side dishes and toppings, to get us all through the winter. Enter Email Sign Up 'The only issue was that the beer in Peru contained barley, and I was reducing gluten from my diet.' Advertisement Oster set out to brew a 100 percent quinoa beer. 'The first challenge we encountered at homebrew-scale was what type of quinoa to use. Quinoa exists in red, black, and white varieties, and quinoa grown in one part of the world has completely different nutritional features than quinoa from other parts of the world. So, identifying a quinoa that both tasted good and efficiently produced an alcoholic beverage was a challenge,' says Oster. Advertisement It took more than 20 test batches to brew a beer that satisfied those requirements. And then another challenge arose: because quinoa is such a small grain, adapting a recipe to fit commercial brewing equipment wasn't straightforward. It took nearly 100 formulations, according to Oster, to get it right. Brew Theory Brewery in Lowell currently brews Meli. The beer is gluten-free, has zero sugar, and contains the proteins and essential vitamins and minerals such as iron and B6 typically found in quinoa. A can of Meli even contains about 7 percent of your daily potassium. One noticeable aspect of the beer is that it tastes a little spicy, the result of using an herbaceous grain rather than the typical barley. Meli is light and crisp, like Oster says, and should make an interesting pairing with all kinds of food. Oster is 'committed to winning in our own backyard,' meaning Massachusetts. Meli beer is available at select restaurants including Uni, Catalyst, Alma Nove, and Shy Bird, as well as at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. Gary Dzen can be reached at
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mercado Libre, Amazon of South America, announces leadership transition
The founder and CEO of Mercado Libre, an online marketplace often described as the Amazon of South America, has decided to call it quits after 26 years. In a letter to employees publicly released late Wednesday, Marcos Galperin said he will hand over his position to Ariel Szarfsztejn, the current president of commerce, on Jan. 1 and take on the role of executive chairman. Galperin said he will remain closely involved at Meli (NASDAQ: MELI), the company's shorthand name, focusing on strategy, product development, culture, capital allocation, special projects and how to apply artificial intelligence to the business. Szarfsztejn joined Latin America's dominant e-commerce platform in 2017 and led development of the company's logistics network throughout the region. For the past three years he has led the consumer-facing marketplace. Previously, he held executive positions in the hotel industry, and also worked at The Boston Consulting Group and Goldman Sachs.'This is a generational change, and I know that Ari, along with the talented team that has supported me, has everything it needs to ensure Meli continues to grow strongly in the coming decades, continuing our mission to democratize e-commerce and financial services in the region,' Galperin wrote. 'I'm proud to have created Meli, written its business plan in college, hired a formidable team – many of whom remain with me to this day – and, together with them and many others who joined, grown this company, achieved profitability, IPO'd on the Nasdaq, added millions of users, launched new products, adapted to technological changes, built and developed the largest technology team in Latin America, the largest e-commerce logistics network, became the company with the highest market valuation in the region, and, above all . . . helping hundreds of millions of people live better lives,' he said in the letter. Mercado Libre started as an online auction website where individuals traded used items among themselves and it took six years for it to break even. It originally employed drop shipping using the major carriers in Latin America and today has more than 25 fulfillment centers across the region, hundreds of service centers, the largest fleet of electric vehicles in Latin America, conventional-fuel trucks and vans, and six Boeing 737-800 converted freighter aircraft operated by Brazilian airline Gol. Galperin said now is a good time for a leadership transition because Mercado Libre has a strong financial and market Libre's net revenue in 2024 increased 38% year over year to $21 billion, contributing to operating income of $2.6 billion and margin of 12.7%. The total value of merchandise sold in 2024 reached $51.5 billion, up 15% YoY. The company said it surpassed 100 million annual unique buyers on the marketplace for the first time, with a 24% in buyers compared to 2023, demonstrating higher engagement and shopping frequency as a result of continuous investment in the user interface, assortment and logistics. Mercado Libre has the largest logistics infrastructure in Latin America, which has enabled it to offer fast-shipping throughout the region. During the year, Mercado Libre opened 10 new fulfillment centers, invested $500 million for capital expenditures in logistics and expanded its free shipping offering. It handled 1.8 billion items, with 49% of deliveries completed the same day or next day, which is considered a strong performance level for a region where transportation infrastructure is not fully developed. Seventy percent of orders are delivered within 48 hours. The increased scale of the logistics network has improved delivery efficiency, according to the company. While delivery speed is a priority, Mercado Libre is also making its network more flexible so it can offer slower, more economical, options. In a company podcast in March, CFO Martin de los Santos said Mercado Libre will continue to invest at a similar pace and expects to open several fulfillment centers in Brazil. The e-tailer will also add warehouses in Mexico, where its infrastructure is operating almost at full capacity, to keep up with the 30% year-over-year growth of gross merchandise value. The momentum continued in the first quarter, with sales up 37% to $5.9 billion versus the same period last year and operating income up 45% to $763 million. E-commerce represents 15% of total retail sales in Latin America, compared to about 16% in the United States. Third-party forecasts point to the market growing by 54%, from $151 billion in 2023, to $232 billion by 2028. With less than 5% share of the total retail market, Mercado Libre officials say they see plenty of runway to grow. Click here for more FreightWaves/American Shipper stories by Eric considers universal de minimis ban as fees on China parcels ease The post Mercado Libre, Amazon of South America, announces leadership transition appeared first on FreightWaves. 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Local Germany
09-05-2025
- Local Germany
Five German cities ranked among the 'unfriendliest in the world'
From world-class companies to a high quality of life, Germany has a lot to offer foreigners - but when it comes to that local warmth and friendliness, there seems to be a lot left to be desired. In the latest Expat City Ranking 2024 by InterNations, five major German cities have won an unenviable accolade, being ranked among the world's 10 least welcoming cities. According to the survey's international respondents, the Bavarian capital of Munich should be crowned the least friendly city in the world, followed by three other German cities that make up the top four. The ranking, based on responses from more than 12,000 people living abroad worldwide, evaluates how easy it is to settle into life abroad. One of the key measures is the "Ease of Settling In Index", which includes indicators such as local friendliness, feeling at home, and how easy it is to build a social life. Unfortunately for Germany's metropoles, they scored particularly poorly across the board. Munich: No Bavarian hospitality for newcomers Despite its stunning scenery and the beer-guzzling antics of Oktoberfest , Munich stands out in the rankings as the least friendly city for foreigners, landing in 53rd place. The Bavarian capital received the lowest marks for local friendliness, with nearly half of respondents rating locals as unfriendly. Many of the respondents also reported problems in building an active social life: 65 percent said they found it hard to make friends, and only 37 percent said they were satisfied with their current social circle. In a survey of Munich residents conducted by The Local a few years ago, readers also described locals in the Bavarian capital as a little too cool and reserved. Visitors to the Luitpold Hill in Munich enjoy the view of the Frauenkirche and the snow-covered Alps in the distance. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Peter Kneffel "It is too expensive and boring and its inhabitants are quite unfriendly," said reader Meli, while other readers alternately described the locals as "closed-off", "conservative" and "rude". READ ALSO: 'World's largest village' - How foreigners in Germany feel about Munich These views were echoed in the InterNations survey. 'It's difficult to form genuine connections with locals,' reported one Italian living in the city. Others noted that the famed Bavarian Gemütlichkeit (cosiness or warmth) seems reserved for long-time residents, rather than new arrivals. Hamburg: Cold weather and even colder people The northern port city of Hamburg fared only slightly better than Munich, landing in 52nd place out of 53. While a vibrant cultural scene and walkable city centre can be attractive to international newcomers, it seems many are disappointment by the welcome they receive. According to the InterNations survey, just 42 percent of foreigners found locals friendly - well below the global average of 63 percent. Even more concerning, almost half (44 percent) said they didn't feel at home in the city, with many struggling to settle in. This impression was backed up by a recent survey carried out by The Local , in which readers praised Hamburg's top-class infrastructure and attractions, but lamented the unfriendliness of the locals. Advertisement 'It is hard to enter social circles and make friends with locals," explained 43-year-old Dannis, who grew up in Hamburg but later moved away. "Almost everyone stays within their established closed social circles." READ ALSO: 'Beautiful city, unfriendly people' - How foreigners feel about living in Hamburg Similar perspectives were espoused in the InterNations report. 'The locals are cold and not very welcoming toward foreigners,' said one Hamburg resident from Spain. In the category of 'feeling welcome,' Hamburg ranked last worldwide. Berlin: Social isolation in the midst of a hip city Contrary to its reputation as a liberal, diverse, and international city, the German capital ranked 51st in the InterNations when it came to the ease of settling in. In particular, respondents to the InterNations survey were put off by the gruff exterior of the locals, describing Berliners as "unfriendly and hard to approach". Though in Germany the famed Berliner Schnauze (Berlin snout) is associated with a gritty humour as opposed to straight-up rudeness, it seems these cultural quirks can be difficult to translate. People walk on Berlin's Tempelhofer Feld. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Sebastian Gollnow In fact, the city came bottom of the rankings for 'friendliness of locals', landing in a depressing 53rd place. Despite its buzzing party scene, foreigners saw Luft nach Oben (room for improvement) when it came to Berlin's social offering as well: 64 percent reported difficulties in making friends, while many lacked a sense of feeling at home. 'Berlin may be exciting, but you're mostly on your own socially,' one respondent said. READ ALSO: Why is Berlin a lonely city for many foreign residents? Frankfurt: Thriving economy and a lacklustre social life Hesse's financial capital was also presented in an unflattering light when it came to local friendliness, landing in 50th place out of 53. Though Frankfurt is one of Germany's most international cities, it seems to present few opportunities to integrate fully with the locals. In the InterNations survey, foreigners cited difficulty adapting to the local culture and forming friendships as two of the biggest issues they faced. Just 38 percent said they felt at home, and most described their social networks as dominated by fellow expats. Advertisement 'People here are polite but distant," said one British respondent. "It's hard to go beyond small talk." Despite the high salaries and job opportunities, many said they felt isolated outside of work. Cologne: No Carnival spirit for most of the year A surprising addition to the rankings this year was the Rhineland city of Cologne, which is often seen as a laid-back, fun-loving and open place to live. Though its colourful carnival celebrations see visitors flocking to the city from far and wide, the daily reality for foreigners seems to tell a different story. According to the survey, Cologne struggles with welcoming newcomers, scoring near the bottom for cultural openness and friendliness. In the Ease of Settling in, it achieved a lacklustre 48th place, making it the 6th least friendly city in the world according to foreigners. Advertisement Despite its reputation for Rheinische Fröhheit - a jolly and chatty temperament among Rhineland natives - 41 percent of expats said they found it difficult to make local friends, and many described their social lives as sub-par. One Canadian respondent summed up the situation: 'It's friendly during Carnival," they said. "But the rest of the year, it's harder to connect." READ ALSO: What to do, see and eat on a budget-friendly break in Cologne
