logo
#

Latest news with #SouthHolland

Heineken Bets Big On Innovation With New Multimillion-Dollar R&D Hub
Heineken Bets Big On Innovation With New Multimillion-Dollar R&D Hub

Forbes

time21-07-2025

  • Business
  • Forbes

Heineken Bets Big On Innovation With New Multimillion-Dollar R&D Hub

MONTMELO, SPAIN - MAY 14: Bottles of 'Heineken 0.0' are seen at the Heineken 0.0 grandstand, ... More celebrating the launch of the zero alcohol beer 'Heineken 0.0' during the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 14, 2017 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo byfor Heineken) When Heineken officially opened a new global research and development center in South Holland last month, the occasion was so momentous for the brewer that King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands was in attendance. The Dutch brewer spent $45 million euro ($52.3 million USD) on the R&D center located in the town of Zoeterwoude, roughly a 40 minute drive from the nation's capital of Amsterdam. It has a staff of close to 100 employees that are dedicated to brewing innovation, sensory research, packaging development and supporting the development of global brands including Heineken, Amstel and Desperados. The R&D center also sits adjacent to a Heineken brewery that the company says is the largest in Europe. 'This Center enables us to innovate faster and smarter, help us to create distinctive beers and drinks, improve our brewing processes and reduce our impact on the planet,' said Dolf van den Brink, Heineken CEO and chairman, in a statement at the time of the unveiling ceremony. Why Brewers Need To Innovate In A Complex Market Hubert Ter Braake, director of research and development at Heineken, tells me during a recent interview that the opening of the new R&D center will propel future beverage experimentation, while also sending a message to both internal and external stakeholders that the company is very seriously committed to innovation. 'It is important that people see that you put your money where your mouth is,' says Ter Braake. Heineken officially opened a new global research and development center next to the company's ... More brewery that is the largest in Europe. Placing a bigger bet on innovation comes at a challenging time for the broader alcoholic beverage industry. Adults are drinking less booze and instead favoring healthier products, a trend that's proliferated in the U.S. and other international markets including across Europe. That's led to uncertainty for the industry's largest players, as seen most recently by the abrupt departure of Diageo CEO Debra Crew, who is stepping down after two years in that role, as the world's largest spirits company can't quite get a handle on where consumers are evolving. The non-alcohol market has been particularly alluring, a portion of the business that's expected to be worth $5 billion in the U.S. by 2028, according to industry researcher IWSR. Non-alcoholic beer is forecasted to be the primary driver of that growth, due to that market being more mature than non-alcoholic spirits or wine and greater investments in new beer brands in that space. Brewer Already Scored A Hit With Non-Alcoholic Heineken 0.0 Non-alcoholic beer is a space where Heineken has already scored a big hit that predates the R&D center opening. The company's Heineken 0.0 launched in 2017 and is now the highest-selling non-alcoholic beer in the world. The brewer says it has been able to achieve a commanding lead in the market by committing 10% of all media spending on responsible consumption campaigns, which included a recent advertising spot and feature tied to the F1 film starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris. Hubert Ter Braake is the director of research and development at Heineken. Ter Braake says that before Heineken 0.0, the non-alcoholic beers on shelves weren't of high quality and didn't taste that great. And because of those reasons, buying non-alcoholic beers wasn't considered socially acceptable. After R&D is able to craft a better tasting product, the marketers can do their job selling the brand. 'Our job is to really go one level deeper and see what are those little bit hidden needs consumers have,' says Ter Braake. From AI To Ultimate: Heineken Charts A New Course Newer innovations from Ter Braake's team includes Heineken 0.0 Ultimate, a non-alcoholic brew that also has zero calories or sugar and is currently sold in Massachusetts and New Jersey. In yet another limited pilot program in Italy, the brewer is testing out Heineken Fusion, a variation of a beer that's meant to be served as an aperitivo before starting a meal. 'We have a whole pipeline and the markets must work together to see what part of the pipeline may be more focused on that particular market,' says Ter Braake. 'It's not for nothing that we piloted Fusion in Italy or Ultimate in the U.S.; because it fits the consumers there.' With a staff of around 100 employees, Heineken's R&D center houses sensory research, labs and ... More packaging development. Heineken has also invested in artificial intelligence for brewing, with a focus on two key applications of that technology in use today. The first is social listening, which involves the use of AI algorithms to track and crunch data on which flavors are becoming more popular among consumers. Another AI tool at use at Heineken helps shorten new product development. Ter Braake adds that Heineken's innovation efforts tend to go in two distinct directions. The first is more about technology, including rethinking the use of raw materials or other methods taken during the production process which can be done more efficiently. But the second consideration set is more expansive and involves brand innovations—local projects like Fusion or Ultimate or global efforts like Heineken 0.0. In the latter case, leadership must sign on before R&D moves forward. 'We always discuss and get approval by our board, so they agree with the longer-term vision we have on what directionally the future should be for beer or for other products,' says Ter Braake.

Business owners refuse BID payment amid dispute
Business owners refuse BID payment amid dispute

Yahoo

time07-07-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Business owners refuse BID payment amid dispute

A group of businesses in Spalding say they are determined not to pay towards the town's Business Improvement District (BID) despite the threat of legal action. Spalding BID was established after a ballot of local businesses which was won by a single vote in July 2024. However, a number of traders have refused to pay the compulsory charge, saying the vote was invalid because some businesses had not received a ballot paper. South Holland District Council said it was confident the ballot was carried out in a correct and proper manner. The cost of the levy to each business is calculated as a percentage of its rateable value, meaning the larger the business, the more it pays. The BID plans to use the money to fund projects to improve the town centre and attract more shoppers to the town. Photographer Julian Wheeler is one of a group of small business owners opposed to the levy. He, along with 45 others who did not pay, was found liable for the charge in a hearing at Boston Magistrates' Court on 30 June. Mr Wheeler said he would continue to refuse to pay the charge and hoped to challenge the legality of the vote which established the BID. "We have identified at least two infractions of the BID regulations, on the part of South Holland District Council, and that brings into question the legality of the BID being enacted." Beautician Macie Harman, who owns Macie's Boo-tique was also summoned to appear in court for non-payment. She said she would now pay the levy to avoid incurring further costs, but would continue to fight to have to the BID scrapped. "I didn't receive a ballot so I don't think it's fair that I should have to pay for something I didn't have a choice about," she said. A South Holland District Council spokesperson said: "We have every confidence that the BID ballot and levy collection have been carried out in the correct and proper manner, working in line with national guidelines to ensure a fair and transparent process, with clear and documented communication throughout. "The ballot was managed to the same high level as any other election, with verified data being provided to a recognised electoral services provider, and the council's returning officer overseeing the process with the usual checks, proofing and sign-off taking place. "The collection of the levy on behalf of the BID has been carried out in the same manner as it would be with council tax and all other council managed collection processes, and all recovery actions undertaken have been done in line with the relevant national regulations." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here, to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Click here, to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices. Claim £50m 'bridge to nowhere' not a waste of cash River project has 'improved area for wildlife' Spalding Business Improvement District South Holland District Council

Spalding business owners refuse BID payment amid dispute
Spalding business owners refuse BID payment amid dispute

BBC News

time07-07-2025

  • Business
  • BBC News

Spalding business owners refuse BID payment amid dispute

A group of businesses in Spalding say they are determined not to pay towards the town's Business Improvement District (BID) despite the threat of legal BID was established after a ballot of local businesses which was won by a single vote in July 2024. However, a number of traders have refused to pay the compulsory charge, saying the vote was invalid because some businesses had not received a ballot Holland District Council said it was confident the ballot was carried out in a correct and proper manner. The cost of the levy to each business is calculated as a percentage of its rateable value, meaning the larger the business, the more it pays. The BID plans to use the money to fund projects to improve the town centre and attract more shoppers to the town. Photographer Julian Wheeler is one of a group of small business owners opposed to the levy. He, along with 45 others who did not pay, was found liable for the charge in a hearing at Boston Magistrates' Court on 30 June. Mr Wheeler said he would continue to refuse to pay the charge and hoped to challenge the legality of the vote which established the BID."We have identified at least two infractions of the BID regulations, on the part of South Holland District Council, and that brings into question the legality of the BID being enacted."Beautician Macie Harman, who owns Macie's Boo-tique was also summoned to appear in court for non-payment. She said she would now pay the levy to avoid incurring further costs, but would continue to fight to have to the BID scrapped."I didn't receive a ballot so I don't think it's fair that I should have to pay for something I didn't have a choice about," she said. A South Holland District Council spokesperson said: "We have every confidence that the BID ballot and levy collection have been carried out in the correct and proper manner, working in line with national guidelines to ensure a fair and transparent process, with clear and documented communication throughout."The ballot was managed to the same high level as any other election, with verified data being provided to a recognised electoral services provider, and the council's returning officer overseeing the process with the usual checks, proofing and sign-off taking place."The collection of the levy on behalf of the BID has been carried out in the same manner as it would be with council tax and all other council managed collection processes, and all recovery actions undertaken have been done in line with the relevant national regulations." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here, to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here, to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.

South Holland woman sentenced in theft scheme, pocketed rent payments
South Holland woman sentenced in theft scheme, pocketed rent payments

Yahoo

time02-07-2025

  • Yahoo

South Holland woman sentenced in theft scheme, pocketed rent payments

A South Holland woman was sentenced to two years in prison for taking more than $18,000 in rent payments while she was working for a property management company, according to Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul's office. Delvya Harris also admitted to fraudulently obtaining more than $41,000 in federal Paycheck Protection Program loans by falsely claiming she owned a business, Raoul's office said in a news release. Harris, 32, was sentenced Monday by Cook County Judge Laura Ayala-Gonzalez after pleading guilty to a Class 3 felony theft charge, according to the release. Harris was employed by management firm Habitat Co. as an assistant community manager at the Chicago Housing Authority's Trumbull Park Homes in Chicago's South Deering community when she stole 50 money orders, according to the release. Harris admitted to depositing money orders CHA tenants used to pay, worth $18,215, into her personal bank account between December 2022 and March 2023, according to the release. Harris also fraudulently applied for two PPP loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration by falsely claiming that she owned a retail business that did not exist, Raoul's office said. Harris received a total of just over $41,000 in February and May 2021 from two fraudulent applications, according to the news release.

South Holland DC agrees to dump waste bags for wheelie bins
South Holland DC agrees to dump waste bags for wheelie bins

BBC News

time29-06-2025

  • General
  • BBC News

South Holland DC agrees to dump waste bags for wheelie bins

The last district in Lincolnshire where households still use bags for their rubbish is to switch to wheelie Holland District Council's cabinet made the decision at a special meeting on those taking part in a consultation in the district last year, 49% wanted wheelie bins while 51% said they did Astill, the council's portfolio holder for corporate, governance, communications and environmental services, said the main reason for the change was the government's requirement for local authorities to collect paper and card separately from other recyclables. Households currently use separate bags for recycling and non-recycling, both of which are collected new wheelie bin system will operate on a rotation system, with each bin emptied once a fortnight as well as weekly food waste collections being said it could take up to 18 months for the changes to come into council's current recycling performance is considered inadequate at 31.5%, compared with the national recycling rate of 44%.The national target is for 65% of household waste to be recycled by that those taking part in the consultation marginally favoured keeping the bags, Astill said: "You do have to make unpopular decisions, but it was a survey – it wasn't a vote." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store