Guillermo Rodriguez's salsa brand is launching nationwide after surpassing one million tubs
Guillermo's Salsa will expand to Kroger locations nationwide on Oct. 4, and in H-E-Bs on Nov. 4
"When you try it, you're going to be like, 'Oh my God, this salsa is real good,' " Rodriguez tells PEOPLE
In the past few weeks, Guillermo Rodriguez, has spiced up the Dancing with the Stars ballroom, competing alongside his pro partner Witney Carson. But the dance floor isn't the only place he's brought the heat.
Rodriguez, 55, launched his salsa brand — co-founded with Chris Kirby, founder of Ithaca Hummus — in January, and it has been sold in stores across the Northeast and Southeast. Since its release, Guillermo's Salsa has become one of the fastest-growing refrigerated salsa brands, selling over one million tubs, according to an official press release.

#guillermo #brand

RF Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ:RFIL) reported stronger fiscal third-quarter results on September 14. Revenue increased 21% to $23.96 million for the quarter ended July 31, 2026, while operating income reached approximately $1.8 million, compared with $720,000 a year earlier.
The next question is whether new orders can sustain that performance. Quarterly bookings totaled $22.5 million, below revenue. Backlog stood at $18.6 million at quarter-end and increased to $19.8 million by September 14.
Bookings measure new orders, including modifications or cancellations of earlier orders. Backlog represents orders received for which revenue has yet to be recognized.
RF Industries, Ltd. (NASDAQ:RFIL) improved both sales and profitability. Gross margin increased to 35.6% from 34% a year earlier, helping operating income grow much faster than revenue.
Management attributes the margin expansion to a shift toward customized cabling and integrated systems. These offerings involve more engineering and larger projects than traditional component sales. Competing on technical capability and customer requirements could support stronger relationships and repeat business.

#earlier

Pricing alone does not decide where people buy their clothes.
With a number of retail chains competing for the off-price, on-trend fashion crown, it's easy for one brand to fall out of favor. Consumers seem to have an enduring love for Marshalls and TJ Maxx, while the popularity of Ross Dress for Less has grown steadily in recent years.
These brands drive sales by foot traffic, and that's a battle the aforementioned chains have been winning.
"Off-price apparel remained on solid footing in Q2 2026, with Ross leading the segment. Visits to Ross Dress for Less rose 16.4% year over year (YoY), while dd's DISCOUNTS grew 8.4%. TJX's TJ Maxx and Marshalls, meanwhile, saw visits hover around last year's levels — significantly outperforming traditional apparel, which declined 3.5% YoY," according to data from Placer.ai.
In the battle for customers looking for deals on trendy, fashionable clothes, Cato has been struggling, and now plans to close about 15% of its retail stores.

#less #retail

Pricing alone does not decide where people buy their clothes.
With a number of retail chains competing for the off-price, on-trend fashion crown, it's easy for one brand to fall out of favor. Consumers seem to have an enduring love for Marshalls and TJ Maxx, while the popularity of Ross Dress for Less has grown steadily in recent years.
These brands drive sales by foot traffic, and that's a battle the aforementioned chains have been winning.
"Off-price apparel remained on solid footing in Q2 2026, with Ross leading the segment. Visits to Ross Dress for Less rose 16.4% year over year (YoY), while dd's DISCOUNTS grew 8.4%. TJX's TJ Maxx and Marshalls, meanwhile, saw visits hover around last year's levels — significantly outperforming traditional apparel, which declined 3.5% YoY," according to data from Placer.ai.
In the battle for customers looking for deals on trendy, fashionable clothes, Cato has been struggling, and now plans to close about 15% of its retail stores.

#price

TIPS held in taxable brokerage accounts generate phantom income from inflation-adjusted principal, potentially pushing up to 85% of Social Security benefits into taxable income.
30-year TIPS currently yield 2.96% above inflation, but account placement determines how much of that real return retirees actually keep after taxes.
Holding TIPS inside a traditional IRA defers inflation-adjustment taxation until withdrawal, shielding annual principal increases from the Social Security provisional income formula.
Two retirees, same $1 million, same 4% rule, buy one finished with $1.4 million, the other hit $0 in 12 years. Our free reader guide explains the flaw that separated them, and the income-first method built to avoid it.
A 71-year-old retiree did what the textbooks suggest. He built a ladder of Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities in his brokerage account to keep inflation from quietly eating away at retirement. The timing looks unusually attractive. As of August 28, Treasury's real-yield curve put 10-year TIPS at 2.42% and 30-year TIPS at 2.96%. Those are yields above inflation for an investor buying at current market prices and holding to maturity. That 2.96% is a real yield, meaning it sits on top of the inflation adjustment rather than competing with the inflation rate itself.

#real #taxable

On August 6, James Hardie Industries (NYSE:JHX) reported results for the quarter ended June 30 and beat its own numbers by enough to raise guidance just three months into the fiscal year. Net sales jumped 64% year over year to $1.475 billion, adjusted EBITDA climbed 79% to $422.1 million, and both figures came in ahead of what management had originally guided investors to expect. For a company that closed a transformative acquisition less than a year earlier, that kind of overshoot forces a reassessment of the growth story ahead.
The headline growth number is inflated by the AZEK Exteriors deal folded into the base, so the more telling figure is the 12% pro forma net sales growth, which also beat original guidance. Siding & Trim, the core fiber cement business, posted organic net sales growth of 20% as North American fiber cement volumes returned to growth for the first time in several quarters. CEO Aaron Erter tied that to share gains against vinyl and other competing materials, along with programs like ColorPlus and Expanded Statement drawing more of the higher-end repair and remodel market. Adjusted EBITDA margin in that segment expanded 140 basis points to 33.5%, powered by favorable pricing, cheaper raw materials, and continued savings from the company's Hardie Manufacturing Operating System even as freight costs rose.
Management also said cost synergies from the AZEK integration are running ahead of schedule and revenue synergies are on track, evidenced by newly expanded nationwide distribution partnerships with Boise Cascade and other regional distributors. In Deck, Rail & Accessories, sell-through accelerated every month of the quarter and outpaced shipments, pulling channel inventory back to normal levels and setting up a cleaner back half of the year. Free cash flow more than doubled to $254.2 million, and the company used the cash to pay down $400 million of senior unsecured notes.
Erter was careful to frame the beat as execution rather than a healthier market, telling investors the company is "not ***** uming a housing market improvement" for the rest of fiscal 2027. Part of the quarter's strength came from an easy comparison, since channel inventory was deliberately reduced a year earlier, and management said that benefit is expected to moderate as the year goes on. Deck, Rail & Accessories net sales actually fell 5% on a pro forma basis because the company intentionally cut production to work down channel inventory, leaving the segment with an operating loss of $3.3 million for the quarter.

#Growth #sales #management

Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE:UBER) has secured Madrid as the fourth city covered by its partnership with WeRide, bringing Spain into its rapidly expanding autonomous vehicle network. The company's broader AV strategy covers more than 30 partners, while Uber expects to commit more than $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years. At the center of that strategy is Uber's decision not to build self-driving technology itself. Instead, the company wants to become the indispensable demand layer for whichever AV providers ultimately emerge as winners. Yet the diversification strategy is facing pressure in key areas. One of its most prominent AV partners is pulling back, while another remains under an active safety investigation.
Uber, WeRide, and AVOMO have secured Spain's first national permit covering level 4 autonomous passenger vehicles. The permit was issued by Spain's Directorate General of Traffic and allows the companies to begin deployment preparations on public roads in Madrid. Under the permit, WeRide can test its GXR vehicles and conduct roadmapping throughout Madrid in preparation for a commercial launch planned for year-end. The rollout will begin with 20 vehicles, each supervised by an in-car specialist, operating across high-demand areas of Greater Madrid. Madrid becomes the fourth city included in the Uber-WeRide partnership, which plans to reach 15 cities globally by 2030. The expansion also fits Uber's broader ******* et-light AV strategy, which includes more than 30 partnerships while Uber expects to commit over $10 billion across AV investments, infrastructure, and vehicle offtake over the coming years.
The diversification of Uber's AV network does not eliminate risks from individual partners. Uber and Waymo confirmed in late June that their Phoenix partnership had ended, while Waymo is reportedly considering a broader exit from its relationship with Uber. This comes even as Uber executives have publicly criticized Waymo's model while investing substantial capital in competing fleets. Avride is facing a separate challenge, with the NHTSA investigating the Uber AV partner after multiple crashes. At the same time, Tesla is ramping up its own Cybercab fleet, while Waymo has raised $16 billion to accelerate its independent growth. Together, these moves could reduce Waymo's reliance on Uber while increasing competitive pressure on Uber's AV platform.

#madrid #waymo

This story was originally published on CRE Daily. Join 70,000+ commercial real estate professionals getting daily news, market insights, and industry ***** ysis delivered straight to their inbox with the free CRE Daily newsletter.
Tech leased 1.1 million square feet of New York office ***** e in Q3 so far, surpassing legal to become the market's second-largest leasing sector behind finance.
AI companies are driving roughly 60% of tech leasing this quarter, competing for ***** e as Manhattan office supply hits its lowest point since 2020.
Flatiron remains the top tech submarket, while Hudson Square, the Penn District and Downtown are emerging as alternatives for ***** e-constrained tenants.
New York's tech sector has overtaken legal to become the city's second-largest office sector, trailing only finance, according to a September JLL report cited by GlobeSt.com. Tech tenants have leased 1.1 million square feet across the metro so far in the third quarter, a pace JLL Managing Director Joe Sipala called one of the "busiest summers" for office leasing the brokerage has seen in some time.

#daily #square #sector

"I am the house now," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told traders last week, as he defended the administration's increasingly interventionist approach to the bond market. He added that he had "asymmetric information" about what policymakers would do next and dared investors: "bet against me if you want."
On Wednesday, Federal Reserve chair Kevin Warsh might effectively take the other side of the bet.

It's been a hot American summer. Oil is hot, hovering around $110 a barrel. Bond yields are hot, too: the 10-year Treasury yield has pushed above 5%, around its highest level since 2007. Credit markets are running hot as well: U.S.-dollar debt issuance to finance AI and data-center development reached $308 billion through July. And all that borrowing is competing with U.S. national debt, which crossed $40 trillion less than a month ago. Stocks, despite a rough few days, are still up roughly 11% this year. Inflation, meanwhile, remains above 3%.
Put all that heat together, and the Federal Reserve is staring down a question it hasn't seriously confronted in three years: Is the U.S. economy actually overheating? Markets are betting the Fed thinks the answer is at least "maybe." Traders have priced a quarter-point hike Wednesday with near certainty.
But whether Wednesday amounts to a one-time course correction or the beginning of a new tightening cycle depends on what, exactly, is making the American economy hot. The last time the Fed began raising rates, in March 2022, Jerome Powell's Fed ultimately raised its benchmark rate by 525 basis points over 16 months.
Mohamed El-Erian, Wharton professor of practice and chief economic adviser at Allianz, parsed the current fervor and anxiety into four questions on X Tuesday: whether oil-supply disruptions persist, with China potentially acting as a "swing consumer"; whether Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent intervenes again to influence long-end yields; whether this week's hike proves "one and done" or the beginning of a cycle; and how markets balance AI's enormous promise against its enormous risks.

#secretary #federal #american

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has been on a historic run over the past five years, outperforming similarly sized peers in the pharmaceutical industry and becoming the first healthcare stock to reach a $1 trillion market cap. The company's diabetes and weight-loss portfolio has been the main engine behind its terrific performance of late, and it remains strong. During the second quarter, Eli Lilly's revenue jumped 48% year over year to $23 billion, while adjusted earnings per share rose 33% year over year to $8.38.
Sales from Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, a diabetes medicine, soared 91% year over year to $9.9 billion, while sales of Zepbound, approved for weight loss and obstructive sleep apnea, grew 46% to $4.9 billion. Can anything stop Eli Lilly's momentum? Here's one thing that might do so.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Eli Lilly generates most of its revenue from Mounjaro and Zepbound, which have the same active ingredient, tirzepatide, a medicine that mimics the action of the GLP-1 and GIP gut hormones. In the second quarter, sales from these two medicines accounted for almost 65% of the company's top line. Eli Lilly also markets Foundayo, an oral GLP-1 approved for weight loss, although it was approved in April and doesn't yet contribute much to its financial results.
Still, the point is that Eli Lilly's lineup is concentrated at the top, with just a couple of brands responsible for most of the recent momentum. Other pharmaceutical giants are well aware of Eli Lilly's GLP-1 success, and they are seeking to launch competing therapies.

#lilly #sales #loss #billion

Interested in NVIDIA Corporation? Here are five stocks we like better.
NVIDIA released CUDA-Q Logical, an open-source software layer that links GPUs with quantum processors to solve practical error correction challenges.
Early testing by Fermilab and Sandia National Laboratories shows dramatic efficiency gains, including a seven-fold faster design cycle and reduced physical qubit requirements.
Quantum hardware firms IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum could benefit as standardized software lowers development costs and enables deeper integration with NVIDIA's infrastructure.
Many investors view quantum hardware developers and classical semiconductor leaders as competing forces in high-performance computing. Recent developments demonstrate that the two architectures are becoming deeply interdependent.

#hardware #here

IPO Edge hosted a fireside chat at Nasdaq MarketSite with ***** n Tomsky, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of inDrive. The in-person interview was joined by Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone and they discussed the company's global scale alongside its competitive advantages and moats after more than a decade of growth, the opportunities beyond ride-hailing and where will the next growth phase come from.
About ***** n Tomsky, CEO and Founder
Arsen leads inDrive's global team of nearly 3,000 employees, driving the company's mission. Through fair-pay income opportunities, he is dedicated to empowering communities and increasing social mobility in underserved regions globally. Under ***** n's leadership, inDrive has demonstrated that responsible AI and profitable growth are not competing priorities; his core belief is that technology should amplify human agency, not replace it with opaque algorithms. Outside of his leadership role, ***** n is an avid runner and has successfully completed the Chicago and Tokyo marathons.
About inDrive
inDrive is a global mobility and delivery platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 400 million times and has been named the second most downloaded ride-hailing app. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of services, including intercity transportation, delivery, and financial services. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm.

#indrive #ride #chief

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) reported that its investigational lung-cancer drug gotistobart produced a clinically meaningful overall-survival benefit in the Phase 3 PRESERVE-003 trial in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after prior immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Reuters said gotistobart nearly doubled survival compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy, strengthening the case for the drug as a potential chemotherapy-free treatment in a population with significant unmet need.
The result builds on earlier Stage 1 data, where gotistobart reduced the risk of death by 54% versus docetaxel, with a hazard ratio of 0.46. Median overall survival was not yet reached for gotistobart versus 9.95 months for docetaxel, while the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 25.2% versus 0%. BioNTech is now awaiting the pivotal Stage 2 readout, making the latest result important not only for the drug's approval prospects but also for the credibility of BioNTech's broader transition from a COVID-vaccine company toward a multi-product oncology business.
The strongest bullish argument is that gotistobart now has repeated evidence of a meaningful survival advantage in a difficult-to-treat lung-cancer population. The earlier Stage 1 dataset showed 55.6% of patients alive in the gotistobart arm versus 23.8% with docetaxel, alongside a 54% reduction in the risk of death. The latest Phase 3 update reinforces that signal rather than introducing an entirely new hypothesis. If the pivotal Stage 2 data confirm the benefit, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) could have a differentiated therapy capable of competing on survival rather than simply response rates, potentially supporting meaningful pricing power and a commercially attractive oncology franchise.
The result also strengthens BioNTech's broader oncology strategy because gotistobart is one piece of a much larger pipeline rather than a standalone bet. BioNTech says it has 14 ongoing pivotal trials and more than 10 novel combination programs, while its lung-cancer strategy spans more than 16 ongoing clinical trials and five Phase 3 programs. Gotistobart's success therefore provides validation for the company's immuno-oncology capabilities, while other ****** ets such as pumitamig and antibody-drug conjugates advance toward additional indications. BioNTech has identified 17+ late-stage or pivotal readouts through 2030+, creating the possibility that a successful gotistobart launch becomes the first major commercial proof point in its planned transition to a multi-product oncology company.

#stage #survival

IPO Edge hosted a fireside chat at Nasdaq MarketSite with ***** n Tomsky, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of inDrive. The in-person interview was joined by Editor-in-Chief John Jannarone and they discussed the company's global scale alongside its competitive advantages and moats after more than a decade of growth, the opportunities beyond ride-hailing and where will the next growth phase come from.
About ***** n Tomsky, CEO and Founder
Arsen leads inDrive's global team of nearly 3,000 employees, driving the company's mission. Through fair-pay income opportunities, he is dedicated to empowering communities and increasing social mobility in underserved regions globally. Under ***** n's leadership, inDrive has demonstrated that responsible AI and profitable growth are not competing priorities; his core belief is that technology should amplify human agency, not replace it with opaque algorithms. Outside of his leadership role, ***** n is an avid runner and has successfully completed the Chicago and Tokyo marathons.
About inDrive
inDrive is a global mobility and delivery platform. The inDrive app has been downloaded over 400 million times and has been named the second most downloaded ride-hailing app. In addition to ride-hailing, inDrive provides an expanding list of services, including intercity transportation, delivery, and financial services. In 2023, inDrive launched New Ventures, a venture and M&A arm.

#arsen #global #hailing

BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) reported that its investigational lung-cancer drug gotistobart produced a clinically meaningful overall-survival benefit in the Phase 3 PRESERVE-003 trial in patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after prior immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Reuters said gotistobart nearly doubled survival compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy, strengthening the case for the drug as a potential chemotherapy-free treatment in a population with significant unmet need.
The result builds on earlier Stage 1 data, where gotistobart reduced the risk of death by 54% versus docetaxel, with a hazard ratio of 0.46. Median overall survival was not yet reached for gotistobart versus 9.95 months for docetaxel, while the 12-month progression-free survival rate was 25.2% versus 0%. BioNTech is now awaiting the pivotal Stage 2 readout, making the latest result important not only for the drug's approval prospects but also for the credibility of BioNTech's broader transition from a COVID-vaccine company toward a multi-product oncology business.
The strongest bullish argument is that gotistobart now has repeated evidence of a meaningful survival advantage in a difficult-to-treat lung-cancer population. The earlier Stage 1 dataset showed 55.6% of patients alive in the gotistobart arm versus 23.8% with docetaxel, alongside a 54% reduction in the risk of death. The latest Phase 3 update reinforces that signal rather than introducing an entirely new hypothesis. If the pivotal Stage 2 data confirm the benefit, BioNTech SE (NASDAQ:BNTX) could have a differentiated therapy capable of competing on survival rather than simply response rates, potentially supporting meaningful pricing power and a commercially attractive oncology franchise.
The result also strengthens BioNTech's broader oncology strategy because gotistobart is one piece of a much larger pipeline rather than a standalone bet. BioNTech says it has 14 ongoing pivotal trials and more than 10 novel combination programs, while its lung-cancer strategy spans more than 16 ongoing clinical trials and five Phase 3 programs. Gotistobart's success therefore provides validation for the company's immuno-oncology capabilities, while other ***** ets such as pumitamig and antibody-drug conjugates advance toward additional indications. BioNTech has identified 17+ late-stage or pivotal readouts through 2030+, creating the possibility that a successful gotistobart launch becomes the first major commercial proof point in its planned transition to a multi-product oncology company.

#biontech #survival

The lightweight showdown between Renato Moicano and Brian Ortega has been scrapped from Saturday's UFC 331 card in Los Angeles.
Ortega suffered an undisclosed injury and as a result, his fight has been cancelled and Moicano is no longer competing on the card. Instead, Moicano now faces riding lightweight contender Tom Nolan in the main event for the upcoming UFC Fight Night card scheduled on Oct. 31 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.
UFC officials announced the news on Monday.
With Moicano vs. Ortega no longer happening, UFC 331, the card is down to 12 total fights with the heavyweight matchup between Gable Steveson and Sean Sharaf now opening the main card on Saturday night.
UFC 331 is headlined by a flyweight ******* le fight as Joshua Van puts his belt up for grabs against former champion Alexandre Pantoja.

#ortega #lightweight #renato

One of the 26 fighters competing Saturday at UFC 331 will walk away with an extra $50,000 in their pocket.
UFC CEO Dana White announced on Monday there will be a special bonus in play during the event in Los Angeles. In honor of hit Paramont+ series "MobLand", there will be an extra bonus. That will be on top of the regular four $100,000 Fight Night bonuses – Fight of the Night (which is earned by two fighters in the most exciting bout), and two individual Performance of the Night awards.
White didn't reveal the exact criteria for the bonus or what exactly he'll be looking for, but he did name it the "proper chaos bonus" and said it'll be up to him to determine the winner.
"Long before I did a deal with Paramount, I've been telling you guys I'm a huge fan of 'Mobland,'" White said Monday in an Instagram video. "It is one of the best shows on television. Season two premieres this Friday on Paramount+, the night before UFC 331 in LA. So for one night only, we're bringing a little proper chaos into the octagon. At UFC 331, we are unlocking the proper chaos bonus. $50,000 awarded to the fighter who I think deserves it most. UFC 331, Van vs. Pantoja is live September 19th on Paramount+, and do not forget season two, premieres this Friday. Mobland, one of the best shows on television. Knockout season one, just in time for season two."

#season #fight

Former Houston Rockets center Montrezl Harrell appears to be attempting an NBA comeback. Although he's recently played in the BIG3, Harrell is still 32 years old and is now aiming to make another NBA roster. Harrell, who started out as a Rockets second-round pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, may be eyeing a reunion in Houston.
Following the conclusion of the BIG3 season, Harrell was seen at Rio Grande Valley Vipers open tryouts Saturday, competing for a spot on the team. Harrell's NBA career spanned eight seasons, two of which were with the Rockets. In those years, the former Louisville big man averaged 6.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 0.8 **** ists, 0.3 steals and 0.5 blocks. Harrell would later become one of the league's premiere sixth men, taking home the 2019-2020 Sixth Man of the Year Award after averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.7 **** ists, 0.6 steals and 1.1 blocks for the Los Angeles Clippers.
Harrell's last NBA campaign came during the 2022-23 season, where he suited up in 57 games for the Philadelphia 76ers.
For more NBA content, check out the BasketBaltes podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/@B...

#harrell #rockets #houston #points

Hyrox, the popular indoor fitness competition, is adjusting its policies and procedures after a world champion was allowed to continue at a competition in China last weekend despite suffering fecal incontinence.
Joanna Wietrzyk was competing in the age 16-24 elite event in Beijing on Saturday when she suddenly became ill. But despite fecal matter running down her legs, Wietrzyk was allowed to keep competing. The Australian continued on and ended up winning the race in a time of 1:01.23.
But in the days since, Hyrox has received heavy criticism for allowing Wietrzyk to continue competing despite the potential health risks. The company said that, despite having "clear biocontaminant and medical procedures in place," the situation "blurred" protocols and created "ambiguity in how they were applied and understood."
"I apologize to all that were directly or indirectly affected, as well as to everyone who felt like we did not handle the situation like we should have," Hyrox co-founder Moritz Furste said in a statement. "Hyrox made a mistake by not reacting immediately during the race. In the end, it is my job to foresee these potential incidents — and I did not.
"Of course, we started improving event processes, plus making rulebook changes immediately. As of this moment, there are new rules and procedures in place to prevent situations like this from happening again."

#allowed

On September 10, 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. (NASDAQ:FLWS) reported fiscal 2026 results that read like a company still finding its footing after a hard year. Full year revenue fell 10.8% to $1.5 billion, and the fourth quarter alone dropped 12.9% to $293.1 million, as consumers stayed selective with discretionary spending on gifts and gourmet food. Buried under those declines, though, is a different story: inventory shrank, free cash flow improved by $55 million, and the company hit a two-year cost savings target a full year early. The question now is whether that discipline can outrun the sales slide.
1-800-Flowers spent fiscal 2026 tearing down the walls between its brands. Instead of separate teams running each brand in silos, the company shifted to functional teams built around marketing, merchandising, and the digital shopping experience, with one team now acting as store manager for every website. That shift already shows up in products: the floral business combined its florist-fulfilled and direct-ship merchandising teams, so the same popular arrangements are available either way, instead of competing against itself on one landing page. Harry & David rolled out a redesigned, mobile-first website with AI-powered search that is currently in A/B testing, and several low-traffic standalone sites were folded into harryanddavid.com to concentrate traffic rather than split it.
The financial discipline behind that reorganization is real. The company reached its $50 million cost savings run rate a full year ahead of schedule and has already lined up another $15 million to $20 million in savings for fiscal 2027, with the full benefit landing in fiscal 2028. That, combined with tighter working capital management, pushed free cash flow up $55 million year over year and cut inventory to $153 million from $177 million. Average order value rose 5.5%, third-party marketplace sales through Amazon, Walmart, and DoorDash are growing at double-to-triple-digit rates and are already contribution margin positive, and BloomNet grew 1.9% on the back of local delivery partnerships with apps like DoorDash and Instacart.
The rest of the story is bleaker. Total transactions fell 17.6% for the year, and the fourth quarter's decline was broad-based: consumer floral and gifts dropped 13.4% to $182.8 million as the company pulled back on promotional discounting, and gourmet foods and gift baskets fell 15.4% to $85.8 million, a decline made worse by the timing of Easter. Adjusted EBITDA for the year collapsed to $2.9 million from $29.2 million, and adjusted gross margin slipped 110 basis points to 38%. Even the fourth quarter's 34.7% gross margin leaned on a one-time $7 million tariff refund.

#fiscal

For over a season and a half, New Iberia football hadn't won a game. On Sept. 11, all of that changed as the Yellowjackets bulldozed Vill Platte for the sweetest 60-6 victory they've ever tasted.
"It means a lot; it's great seeing the smile on all of the kid's faces," NISH football coach Zi'yon Hill-Green said. "I remember back in the summer, I preached about competing and showing up every day, and that's what they have been doing. We needed that confidence boost."
REQUIRED READING: Vote now for the Daily Advertiser Athlete of the Week (Sept. 7- 13)
The win also marked the first win of the Hill-Green era, snapping NISH's 18-game losing streak.
All offseason long, the goal for new head coach Hill-Green and his staff was to revive the hive by way of rebuilding the program's foundation.

#game #coach

No. 14 Tennessee (2-0) will host Kennesaw State (1-1) Saturday in Week 3 of the 2026 college football season.
Kickoff between the Vols and Owls is slated for 7:45 p.m. EDT at Neyland Stadium. SEC Network will televise the contest.
Saturday will mark the first meeting between the two schools.
Kennesaw State first fielded a football team in 2015.
The Owls began competing in FCS as a member of the Big South Conference due to the Atlantic Sun Conference not sanctioning football until Kennesaw State began transitioning to a FBS program. Kennesaw State won three Big South championships (2017-18, 2021) and advanced to playoff quarterfinals from 2017-18. The Owls advanced to the second round of the FCS playoffs in 2019 and 2021.

#kennesaw #south #first #advanced

Gold and silver investors have had to contend with some sharp price moves so far in 2026. Gold, for example, surpassed $5,500 per ounce early this year, but has since retreated significantly from that record high, with the price of gold sitting closer to $4,275 per ounce as of mid-September. Silver, on the other hand, has also experienced sizable price swings as investors have responded to shifting expectations for inflation, interest rates and the economy.
And those price movements could become even more **** ounced in the days ahead. The Federal Reserve meets September 15 and 16, and persistent inflation has increased the possibility of another rate hike. That prospect matters for precious metals investors because changes in interest rates can quickly alter where investors put their money and how much they're willing to pay for **** ets such as gold and silver.
Still, the outcome isn't as simple as higher rates automatically leading to lower precious metals prices. Gold and silver are being pulled by several competing forces right now, and the Fed's decision is only one of them. So, if the central bank does raise rates this week, what could it actually mean for gold and silver prices — both immediately and in the months that follow? That's what we'll examine below.
Find out how you can use gold and silver to protect your portfolio today.
If the Fed raises rates at its September meeting, gold and silver prices could face some short-term pressure, as higher interest rates tend to make other interest-bearing options, such as bonds and savings products, more attractive. Gold and silver **** ets don't pay interest, though, so some investors may be less willing to hold them when they can earn higher returns elsewhere.

#Gold #silver #rates #ounce

You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.
The giant artificial intelligence company Anthropic has rolled out Claude for Financial Advisors, a suite of artificial intelligence connectors and what the company refers to as "workflow skills" designed to help advisors automate research, meeting preparation and documentation tasks.
Its new product includes connectors to custodians, ***** et managers and wealth technology providers, such as Charles Schwab, BlackRock, Addepar, Envestnet, iCapital, Orion, SS&C Black Diamond, Wealthbox, Wealth.com, Vanguard and Zocks, along with previously available integrations with Microsoft 365, Salesforce, DocuSign, Box, FactSet, S&P Global and Morningstar.
The platform includes skills for advisor onboarding, alternative investments briefing, compliance and AI policy review, estate and tax briefing, portfolio rebalance review, post-meeting notes and follow-up, pre-meeting preparation and prospect intake, according to Anthropic.
"We aren't trying to replace any of the tools out there," said Peter Nolan, head of ***** et and wealth management at Anthropic, during an interview with WealthManagement, when asked whether this puts Anthropic in the position of competing with and potentially upending the developing ecosystem of entrepreneurs and developers working with it and other major AI model providers.

#advisors

King Charles appears to have helped clear up a royal misunderstanding surrounding Prince Harry's Invictus Games. Uganda has reversed its decision to withdraw from the 2027 event after a phone call involving Buckingham Palace. The switch comes just days after Uganda's military chief said the country would stay away out of respect for King Charles. Now, the team is back in.
Uganda's military announced the reversal on Sept. 14. General Muhoozi Kainerugaba approved the Uganda People's Defence Forces' participation in the Invictus Games 2027 after speaking with Sir Clive Alderton.
Alderton serves as Principal Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla. The official Ugandan statement said the two men spoke by phone before Kainerugaba reinstated the team.
ITV News reported that Alderton told Kainerugaba the King was "moved" by his consideration of the monarch's position. However, King Charles had "no problem" with Uganda competing and encouraged the country to continue.
That clarification resolved an unusual dispute. Kainerugaba announced Uganda's withdrawal on Sept. 9 because he did not want participation interpreted as opposition to King Charles. He also said Uganda would not join anything without the monarch's approval.

#king #charles #invictus #military

Sydney Sweeney's latest ad campaign has landed very differently with some of the women who have spent their lives competing in sports.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Ariarne ***** mus is among a growing group of athletes criticizing Sweeney's new "Just Sports" campaign for Novig, a sports prediction market. The campaign shows Sweeney nude or minimally dressed while footballs, basketballs, hockey equipment and other sports gear strategically cover her body.
Athletes including former UCLA gymnast Gracie Kramer, Olympic swimmer Lani Pallister, British sprinter Amy Hunt and water polo Olympian Tilly Kearns have responded by putting competition, training and athletic achievement back at the center of their own posts.
Sweeney is more closely tied to the campaign than a typical celebrity spokesperson. Novig announced that she joined the company as a strategic partner and equity holder, while Sweeney said she had participated in the creative process from the beginning.
The four-time Olympic champion, who retired from competitive swimming in 2025, wrote on Instagram that she had believed this kind of marketing belonged in the past.

#four

Former Cincinnati Reds great Joey Votto reacted to former St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina's induction into the team's Hall of Fame by tweeting, "Class player. Class franchise."
Votto still played for the Reds in 2022 when he tweeted minutes before the start a series finale against the Cardinals at Great American Ball Park and called for "appreciation for the experience of competing against Cards icons" Molina and Albert Pujols.
Pujols was inducted alongside Molina into the Cardinals' Hall of Fame.
Molina and former Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips were the principals in a memorable Reds-Cardinals brawl in August 2010.

#reds #great

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) -- Richwoods had a big comeback win against Mohamet-Seymour in flag football, avenging a one-point loss from last season. The Bulldogs led the Knights 22-18 with six minutes left in the game, but Richwoods scored a pair of late touchdowns. The go ahead touchdown game with Anjaliyah Adams for the go ahead touchdown to put the Knights up 24-22 and then Acosia Morris would put the game away in the final minute with a rushing touchdown as Richwoods defeated Mahomet-Seymour 30-22.
In other flag football action Normal Community had a big 19-12 win over Joliet Catholic. Bailey Engel continued to chuck the ball all over the gridiron as she had a couple more touchdown passes.
In volleyball Limestone was at the Lincoln Invitational looking to win the tournament for the second consecutive year, but the Rockets fell in three sets to O'Fallon.
Washington competed in the Williamsville Invitational where the Panthers took down the host school in straight sets.
Peoria High hosted the First To The Finish cross country meet that saw more than 200 schools and nearly 5,000 runners competing. In the girls class 1A run Stark County's Dusti Smith finished in second place while Eureka was the team champ. On the boys side Stark County's Evan **** loch was the star as he finished in first place with a time of 14 minutes and 57 seconds.

#flag

A massive brawl has erupted at ADCC 2026, involving Dorian Olivarez and his famous teammate and coach, Gordon Ryan.
One of the 66 kg tournament favorites in Olivarez finished Bezkat Kapashov in the opening round of a Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) match that was extra chippy and physical. Tensions flared immediately after the submission, with a pretty large Kazakh team contingent confronting Olivarez and his cornermen.
Things quickly escalated to a pretty sizable brawl involving Ryan, Olivarez and the Kapashov's entire team. Ryan was eventually seen on the ground and taking punches while going against three men in a chaotic scene.
ADCC officials eventually pulled people off him to de-escalate the situation, and the scuffle was eventually diffused after a minute. Fortunately, no one seemed to have been seriously hurt.
Olivarez will be able to continue onto the next round. Ryan was seen throwing a thumbs up towards officials as he just immediately went back to his chair on the next mat, as one of his many teammates on the card was still competing.

#eventually #adcc #involving #pretty

India's search for consistency in T20I cricket will continue with a three-match series against Afghanistan, but the team's batting combination could once again come under scrutiny, particularly with vice-captain Tilak Varma's role yet to appear fully settled.

India, led by Shreyas Iyer, endured a difficult run following their second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year. The team lost all six of its T20Is against Ireland and England before finally putting together a 3-0 clean sweep against Zimbabwe.

The Afghanistan series begins on September 13 (Saturday), with India also scheduled to play a historic T20I against ******* an before featuring in the Asian Games 2026.
With several established batters competing for places, former South Africa star AB de Villiers believes India could face a selection headache, particularly when it comes to deciding where Tilak Varma fits into the batting order.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, de Villiers pointed to the number of batting options available to India and questioned how the team would accommodate its vice-captain.

"There will definitely be some selection issues with regard to the batters. Obviously, Shreyas, captain, Ishan Kishan, Samson, Sooryavanshi, and then there are all-rounders, Tilak Varma; I think that's where the balance is quite tricky. Where will he bat?" de Villiers said.

Tilak's recent numbers also underline why his position could become a talking point.

Since the 2026 T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 255 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 159.36, with three scores of 50 or more. However, the numbers need some context. One of those half-centuries came during the recent Zimbabwe series, while another was scored in the fifth T20I against England, by which point India had already conceded the series.

His overall returns therefore look stronger in isolation than his performances across the entire period suggest. Tilak endured a particularly difficult run during India's tour of the UK, and his inconsistency has remained a concern despite the occasional big score. That makes his position in India's batting order an even bigger talking point ahead of the Afghanistan series.

The presence of Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives India several batting options, while the team also has to factor in its all-rounders.

For de Villiers, the challenge is not simply about selecting the strongest players but finding a combination in which every batter has a clearly defined role.

He believes India have enough quality in their squad to deal with Afghanistan, but stressed that clarity will be particularly important against a side he considers dangerous.

"Really, really strong squad, but the balance will be tricky to figure out. It is T20 cricket, so they can play around with the squad a little bit. There are different roles, but the role clarification will still be incredibly important for India, as