European dairy co-operative Arla Foods has announced plans for two major mergers—with German dairy Milch-Union Hocheifel and the UK’s Milk Link.

Milch-Union Hocheifel (MUH) is Germany’s eighth largest dairy with owners in Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. Milk Link is the UK’s fourth largest dairy.

If the mergers are finalised and approved, Arla will be represented by owners in its four largest markets: the UK, Sweden, Denmark and Germany, as well as Belgium and Luxembourg.

This summer, the UK is hosting what’s being billed as the world’s biggest Olympic Games yet. With businesses operating in and around Central London and the Olympic sites likely to experience considerable difficulties with access, transportation and mobile telecommunications, the organisers are advising people to work from home or take leave on the busiest dates.

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Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has become the first commercial company to launch a spacecraft mission to the International Space Station.

SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon 9 rocket at 3:44am Eastern time today, from its launch pad at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The rocket is carrying a Dragon spacecraft which will now be subjected to a series of tests to determine if the vehicle is ready to berth with the station.


South Africa’s Department of Energy has approved 19 proposals for renewable energy projects in the second round of its request for bids.

The Department of Energy received 79 bids in total for the second round, of which 51 met the qualification criteria. However, given the MW limitation and competition, only 19 bidders were selected as preferred.

Together, the second round proposals represent almost R28 billion in investment.


Everything you think you know about business growth is wrong. Professor Ed Hess debunks some popular myths about growth and provides proven truths to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses successfully.

 


The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has recommended approval for Western Australia’s first uranium mine.

Toro Energy Limited has been advised by the EPA that approval has been recommended for the company’s Wiluna Uranium Project. The EPA has presented a report to WA’s state minister for environment stating that the Wiluna Project meets environmental approval requirements and should be approved and allowed to proceed, subject to stated conditions within the report.


After shattering both its international and domestic store growth records last year, 7-Eleven, Inc. is on target to have an even bigger year in 2012.

The world's largest retailer by units added more than 4,600 stores worldwide in 2011 and plans to continue the company's accelerated growth.

Some 600 additional stores were built, acquired or transitioned from another business to the 7-Eleven brand in the United States and Canada during 2011.


Customers are unwilling to entertain higher prices, even if the products involved offer better value than before. George F. Brown, Jr. shares a no-risk strategy that works by offering options.

 

In the early 70s, The Godfather gave us the immortal phrase “Make him an offer he can’t refuse.” While his line of business was well suited to executing an offer of this kind, most of us are in businesses where the customer can turn down an offer without having to worry about the consequences of saying no to the Godfather.


Jim Signorelli outlines the 6 Cs of StoryBranding: a breakthrough approach to identify and develop a compelling brand story.

 

Too much advertising tells us how to see things or what we should believe is important. As a result, we are often inundated with ‘facts’ that can be argued, and opinions that are self-serving. It is hard to form a willing relationship with anyone, let alone a brand, that tries too hard to convince us of its own importance.