Fashion retailer Country Road closing some Australian stores: Is New Zealand affected?
It comes as the brand's South African owners, Woolworths Holdings, review its retail store portfolio amid challenging economic conditions.
Sales across the Country Road Group, which also includes brands Mimco,
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Techday NZ
15 minutes ago
- Techday NZ
Cloudera expands multi-cloud AI reach with Taikun acquisition
Cloudera has announced its acquisition of Taikun, a platform provider specialising in Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure management across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The move expands Cloudera's ability to deliver its data and AI platform across public clouds, on-premise data centres, and sovereign or air-gapped environments through a single unified control plane. The integration brings a fully integrated compute layer to Cloudera's stack, aiming to streamline deployment and operations for enterprise IT teams. Industry context According to research from Gartner, organisations implementing multi-cloud architectures often experience difficulties in connecting to, and between, different cloud providers. The research suggests that more than 50% of such organisations are expected to fall short of their intended outcomes by 2029. Australian businesses and others operating in the region face ongoing challenges related to fragmented data and application management across increasingly diverse infrastructures. Cloudera's acquisition of Taikun is positioned as a means to address these issues by simplifying operations and supporting better governed business decisions. Strategic aims The acquisition is designed to accelerate the roll-out of Cloudera's complete platform, including Data Services and support for AI, to any environment where enterprise data resides. Taikun's technology offers a container-native approach to managing data and workloads, supporting highly regulated environments such as GovCloud, Sovereign Cloud, and air-gapped data centres. Customers using the integrated Cloudera and Taikun platform will be able to deploy data and AI workloads across a variety of settings - data centres, cloud, or hybrid environments - without impacting performance or limiting their choice of deployment. The combined platform aims to provide a consistent cloud-like experience, even in complex and regulated circumstances. Operational benefits Key advantages outlined include the ability to conduct zero-downtime upgrades and optimised resource allocation, which are expected to boost operational efficiency and lower the total cost of ownership. Customers can also adopt a flexible approach to integrating a wide range of tools and databases, including those from Cloudera partners and third-party providers. The underlying architecture is intended to preserve long-term flexibility for enterprise customers, enabling future readiness as business requirements evolve. Leadership perspectives "This acquisition marks a pivotal step in our mission to bring the cloud experience wherever enterprise data resides," Charles Sansbury, Chief Executive Officer of Cloudera, said. "By integrating Taikun's container-native platform in our stack, we are removing operational barriers and enabling our customers to unlock faster insights, make smarter decisions, and drive real-time action in every corner of their business." As part of the acquisition, Taikun's engineering team will become part of Cloudera's wider engineering, product, and support organisation. Cloudera will also establish a new European development hub in the Czech Republic, reflecting Taikun's headquarters and further reinforcing Cloudera's commitment to the region. Adam Skotnicky, former Chief Executive Officer of Taikun, commented: "Our acquisition by Cloudera marks a pivotal moment for us. Our advanced cloud-native computing platform will enable customers from across the globe to deliver and deploy services and applications seamlessly, whether that's in the data centre or in multi-cloud environments. Only Cloudera is the right organisation for us to join during this critical moment for data and AI." Analyst view Sanjeev Mohan, Principal at SanjMo, addressed the broader industry implications, stating: "Organisations are suffering more than ever from fragmented data and application management across diverse infrastructures, increasing complexity, costs, and limiting data/AI initiatives." The result: compromise on workload placement and data analysis. With Cloudera's acquisition of Taikun and integration in Cloudera's platform, organisations can now run AI and analytics anywhere their data lives - from cloud to edge - accelerating insights, empowering smarter choices, and driving real-time responses throughout their organisation." Recent acquisitions This acquisition marks Cloudera's third strategic purchase within the past 14 months, following earlier acquisitions of an operational AI platform from Verta in May 2024 and Octopai's data lineage and catalogue solution in November 2024. According to the company, these acquisitions are intended to strengthen its platform and provide customers with increased flexibility on where and how they run data and AI workloads.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Seafood NZ Prepares For 'Thoughtful' Conference – Seafood's Science, Storytelling And Health Benefits All On The Table
Providing 'Food for Thought', as well as literally providing the best possible food for New Zealanders, are themes of the Seafood New Zealand 2025 Conference, kicking off on Wednesday 6 August in Nelson. The group representing New Zealand's commercial fishing sector is hosting around 250 industry leaders at the Conference, including scientists, operations experts and hands-on fishers. This year's theme is "Seafood for Thought' – an obvious play on the phrase "food for thought" – which is all about encouraging fresh thinking, new conversations, and smarter ways of working together. Conference delegates will hear from a range of speakers including Shane Jones, the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, who will open the 2025 Conference. Seafood New Zealand CEO, Lisa Futschek says there are three main strands to the Seafood for Thought theme. 'We're focused on the science that backs up our industry. We'll be asking how we can develop fishing technology that reduces our impacts and also allows us to fish in a smart and efficient way. 'Another area of focus is telling our story. New Zealand commercial fishing is lauded overseas - for example, a recent FAO report from the UN put us second in the world for sustainable management - and yet locally we are not so well recognised. How do we get better at sharing our stories with New Zealanders? 'And then we will look at the latest science around the health benefits of seafood consumption. We are fortunate enough to have two distinguished Australian scientists joining us in Nelson, who have just completed a review of the latest science around this very topic. We're looking forward to them revealing what their review of 281 of the newest and highest quality scientific papers says about the nutrition that seafood can provide and the impact that can have on human health.' Other topics on the table, providing Seafood for Thought are: • How the sector can sustainably grow its export value. Seafood is already worth around $2.2 billion a year to the New Zealand economy, so how do we increase this in a way that is sustainable for our ecosystems • What we can do to manage the trade-related challenges we face in today's fast changing geopolitical environment The Conference will also hear about safety at sea and on land, careers in seafood and how skippers can contribute to the science needed to manage our fisheries with greater certainty. The 2025 Seafood New Zealand Conference runs for two days – August 6 and 7. Fast Facts – Key Data about New Zealand Commercial Fishing • New Zealand's commercial wild capture fisheries are worth $1.6 billion in export revenue • Our seafood sector produces $2.2 billion in export revenue in total (including aquaculture) • 16,500 Kiwis are employed either directly or indirectly in seafood • Fisheries management is complex – there are 642 fish stocks under management • New Zealand fish stocks are in good shape. 97.3% of total commercial landings by weight are from stocks that are considered sustainable (see MPI data).
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Why 750+ Australian Business Leaders Are Waitlisted For The Invitation-Only Founders Table Experience
Article – Hugh Grant The idea is simple: bring together Australias top entrepreneurs those with $10 million+ in annual revenue for small, informal gatherings. These meetings focus on building real connections, free from typical business pressures. The lamb is perfectly cooked, pink in the center with a hint of rosemary. Frank Greeff moves around the long table with the confidence of someone who once earned his living in the kitchen of Sydney's prestigious Bathers' Pavilion restaurant. But tonight, he is not cooking for paying customers. He is serving twelve of Australia's most successful entrepreneurs, the collective net worth at this table easily exceeds a billion dollars, but not one of them had to pay a cent to be here. As Greeff sets down the final plate, the conversation never breaks. A fintech founder is conversing with a healthcare CEO about the challenges of managing a rapidly growing team. Across the table, two e-commerce veterans compare notes on expansion strategies into Southeast Asia. No one exchanges business cards, makes pitches, or hangs sponsors' banners on the wall; instead, the group enjoys genuine camaraderie among people who understand exactly what it means to build something substantial from nothing. This is the Founders Table, perhaps Australia's most exclusive dinner club. And outside this room, 240 other successful entrepreneurs await their invitation. The Non-Club Club The idea is simple: bring together Australia's top entrepreneurs – those with $10 million+ in annual revenue – for small, informal gatherings. These meetings focus on building real connections, free from typical business pressures. 'We're creating a network and connecting with founders in Australia. The Founders Table is not a paid membership, so founders are invited on merit of business revenue and size rather than paying to be part of the group, ' explains Jacques Greeff. He co-founded Founders Table with his brother Frank in early 2025 following their $180 million exit from real estate marketing technology company Realbase. There is a philosophical clarity to the operation that makes more established networking organizations seem almost comically overcomplicated by comparison. There are no membership fees, sponsors, speakers selling books, or corporate partners selling services. It is just founders talking to founders. The Antidote to Tall Poppy Syndrome At its core, Founders Table is attempting to solve a distinctly Australian cultural problem. The country is often characterized by 'tall poppy syndrome,' or the tendency to criticize successful or prominent people. Building an ecosystem that celebrates entrepreneurial achievement requires creating safe spaces where people can share their success stories. 'In five years from today, we want Founders Table to be the loudest and most influential voice in business within Australia,' the Greeff brothers mention. 'It's far too frequent that incredible founders reach their potential and move to the U.S. to keep growing. We want to change that,' says Jacques. 'We want to change the landscape in Australia, drown out the tall poppy syndrome and make Australia one of the best places to start, grow and flourish as a founder.' What Happens at the Table The gatherings themselves follow a carefully orchestrated rhythm. Each begins with welcome drinks, where founders who may have known each other only by reputation finally meet face-to-face. Drawing on his culinary background, Frank often prepares the meals himself, a personal touch that sets a different tone than typical networking events. Between courses, founders rotate seats, guaranteeing everyone connects with multiple peers throughout the evening. Conversations are guided by thoughtful prompts about business challenges, but frequently veer into personal territory. The organizers deliberately construct the environment to foster vulnerability, a rare commodity among high achievers who are used to projecting strength. 'We create an environment for founders to get together without an agenda or sales pitch,' explains Frank. 'The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, unlike clubs which are paid memberships or sponsored by corporate entities.' It is in these moments of unguarded conversation that the actual value emerges. CEOs who usually carefully guard their business challenges suddenly find themselves admitting struggles with scaling operations or managing investor expectations. The collective wisdom of peers who have faced similar obstacles helps founders navigate problems that once seemed insurmountable in isolation. Beyond Dinners While the gatherings form the core of Founders Table's offering, the organization rapidly evolves into something more substantial. The Greeff brothers have begun making strategic investments in promising companies within their network, including Relume, a startup that powers its site builder with AI and that some observers believe could become 'Australia's next Canva.' During in-person gatherings, members connect through a private digital platform to exchange advice, resources, and opportunities. The community has begun to function as an informal talent network where founders can find experienced executives who understand the unique challenges of high-growth companies. The Waiting List The explosive growth of Founders Table's waiting list, now at 750+ entrepreneurs and growing, speaks to its appeal and the gap it's filling in Australia's business ecosystem. What is striking is how many waitlisted founders already belong to other established business organizations, yet still desire access to Australia's most exclusive dinner club. The selection process remains opaque, though revenue is the primary criterion. The Greeffs personally vet each potential member, looking beyond financial metrics to assess cultural fit. They are building not just an impressive roster of members but a carefully balanced ecosystem where each participant adds unique value to the table. A Future of Possibilities For the Greeff brothers, Founders Table represents the first phase of a more ambitious vision for transforming Australia's entrepreneurial terrain. Though they remain tight-lipped about specifics, they have hinted at plans to develop services and resources specifically for founders. It is clear that the brothers are playing a longer game than simply hosting dinners. They are methodically constructing an ecosystem to keep Australia's best entrepreneurial talent building businesses at home rather than decamping to Silicon Valley or New York. Back at the dinner table, as the evening winds down, founders exchange phone numbers and plan to meet again outside the formal gatherings. This organic network-building, occurring without prompting or facilitation, is precisely what the Greeffs hoped to catalyze. Frank collects empty dessert plates while Jacques refills wine glasses. The Greeff brothers are not just hosting a dinner; they are quietly engineering a shift in Australia's business culture, one carefully curated gathering at a time.
