Latest news with #Astral
Mail & Guardian
14 hours ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Poultry sector recovering, prices not expected to increase
South Africa's poultry sector is recovering from a devastating outbreak of bird flu and has capacity to meet local consumer demand. (Madelene Cronje) South Africa's The department of agriculture rolled out mass inoculations earlier this month to protect the industry from highly pathogenic In 2023, millions of birds had to be culled, hampering production and driving up poultry and egg prices. The inoculation campaign kicked off with the vaccination of 200 000 broiler breeders at poultry producer Astral. The birds represent 5% of the company's total breeding stock, the department said. Industry experts have welcomed the inoculation drive. 'We had two cases of HPAI in the country, but both were contained and did not spread with minimum losses in terms of production,' said Izaak Breitenbach, the chief executive of the South African Poultry Association. 'We still have an additional one million birds per week slaughter capacity. We currently slaughter about 21.5 million birds per week.' That number reflects normal production levels, which may rise slightly toward December because sales typically increase in the second half of the year. Breitenbach said the industry also has the capacity to exceed this demand if needed 'The industry can cover an increase in demand of about 10% with local production in the short term and probably more in the long term.' Agriculture economists said the success rate for the inoculations will depend on how well future outbreaks are contained. (Graphic: John McCann/M&G) 'There are great expectations that South Africa's recent efforts to vaccinate poultry against avian flu will lessen the likelihood of another devastating outbreak similar to the one that occurred in 2023. Particularly in light of the seasonal influenza outbreak, which usually starts in April and peaks in September each year,' said Thabile Nkunjana, of the National Agricultural Marketing Council. 'However, the initial vaccination is reportedly for at least 200 000 broilers, which is extremely small compared to the size of the industry as a whole. As a result, there is still a chance of an outbreak related to South African poultry production, as well as a current risk of disruptions in the poultry supply, which frequently results in prices that have a negative impact on consumers The layer side of the poultry industry, which raises chickens specifically for egg production, is still producing at lower levels comparable to those before the 2023 outbreak, Nkunjana noted. 'If an outbreak were to occur, the industry would likely experience the same level of pressure as it did in 2023, and egg prices would probably rise once more,' he said. Experts warned that the cost of bird feed could hamper poultry production. Prices have increased on the back of climate conditions as well as international supply. 'Initially feed costs rose when world prices increased sharply in the aftermath of the pandemic and associated supply chain challenges, challenging weather in some key production regions and Russia's invasion of Ukraine,' said Tracy Davids, the executive director for commodity markets and foresight at the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy. 'When world prices came down, South African prices stayed higher due to the summer drought of 2024. So, feed costs have increased much more than meat prices over the past five years, making life difficult for all livestock producers, but particularly poultry that use feed very intensively. It's the biggest cost component in the sector.' With feed prices declining and the partial lifting of the ban on Brazilian chicken imports earlier this month, the prospects for the sector are looking positive, Davids added. The ban was implemented after Brazil also reported disease outbreaks, but was lifted to support South African consumers' food security, alleviate cost pressures, and help stabilise the supply chain, said Nkunjana.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Customers' personal data stolen from Louis Vuitton South Africa
'We regret to inform you that an unauthorised third party temporarily accessed our system and obtained some of your information.' Louis Vuitton South Africa has confirmed that it was hacked earlier in July and some clients' information was accessed. In an email to clients sent on Friday, the high-end luxury brand confirmed it was hacked on 2 July 2025. However, no passwords or financial information was compromised, it said. 'We regret to inform you that an unauthorised third party temporarily accessed our system and obtained some of your information,' read the email. ALSO READ: Mediclinic's employees' data compromised. Investigations underway How was Louis Vuitton hacked? Louis Vuitton said that it became aware of a personal data breach resulting from an exfiltration of certain personal data of some of its clients following unauthorised access to its system. It said this breach occurred despite all security measures being in place. 'We would like to assure you that our cybersecurity teams have taken care of the incident with the utmost diligence and attention. We are continuing investigations to identify the malicious actor,' the email said.. 'Technical measures were immediately taken to contain the incident after its occurrence, notably by blocking unauthorised access. Louis Vuitton teams are mobilised to cooperate with the competent authorities which have been notified.' No financial information stolen The luxury brand has reassured clients that no passwords or financial information, including credit card details or bank account information, were compromised. Louis Vuitton added that, according to its investigation, only personal data, such as first names, last names, gender, country, phone numbers and email addresses, were compromised. ALSO READ: Cybersecurity breach costs Astral R20 million in profit 'Given the nature of the data involved, we warmly recommend that you remain vigilant against any unsolicited communication or other suspicious correspondence, including emails, phone calls or text messages. 'While we have no evidence that your data has been misused to date, phishing attempts, fraud attempts or unauthorised use of your information may occur.' Never share your password The brand further urged clients that it will never ask clients to disclose their Louis Vuitton password. 'You should never disclose your Louis Vuitton password to anyone and you can rest assured that Louis Vuitton will never ask you to disclose it. 'We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this situation may cause you. Please rest assured that the security and protection of your personal data remain our utmost priority. 'All efforts are constantly being deployed to help prevent similar incidents in the future.' NOW READ: 16 billion Apple, Facebook, Google, and other passwords leaked
Scottish Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Kids will have hours of fun in the garden with The Range's bargain buy – it also lights up, plays music & is on sale
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KIDS will be buzzing for hours this summer thanks to a bargain garden buy from The Range - and it's got parents raving. Turn your garden into a party paradise with this freestanding Light-Up Music Bubble Machine from The Range. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Kids will be kept busy for hours this summer with a brilliant garden bargain from The Range Credit: The Range 3 The all-singing, all-dancing toy lights up, blasts music, and best of all, it's now on sale, making it the perfect pick for sunny day fun without the hefty price tag Credit: The Range Shaped like a charming lantern, this fun-filled gadget blasts bubbles, lights up, and plays music, adding instant magic to birthdays, BBQs or just sunny afternoons in the garden. It's easy to use, perfect for little ones, and guaranteed to keep the kids entertained for hours of outdoor fun - all while stealing the spotlight with its glowing LED effects. Available in pink or blue, this whimsical bubble machine stands at 118cm tall. Suitable for ages 3 and up, it's a hit with toddlers and young children alike, and makes a fab addition to any garden setup. Just pop in batteries, switch it on, and watch as it fills the air with music, light and streams of bubbles – bringing pure joy to your outdoor playtime. Even better, it's now just £5.99 - down from £9.99 - meaning you'll save £4 (that's 40% off!). A total steal for a toy that promises endless summer smiles. Grab it in-store or Click and Collect in just one hour. Other Summer Buys Shoppers are also flocking to get their hands on the perfect paddling pool to keep kids cool this summer. The three ring pool is decorated with your kids' favourite Paw Patrol characters, making splash time even more fun. Home Bargains is selling a 'fantastic aquarium' and rainbow sprinkler for cheap - it's great for the warmer weather At just £8.99, it folds away effortlessly, making storage easy for the colder months. If the Paw Patrol pool is out of your budget, The Range has you covered with its kiddy pool for just £1.99. The retailer has also slashed the price of a fire pit - perfect for the summer nights. The pit doubles up as a BBQ and is now scanning for 47% less. The Astral 2-in-1 fire pit has been reduced from £79.79 to £42.39 on the Range's website - a whopping £37 discount. The Range has knocked £30 off its Arosa Steel Gazebo with the product now scanning for just under £90. Customers have raved about the stylish feature and praised it for how easy it was to set up. Free summer holiday activites You don't need to spend a penny to keep your kids entertained this summer... Museums - Some museums offer free entry to some exhibits, and also host events for kids. Parks - Head to your local park to enjoy the playgrounds, games areas, courts and splash pads. Some even have trails for kids to enjoy. Beach - It doesn't have to be sunny to enjoy the beach, you can go rock pooling, crabbing, make sandcastles, or enjoy a walk along the headland. Library - If the weather is awful, head indoors and borrow books, audiobooks, dvds. Cooking - Have your own mini bake-off, or Come Dine With Me challenge. Playdates - Invite friends over for an afternoon of socialising. Boardgames - Enjoy a little sibling rivalry with rounds of Monopoly or stretch your brain with Scrabble. Dangerous ways to cool your kids With heat health alerts sweeping across the UK, parents are desperate to find ways to keep their little ones cool. But amidst the sweltering heat, there's a hidden danger lurking in your garden that could leave your child with horrific burns - and it's not the sun's rays. Experts have issued a stark warning about the scorching temperatures water inside a hosepipe can reach when left in direct sunlight. Dr Free N Hess, known for her child safety videos online on TikTok, commented that: 'A type of burn that we see in the pediatric ER all the time is burns from the water in the hose outside." She explained in her video that water in a hose that's sitting outside in direct sunlight can heat up - and needs to be ran to release the hot water first. This is hot enough to cause severe burns, particularly to children and animals. It's crucial to always run the water for a few minutes until it's cool before letting children play with it or get sprayed. But Alex Price, product manager at Outdoor Toys, told The Sun that if the water is too cold, it may be too much for sensitive babies or toddlers. 'Cold water can lead to discomfort, chills, or even hypothermia if young children stay in it for too long," he said. Meanwhile, the UK's rivers, lakes, and other waterways might look incredibly inviting this time of year, but these have unpredictable dangers. Plus, many parents aren't aware how many children die of drowning every week in the UK - including in paddling pools. The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) warned: 'It doesn't take a lot of water. Little ones can drown in just a few cm of water. 'Drowning is silent. A drowning child won't splash about or cry for help. They'll slip quietly under the water, often unnoticed.' So, what can you do? CAPT says to: Keep little children in arms reach when they're in or around the paddling pool. If you have to go inside, take your child with you. When there's lots of people around be sure to assign a dedicated water watcher. 3 Always have someone watching the kids in the paddling pool - drowning is 'silent', CAPT says Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
09-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
The Range's fire pit is on sale with £37 off – it creates a warming ambience on a summer's night & doubles up as a BBQ
Read on to find more garden bargains FIRE UP The Range's fire pit is on sale with £37 off – it creates a warming ambience on a summer's night & doubles up as a BBQ Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE Range has slashed the price of a fire pit which is perfect for the summer nights. The pit doubles up as a BBQ and is now scanning for 47 per cent less. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The Astral 2-in-1 fire pit doubles up as a barbecue for the summer Credit: The Range The Astral 2-in-1 fire pit has been reduced from £79.79 to £42.39 on the Range's website - a whopping £37 discount. And it'll will come in handy as it creates a warming ambience to your garden. It not only elevates the atmosphere of your backyard, but also has a practical function. The online product description reads: "The Astral Fire Pit with BBQ is the perfect addition to your outdoor space! "Constructed from steel, it is designed to stand against the elements and provide many years of use. "The large fire bowl allows you to create a great fire with plenty of space to add wood, while the BBQ grate sits atop, enabling you to cook your favourite foods easily. "The spark guard helps to protect the surrounding area from hot embers, while the poker and fire grate make tending to the fire a breeze. "Enjoy the warmth and ambience of a real fire, with the convenience of a BBQ, with this fire pit with BBQ! "A fire poker is included to allow you to handle the fire safely." Specifications: Assembly Required: Yes Depth: 71cm Height: 55cm Material: Metal The Range Marketplace: Yes Shipping Weight: 13kg Weight: 13kg Expert's warning over common barbecue myths that pose 'dangerous health risk' as Brits' grilling blunders revealed The Range also says the fire pit is "an excellent device for heating and grilling" and can be used at the beach, camp, gazebo or poolside. Safety when using a fire pit While owning a fire pit is all about fun, it is also essential to make sure safety is a priority: Supervise children at all times when the fire is lit as the steel will get very hot. Set your fire pit on stone, brick, gravel or on a slab on decking (it will develop rust as it ages which can mark stone surfaces). If putting your fire pit on grass, be aware it may get scorched underneath. Ensure a spark will not reach anything flammable. Keep a supply of water to hand in case you need to damp down the fire. Always use protective gloves when handling things such as BBQ racks. Ensure your fire pit is out (or put the lid on) before leaving it unattended. 2 The fire pit is on sale just in time for the warm weekend Credit: The Range Using your fire pit Only use well-seasoned dry wood to reduce smoke. You can also use charcoal (but not house coal). Make a fire with plenty of logs and burn for at least half an hour before you want to use it (the first half hour of burning produces the most smoke). Ideally, leave an hour before cooking to allow embers to form. You can separate the bigger logs to one side so that you can keep your fire ticking over while you cook over the embers. If you're in a hurry to cook, add charcoal to the fire once it's going and move the bigger logs to one side. After cooking remove the rack, load more logs and enjoy the warmth of the fire. Other garden deals Amazon's annual Prime Day event has thousands of items on sale. You can find bargains on garden gadgets with a portable firepit slashed by 33 per cent. Meanwhile, B&Q has a £120 barbecue for just £36, and it even comes with a secret compartment to make cleaning easier.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Motilal Oswal sector of the week: Pipes; Astral, Supreme Ind among top bets
The robust demand from the housing, irrigation, and infrastructure sectors is expected to support the robust expansion of the Indian plastic pipes market. The market is anticipated to expand at a 14 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from ₹541 billion in FY24 to ₹805 billion by FY27, driven by significant government initiatives and ongoing replacement demand. By expanding their capacity and strategically diversifying their business, organised players, who now control over 70 per cent of the market (up from 50 per cent in FY10), are propelling growth. Leading companies like Prince Pipes, Astral, and Supreme Industries are aggressively entering related markets like industrial components, water tanks, and bathware. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8–12 per cent, these high-growth categories have the potential to increase the total addressable market (TAM) to 3.6 times the size of the core pipes industry. With major manufacturers moving toward value-added products like CPVC, HDPE, and OPVC pipes, margins could improve. Major businesses' aggregate Ebitda margins are expected to rise from around 13.5 per cent in FY25 to about 16 per cent by FY28, driven by rising demand for high-end goods and stable raw material prices. Replacement demand, particularly the move from GI to CPVC/PVC pipes, has maintained a strong growth engine despite previous slowdowns in the real estate market. Between FY20 and FY24, industry revenues increased 1.8 times faster than the rise of residential launches. Strong tailwinds are still provided by policy support. The need for pipes in irrigation, sanitation, and water delivery is increasing as a result of flagship projects like Jal Jeevan Mission, AMRUT, PMAY, and PMKSY. About 40 per cent of pipe demand is due to irrigation alone, as 52 per cent of farmed land is still unirrigated, offering significant headroom. Additionally, new demand pools for HDPE, MDPE, and OPVC pipes are being created by modern applications in infrastructure, smart cities, and city gas distribution. The Indian plastic pipes industry is well-positioned for consistent growth in volumes, sales, and profitability through FY28 because to solid fundamentals, growing TAM, and encouraging policy momentum. Astral – Target price: ₹1,800 The company has solidified its position as a pioneer in India's plastic pipe industry, revolutionising the sector with CPVC pipes in 1998 and expanding into five key segments — Pipes, Water Tanks, Adhesives & Sealants, Bathware, and Paints. With the highest TAM of ₹1,595b in the industry, ASTRA's strategic acquisitions, capacity expansions, and strong exports drive sustained doubledigit growth. Its revenue/Ebitda/Adjusted PAT is estimated to clock a CAGR of 16/17/23 per cent over FY25-FY28, driven by volume growth (12 per cent CAGR). Supreme Industries – Target price: ₹5,400 Supreme Industries is a key player in India's plastic industry, leveraging decades of expertise to build a robust product portfolio across pipes & fittings, bathware, industrial goods, consumer products, and advanced packaging solutions. Operating 25 state-of-the-art plants with a robust 1,091,000 MTPA capacity. Its revenue/Ebitda/ Adjusted PAT is estimated to report a robust CAGR of 14/20/23 per cent over FY25-FY28, driven by healthy volume growth (at 13 per cent CAGR) and improving margin profile.
