Latest news with #SantaMaria
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Birmingham Council commissioner's firm selling £46 scented candles as bins strike rumbles on
Embattled Birmingham Council's new top commissioner is a director of a company which sold £46 scented candles – as the city battles with the stench of the long-running bins strike. Tony McArdle was appointed lead commissioner of the cash-strapped local authority this week. But it's been revealed the £1,200-a-day chief and his wife own a boutique selling posh homeware, reports MirrorOnline.. READ MORE: Birmingham's new troubleshooting council commissioner will keep Nottingham job Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp, click the link to join He is a director of Santa Maria, which offers wellbeing goods. Among products discovered on sale this week were £46 Berry Voyage and Rose Republic scented candles. An item description of the Berry Voyage candle stated: 'Sensual and heady, Berry Voyage captures intrepid expeditions in the Adriatic, arboretum gardens and coastal reveries. "The fresh notes of sun-ripened fruit berries, green Sichuan pepper berries and exotic Stargazer lily petals perfectly balanced by rich and purifying elements of Palo Santo," the description added. In contrast, this week it emerged fly-tipping reports in Birmingham had almost doubled since industrial action – with enforcement teams stretched to capacity. Members of the Unite union have been on an all-out strike since March in a dispute over pay, leading to bags of rubbish piling up across the city's streets. Last month it was reported many had complained the heatwave worsened the situation in the city. The stench from overflowing bins was said to be forcing some to put extra bags around already-bagged rubbish in a bid to contain the smell. One resident told the BBC: 'My neighbour can't open her windows because the piles of rubbish are near where she lives, and the flies, it's a fly-fest." And another added: 'We have to hold our nose every time we step out [of the house].' Meanwhile, a social media post by Santa Maria earlier this year said: 'Welcome to Santa Maria Boutique, where timeless elegance meets modern wellbeing. "From beautifully curated homeware to luxury holiday essentials, every piece in our boutique is carefully selected to bring a touch of indulgence into your life. "Think European-inspired kimonos, artisan skincare, hand-poured candles, and stylish sunglasses - the perfect combination of sophistication and relaxation. "Whether you're shopping for a special piece or just want to browse, our boutique is your destination for elevated living." Other items found this week for sale online at Santa Maria – which has a website and shop in Lincoln – included £28 lanterns, £43 gemstone lights and £45 throws. In the wellbeing section, goods included £79 purity paste, £18 vanilla afterglow solid perfume balm and £70 wake-up droplets. Some of Santa Maria's products, including the candles, later disappeared from the shop's website after being spotted this week. Santarosa Ltd, understood to be the firm behind Santa Maria, is owned by Mr McArdle and his wife via Priora Consulting Ltd. Mr McArdle said: "Alongside my wife, I am listed as the director of a small business based in Lincoln. "This is my wife's business, and I am not involved in its day-to-day operation.' Birmingham City Council declared effective bankruptcy in 2023, with government commissioners brought in to run it. A council spokesperson said: "Tony McCardle is a well-respected figure in local government, with experience in interventions including as the Lead Commissioner in Nottingham and Chair of the London Borough of Croydon Improvement and Assurance Panel, but has also served as Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council and Wellingborough Council. "We are very keen to continue the pace of progress and ensure it does not slow down during the change. We look forward to working closely with him in the months ahead." The council added: '...since the council secured a court order on 23 May to prevent picketers from blocking vehicles from leaving the depots, we have been able to deploy our contingency for waste collection. "This contingency for waste collection has been broadly held since 23 May, with residents receiving a waste collection once per week. "The initial backlog of waste caused by strike action has been cleared.' A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'Tony McArdle OBE brings a range of experience to the role of lead commissioner at Birmingham City Council, having been a well-respected council chief executive who also led interventions at other authorities. "The department has established processes in place to manage conflicts of interests, and we are confident Tony is the best person for this role and will make a significant contribution to Birmingham's ongoing improvement. "Our priority is to continue supporting the council in its recovery, including assisting with the successful efforts to keep the city's streets clean amid the ongoing industrial action.'
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Birmingham bin strike council new chief's scented sideline selling £46 candles
Newly-appointed £1,200-a-day lead commissioner Tony McArdle owns a boutique selling posh homeware - but 'sensual' candle disappeared from website this week after we spotted them Embattled Birmingham council's new boss has been selling £46 scented candles – as the city has grappled with the stench of a long-running bin strike. Tony McArdle faces a mountain of rubbish to climb after being made lead commissioner of the cash-strapped city council this week. But we can reveal how the £1,200-a-day chief seems to already have his hands full with a side hustle – owning a boutique flogging posh homeware. We discovered the government-appointed boss co-owns Santa Maria, which offers wellbeing goods, with his wife. Among items we found on sale this week were £46 Berry Voyage and Rose Republic scented candles. A product description for the former boasted: 'Sensual and heady, Berry Voyage captures intrepid expeditions in the Adriatic, arboretum gardens and coastal reveries. The fresh notes of sun-ripened fruit berries, green Sichuan pepper berries and exotic Stargazer lily petals perfectly balanced by rich and purifying elements of Palo Santo.' By sharp contrast, this week it emerged fly-tipping reports in Birmingham have nearly doubled since industrial action – with enforcement teams stretched to capacity. Members of Unite have been on an all-out strike since March in a dispute over pay, leading to bags of rubbish piling up across the city's streets. Last month it was reported many have complained the heatwave worsened the situation in the city. The stench from overflowing bins was said to be forcing some to put extra bags around already-bagged rubbish in a bid to contain the smell. One resident told the BBC: 'My neighbour can't open her windows because the piles of rubbish are near where she lives, and the flies, it's a fly-fest." And another added: 'We have to hold our nose every time we step out [of the house].' Meanwhile, a social media post by Santa Maria earlier this year said: 'Welcome to Santa Maria Boutique, where timeless elegance meets modern wellbeing. From beautifully curated homeware to luxury holiday essentials, every piece in our boutique is carefully selected to bring a touch of indulgence into your life. Think European-inspired kimonos, artisan skincare, hand-poured candles, and stylish sunglasses—the perfect combination of sophistication and relaxation. Whether you're shopping for a special piece or just want to browse, our boutique is your destination for elevated living." Other items we found this week for sale online at Santa Maria – which has a website and shop in Lincoln – included £28 lanterns, £43 gemstone lights and £45 throws. In the wellbeing section, goods included £79 purity paste, £18 vanilla afterglow solid perfume balm and £70 wake-up droplets. But some of Santa Maria's products, including the candles, later disappeared from the shop's website after we spotted them this week. Santarosa Ltd, understood to be the firm behind Santa Maria, is owned by Mr McArdle and his wife via Priora Consulting Ltd. Mr McArdle said: 'Alongside my wife, I am listed as the Director of a small business based in Lincoln. This is my wife's business, and I am not involved in its day-to-day operation.' Birmingham City Council declared effective bankruptcy in 2023, with government commissioners brought in to run it. A council spokesperson said: "Tony McCardle is a well-respected figure in local government, with experience in interventions including as the Lead Commissioner in Nottingham and Chair of the London Borough of Croydon Improvement and Assurance Panel, but has also served as Chief Executive of Lincolnshire County Council and Wellingborough Council. We are very keen to continue the pace of progress and ensure it does not slow down during the change. We look forward to working closely with him in the months ahead." The council added: '...since the council secured a court order on 23 May to prevent picketers from blocking vehicles from leaving the depots, we have been able to deploy our contingency for waste collection. This contingency for waste collection has been broadly held since 23 May, with residents receiving a waste collection once per week. The initial backlog of waste caused by strike action has been cleared.' A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: 'Tony McArdle OBE brings a range of experience to the role of lead commissioner at Birmingham City Council, having been a well-respected council chief executive who also led interventions at other authorities. The department has established processes in place to manage conflicts of interests, and we are confident Tony is the best person for this role and will make a significant contribution to Birmingham's ongoing improvement. Our priority is to continue supporting the council in its recovery, including assisting with the successful efforts to keep the city's streets clean amid the ongoing industrial action.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Paulig to invest in Tex-Mex plant in Spain
Paulig is set to invest €12m ($14.1m) to expand production capacity for its Tex-Mex products its Berga plant in Barcelona, Spain. In a statement, the Finnish food and beverage company said the investment, which 'responds to the growing global demand' for Tex-Mex goods, will be used to install a new flour tortilla production line. The line is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 and create up to 30 jobs in the next five to six years. It will be installed in the existing factory area in Berga, which is being 'adapted to meet production requirements". Owner of the Santa Maria, Paulig, and Conimex brands said investment will enable it 'to accelerate its market responsiveness by optimising existing infrastructure without waiting for new developments'. Rolf Ladau, CEO of Paulig, said the investment 'not only increases our production capacity but also supports Paulig's vision of being a shaper of popular food culture, as we continue to expand our Tex Mex offering in Europe'. The growing global demand for world food, the company said is 'reshaping consumer habits', and creating "new growth opportunities for Paulig". 'In this context, the investment represents a firm step to reinforce Paulig's leadership in this market. It promotes a more agile, innovative, and consumer-focused production model, grounded in sustainability and local integration,' Ladau added. Paulig's Tex-Mex business makes up roughly half of its sales. The company employs around 350 people in Spain and 2,400 globally, with a turnover of €1.2bn. The latest investment, is part of Paulig's broader strategy to expand in what it sees as "high-growth markets" like Tex-Mex and snacks, while also entering new segments such as Asian cuisine. In December, Paulig acquired the Dutch brand Conimex from Unilever to strengthen its Asian food business in the Netherlands. Conimex, known for its Asian meal makers, prawn crackers, soups, sauces, and seasonings, will be integrated into Paulig's World Foods portfolio. Paulig anticipates the acquisition will scale its sourcing and supply chain operations while broadening its product offerings. It followed Paulig's purchase of UK-based Panesar Foods in October, which makes sauces, salsas, and condiments. "Paulig to invest in Tex-Mex plant in Spain" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Two brothers went missing three weeks ago. They were found dead along a California highway
Two brothers who went missing three weeks ago were found dead along a California highway last week, the victims of a traffic collision, according to authorities. On June 25 around 10:30 a.m., a California Department of Transportation employee found an overturned vehicle concealed in heavy brush in an embankment along State Route 166 near Old Sierra Madre Road, east of Santa Maria, according to a California Highway Patrol news release. CHP and emergency services responded to the scene and found a blue 1998 GMC Sierra 1/2-ton pickup truck, according to the release. Two adult men had died from the crash, authorities confirmed. The vehicle is linked to a missing person case by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office, the release states. CHP were deployed on June 18 along State Route 166 to find the missing people. 'We are deeply saddened to confirm that two individuals tragically lost their lives in a traffic crash. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with their families and loved ones during this difficult time," said CHP Acting Commander Sean Kelly in the release. The two men were 61-year-old James Fuller and his brother, Eric Fuller, 60, who left June 6 for a doctor's appointment in Santa Maria, according to SFGate. They were reported missing by friends. Fullers' friends and family confirmed that their loved ones were killed in the crash. "For 21 long days we searched tirelessly. We hiked what we could, followed every lead, and even received a message from someone who said they saw the truck near a sharp turn," according to a GoFundMe page. "Still, without a pinpoint location, CHP was unable to search due to looking a few days prior with no luck. The wait, the helplessness, the pain — it's been devastating beyond words." "This is not the outcome any of us prayed for. Our hearts are broken. Rick and Eric were so deeply loved, and their loss leaves an unfillable space in our lives." Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Canadiens: Potential First Round Pick
'It's in our DNA': Racing returns to Santa Maria Speedway under new family ownership 'It's in our DNA': Racing returns to Santa Maria Speedway under new family ownership
