Latest news with #Stefano
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (EL) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strategic Gains Amidst ...
Release Date: May 01, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) achieved market share gains in key markets such as the U.S., China, and Japan, marking significant progress in these regions. Gross margin expanded by 310 basis points compared to the previous year, reflecting operational efficiencies and strategic pricing actions. The company is making significant progress in its restructuring program, reducing over 2,600 net positions and streamlining middle management by 20%. Innovations such as Clinique's new Moisture Surge and Estee Lauder's Double Wear concealer have driven consumer acquisition and market share gains. The Estee Lauder Companies Inc (NYSE:EL) is leveraging AI-driven marketing and expanding its presence on platforms like Amazon and TikTok, contributing to mid-single-digit growth in online organic sales. Organic sales declined by 9% in the third quarter, with travel retail experiencing a significant 28% decline. Diluted earnings per share decreased by 33%, indicating financial pressure despite some operational improvements. Operating margin contracted by 270 basis points to 11.4%, driven by increased consumer-facing investments and sales deleverage. The company faces ongoing challenges with weakened consumer sentiment in the U.S. and parts of Europe, as well as prolonged weak sentiment in China. The geopolitical landscape, including evolving trade policies and tariffs, adds uncertainty and potential material impact on future profitability. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with EL. Q: Can you discuss your expectations for trade inventories exiting fiscal 2025 and any associated risks? A: Akio, CFO: We have made significant progress, especially in travel retail, where inventory levels have been reduced significantly. Retailers globally are tightening inventory, and we are adjusting accordingly. We are confident in our guidance, which reflects current market conditions, including the volatility around the June 18 shopping festival. Q: What are your planning assumptions for FY 2026, particularly regarding retail inventory and market trends? A: Stefano, CEO: We are confident in returning to positive growth in FY 2026, driven by market share gains in key markets like the U.S., China, and Japan. We are seeing sequential improvements and are de-risking travel retail. However, we are monitoring external factors like consumer sentiment in China and the U.S. Q: Can you provide more details on your tariff mitigation strategies and the timeline for reducing U.S. to China product sourcing? A: Stefano, CEO: By the end of this fiscal year, we aim to reduce U.S. to China sourcing to around 10%, leveraging our new manufacturing facility in Japan. Most U.S. imports are from Europe, and we are confident in our ability to mitigate tariff impacts through regional manufacturing and strategic sourcing. Q: What are your expectations for savings from the TRGP in fiscal 2025, and what areas are you targeting for further savings? A: Akio, CFO: We are on target with our TRGP savings for fiscal 2025, focusing on gross margin improvements and employee cost reductions. For fiscal 2026, we are accelerating outsourcing and procurement projects to drive further efficiencies and cost savings. Q: How do you plan to achieve competitive market share performance across all regions in fiscal 2026? A: Stefano, CEO: We are focusing on maintaining and accelerating market share gains in the U.S., China, and Japan. We are leveraging our strong brand portfolio and innovation to drive growth. We are also addressing areas of weakness, such as travel retail and certain emerging markets, with targeted strategies. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Lifestyle
- RTÉ News
'Stefano's' squidgy air fryer chocolate, date and walnut brownies
Brownies in an air fryer is a no brainer. Ingredients "Stefano is the head chef of our cookery school – La Cucina Caldesi – and has created this recipe to have minimal sweetness and maximum flavour," says food writer and author Katie Caldesi. "They are also full of fibre from the nuts, chocolate and dates. Toasting nuts brings out the natural oils and gives them oodles of flavour. Smell them as they go into the air fryer and come out and you will see what I mean. If you are keeping your carbs very low, use erythritol instead of the dates. "Leave these plain, top with whipped cream flavoured with vanilla or serve with Greek yogurt, crème fraîche or soured cream, and berries." 'Stefano's' squidgy chocolate, date and walnut brownies Ingredients: (Makes 12 brownies) 75g walnuts 3 fat Medjool dates (approx. 75g), pitted and roughly chopped, or 75g erythritol 100g dark chocolate (at least 85% cocoa solids) 60g butter, plus extra for greasing 3 eggs 50g ground almonds Method 1. Toast the walnuts on a crisper in the drawer at 160°C for three minutes. Tip them out to cool before roughly chopping them. 2. If using the dates, soak them in 75ml of just-boiled water for a few minutes, then mash them to a pulp with a fork. If using erythritol, dissolve it in 50ml of just-boiled water in a small saucepan over a medium-high heat. Set aside. 3. Put a baking paper liner into a silicone liner. 4. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a bain-marie (a glass or metal bowl over, but not touching, hot water in a saucepan over a medium heat) or in a small bowl in the microwave. Set aside to cool. 5. Separate the eggs into two mixing bowls. Add the date or erythritol mixture to the egg yolks and stir through with a hand whisk or large spoon. Then add the chocolate mixture to the yolk mixture with the walnuts and ground almonds and stir again to combine. 6. Whisk the egg whites until just firm enough to stand in peaks. Use a large metal spoon to fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture. Pour into the prepared liner and smooth the surface. 7. Bake in the air fryer at 140°C for 20 to 25 minutes. It is ready when the crust feels firm but there should be a slight wobble to it; it will continue setting as it cools. Remove from the air fryer and leave to cool to room temperature before removing from the paper liner. 8. Cut into 12 squares and serve at room temperature. Or put into an airtight container in the refrigerator once cool, where they will keep for a couple of days. Per brownie with dates: 181kcal NET CARBS FIBRE PROTEIN FAT 5g 2g 4g 16g Per brownie with erythritol: 171kcal NET CARBS FIBRE PROTEIN FAT 3g 2g 4g 16g
Identity
24-04-2025
- Business
- Identity
Redefining Design: Stefano Seletti on the Seletti x IQOS Collaboration
Stefano Seletti is the creative soul of Seletti, a family-run company that has been blending design, art, and a touch of playfulness since 1964. With his curious and unconventional approach, he turns everyday objects into surprising pieces, mixing pop culture with the unexpected. Always open to bold collaborations, he believes design should make people smile and be full of surprises without ever taking itself too seriously. We had the chance to meet Stefano in the IQOS X Seletti Sensorium Piazza at Milan Design Week, where he introduced the collaboration between Seletti and IQOS under the name of Curious X. The press conference was a perfect opportunity to dive deeper into this exciting partnership. Q1: How did you see this project, especially from the perspective of a brand like Seletti? It's been a very exciting and important opportunity for us. We're a small company—just 40 people—so working with such a large, global brand was really meaningful. We learned a lot. It was not only our first time doing something like this in Italy, but also our first time seeing such a complex and impressive installation. From a technological point of view, it's truly unique. And about Seletti's partnership with IQOS for the new product IQOS will launch in Autumn, while the shape of the product might appear similar, the finishing and the colors will be something extremely new, something that IQOS has never done before. We at Seletti love difficult challenges, so we came together to create a completely new experience and product. Q2: How does this collaboration with Philip Morris and IQOS reimagine public space and promote a smoke-free future through design? At Seletti, we work with objects—furniture, lighting, design pieces—and we try to bring the same philosophy into the IQOS product. The idea was to create something that feels more like a jewel, a beautiful object that you'd be proud to put on the table. We wanted to make it spectacular, appealing, and elegant, while still serving its purpose. Q3: To what extent does this experience reflect Seletti's philosophy of breaking traditional design rules? I wouldn't say I follow a strict design philosophy—I'm not a designer or an architect. My way of working is more intuitive. I collaborate with designers, but even more so with artists. It's about creating a new line or language through practical experience, not just academic knowledge. So, if there's any 'philosophy,' it's that we learn by doing and by experimenting. Q4: How do you leverage design to promote environmental values and sustainability in your products? We've been working on sustainability for quite a while. For example, we started removing plastic from our packaging over 10 years ago. We always try to give a strong aesthetic to our projects while also making them durable. Q5: Considering your reputation for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, how did you approach the challenge of reimagining a product like IQOS? We always try to transform something functional into something pleasurable—something beautiful that people actually enjoy using. For IQOS, we wanted it to feel like a piece of jewelry, as I previously said, something you're proud to place on the table. We aimed to elevate it beyond just being a device. Q6: What has been the most surprising or exciting aspect of working on this collaboration? Honestly, it's been full of exciting moments. As a small company, working with a large organization like this has been a big step. It was not only exciting but also incredibly useful because we've learned a lot. We're proud of the journey and we hope to keep growing and working together in the future.
Identity
23-04-2025
- Business
- Identity
Designing Change: Stefano Volpetti on Curiosity, Collaboration, and a Smoke-Free Future
Stefano Volpetti, President Smoke-Free Products & Chief Consumer Officer at Philip Morris International, is one of the key minds behind the company's bold mission to create a smoke-free future. With a deep belief in consumer-centric innovation and behavior change, he's leading a transformation that blends science, technology, and storytelling. We sat down with Stefano during Milan Design Week, where IQOS introduced its latest collaboration with Italian design house Seletti. Under the banner of Curious X, the partnership reimagines public space and product experience through the lens of curiosity, inviting people to see change as something both inspiring and possible. Why did Philip Morris choose to collaborate with Seletti for this project? What made it the right fit for your smoke-free mission? Our vision for the future is truly smoke-free, and that vision inherently challenges the status quo. We've made significant progress in realizing this—today, just 11 years after launching IQOS, millions of adults have switched from cigarettes to our smoke-free alternatives. That's a powerful indicator of change. To challenge convention, we believe curiosity must be at the center of innovation. That's why we launched the global project IQOS CURIOUS X, and for its first edition, we collaborated with Stefano Seletti. He was the perfect partner because he reimagined the traditional Italian piazza—an unchanging symbol of culture and community—using technology, art, and a deep understanding of human experience. His reinvention mirrors what we're doing with IQOS: taking something entrenched and completely transforming it. It's about inspiring people to be curious and embrace change. Focused on, not just in product development but also in how you connect with people? That's a key point. Even the location of this installation—a piazza—is symbolic. It's a space of culture, connection, and daily life. Realizing a smoke-free future isn't just about offering an alternative product; it's about supporting a full lifestyle transformation. We recognize that switching from cigarettes is a journey, so we've created experiences like IQOS CURIOUS X to accompany people through that process. It's about more than functionality. It's emotional, social, and even artistic. The installation is an invitation to explore, feel, and rethink habits. Through such projects, we empower adult smokers to reimagine their routines, moving from the world of cigarettes into a future of smoke-free. What message do you hope people take away from this experience at Milan Design Week? The first reaction we want is: Wow. The core message is that when curiosity drives reinvention, the results are magical. CURIOUS X isn't a one-off—it's a global initiative that will continue throughout 2025 across 20 countries. We'll collaborate with local designers and artists to reimagine smoke-free experiences and bring new perspectives to adult consumers. In Fall 2025, we'll return here to Milan to reflect on the global learnings and outcomes. It will be a celebration of curiosity, creativity, and the incredible transformation that's possible when we dare to challenge the norm. What's the biggest challenge in accelerating global adoption of smoke-free products? We're now 11 years into this journey, and over 40% of our global net revenues come from smoke-free products. Our smoke-free offerings are available in more than 90 markets, and by 2030, we aim for over two-thirds of our revenues to come from these products. The progress is clear. But the biggest accelerator—and also the greatest challenge—remains the regulatory framework. In markets where regulations allow adult smokers to access accurate information about smoke-free alternatives, adoption is much faster. If people aren't aware of better options, they won't change. That's why enabling access to information and ensuring a supportive policy environment is essential to accelerating this transformation. How do creative events like Milan Design Week influence IQOS marketing strategies? Milan Design Week is a global beacon of innovation and creativity. This is our eighth year participating, and it's arguably our most impactful yet. Collaborating with Stefano Seletti on the IQOS Sensory Piazza installation is not just about design—it's a statement of progress. We're showcasing how curiosity drives innovation. Just like our products challenge the conventional cigarette, our presence here challenges the way brands can interact with people. This kind of engagement helps us connect deeply with consumers and inspire them to rethink their habits. In what ways do product designs influence not just consumer choice but broader behavior? That's an essential question. When an adult smoker considers switching, it's not just a product change but it's a lifestyle shift. That's why design plays such a critical role. From day one, we've focused on making IQOS not just functional but seamlessly integrated into everyday life. Our device is something people carry, use, and interact with regularly, so its look, feel, and emotional resonance matter. If the design can support and enhance the user experience, it makes the transition from traditional smoking to smoke-free alternatives smoother and more appealing. Ultimately, design becomes a facilitator of change. With the CURIOUS X concept, how does curiosity-driven innovation influence not just product development but also consumer behavior? Curious X is a combination of curiosity and X, which stands for an experience that's clearly unexpected—and one you truly experience. The idea was to create something that, on one hand, celebrates the IQOS brand, which has become the choice of millions around the world, and on the other hand, celebrates our users. They've made an act of curiosity by moving from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products. This is our way of creating a project that, throughout 2025, will travel around the world—powered by curiosity, reinvention, creativity, technology, art, and design. It's our way of honoring this incredible shift in the status quo that we've been driving. And we will return here to reflect on the results to celebrate the notion of progress that started right here in Milan over 10 years ago and continues today with this new collaboration with Seletti.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to allow felony penalties for Pennsylvania school emergency hoaxes
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — New legislation that was approved by the Pennsylvania Senate would now create new penalties for individuals who create hoax emergency reports targeted at schools. The legislation, Bill 96, would work to crack down on false threats targeting schools. Central Pennsylvania Senator Pat Stefano hopes that it will enhance public safety and reduce the strain on emergency responders. Central Pennsylvania awarded over $650k to revitalize downtown areas Here's what the bill would do if it's signed into law: Making a false report of an emergency threat to a school would be classified as a third-degree felony Courts would be allowed to impose financial penalties to recover the costs incurred by taxpayers for emergency response efforts 'The safety of our community is paramount. This legislation is a critical step in holding malicious actors accountable, best protecting our schools and supporting our first responders by ensuring they are not burdened with the false threats of a prank,' Stefano said. The legislation, which is part of a broader package to ensure schools are safe, comes in response to a troubling rise in hoax threats made against schools across Pennsylvania. The bill heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
