Latest news with #Zest
Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Sofitel reinvents the hotel uniform and unveils an exclusive collaboration with the French designer Cordelia de Castellane
This new collection, embodying the highest standards of French savoir-faire, will be rolled out across Sofitel hotels throughout 2026. Comprising 45 pieces, the Vestiaire has been thoughtfully designed to suit all professions and destinations, while expressing an elegant, fluid, and boldly contemporary style — a reflection of the renaissance of Accor's most quintessentially French luxury brand. Empowering 25,000 employees to embody the French Zest Sofitel and Cordelia de Castellane have teamed up to create a new closet for all employees at the brand's 120-plus hotels worldwide. With her experience of the most prestigious French luxury houses, Cordelia brings a touch of modernity and sophistication to this collection, while preserving the finest standards of French craftsmanship. Conceived as a celebration of the brand's hotel teams - 25,000 employees worldwide - and the culture of personalized service inherited from the French art of hospitality, this collaboration embodies the very essence of French elegance. With its flowing, resolutely Parisian cuts, accessories and unostentatious elegance, it breaks with the monotony often associated with traditional uniforms, offering instead a bold and authentic expression of French chic. The partnership marks a key milestone in Sofitel's ongoing renaissance, as the brand continues its global expansion with 32 new openings planned over the next three years. All of these properties embody the Sofitel spirit, blending French zest with local cultural richness, a commitment symbolized by the 'Cultural Link', the iconic logo creating a bridge between world's cultures. The new Vestiaire features the graphic Sofitel logo in a collection of exclusive prints, transforming Sofitel's visual signature into a luxurious monogram. A high-end, modular and evolving Vestiaire Designed with flexibility in mind, the Sofitel wardrobe introduces a fresh fashion-forward approach tailored to every role and destination. Under the artistic direction of Cordelia de Castellane, the collection seamlessly blends timeless silhouettes with practical needs, offering a variety of noble fabrics, textures, and color palettes suitable for both city hotels and resorts. Each piece has been crafted using flexible and durable materials — internationally tested across pilot hotels — to meet the everyday needs of hotel staff. The wardrobe adapts to all body types, roles, and climates, ensuring both comfort and elegance. In line with Sofitel's CSR commitments, each uniform is made from high-quality materials built to withstand daily demands while remaining effortlessly elegant, thanks to refined details and impeccable finishes. This wardrobe also reflects Sofitel's dedication to responsible luxury. Developed in partnership with Paris Good Fashion, the initiative ensures every step of production respects principles of sustainability, repairability, and recyclability — reducing environmental impact and contributing to more responsible resource management. Cordelia de Castellane, shaping the creative universe of Sofitel Vestiaire The inspiration underpinning this new collection draws directly from the unique creative world of Cordelia de Castellane, a designer whose work is marked by a fusion of tradition and modernity. Her vision of luxury combines timeless elegance with creative audacity, subtly blending classic and contemporary elements. The Sofitel Vestiaire is much more than a uniform: it's a manifesto. It's a tribute to our teams, who are the first to embody the renaissance of Sofitel. It reflects the joy of embracing a brand, the pride of being its ambassador, and the desire to wear our values in silk, knit, or cotton. We want this wardrobe to be emotionally resonant, exacting and refined, but also effortlessly chic. That's why we needed a visionary. This partnership with Cordelia de Castellane is the meeting of two visions of luxury, united by a shared passion for exceptional design. Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel Legend, Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems For me, Sofitel is a madeleine de Proust. It brings back childhood memories, iconic hotels, and a very specific vision of French luxury. Sofitel is more than a hotel brand — it's a way of life, a natural elegance paired with a deep openness to the world. Paris was a major inspiration for this collection — because Paris means effortless chic, cultural richness, precision tailoring, and that uniquely bold creativity. I wanted to imagine a wardrobe that expresses this Parisian sophistication, but also the warmth of hospitality and the pride of representing a house. These are garments designed to last, to move with the body, and to make every team member feel beautiful, free, and proud, adds Cordelia de Castellane. About Accor, a world-leading hospitality group Accor is a world-leading hospitality group offering stays and experiences across more than 110 countries with over 5,600 hotels and resorts, 10,000 bars & restaurants, wellness facilities and flexible workspaces. The Group has one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems, encompassing around 45 hotel brands from luxury to economy, as well as Lifestyle with Ennismore. ALL, the booking platform and loyalty program embodies the Accor promise during and beyond the hotel stay and gives its members access to unique experiences. Accor is focused on driving positive action through business ethics, responsible tourism, environmental sustainability, community engagement, diversity, and inclusivity. Accor's mission is reflected in the Group's purpose: Pioneering the art of responsible hospitality, connecting cultures, with heartfelt care. Founded in 1967, Accor SA is headquartered in France. Included in the CAC 40 index, the Group is publicly listed on the Euronext Paris Stock Exchange (ISIN code: FR0000120404) and on the OTC Market (Ticker: ACCYY) in the United States. For more information, please visit or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Zest launches early dementia screening test
Zest has unveiled a new app-based cognitive test designed to screen for the early signs of dementia, as efforts ramp up in healthcare to protect against age-related neurological decline. Developed alongside a team at the University of Cambridge University's Memory Lab, the London-headquartered biotech's Precision Memory Assessment (PREMAZ) test is intended to detect subtle cognitive changes that may occur decades before the symptoms of dementia arise. PREMAZ works by focusing on testing in the areas of memory function most affected in early dementia: episodic- and recognition-related memory, the brain's processing speed, and executive function in relation to decision-making and working memory. By enabling earlier detection and empowering people to make preventative changes sooner, this technology could dramatically reduce the number of Alzheimer's cases and change the future of brain health, according to Zest. 'By moving this technology from the lab into people's hands, we're creating new opportunities for earlier detection, better interventions, and ultimately better outcomes,' explained Professor Jon Simons, Cambridge Memory Lab's lead and scientific director on the project with Zest. 'The sensitivity of our memory precision task means we can detect subtle memory changes at an early stage when they can still be remedied by cognitive and lifestyle interventions that may protect against further age-related decline.' Various companies are on the road towards developing early dementia detection tools, with each taking slightly different approaches towards the early detection of the neurodegenerative condition. Since gaining clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January 2025, Oxford Brain Diagnostics (OBD) is gearing up to launch a software tool designed to evaluate the early signs of dementia by analysing MRI scans. Meanwhile, a research team led by the University of Edinburgh is using artificial intelligence (AI) to develop a software tool for use by optometrists to detect dementia risk from a routine eye test. Work is also underway in determining what factors may increase or reduce an individual's risk of developing dementia in later life. A study recently published in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry found that people with low levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in their blood had a lower risk of developing dementia. Further research suggests that those who experience hearing loss yet forego cochlear implants or hearing aids, may be at greater risk of developing dementia. "Zest launches early dementia screening test" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, 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.
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Food companies' edible waste given to charities thanks to AI tool trial
Millions of meals worth of wasted food could be redistributed thanks to an artificial intelligence tool being trialled by companies across the UK, including Nestlé. The AI tool, which has already generated an 87% reduction in edible food waste at one of the Swiss conglomerate's factories over its first two-week trial period, is intended to 'design out' food waste by providing real-time monitoring, tracking and insights of wasted ingredients and products. Under the pilot scheme,Nestlé said that up to 700 tonnes of quality surplus food – the equivalent of up to 1.5 million meals – could be saved. The trial is also estimated to prevent up to 1,400 tonnes of CO2 being emitted, helping to save up to £14m in running costs. Alina Sartogo, one of the co-founders of Zest, which developed the tool, said all the food waste it identified is edible, but not sellable at a profit for the manufacturers. For example, the waste might include a broken KitKat bar, or a product with an expiry date that's too short to sell on to retailers. The Zest software could be expanded across the food supply chain on a subscription basis by March next year, following a series of pilots with different manufacturers. A second pilot with Nestlé has recently been launched after receiving funding from the government agency Innovate UK's BridgeAI scheme, which provides a £1.9m match-funded grant for AI projects. Esra Kasapoglu, director of AI and data economy at the agency, said the project represented a 'solution that aims to transform food sourcing and distribution across the UK, cutting waste, reducing carbon emissions, and lowering costs'. Some 4.6m tonnes of edible food, equivalent to 10bn meals of food, is wasted in the UK each year. Simon Millard, director of food at the charity FareShare, said the technology would 'make a huge difference' to its work to redistribute food to more than 8,000 charities and community groups across the UK. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion For the latest pilot, Sustainable Ventures, which supports climate startups, has brought together several companies, including Nestlé; the machine learning-based logistics system provider Bristol Superlight, Howard Tenens Logistics, the supply chain management system FuturePlus, FareShare, and Google Cloud's BigQuery and Vertex AI platform.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Walmart faces $222m verdict for Zest Labs' trade secrets theft
US retail giant Walmart has been ordered to pay more than $222m to technology start-up Zest Labs for allegedly stealing trade secrets, following a retrial in an Arkansas federal court. The jury's decision concluded that Walmart is liable for misappropriating trade secrets related to food preservation technology - an accusation that had been levelled by Zest. The technology startup was awarded $72.7m in compensatory damages and $150m in punitive damages. The verdict was based on findings that Walmart improperly used Zest Labs' trade secrets after the latter confidentially disclosed its proprietary Zest Fresh food preservation tech for reducing food waste under an agreement that included non-disclosure terms. Zest Labs initiated legal action against Walmart in 2018, accusing the retailer of appropriating the process, which monitors the freshness of produce from farms to stores. Zest Fresh process was expected to cut the amount of perishable food discarded by between 30% and 33%, Zest Labs manager Gary Metzger stated. Evidence presented during the trial suggested that Walmart then shifted from being a customer of Zest Labs and became a competitor. It allegedly developed a similar technology using the trade secrets obtained from Zest and filed a patent for it without disclosure. Gary Metzger stated: "Zest Labs developed groundbreaking technology aimed at addressing a significant humanitarian issue: food waste. But Walmart's misuse of Zest's trade secret has hindered our ability to achieve the necessary scale to make a substantial impact and help feed the world. This legal victory is a small but crucial triumph for small businesses that often face exploitation by larger corporations, robbing them of the opportunity to bring their innovative solutions to the market. It marks a significant step toward ensuring justice and fair play in the business world." Walmart maintains that its Eden produce-tracking technology was independently developed. The retailing giant vows to appeal the ruling and states that Zest's "unethical behaviour has compromised the integrity of this case from the start". "Walmart faces $222m verdict for Zest Labs' trade secrets theft" was originally created and published by Retail Insight Network, 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 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
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Walmart hit with $222 million US verdict in food preservation trade secret case
May 14 (Reuters) - A jury in Arkansas federal court found that Walmart (WMT.N), opens new tab owes technology startup Zest Labs more than $222 million following a retrial on allegations that Walmart stole its trade secrets for reducing food waste, Zest said in a press release on Wednesday. Zest said the jury on Tuesday awarded the company $72.7 million in compensatory damages and $150 million in punitive damages, finding that Walmart had misused its trade secrets after Zest shared its technology for improving food preservation with the retail giant. Zest won $115 million from Walmart in a separate trial in 2021. An Arkansas federal judge ordered a new trial in 2023 after finding that Zest had withheld relevant evidence before the first trial. Walmart said in a statement on Wednesday that it would appeal the new verdict and that Zest's "unethical behavior has compromised the integrity of this case from the start." Zest Labs manager Gary Metzger said in a statement that the verdict was a "small but crucial triumph for small businesses that often face exploitation by larger corporations." Zest Labs sued Walmart in 2018 for allegedly stealing its Zest Fresh technology, which tracks produce freshness from farms to stores. Zest said it worked with Walmart and shared proprietary information with the retail giant until 2017. Walmart denied the allegations and argued that it developed its "Eden" produce-tracking technology independently. The case is Zest Labs Inc v. Walmart Inc, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, No. 4:18-cv-00500. For Zest: Patrick Ryan, Adam Mitzner, Sean McTigue, and Andrew Ryan of Bartko Pavia For Walmart: John Keville and Robert Green of Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton Read more: Lawsuit claims Walmart stole technology to keep produce fresh Walmart hit with $115 million verdict over food-waste trade secrets
