Discussion post Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Discussion post - Essay Example His criticisms of how Roosevelt was handling this depression and his constant fight for the minority to be given fair wages made him more popular then FDR. This was even included in his principles for the National Union for Social Justice which stated that â€Å"I believe that every citizen willing to work and capable of working shall receive a just, living, annual wage which will enable him both to maintain and educate his family according to the standards of American decency.† All in all, the greatest threat from Coughlin to Roosevelt was because he was a priest and hence majority of the people believed and trusted his doctrines, criticisms and ideologies more than they did that of President Roosevelt. Coughlin was constantly attacking and questioning the faith of Roosevelt through his weekly radio speeches and hence inflicted doubt on the American citizens about their President. This proved to be a major political bow and setback for the

External Marketing Environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

External Marketing Environment - Essay Example A firm is frequently oblivious to the factors that affect its future. A marketer can comprehend the marketing environment through conducting a marketing research. Acquaintance to the environment assists an organization to modify its promotional mix and recognize new opportunities. Lamb et al (2011, p. 110) cite economic, cultural and social, business, legal and political and demographic elements as the constituents of the external marketing environment. Economic Environment There is no more significant component in the external environment affecting marketing than the economic environment. Lamb noted that the affects the operation of a company on both at micro and macro levels. Micro-level refers to the individual company while the macro level implies the broader industry, country or international. i. Supply and Demand When there is the absence of government intervention and control, supply and demand are the basic underlying forces of the economic dimension. Supply refers to the num ber of goods and services sellers and producers are willing to bring to the market at given prices at a given time (Lamb et al., 2011, p. 112). Demand, on the other hand, refers to the number of goods and services the buyers are willing to buy at a given price and time. ... When such a situation occurs, there is either a shortage or a surplus. In a competitive market structure, when a surplus or a shortage occurs, changes occur until equilibrium is restored. In the case of a surplus, the price is usually lowered to meet the demand level in the short run. In the long run, either the supply will decrease, as the quantities offered are decreased by some firms making production cuts or by other firms going out of business. When a shortage occurs, a company must carefully assess whether this condition id temporary or is actually a market need not being satisfied. ii. The Market and Exchange In every market economy there is a way for the market equilibrium price and quantity to be achieved. The mechanism for doing this by bridging the gap between supply and demand is the marketplace itself. Marketplace bridges the gap between what is produced and what is consumed, making the right quantity available to meet the market need (Lamb et al, 2011, p., 113) iii. Gen eral Economic Change The economic conditions in a country and the state of national economy change over time. Movements and fluctuations in the economy often follow patterns and have been described as business cycles (Lamb et al, 2011, p. 113). These cycles historically have consisted of four stages which include recession, prosperity, depression, and recovery. Cultural and social Environment In reference to Lamb et al (2011, p. 114), the cultural-social environment is replicated in the other four major environments external to the organization’s marketing mix.  

Works Cited Accomando Essay Example for Free

Works Cited Accomando Essay The antislavery campaign in the United States resulted in the emergence of the middle-class feminist movement. However, the latter did not include African-American women or white women of lower economic classes. The objectives of middle-class feminists were suffrage and social recognition for upper-class white women. Black women, on the other hand, first sought to be recognized as women. Already equal to African-American men socially within the slave community and in terms of the oppression they both suffered, African-American women challenged the institution of slavery and resisted sexual assaults of white men (Scott, n. pag. ). The lives of black female slaves proved to be harder than those of their male counterparts. Black female slaves were exploited for both their reproductive and productive capacities. Apart from performing strenuous manual labor and enduring abject living conditions, they were expected to replenish the slave population through pregnancy and childbirth. Furthermore, black female slaves experienced sexism and sexual abuse from their masters (Mankiller, 543). But the worst form of mistreatment that female African-American slaves received from their owners was probably the stereotype of the promiscuous black woman. In slavery-era America, white women were regarded as the models of self-control, self-respect, sexual purity and modesty. Black women, meanwhile, were often dismissed as innately licentious and desired sexual relations with white men. This misconception was used as a justification for the rape of female African-American slaves by their owners (Mankiller, 543). The labeling of black women as immoral has partial historical basis. Slaves were sold naked in order to show that they were healthy, capable of reproduction and docile (as seen through their whipping scars). Slaves likewise worked wearing scant clothing – black female slaves often worked with their dresses lifted up around their hips to prevent the hems from being stained with the water, dirt and mud in which they worked. In sharp contrast, whites, especially white women, were dressed in layers of clothing (Mankiller, 543). As a result, black women were initially excluded from the nineteenth-century women’s rights movement. Feminists during this era believed that black women should not be considered as women because they did not conform to the prevailing images of feminine virtue. Most black abolitionist women interpreted this philosophy as a means for feminists to have more time to pursue their cause. A feminist, after all, will no longer have the time to rail about gender inequality if she has to cook, clean her house or tend to her family’s farm – chores that are traditionally assigned to female African-American slaves (Dixon, 50). Sojourner Truth, an illiterate former slave, was one of those who insisted that black women have rights as well. An abolitionist and a champion of women’s rights in the nineteenth century, she opposed the nineteenth-century’s assumptions about womanhood. For Truth, women’s rights must apply to all women regardless of race. In her speech Aren’t I a Woman (1851), she used her body to further elaborate on these points. By detailing the difficult tasks that she performed unassisted as a slave, as well as the grief that she encountered when all of her 13 children were sold off to slavery, she argued that black women are also women. They are also oppressed like white women, but only on a worse level (Ritchie and Ronald, 144). Truth also challenged the traditional but overly-simplistic feminist analogies between marriage and slavery and between white wife and black slave. Truth argued that black and white women must use motherhood as a unifying factor in their struggle for gender equality. They will produce another generation of marginalized and exploited women if they allow race to prevent them from joining forces in order to attain their common goal (Accomando, 67). Black women are also women. The only reason they were not considered as such was because of the institution of slavery, which considered them as culturally stunted and morally loose. Thus, black women are entitled to the same rights that white women enjoy. Both of them suffered immensely in a patriarchal society. In fact, black women suffered more. Works Cited Accomando, Christina. â€Å"Demanding a Voice among the Pettifoggers: Sojourner Truth as Legal Actor. † MELUS 2003: 28. JSTOR. University of Arizona Library. 20 September 2008 http://www. jstor. org/stable/3595246. Dixon, Chris. Perfecting the Family: Antislavery Marriages in Nineteenth-Century America. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 1997. Mankiller, Wilma Pearl. ed. The Reader’s Companion to US Women’s History. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books, 1999. Ritchie, Joy S. and Kate Ronald. Available Means: An Anthology of Women’s Rhetoric. Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2001. Scott, Eryn. â€Å"Differences and Intersections between Feminism in Africa and Feminism in the United States. † 18 November 1997. Columbia University. 20 September 2008 http://www. columbia. edu/cu/sister/Differences. html.

Disinfectants Used Within Microbiology Laboratory

Disinfectants Used Within Microbiology Laboratory The purpose for this literature review was to examine the literature currently available to the general public on the application of a range of disinfectants used within a microbiology laboratory in both the public e.g. hospital laboratories and the private sector e.g. university laboratories. This literature review was carried out on the effectiveness of disinfectants so that previous and current knowledge on the use of these disinfectants can be analysed. This will help give an insight into the subject area and help with the preparation and production of the final report based on the research being carried during the literature review and research project. The main purpose of the research project being conducted was to compare the effectiveness of a variety of disinfectants especially Trigene which has been endorsed for use in the microbiology laboratories of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board and that of Virkon which is currently used by the microbiology laboratory at the University of the West of Scotland. The literature examined showed that the disinfectants used in clinical laboratories and any other area where microorganisms can cause a problem with cross-contamination, should be evaluated for their effectiveness against the range of organisms which might be encountered. It is an important requirement that the disinfectants being used are able to inhibit or kill the microorganisms quickly and by using the lowest concentration available. (Isenberg, 1985) A study conducted by Kasthjerg et al (2010) which looked at the effects of a range of disinfectants on the expression of virulence genes present in the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This study showed that effects on the virulence gene in the bacterium could be linked to the chemicals found in the disinfectant with some causing an inhibition of the gene while others showed an induction of the gene Disinfectants A disinfectant is a chemical which is widely used to eradicate a variety of microorganisms that are currently found in the samples received into a laboratory or are currently used within an educational setting for the teaching of microbiology to students. Disinfectants can have any of the following chemicals as their main active ingredient: halogenated tertiary amines, chlorine containing compounds, phenols, quaternary ammonium compounds and peroxygens. (Tyski et al, 2009) Thus the disinfectants can be divided into groups relating to the chemical present as the active ingredient and these groups will be discussed later in the report. It is important that certain criteria are met when classifying a chemical as a disinfectant, these include:- That the chemical components of the disinfectant will not have an adverse effect on the health of the user and if any health issue is realised then appropriate action can be taken to remove this risk i.e. use PPE such as gloves or respiratory mask. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) It. is also important that the disinfectant has the ability to render inactive or kill a wide range of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria and fungi. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) It is also important that a disinfectant does not have an adverse effect when used on equipment. The research conducted by Kim, Ryu Beuchat, (2007) showed that the effectiveness of certain disinfectants can be diminished when they are in contact with biofilm surfaces. It is currently thought that there is very little resistance to the disinfectants used due to the presence of a variety of chemicals considered to have an antimicrobial effect in each disinfectant. (Kasthjerg et al, 2010) Efficiency testing of disinfectants has been around for roughly 50 60 years ago. (Werner, 2007) In more recent years a working group was set up which set Standards which govern the microbial activity testing of chemicals used as antiseptics and disinfectants. (Werner, 2007: Tyski, S., et al, 2009) The introduction of these standards has allowed the efficiency tests to become more quantitative and produce lower margin of error. (Werner, 2007) Peroxygen This group of disinfectants consists of chemical disinfectants which contain the chemical peroxygen and includes Virkon which is one of the disinfectants which will be evaluated during the research project being carried out. Virkon is available as a powder and is diluted for use by dissolving it in distilled water to give the required concentration. Virkons method of action is through the combination of the chemicals chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and paraoxymonosulphate. (Alegente, G., et al, n.d.) These chemicals act by oxidation of the plasma membranes of microbial organelles. The effects of peroxygen disinfectants was investigated by a study conducted by Quilez et al, (2005) to discover what concentration of the disinfectant and time required for the disinfectant to be most effective when dealing with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. The literature review conducted by Severs Lamontagne, (2002) indicated that there was only a moderate risk of irritation to the user when the Virkon is in powder form. The Virkon may induce coughing, chocking or wheezing if inhaled while preparing the diluted disinfectant. However, when the powder has been diluted into a liquid form it is thought to cause no harm to the users skin or eyes. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) As the suggested research to be conducted is related to the efficiency of disinfectants then it was important to review current literature which gives an indication of the effectiveness on a range of microorganisms. From the literature it was shown that Virkon is effective when used as indicated against a wide range of microorganisms including Gram positive and gram negative bacteria, viruses, fungi and spore forming bacteria. The study conducted by (Severs Lamontagne 2002) showed that these organisms were inactivated using a 1% solution of Virkon. A study conducted by Gaparini et al, (1992) showed that Virkon was effective when used against spores which had been cultivated onto nutrient agar. This study also indicated that the effects of Virkon were quick acting; this could be attributed to the high concentration coefficient of the disinfectant. Group 2 Halogenated Tertiary Amine This type of disinfectant is considered broad spectrum and biodegradable and is generally found in combination with detergents. (Health and Safety Executive, 2005). The halogenated Tertiary Amine group of disinfectants includes Trigene on which part of the research project is based. Trigene is available as a concentrated liquid or as a manufacturer diluted liquid. (Trigene Company) Trigene is also available in sachets which have been approved for use on submarines used by the Armed forces in the UK. (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) The findings of the study by Severs Lamontagne, (2002) showed that as with Virkon the use of Trigene was effective at rendering inactive viruses, bacteria and fungi when used in accordance with the manufacturers instructions. Health and safety tests were carried out on Trigene and the results have shown that the disinfectant poses a low risk to the users if accidently inhaled or ingested and there are no known health hazards with the use of Trigene. (MediChem international) Quaternary ammonium compounds This group of disinfectants is considered to be effective against most bacteria strains; however they are ineffective against viruses, bacteria which form spores and Mycobacterium. It is likely that this would not be an efficient disinfectant to be used within a clinical or university microbiology laboratory due to the risk of receiving samples containing spore forming bacteria, Mycobacterium species. The disinfectant can become inactivated by a low PH or the presence of organic material. (Health and Safety Executive, 2005) The mode of action for members of this group of disinfectants is that they damage the cell membrane which will result in cell leakage. (Ioannou et al, 2007) This study also showed that an increase in temperature increased the time taken to eradicate the bacterium. The study done by, Kim, Ryu Beuchat, (2007) showed that the efficiency of the disinfectant could be linked to the chemical structure of the Benzylalkonmium chlorides hydrophobic alkyl chain. It also showed that the presence of organic material (infant formula) can decrease the efficiency of the disinfectant. Hypochlorite and other chlorine-releasing agents This is a disinfectant which contains chlorine as its active ingredient, and an example of this disinfectant is Milton which is currently used to sterilise baby utensils. It is considered a broad spectrum disinfectant as it can inactivate or kill a range of bacteria and viruses. However, it is considered less effective against bacterial spores. As with the quaternary ammonium compounds this group of disinfectants has been shown to be inactivated by organic material and has to be prepared daily, this is due to the instability of the chemicals caused by concentration and temperatures at which the disinfectant is stored. (Health and Safety Executive, 2005) The hypochlorite disinfectant is provided in the form of Sodium Hypochlorite and it is commonly used within a clinical laboratory especially for the cleaning of equipment when recommended by the manufacture. Phenolic This group includes the disinfectant Hibetine which is currently used at the University of Glasgow and the active chemical is phenol. It has been shown to be a broad spectrum disinfectant which is effective against certain bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and some viruses, although shows no action against bacterial spores. The disinfectant is used with a combination of the phenolic chemical and a detergent. The advantages of using this type of disinfectant is that it is considered stable in undiluted form and organic material does not appear to have the same negative effect on the efficiency of the disinfectant as has been observed in other disinfectants.. Microorganisms an introduction The main purpose of conducting the research project was to observe the efficiency of disinfectants when used against a range of microorganisms. The microorganisms to be investigated include a Gram positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, a Gram negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli, a spore forming bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and a yeast e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The study conducted by Tyski, S., et al, (2009) used microorganisms which could easily be isolated from hospitals. The study carried out by Ioannou et al, (2007) suggests that a common feature of bacteria especially staphylococcus aureus can acquire a plasmid which contains genes which will allow the bacteria to become resistant to certain antimicrobials. The literature search carried out showed that the organisms which are commonly used in research to show the efficiency of disinfectants are commonly isolated from hospital patient samples. (Gasparini, et al, 1992) Gram negative bacteria Gram positive bacteria Yeast Sporing bacteria The use of disinfectants in combating the spread of infections from bacterial spores from organisms such as C. parvum, Bacillus anthraxis, Clostridium difficile and bacillus cereus is important as these are the most difficult of all microorganisms to eradicate. (Quilez et al, 2005) Discussion The literature reviewed has shown that disinfectants are an important part of the working environment of a laboratory as it is essential that the disinfectant has the ability to inactivate or destroy a wide range of microorganisms. The study by (Severs Lamontagne, 2002) showed that both Virkon and Trigene could be classed as efficient and broad spectrum disinfectants as they both killed a variety of microorganisms ranging from viruses (both enveloped and non-enveloped) to fungi and bacteria including spore forming species. The study by Kasthjerg et al, (2010) deduced that the disinfectants which contained the peroxygen and chloride compounds decreased the virulence gene expression; however, the disinfectants containing the quaternary ammonium compounds encouraged the expression of the virulence gene. Conclusion The study conducted by Severs and Lamontagne, (2002) suggested that Both Virkon and Trigene were effective at eliminating the bacteria which could poses a health risk to divers but they felt that as the Virkon product had managed to eradicate more bacterial and viral strains than Trigene and that these effects were produced quicker with Virkon so the conclusion was that this product (Virkon) should be considered a better disinfectant and be recommended for use by divers.

Human-Centric Computing in Three Dimensions :: Essays Papers

Human-Centric Computing in Three Dimensions The object of any project designated as â€Å"human-centric† is to make computers more accessible to humans, and not to make humans more accessible to computers. It seems that in the twentieth century computers have developed and become slightly easier to use, but no more accessible than they were when they were first invented. This has become a problem, since using a computer is nothing more than using a few mechanisms that are not naturally used by humans, such as a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Efforts have begun, though, to change the trend, making computers more natural for humans to use. There are many methods of making them more natural, such as voice-recognition, and even simpler items, such as more advanced search engines for the internet. Another good example of the new human-centric projects is an attempt to use recent technological advancements in three-dimensional graphics to make computers more user-friendly. All of these ideas can be brought to gether using new technology, but only if humans direct their progress towards the human-centric instead of techno-centric. One of these new three-dimensional attempts to make computers more human-centric is called Farsight nV, a project by the nVidia Corporation and the Quantum 3D Corporation. This project is utilizing the power of software and hardware made by the nVidia Corporation and integrating these elements into military and civilian vehicles. By using elements such as Synthetic Vision and â€Å"Highway in the Sky† flight guidance, the project will make vehicles safer and easier to use, all while enhancing the methods that humans use to interact with the computers embedded in the vehicles. These two elements utilize the latest enhancements and technology in the three-dimensional graphics field and make all of the menus and information the computers display many times easier to read and much more comprehensive for the user. The project will benefit humans â€Å"†¦by bringing the power of nVidia technologies into the cockpit and onto the dashboard-- greatly benefiting ev eryone who needs real-time 3D information while moving through the world." (Qtd. in Quantum3D and nVidia Announce Farsight nV Program). A second project centered on the same goal is taking place at the University of Utah.

Canadas Aid To Third World Countries :: essays research papers

Canada's Aid to Third World Countries What are some of the major problems faced by "Third World" Countries today? Who should be held responsible for these problems? Why? What has Canada done to help "Third World Countries"? There has always been a dominant country in the world that sets the economic standard throughout powerful countries. Canada has always been a top rated economic country, usually behind the United States and other large Commonwealth countries. Starting back in the early to mid 60's, Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau decided to use Canadian revenue as foreign aid. These included "Third World". Some of the major problems faced by "Third World" countries today include poor towns which have had a lack of food sources due to the serious poverty, lack of clean drinking water, lack of good sanitation systems, lack of good living conditions, lack of jobs and there is no industry, therefore no import or export revenue. The governments of the "Third World" countries have done horrible jobs of creating good living conditions for their people and in all have not tried to bring their country out of their economic slump. As Canada entered it second century, Prime Minister Trudeau called for a complete review of Canada's foreign policy. Starting in 1968 interested Canadians including politicians, journalists, professors, business leaders, financial experts, as well as church and labour leaders were invited to offer opinions and advice in what was called the Trudeau Review. The ending of this meeting brought about six foreign policy booklets which outlined the benefits of Canadian foreign aid. Some of these benefits included to help the Canadian economy grow stronger, to keep Canada independent, to work for peace and security, to promote fairness and equality for everyone and to improve living conditions for all people throughout the world. The Canadian foreign policy review suggested that Canada strengthened it's ties with Latin America. Trudeau visited Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela in 1976. Canada's trade with Latin America increased from $1099 million in 1970 to $3418 million in 1976. Also Canada gave an increasing amount of development funds to a number of Latin American countries. Canada, in 1973 had a major concern about the middle east and made an effort to bring about a lasting peace to the Arab-Israeli conflict. 1050 Canadian military specialists became part of the United Nations emergency force where they tried to maintain a cease fire by providing supplies, transportation and communication during the 1973 peacekeeping role. The Trudeau foreign policy review recommended that Canada was to work hard to support the United Nations and make it an effective organization for

Cargills( Ceylon)

Cargills at a Glance Cargills (Ceylon) PLC is a Sri Lankan corporate established in 1844 and built on a strong foundation of values and ethics. Guided by trusted leadership it spearheads the sustainable development of the food industry in Sri Lanka. Its continuous investment in retail has made the Cargills retail arm Cargills Food City the largest retailer in the island in all categories. Pursuing innovation and food safety its manufacturing brands Cargills Supremo and Cargills Finest (processed meats) Cargills Kist (processed fruits and vegetables) and Cargills Magic (ice cream and dairy products) lead sectoral growth.Its KFC franchise is the largest international restaurant chain in Sri Lanka. Through its marketing and distribution arm spread across the island Cargills distributes its manufactured brands as well as internationally renowned food and non-food brands. The Cargills agribusiness model has gained global recognition for linking farmers and entrepreneurs to the market thro ugh a sustainable and inclusive value creation process. Key business 1. Modern retailing 2. Manufacturing 3. Agri Business 4. Restaurants 5. Distribution Subsidiary Companies †¢Cargills Quality Foods (Pvt) Ltd †¢Cargills Distributors (Pvt) Ltd Cargills Quality Dairies (Pvt) Ltd †¢Cargills Food Processors (Pvt) Ltd †¢Cargills Food Services (Pvt) Ltd †¢CPC Agrifoods Ltd †¢CPC Lanka Ltd †¢Cargills Retail (Pvt) Ltd †¢Millers Distributors Ltd †¢Cargills (Ceylon) Plc (Cargills) operates in the retail chain of food outlets. The company also engaged in food manufacturing and †¢restaurant chain sectors. Cargills operates through its ten subsidiaries. Cargills is the official franchisee for Kentucky Fried Chicken †¢(KFC) in Sri Lanka. It also provides distribution and FMCG manufacturing services. The company also offers discount sales to its †¢products.Cargills operates through its 116 outlets across 19 districts in Sri Lanka. Cargil ls is headquartered at Colombo, Sri Lanka †¢Pricing and availability are what drives the economy of the fast food industry. They effectively penetrate markets with advertising campaigns that cater to a whole range of demographics that make them a need in high demand in almost all US geographic locations. With specialized and highly focused franchise management and vast distribution channel they can be established themselves in a new community almost overnight creating instant revenue and jobs wherever demand is present.Economic Characteristics OF THE FOOD AND DRUG RETAIL INDUSTRYIt is extremely important to understand what the dominant economic factors are in an industry in which you are participating. These factors have a very strong influence in determining the corporate strategies that a company will decide to implement. How can a corporation define and implement their corporate strategy without understanding the environment of the market they are in? They simply can not!The economic factors to be considered are as follows: market size, scope of competitive rivalry, market growth rate, number of rivals, number of customers, degree of vertical integration, economies of scales, resource requirements for market entry, and profitability of the industry. Each one of these factors will be defined in the following paragraphs. The supermarket retail market is a $363 billion industry(sales 2000). Approximately $272 billion in sales, or 75%, is achieved by 25 companies with 16,000 stores. The total number of retail grocery stores total 127,000.It is obvious that the market share is dominated by a select few corporations. The largest company is Kroger (11% market share), followed closely by Albertson’s(9%), Safeway(6%), and Win The number of rivals in this industry is becoming more important to recognize. According to Progressive Grocer, supermarket sales have increased 5. Gross margins are approximately 2% greater for a supermarket when they have access t o a distribution center. In closing, the supermarket industry is profitable. All indications in the research that I have done leads me to believe that sales have increased at the same pace in 2000 that it did in 1999.These companies manufacture some of their products in inventory. Because of the single-person and one-parent households, less people are frequenting the grocery stores and more people are eating out at restaurants. Kroger brand(private label) products account for approximately 25% of their grocery sales and almost 9% of drugs and general merchandise. Albertson†tms has acquired American Food to increase their market share in the West region. Kroger is the only major supermarket operator to implement a three-tier distribution system. As stated above, the top 25 companies capture 75% of the market.Safeway, SuperValu, and Kroger are the only companies that go even further upstream concerning vertical integration. They use these facilities to produce private label prod ucts. The growth has been driven by increasing affluence and the rise of a middle class; the entry of women into the workforce; with a consequent incentive to seek out easy-to-prepare foods; the growth in the use of refrigerators, making it possible to shop weekly instead of daily; and the growth in car ownership, facilitating journeys to distant stores and purchases of large quantities of goods.The opportunities presented by this potential have encouraged several European companies to invest in these markets (mainly in Asia) and American companies to invest in Latin America and China. Local companies also entered the market. [12] Initial development of supermarkets has now been followed by hypermarket growth. In addition there were investments by companies such as Makro and Metro in large-scale Cash-and-Carry operations.While the growth in sales of processed foods in these countries has been much more rapid than the growth in fresh food sales, the imperative nature of supermarkets to achieve economies of scale in purchasing, means that the expansion of supermarkets in these countries has important repercussions for small farmers, particularly those growing perishable crops. New supply chains have developed involving cluster formation; development of specialized wholesalers; leading farmers organizing supply; and farmer associations or cooperatives.Cargills (Ceylon) entered the Business Today TOP 10 list a year ago at the tenth place and this year notched one place up to number nine. Having evolved from its original four department stores, Cargills (Ceylon) is today the fastest growing and largest retail chain in Sri Lanka. The company continues to invest in food and agriculture, and with the expansion of the retail outlets to 136 during the year, new opportunities were reportedly presented to more rural famers and entrepreneurs. The company is also actively participating in the revival of the Eastern Province with the opening of outlets in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee.At present Cargills has established its presence in 23 districts of the country. Cargills (Ceylon) owns and operates its own manufacturing and distribution arm. The company also owns the KFC franchise in Sri Lanka, and it introduced the first KFC drive-thru in the South Asia region. During the year a full year of operation of Millers Distribution was brought under the fold of Cargills. An Island-wide reach and distribution capability of Millers is expected to help Cagills (Ceylon) further penetrate the market. Turnover of the company during the year was Rs 16 billion and profit after tax was Rs 499 million.