New BlackBerry
BlackBerry maker Research In Motion will launch its new touch-screen smartphone in the U.S. with AT&T on March 22.
AT&T said Monday that the Z10 will be available for $199.99 with a two-year contract. Sales of the device began in the U.K. and Canada shortly after RIM unveiled the phone in late January.
Down to Earth to label GMO food by 2018
Hawaii’s largest locally founded natural-food retailer, Down to Earth Organic & Natural, is joining its bigger rival Whole Foods Market in setting a 2018 deadline for labeling genetically engineered products sold in its stores.
Down to Earth announced its move Monday, saying that the similar decision announced Friday by Whole Foods, the nation’s largest natural foods retailer, is a "game changer" for the natural-products industry and consumers.
"Acting together, we can implement labeling without having to wait for government," Mark Fergusson, Down to Earth’s chief executive, said in a statement.
The local vegetarian food retailer with four stores on Oahu and one on Maui said any product it carries containing genetically modified organisms or ingredients must be labeled as such by 2018.
Down to Earth has a long-term goal of selling 100 percent organic and GMO-free products. Presently the company gives preference to products verified by the nonprofit Non-GMO Project or certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and does not sell whole GMO foods, including Rainbow papaya.
Whole Foods maintains a list of GMO-free products it sells in its stores.
Maui chef Simeon in Best New Chef voting
Maui chef Sheldon Simeon of Star Noodle in Lahaina is in the running as a candidate for "The People’s Best New Chef," a contest by Food & Wine magazine.
The contest, in which the public is invited to vote, seeks to honor up-and-coming culinary innovators who have run their own kitchens for five or fewer years. Nominees are separated into 10 regional categories, and Simeon is among 11 candidates in the Northwest and Pacific Chefs division.
The winner will be featured in the July issue of the magazine.
Simeon, who was among the final three contestants on the most recent season of "Top Chef" on the Bravo cable network, credits the original Hawaii Regional Cuisine chefs, particularly Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi, for being his main influences.
Vote online at is.gd/FandWNorPacVOTE.
Jardine up for national advocate award
Raymond Jardine Jr. of Honolulu is among five nominees for the National Small Business Association’s 2013 Lew Shattuck Small Business Advocate of the Year award.
Jardine is president and CEO of Native Hawaiian Veterans LLC, has been a vocal proponent for veteran-owned small businesses, has served on the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee and American Legion, and participated on the White House Small Business Council.
Other nominees are from Ohio and Mississippi.
The winner will be named Monday during an NSBA award luncheon in Washington, D.C.
Deal gives Icahn access to Dell records
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who is fighting Dell Inc. founder Michael Dell’s plan to take the struggling company private, has entered a confidentiality agreement that would give him access to the computer maker’s financial records.
Michael Dell, who is also Dell’s CEO, is planning a $24.4 billion buyout that would make the Round Rock, Texas, company a privately owned business, but Icahn and other investors say the price of $13.65 per share is too low.
Icahn’s company, Icahn Enterprises, has said it holds a substantial stake in the company.
On the Move
Honolulu HomeLoans has announced Ellen Schultz as its vice president of operations. Schultz has worked in the mortgage lending industry for 33 years.
Deloitte’s Honolulu practice has announced a new partner and appointed a new director:
>> Joseph Young is an audit partner in audit enterprise and risk service. He has 14 years of experience in SEC public registrants, middle-market companies and growth enterprises.
>> Joanna Kawamoto was promoted to audit director in audit enterprise and risk service. She has 13 years of experience in a variety of industries in Honolulu, on the neighbor islands and in Seattle.
Y. Hata & Co. has announced Ted Aughe as the new general manager for the company’s Hilo branch. He was previously an account manager with the company servicing the Hilo area. Aughe has been with Y. Hata since 2007.
