The Nigerian All-Share Index (ASI) closed the trading session on November 27, 2024, in the red, shedding 343.31 points to settle at 97,296.57—a dip of 0.35%. Despite the overall decline, the market demonstrated a remarkable uptick in activity, with trading volumes surging by an impressive 48.97%. A staggering 822 million shares changed hands during the session, marking a significant leap from the previous day’s 552 million shares and reflecting a surge in investor participation. Related Stories Market Wrap: ASI edges up by 13.61 points as HMCALL leads gainers, Multiverse tops losers Market Wrap: All-Share Index slips 0.21% as HMCALL and SUNUASSUR lead gainers On the gainers’ chart, SUNUASSUR emerged as the best performer, rallying by 9.97% to clinch the top spot. GUINEAINS followed with an 8.16% increase, while CONOIL rounded out the top three with a solid 6.56% gain. Conversely, the losers’ chart was led by JOHN HOLT, which recorded a steep decline of 10.00%. Close behind was ARADEL, shedding 9.98% of its value. Notably, HMCALL and JAPAULGOLD dominated the trading floor as the day’s most actively traded stocks. Current ASI: 97,296.57 points Previous ASI: 97,626.27 points Day Change: -0.35% Year-to-Date Performance: +30.12% Volume Traded: 822 million shares Deals: 9,385 SUNUASSUR: up 9.97% to N4.19 GUINEANS: up 8.16% to N0.53 CONOIL: up 6.56% to N276.00 DAARCOMMS: up 6.56% to N0.65 NASCON: up 6.23% to N32.40 JOHNHOLT: down 10.00% to N9.90 ARADEL: down 9.98% to N473.30 ETERNA: down 9.88% to N22.35 HMCALL: down 8.43% to N5.65 UPDC: down 8.13% to N1.47 The Nigerian equities market experienced a notable surge in activity, with trading volume climbing by an impressive 48.97%. Investors exchanged a total of 822 million shares, a substantial jump from the 552 million shares traded in the previous session. HMCALL led the pack with a staggering 373.7 million shares changing hands, cementing its position as the day’s most actively traded stock. Trailing closely was JAPAULGOLD, which recorded a robust 115.9 million shares traded. Other key contributors to the trading volume included TANTALIZER, with 30.7 million shares; UBA, accounting for 29.4 million shares; and GTCO, rounding out the top five with 28.7 million shares traded. On the value front, HMCALL emerged as the standout, driving transactions worth an impressive N2.1 billion. GTCO followed, with trade values reaching N1.5 billion, underscoring sustained investor interest. UBA and OANDO also made significant contributions, recording N930 million and N778.2 million, respectively, in trading value. TRANSCORP rounded out the top five with transactions totaling N709.7 million, reinforcing its continued appeal among market participants. In the SWOOT category, which includes stocks with market capitalizations exceeding N1 trillion, OANDO recorded a gain of 3.33%, while ARADEL experienced a notable decline, shedding 9.98% of its share price. The FUGAZ stocks—comprising FBN Holdings (FBNH), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Access Holdings (ACCESSCORP), and Zenith Bank (ZENITHBANK)—saw mixed activity during the session. ACCESSCORP and UBA posted declines of 1.77% and 0.47%, respectively. Meanwhile, FBNH, GTCO, and ZENITHBANK closed flat, with no price movement recorded. Despite the market’s dip, optimism remains for a potential rebound in the Nigerian equities market. Strong Q3 earnings across several sectors, combined with sustained investor interest, are anticipated to fuel upward momentum in the sessions ahead.Irish civil servants compiled a list of “major leaks” they claimed originated from the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Special Branch officers in the region, records show. The confidential briefing note is part of the tranche of documents made public in the annual release of State papers from the Irish National Archives. An Irish Department of Foreign Affairs official focusing on justice and security created the list in October 2002. The document starts by referencing a 1999 interview given by George Mitchell, the chairman of the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, in which he claimed the British and Irish governments, as well as Northern Ireland’s political parties, had leaked information to manipulate public opinion. However, he further accused the NIO of attempting to sabotage the process by leaking information on British Government policy to the media. Mr Mitchell, a former US senator, is said to have expressed alarm and anger over the frequency of leaks from the NIO – saying they were uniquely “designed to undermine the policy of the British Government of which they were a part”. The Irish civil servant notes Mr Mitchell himself was subjected to an attempted “smear” when he first arrived in Northern Ireland, as newspaper articles falsely claimed his chief of staff Martha Pope had had a liaison with Sinn Fein representative Gerry Kelly with ulterior motives. The Irish civil servant goes on to list several “leaks”, starting with the publication of a proposed deal in a newspaper while “intense negotiations” for the Downing Street Declaration were under way. Next, the Department lists two “high-profile and damaging leaks issued from the NIO”. A so-called “gameplan” document was leaked in February 1998, showing papers had been prepared weeks before the Drumcree march on July 6, 1997. In the preceding years, there had been standoffs and clashes as nationalists opposed the procession of an Orange parade down Garvaghy Road in Portadown. The gameplan document showed then secretary of state for Northern Ireland Mo Mowlam, who was publicly expressing a desire for a negotiated solution to the 1997 parade, advocated “finding the lowest common denominator for getting some Orange feet on the Garvaghy Road”. In 1997, a large number of security forces were deployed to the area to allow the march to proceed. The incident sparked heightened tension and a wave of rioting. The document further describes the release of a document submitted by the NIO’s director of communications to the secretary of state as a “second major leak”. It claims a publicity strategy was released to the DUP in the aftermath of the Good Friday Agreement and showed how the UK Government would support a yes vote in a referendum following any talks agreement. In addition, it is claimed unionists used leaked sections of the Patten report on policing to invalidate its findings ahead of its publication in 1999. The report recommended the replacement of the Royal Ulster Constabulary with the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the changing of symbols, and a 50-50 recruitment policy for Catholics and Protestants. At the time, UUP leader David Trimble said the recommendations would lead to a corruption of policing in Northern Ireland. Chris Patten, chairman of the independent commission on policing, said some of the assertions were a “total fabrication” and designed to “muddy the waters” to create a difficult political atmosphere. Elsewhere, the author notes it was leaked to the media there was serious disagreement between the governments of the UK and Ireland on the composition of that commission – with not a single name submitted by the Irish side being accepted by the other. The author notes this incident, still under the heading “NIO leaks”, was believed by British officials to have emanated from the Irish side. The report turns to leaks of other origin, claiming “disgruntled Special Branch officers in Northern Ireland” were blamed by the British Government for a series of releases about the IRA which were designed to damage Sinn Fein in the 2001 general election in Northern Ireland. One senior Whitehall source was quoted in the Guardian as complaining that Special Branch was “leaking like a sieve” after details of an IRA intelligence database containing the names of leading Tories – described at the time as a “hit list” – was passed to the BBC in April 2002. The briefing note adds: “This was followed days later by a leak to The Sunday Telegraph which alleged that senior IRA commanders bought Russian special forces rifles in Moscow last year. “The newspaper said it was passed details by military intelligence in London.” The briefing note adds that other Special Branch leaks were associated with the Castlereagh break-in. The final incident in the document notes the Police Ombudsman’s Report on the Omagh bombing was also leaked to the press in December 2001. Then Northern Ireland secretary John Reid said at the time: “Leaks are never helpful and usually malicious – I will not be commenting on this report until I have seen the final version.” The reason for creating the list of leaks, which the Irish National Archives holds in a folder alongside briefing notes for ministers ahead of meetings with officials from the UK Government and NIO, is not outlined in the document itself. – This document is based on material in 2024/130/6.

How to avoid the latest generation of scams this holiday season

Localisation of SDG 14: opportunities for blue economyTIRANA (Reuters) -Albania on Saturday announced a one-year ban on TikTok, the popular short video app, following the killing of a teenager last month that raised fears over the influence of social media on children. The ban, part of a broader plan to make schools safer, will come into effect early next year, Prime Minister Edi Rama said after meeting with parents’ groups and teachers from across the country. “For one year, we’ll be completely shutting it down for everyone. There will be no TikTok in Albania,” Rama said. Several European countries including France, Germany and Belgium have enforced restrictions on social media use for children. In one of the world’s toughest regulations targeting Big Tech, Australia approved in November a complete social media ban for children under 16. Rama has blamed social media, and TikTok in particular, for fuelling violence among youth in and outside school. His government’s decision comes after a 14-year-old schoolboy was stabbed to death in November by a fellow pupil. Local media had reported that the incident followed arguments between the two boys on social media. Videos had also emerged on TikTok of minors supporting the killing. “The problem today is not our children, the problem today is us, the problem today is our society, the problem today is TikTok and all the others that are taking our children hostage,” Rama said. TikTok said it was seeking “urgent clarity” from the Albanian government. “We found no evidence that the perpetrator or victim had TikTok accounts, and multiple reports have in fact confirmed videos leading up to this incident were being posted on another platform, not TikTok,” a company spokesperson said.

Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’PHOENIX – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Wednesday she's suing a Saudi Arabian agribusiness for allegedly violating a public nuisance law, contending that its groundwater pumping threatens the public health, safety and infrastructure of local communities in a rural western county. The complaint filed in Maricopa County Superior Court alleges that the pumping at a Fondomonte Arizona, LLC. alfalfa farm has had widespread effects in the Ranegras Plain Basin of La Paz County, harming everyone who depends on basin water by drawing down supplies, drying up wells and causing the ground to crack and sink in some areas. Recommended Videos The lawsuit is the latest action by Arizona against foreign companies that use huge amounts of groundwater to grow thirsty forage crops for export because of climate challenges in other countries. Rural Arizona is especially attractive to international businesses because it has no groundwater pumping regulations. The lawsuit alleges that since 2014, Fondomonte has extracted huge amounts of water that accelerated depletion of the basin’s aquifer. The company is a subsidiary of Saudi dairy giant Almarai Co. “We find the allegations of the Attorney General totally unfounded, and we will defend any potential action against Fondomonte and our rights vigorously before the competent authorities,” Fondomonte said in a statement Wednesday. “The company has invested significantly to bring the latest conservation technology and applies environmentally sustainable practices on these long-established farms,” it said. “Fondomonte has continued to develop responsibly during its time farming in the state and the company complies with all state regulations. ” Years of drought have increased pressure on water users across the West, particularly in states like Arizona, which relies heavily on the dwindling Colorado River. The drought has also made groundwater — long used by farmers and rural residents without restriction — even more important for users across the state. Mayes told reporters Wednesday that the Arizona Legislature has done nothing to fix the groundwater problem despite knowing about the problem for years. “While laws regulating groundwater pumping could have prevented this situation, the legislature’s inaction has allowed the crisis to grow,” Mayes said. “When the legislature fails to protect our most basic resources, the attorney general must step in.” La Paz County Supervisor Holly Irwin, a Republican, commended Mayes, a Democrat, for attempting to address what she described as her community’s “most challenging” concern. “I know that my constituents will be thrilled over this, that somebody is actually paying attention to the real problems here,” Irwin said during Wednesday’s news briefing via a video conference call. Mayes' lawsuit alleges that Fondomonte's actions are a public nuisance under a state statute that prohibits activity that injures health, obstructs property use, or interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property by a community. Mayes called the company’s groundwater pumping “unsustainable” and said it caused “devastating consequences” for people in the area. “Arizona law is clear: no company has the right to endanger an entire community’s health and safety for its own gain,” she said. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the company from further groundwater pumping it says is “excessive” and require that an abatement fund be established. Arizona officials have been targeting Fondomonte for more than a year over its use of groundwater to grow forage crops, by not renewing or canceling the company's leases in Butler Valley in western Arizona. Some residents there had complained that the company’s pumping was threatening their wells. ___ Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.By LOLITA BALDOR and FATIMA HUSSEIN WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Wednesday that he has chosen Keith Kellogg, a highly decorated retired three-star general, to serve as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg, who is one of the architects of a staunchly conservative policy book that lays out an “America First” national security agenda for the incoming administration, will come into the role as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine enters its third year in February. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, and said “He was with me right from the beginning! Together, we will secure PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, and Make America, and the World, SAFE AGAIN!” Kellogg, an 80 year-old retired Army lieutenant general who has long been Trump’s top adviser on defense issues, served as national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence , was chief of staff of the National Security Council and then stepped in as an acting security adviser for Trump after Michael Flynn resigned. As special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Kellogg will have to navigate an increasingly untenable war between the two nations. The Biden administration has begun urging Ukraine to quickly increase the size of its military by drafting more troops and revamping its mobilization laws to allow for the conscription of troops as young as 18. The White House has pushed more than $56 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s February 2022 invasion and expects to send billions more to Kyiv before Biden leaves office in less than months. Trump has criticized the billions that the Biden administration has poured into Ukraine. Washington has recently stepped up weapons shipments and has forgiven billions in loans provided to Kyiv. The incoming Republican president has said he could end the war in 24 hours, comments that appear to suggest he would press Ukraine to surrender territory that Russia now occupies. As a co-chairman of the American First Policy Institute’s Center for American Security, Kellogg wrote several of the chapters in the group’s policy book. The book, like the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025,” is a move to lay out a Trump national security agenda and avoid the mistakes of 2016 when he entered the White House largely unprepared. Kellogg in April wrote that “bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to a close will require strong, America First leadership to deliver a peace deal and immediately end the hostilities between the two warring parties.” Trump’s proposed national security advisor U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) tweeted Wednesday that “Keith has dedicated his life to defending our great country and is committed to bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution.” Kellogg was a character in multiple Trump investigations dating to his first term. He was among the administration officials who listened in on the July 2019 call between Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in which Trump prodded his Ukrainian counterpart to pursue investigations into the Bidens. The call, which Kellogg would later say did not raise any concerns on his end, was at the center of the first of two House impeachment cases against Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate both times. On Jan. 6, 2021, hours before pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Kellogg, who was then Pence’s national security adviser, listened in on a heated call in which Trump told his vice president to object or delay the certification in Congress of President Joe Biden ’s victory. He later told House investigators that he recalled Trump saying to Pence words to the effect of: “You’re not tough enough to make the call.” Baldor reported from Washington. AP writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

AP Business SummaryBrief at 1:24 p.m. ESTMexico's lower house approves labor reform for app workers

So you’ve had a look across the pages of the Radio Times or flicked through the Electronic Programme Guide on your TV only to discover that there isn’t much taking your fancy. Well thankfully, given the huge advances in modern technology, you won’t have to make do with what broadcasters want you to watch; instead, we’ve been “blessed” with streaming platforms such as Netflix , Prime Video , Apple TV+ and Disney+ ... ... all of which just so happen to have some of the festive season’s most quintessential films, all ready for you to pick up the remote, demand to the household you’re watching ‘Die Hard’ and then start streaming away. Or something wholly different in your household - I only speak from experience. From the standards such as ‘ White Christmas ’ and ‘ How The Grinch Stole Christmas ’ to newer entries in the Christmas pantheon such as ‘ The Muppet Christmas Carol ’ or ‘ Scrooged ,’ we’ve compiled not only a list of 19 films to stream this season but where they can be streamed to. So in the (eventual) event you get bored over that sleepy time period between Christmas and New Year, why not revisit one of the classics - or soon to be modern classics? A holiday classic that brings the heart-warming tale of Charlie Brown’s quest to find the true meaning of Christmas. It’s a touching, nostalgic journey for both children and adults, featuring the iconic jazz score by Vince Guaraldi. | Disney Set in the 1940s, this beloved holiday film follows Ralphie as he dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. With its unforgettable moments and quotable lines, it’s become a perennial favourite during the holiday season. | MGM-Amazon The Muppets take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale in this musical version that brings humour, heart, and holiday cheer. Michael Caine plays Scrooge, with Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, and the rest of the Muppets adding their signature charm. | Disney/Jim Henson Workshop Sabrina Carpenter leads this whimsical Christmas special that blends fun and festive chaos with a fresh, musical take on the season. It’s perfect for fans of light-hearted holiday cheer. | Netflix

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There are plenty of jitters these days in Washington about President-elect Donald Trump’s designs on the size and effectiveness of our sprawling federal government. Nowhere are those concerns greater than among those intelligence professionals occupying what Trump disparagingly calls “the deep state.” It’s hard to dispute that there’s federal fat to be trimmed, and Trump’s calling for cuts resonates with Americans well beyond his base. At what point, however, do those cuts hit the muscle and bone required for US global leadership at a far more dangerous time than Trump faced during his first presidency? With wars in the Middle East and Europe, with escalating tensions with China, and with an accelerating contest for technology’s commanding heights, the answer is simple: A purge of career intelligence professionals would have far-reaching negative consequences at a moment when the United States needs even more capable, confident, and motivated espionage agencies. That was the context today for the New York Times’ lead essay by John Sipher, an Atlantic Council senior fellow and twenty-eight-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency’s National Clandestine Service, and Michael V. Hayden, an Atlantic Council board member and former director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. They worry “that Mr. Trump may be interested in wrecking the operation of the intelligence community.” Write Sipher and Hayden: “Needless to say, the notion that the intelligence community is disloyal is false. The community is filled with skilled professionals committed to providing the president—any president—with the best possible intelligence, often at great personal sacrifice.” In today’s Wall Street Journal , hardly a newspaper that echoes the New York Times ’ opinions, the lead editorial questions Trump’s nomination of Tulsi Gabbard, former member of Congress and military officer, to lead his intelligence agencies at such a challenging moment. The Journal ’s editorial board based its concerns heavily on Gabbard’s record of opposition to policies that worked in the first Trump administration, so this piece might resonate more at Mar-a-Lago than Sipher and Hayden’s. “Ms. Gabbard is on ample record as a dogmatic opponent of the policies that made Mr. Trump’s first-term foreign policy a success and that Democrats resisted,” the editorial board writes under the headline “How Tulsi Gabbard Sees the World.” “The former Democrat would be a risky fit as director of national intelligence.” The editorial board based that judgment on the argument that the Director of National Intelligence’s job is to “convey intelligence fairly,” and that her “record suggests she is as likely to reject new intel and muddy the waters.” The piece reminds readers that she defended Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad against findings of chemical weapons use, about which Trump had no doubts. It notes that Gabbard accused Trump of wanting war with Iran, when his “maximum pressure” campaign achieved the opposite. She accused Trump, through his strike killing Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, of “pushing our nation headlong into a war with Iran.” Wrong again. The editorial board argues that supporters of Trump’s foreign policy will “think twice about confirming her.” Sipher and Hayden remind us that Trump’s promises to destroy “the deep state” predate his first term in the White House. His nominations and rhetoric underscore that he might be more determined to achieve that outcome in his second term. Trump is right that the world has grown far too dangerous and unstable. History will judge him on how he addresses that reality. The incoming president’s dilemma is that this more perilous world will require him to lean on the proven patriots in intelligence and also those in the military whom he has disparaged in the past. Frederick Kempe is president and chief executive officer of the Atlantic Council. You can follow him on X: @FredKempe . This edition is part of Frederick Kempe’s Inflection Points newsletter, a column of dispatches from a world in transition. To receive this newsletter throughout the week, sign up here .Former President Jimmy Carter, who aspired to build a "lasting peace, built not on weapons of war but on international policies which reflect our own most precious values," died Sunday in Plains, Georgia. He was 100. Carter was born James Earl Carter Jr. on Oct. 1, 1924, in Plains, Georgia, to James Earl Carter Sr. and Lillian Gordy Carter. He spent his childhood in Archery, Georgia, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946. While in the U.S. Navy, Carter worked as a submariner and was later assigned to the nuclear submarine program in New York. His work focused on reactor technology and nuclear physics and he oversaw the pre-commissioning crew of the country's second nuclear submarine. Following his father's death in 1953, Carter and his wife Rosalynn returned to his childhood home in Georgia where he had his first foray in politics serving on several community boards. Carter was then won a seat in Georgia's state legislature before being elected the state's 76th governor, an office he held from 1971 until 1975. Then-Gov. Carter announced his bid for the presidency in December 1974. Alongside Vice President Walter Mondale, Carter was elected the country's 39th president less than two years later. During his inaugural address , Carter pledged to make government "both competent and compassionate" and renew "our search for humility, mercy, and justice." His presidential library cites the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the Egypt-Israel peace treaty and the establishment of U.S.-China relations as Carter's major foreign policy achievements. Domestically, Carter and his administration supported energy, education and environmental reform, creating the cabinet-level Department of Energy and the modern Department of Education during his time in office. Carter ran for re-election but lost to Ronald Reagan, though he stayed in the public eye after leaving office. He founded the human rights-focused Carter Center and later worked alongside several subsequent presidents and foreign leaders on peacekeeping, humanitarian and other diplomacy missions. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on the Camp David Accords -- "itself a great enough achievement to qualify for the Nobel Peace Prize," the committee said -- and other humanitarian work. Carter was last seen on his 100th birthday. In a video published by the Jimmy Carter National Historical Park , the former president was seen with family watching an F-18 Super Hornet flyover from Naval Air Station Oceana in honor of his centennial. Carter also made a rare appearance out of hospice care in a wheelchair to honor former first lady and wife Rosalynn Carter at her funeral in February of 2023. She died on Nov. 19, 2023 at the age of 96. He is survived by his four children.

Portfolio Change: One Stock To Buy, November 22

Cava group's director Ronald Shaich sells $204 million in stockMother Flockers Restaurant welcomes New Hamburg area customers into the flockThe dining table is so much more than a surface dressed in eclectic decor, vibrant runners, or floral arrangements; it is a place that - through the communal experience of sharing a meal - opens the realm of human connections. Similarly, food is more than its primary function of nourishing the body; it is a sensory experience and a palatable fusion of flavors, textures, and smells, each dish a unique sensation—a reminder of where individuals come from. For the 8.8 million Polish-Americans , especially those living in Chicago, Alexandra Foods serves as that reminder. Within the walls of this business, customers can indulge in Eastern European culinary mastery, choose between 18 scrumptious flavors of pierogi, and find a kaleidoscope of other Polish dishes, including uszka, ‘little ears’ best paired with Christmas Eve red borsch; a Silesian classic - kluski śląskie; and meat- or cheese-filled pyzy. Often garnished with fried onion, crispy bacon, or sour cream, these homemade, authentic recipes are created with one purpose: to evoke the cherished memories of family homes and traditions. Lovingly handcrafted in small batches by a team of mostly 1st-generation Eastern Europeans, every package contains wholesome, made-from-scratch Polish classics that taste like a slice of home away from home. This dedication to maintaining authenticity within every bite is personal, stemming from Alexandra Foods’ founding story. Just like many Polish people in the 1980s, Mark and Alexandra Dembicki left their homeland in search of a better life, immigrating to the US in 1989. While for most, political changes meant newly opened doors to exploring the world’s diverse cultures, for Mark and Alexandra, it symbolized the opportunity to share their heritage with others. Ready to live the American Dream, the couple - who had always aspired to become business owners - made the bold decision to invest in a small property, opening a small deli in 1992. Located in Portage Park, home to a large Polish community, one item resonated with the locals the most, quickly becoming the deli’s bestseller: pierogi. The rising demand inspired Mark and Alexandra to focus solely on authentic ‘babcia-style’ cooking, changing the deli’s name to Alexandra Foods Company in 1995. From there, an inspirational story of a small-town couple making it in the big city unfolded; from traversing Chicago in search of retail and marketing partners to designing its first commercial package, Alexandra Foods entrenched its impact across the local community, soon appearing in delis and markets throughout the Chicagoland area. As the company expanded from one to three buildings - all in the same location - Alexandra and Mark enriched their offering with other Polish dishes in demand, introducing Silesian dumplings in 1997, followed by kopytka (finger dumplings) and naleśniki (sweet, soft cheese crepes) in 1998, and more products in the years after. In 2003, Alexandra Foods earned a ‘USDA-inspected’ status, a testament to its high quality and authenticity. Over time, Alexandra Foods’ goods began selling in 30 states, making their mark across a nation that Mark and Alexandra made home decades before. In 2021, to fuel its growth and success, the founders bestowed the honor of accelerating the company to Rich Berry, a business school graduate with extensive experience in brand management specializing in the frozen foods industry. With a mission of not changing but elevating, Rich ensured Alexandra Foods’ values, quality, and recipes remained the same, continuing Mark and Alexandra's legacy of authentic culinary craft. To honor the founders’ original recipes, he resorted to what he believes is the best way to enhance the flavor: better quality ingredients. “Alexandra Foods started with processing whole heads of onion or cabbage,” adds Rich. “We have always been clean, not hiding any chemicals in our ingredient lists. This remains the same; only now, we use premium cuts of meat, richer cheddar, and more organic products.” Since then, the enterprise has enlarged its product range to 32 items and expanded to other US areas with a prominent Polish-American population. These changes were informed by 3-language surveys analyzing the preferences of more than 40 Eastern Europeans. “This is not me saying, ‘That’s what pierogi should taste like,’” he stresses. “This is Polish people saying, ‘This food is something I want to serve to my family.’” Now, as it paves the way toward Pennsylvania and New York, Alexandra Foods promises to bring the delectable and unique flavor of Eastern Europe to all those looking for wholesome meals that are easy to prepare and delicious. The company is also offering its Polish classics on a stand at the Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York, redefining the conventional perception of stadium bites with mouth-watering and nutritious dumplings, like pierogi and uszka. Rich comments, reflecting on his 3-year-long journey: “I have led many companies before, but Alexandra Foods is different from any other place I have stepped into. Employees here have been making pierogi for over a decade. Since I took over, the original production team has remained the same. Mark and Alexandra brought these recipes from Poland, and we continue to rely on the expertise of Polish people and tradition.” A country’s cuisine is often considered its national treasure, delectably encapsulating every region’s distinct history. In Poland, dishes made of cereals, humble vegetables, and hearty countryside produce are a true reflection of the nation’s spirit of resilience. In the culinary world, that spirit reveals itself in simple ingredients turning into delicious symphonies inclusive to this Eastern European land, igniting the nation’s residents, the Polish diaspora, and those keen to discover new, authentic tastes to unite over the Alexandra Foods dining table.

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Nigeria cannot fully develop without maximising potential of mining sector – Ebonyi commissioner