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Germany’s Vegan Supermarket To Open First U.S. Store In Portland, Oregon

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Veganz, Germany’s largest vegan-only supermarket chain, has seen great success opening stores across its homeland and throughout Europe, but now the company will be making its largest expansion yet as it looks to open their first U.S. store in Portland, Oregon in 2017.

The chain has only been around since 2011, but Germany attitude towards eating healthier or more ethical foods has led to a rapid expansion. It’s not only vegans showing up to shop at Veganz though as founder Jan Bredack revealed to Eco Watch that “80% of his customers are neither vegan nor vegetarian.”

What may help the chain break into the American market is that Veganz puts their focus on selling prepared food items instead of focusing on selling the raw ingredients to make your own dishes. Shoppers will be able to find an assortment of fake sausages, steaks and various junk-food inspired items on the shelves.

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Veganz original goal was to open in Portland later this year, but for unknown reasons that date has been pushed into 2017. According to a tweet sent out by the company, the location will be a part of a vegan mall close to downtown Portland.

Source: GermanPulse,  Co.Exist, OregonLive
Photo: Veganz

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germanpulse_logoGerman Pulse is a new online magazine for the German-American community where you can find the latest news, reviews, events, businesses, and so much more.

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"Trick or Treat" or "Süßes, sonst gibt's Saures"

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Halloween, a German tradition made in the USA

Today is Halloween! A holiday unknown to Germans or at least not being celebrated in Germany until the 1990s. But this has changed!

Today it’s “Süsses oder Saures!” all over Germany – the phrase we know here in California as “Trick or Treat!”

In 2009 the holiday Halloween helped to drive sales up to almost 30 million Euros in Germany and in 2011 it’s believed to have generated sales already of 200 million Euros! Quite some increase, but still not comparable to the USA.

October 31 has actually been an important protestant church holiday in Germany, “Reformations-Tag”, remembering Martin Luther; but this day of contemplation and reflection, even thought still on the church calendar, had to make way for the ‘funner’ Halloween celebrations.

A specialized section within the toy industry, “”Fachgruppe Karneval im Deutschen Verband der Spielwarenindustrie (DVSI)” claims to have brought the tradition to Germany way back then in the 90’s. Since then it’s become an economic factor. What a clever act if you think that the official start for Carnival or “Fasching” is just around the corner, November 11, at 11:11 a.m.!

It seems that celebrating Halloween in Germany has moved that date to October 31 and that “Narrenzeit” is starting today!  Should I say, “Helau”…!?

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Further Reads:

http://www.umwelt-im-unterricht.de/medien/bilder/halloween-in-zahlen-und-fakten-gssek/

http://www.stern.de/panorama/gesellschaft/halloween–so-kam-der-grusel-aus-den-usa-nach-deutschland-3526542.html

http://www.n-tv.de/wirtschaft/Handel-liebt-Halloween-article7591461.html

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Image: Wikipedia

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ALDI and LIDL – Two German Food Discounters Expand in the U.S. Market

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ALDI in California in spring 2016

As we have already heard in the news this year, the ALDI brand is expanding and  soon will come to various neighborhoods in California. The city of LaVerne has just approved ALDI’s plans to open a 21,000-square-foot market at a space at White Avenue and Foothill Blvd.

ALDI plans to open its first stores in Southern California in March 2016, adding a total of 25 before next July.  Possible new locations for an ALDI store near you might include Arcadia in L.A. county, the city of Bernardino, Fountain Valley in Orange County and Simi Valley in Ventura County. While ALDI’s U.S. headquarters are in Batavia, IL, California’s regional headquarters as well as distribution center will be in Moreno Valley, CA.

The chain is hosting job fairs throughout the U.S. in August for more than 2,500 positions and has a goal of creating 10,000 new jobs by the end of 2018. Aldi has already more than 1,400 stores in 32 states!

ALDI was founded in Germany in 1946 and includes two divisions in Germany : ALDI Nord and ALDI Süd. ALDI Nord has made itself quite a name in the U.S. already with its popular Trader Joe’s grocery chain.

LIDL Stiftung & Co.KG, ALDI’s arch competitor, has also plans to expand in the U.S. with headquarters in Arlington, VA. Unfortunately no plans seem to exist yet for any grocery stores on the U.S. west coast.

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Source: CoStarGroup – Randyl Drummer

Image: The Packer

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Cook Your Brats On The Go With the Backbrat Bike Grill

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Backbrat

Riding a bike around is generally seen as a great way to get some exercise in while you’re on the go.  As you pedal your way to your destination you may get hungry, so wouldn’t it be nice to have a meal cooking on your bike so you’re ready to eat once you stop?  Mathias Hintermann, a Switzerland native living in LA, has come up with a bike accessory that will do just that.

The Backbrat is a small grill attachment that to fits on the back of your bike and will accommodate four regular sized brats, thüringers, or frankfurters all while being made to withstand the potholes you may encounter on your journey.  Since the grill cooks with charcoal, you don’t need to worry about the dangers of peddling with an explosive tank of gas towards your rear… unless of course you eat a few greasy sausages before you make the trip.

Backbrat Grill Size

Hintermann plans to target the German market, which is known for loving their share of sausage and cycling.  He figures his bike can take advantage of two growing trends in the country… group cycling and grilling out at the park.  You could of course wait until you arrive to fire up the grill, but it is much more efficient to get a head start as you pedal away, and we know how the Germans like to be efficient.

Backbrat Seamless

Source: Mathias Hintermann
Photos by Mathias Hintermann
ArticleSource: GermanPulse

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   German Pulse is a new online magazine for the German-American community where you can  find the latest news, reviews, events, businesses, and so much more.
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Just In Time For Summer !

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Are you bored of the ordinary boat ride on the lake or moving along the bay slowly in a duffy boat?

Hey, here are some other options, some quite exotic perhaps, but fun!

German designer Daniel Straub came up with the cool invention of a mobile home that turns into a boat. It won’t transport you any faster than the options above, but it’s more fun and will definitely be a ‘head turner’ on your next trip. A prototype has already been manufactured of the ‘Sealander’ and it should be in production this year. (seen in Scientific American)

If you like to play ‘Hide & Seek’, then this submarine speedboat is for you. A scare on the water the ultrafast  ‘Seabreacher Y’ by the Innespace company  is a submersible speedboat in the shape of a dolphin or a shark that can even “breach” 16 feet out of the water! (seen in Scientific American)

Last, Hammacher Schlemmer’s Barbacue Dining Boat is the perfect boat model for someone who loves to go fishing and have a dinner party with his catch of the day right there on the boat. No need to go on land and throw on the grill,  the 24-inch charcoal grill is right there on the boat, in the center of the floating vessel! (seen in The Week)

To top these cool outings on the water be sure to have the right outfit to go with it. Kusa Sandals might just be the right accessory to start off a conversation. Instead of walking on cloud nine you will be walking on grass.

Happy Summer!

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Muenchner Oktoberfest 2010- 18. September bis 4.Oktober

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The Oktoberfest in Munich from Ferris wheel
Image via Wikipedia

Jetzt ist’s bald so weit! Das  Oktoberfest 2010 in Muenchen zaehlt die Tage bis zur Eroeffnung: 4 Tage und 0 Stunden und 59 Minuten bis das 177. Oktoberfest mit einem feierlichen Einzug die Tore oeffnen wird.

Wer mehr ueber das Oktoberfest erfahren moechte und den Eroeffnungs zeremonien beiwohnen moechte, findet auf www.oktoberfest.de die neuesten Updates.  Die Oktoberfest webcam kann uns ‘Kaliforniern’ zumindest das Gefuehl geben wir sind ein wenig live dabei…

Fuer eine Liste mit verschiedenen Oktoberfest Feierlichkeiten hier in Kalifornien, click on the following link: “Celebrate Oktoberfest in the Area”

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Enjoy the last days at the beach in tan-through swimwear

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I know summer is almost over but…have you heard of the wearable towel and the tan-through swimwear? I read about it in “The Week”, actually a while ago, but just came across these articles again today. 

While the designs and styles for the revolutionary swimwear seem actually quite attractive, I am not so sure about the wearable towel…

Also,  having no tan lines sounds somewhat promising I must admit,  at second thought, what about sunburns?? 

I guess I’ ll catch my last sunrays of summer with a traditional bikini and I am sure will be just as happy.

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