Water security

Source: CNBC

Source: CNBC

LONDON, Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pulsar Helium Inc. (AIM: PLSR, TSXV: PLSR, OTCQB: PSRHF) (“Pulsar” or the “Company”), a primary helium company, is pleased to announce the launch of its new website, providing a comprehensive digital hub for information on helium, the Company’s project portfolio and the investment opportunity.

The new website has been designed to provide a central destination for investors, researchers, industry participants and the wider public to explore Pulsar’s activities and access educational and informational resources relating to helium.

The website brings together the Company’s corporate and investor information with a range of new content and features, including:

• ³He Hub: A dedicated information center covering the properties, applications and potential of helium-3 (³He), with details of Pulsar’s ³He discovery at its Topaz Project, the Company’s ³He Research Initiative, and a curated collection of external sources and research.
• Project Portfolio: Detailed information on Pulsar’s portfolio of primary helium exploration projects, including the flagship Topaz Project in Minnesota and the Tunu Project in Greenland, alongside the Company’s newer Falcon and Torino projects in the USA.
• Investor Hub: A comprehensive suite of investor resources, including Company news, financial statements, stock information, corporate presentations, governance, ESG, AGM materials and AIM Rule 26 information.
• Pulsar Community: Dedicated content showcasing the Company’s community engagement initiatives.

The launch forms part of Pulsar’s ongoing efforts to improve the accessibility of information, engage and educate new demographics about helium criticality and communicate the Company’s activities and the wider importance of primary helium to a broader audience.

Thomas Abraham-James, CEO of Pulsar, commented:

“We are very pleased to launch our new website, which we have designed to be much more than a traditional corporate website. It is intended to be a central hub for all things helium, bringing together information about Pulsar, our project portfolio, the helium market and the science and applications behind this critically important element.

“The new website also reflects the evolution of Pulsar as we advance our portfolio of projects. Alongside our investor resources, we wanted to create a platform through which people can engage with our work, our communities and the wider helium story.”

The new website is available at https://pulsarhelium.com

On behalf of Pulsar Helium Inc.
“Thomas Abraham-James”
CEO and Director

Further Information:

Pulsar Helium Inc.
connect@pulsarhelium.com
+ 1 (218) 203-5301 (USA/Canada)
+44 (0) 2033 55 9889 (United Kingdom)
https://pulsarhelium.com
https://ca.linkedin.com/company/pulsar-helium-inc.

Strand Hanson Limited
(Nominated & Financial Adviser, and Broker)
Ritchie Balmer / Rob Patrick
+44 (0) 207 409 3494

Yellow Jersey PR Limited
(Financial PR)
Charles Goodwin / Annabelle Wills
+44 777 5194 357
pulsarhelium@yellowjerseypr.com

About Pulsar Helium Inc.

Pulsar Helium Inc. is a publicly traded company quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (United Kingdom) and listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with the ticker PLSR (Canada), as well as on the OTCQB with the ticker PSRHF (United States of America). Pulsar’s portfolio consists of its flagship Topaz helium project in Minnesota, the Falcon project in Michigan (both in the USA), and the Tunu helium project in Greenland. Pulsar is the first mover in both locations with primary helium occurrences not associated with the production of hydrocarbons identified at each.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) that relate to the Company’s current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as “will likely result”, “are expected to”, “expects”, “will continue”, “is anticipated”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “estimated”, “intends”, “plans”, “forecast”, “projection”, “strategy”, “objective” and “outlook”) are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may involve estimates and are based upon assumptions made by management of the Company, including, but not limited to, the Company’s capital cost estimates, management’s expectations regarding the availability of capital to fund the Company’s future capital and operating requirements; the ability to obtain all requisite regulatory approvals; and that the State of Minnesota will complete the requisite rulemaking, environmental review, permitting requirements and implementation steps to allow for commercial production.

No reserves have been assigned in connection with the Company’s property interests to date, given their early stage of development. The future value of the Company is therefore dependent on the success or otherwise of its activities, which are principally directed toward the future exploration, appraisal and development of its assets, and potential acquisition of property interests in the future. Un-risked Contingent and Prospective Helium Volumes have been defined at the Topaz Project. However, estimating helium volumes is subject to significant uncertainties associated with technical data and the interpretation of that data, future commodity prices, and development and operating costs. There can be no guarantee that the Company will successfully convert its helium volume to reserves and produce that estimated volume. Estimates may alter significantly or become more uncertain when new information becomes available due to for example, additional drilling or production tests over the life of field. As estimates change, development and production plans may also vary. Downward revision of helium volume estimates may adversely affect the Company’s operational or financial performance.

Helium volume estimates are expressions of judgement based on knowledge, experience and industry practice. These estimates are imprecise and depend to some extent on interpretations, which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate and require adjustment or, even if valid when originally calculated, may alter significantly when new information or techniques become available. As further information becomes available through additional drilling and analysis the estimates are likely to change. Any adjustments to volume could affect the Company’s exploration and development plans which may, in turn, affect the Company’s performance. The process of estimating helium resources is complex and requires significant decisions and assumptions to be made in evaluating the reliability of available geological, geophysical, engineering, and economic data for each property. Different engineers may make different estimates of resources, cash flows, or other variables based on the same available data.

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, that Pulsar may be unsuccessful in drilling commercially productive wells; that Pulsar may be unsuccessful at negotiating the Definitive Agreement with the vendor; the risk that the equipment to be acquired pursuant to the Letter Agreement may not perform as anticipated or at all; the uncertainty of resource estimation; operational risks in conducting exploration, including that drill costs may be higher than estimates; commodity prices; health, safety and environmental factors; the risk that the requisite state rulemaking, environmental review, permitting and implementation steps will not be completed; and other factors set forth above as well as risk factors included in the Company’s Annual Information Form dated February 3, 2026, for the year ended September 30, 2025, found under Company’s profile on www.sedarplus.ca.      

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. No assurance can be given that the forward-looking statements herein will prove to be correct and, accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Europe’s revised Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive is one of the most significant investment shifts in a generation. Stricter treatment requirements, including quaternary treatment for micropollutant removal, are changing what utilities need to plan, fund and procure. The challenge is understanding how those requirements translate into real projects, procurement activity and technology demand, and which utilities and markets are likely to move first.

EuroWIN does the hard work. Spanning 30 EU and EEA markets and 26 languages, it connects regulatory, investment, procurement and technology signals into one clear, granular and navigable picture: currently mapping over 27,000 projects, 400 utilities, 45,000 tenders and €100 billion in planned investment.

The platform brings six critical datasets into one searchable view: regulations, plants, projects, utilities, tenders and companies. Together, it shows where demand is building, where projects are emerging, and where commercial teams should focus. Drawing on GWI’s decades of trusted market expertise, our in-house analysts structure, validate and interpret the data, connecting it with customisable market analysis and competitor intelligence so teams can identify the signals that really matter.

EuroWIN is built for teams deciding where to focus, compete and grow in European wastewater, supporting business development, market strategy, competitive intelligence, and technology and application targeting. The result is a platform that can help teams get ahead in a constantly shifting market, pinpointing the opportunities that matter.

Explore the platform or book a demo directly at www.gwieurowin.com. For general inquiries contact: rebekah.donald@globalwaterintel.com.

About Global Water Intelligence
Global Water Intelligence (GWI) is the leading market intelligence and events company serving the international water industry. Over the last 25 years we have built our business around being a trusted interface between our clients and their markets, providing our customers with high-level intelligence that enables them to make the most informed strategic decisions for their business. We cover municipal markets and every industrial vertical as well as technology, finance and economics.

CONTACT: CONTACT: George Daniel COMPANY: Global Water Intelligence EMAIL: George.Daniel@globalwaterintel.com WEB: https://www.gwieurowin.com

Source: CNBC

Platform Launch and Scenario Deployment Accelerate Commercialisation
In June 2026, the Company officially launched its enterprise‑grade intelligent agent development platform “VocSageX”. Built on the “Voicecomm Brain” foundation, the platform integrates large language models and knowledge graphs, and embodies a three‑tier architecture of “multimodal perception, multi‑model reasoning, and multi‑agent collaboration”, enabling enterprises to build customised agents with low entry barriers. It natively incorporates compliance mechanisms including data isolation, permission controls, log auditing, and content review, meeting the stringent requirements of sectors such as finance, government affairs, and healthcare.

Based on this platform, a number of benchmark projects have been delivered across key verticals:

Transportation – Revenue from the transportation segment grew 73.6% year‑on‑year. The Company won the bid for the smart port autonomous driving shuttle project at Ezhou Huahu Airport, Asia’s first dedicated cargo hub airport, which was delivered in April 2026. Previously, at the Mianyang National Autonomous Driving Testing Base, the Company had accumulated over 209,000 km of operation with six regular routes. This project marked the successful expansion of its autonomous driving capabilities from urban roads to airport hubs.

Healthcare – The segment achieved breakthrough growth. The Company secured the nearly RMB 300 million “South Sichuan Smart Valley” Silver Economy project in Neijiang, Sichuan – its first city‑level flagship project in the “AI+elderly care” space. Adopting a closed‑loop model combining “online platforms+offline service networks+in‑home terminals”, it aims to build a “15‑minute elderly care service circle”, laying a foundation for nationwide replication.

Government Affairs – Revenue from the government segment rose 25.7% year‑on‑year. Together with Chongqing Telecom, the Company built the “Yuzhenan” integrated earthquake prevention and disaster mitigation platform, aggregating data from 774 seismic stations and 35 categories of cross‑departmental government information. The platform delivers end‑to‑end intelligent services covering second‑level early warnings, minute‑level rapid reporting, rapid disaster assessment, and emergency command support. To date, the Company’s government agent has been deployed in over 130 prefecture‑level cities, serving more than 170 million people.

Finance – Revenue remained broadly flat year‑on‑year, holding steady. The “Financial Services Agent” operates as a 24/7 “digital employee” across channels such as telephone banking, autonomously handling transaction processing, precision marketing, identity verification, customer notifications, and business consultations. It also provides AI‑powered training by simulating real‑world business scenarios, enhancing service quality and operational efficiency for financial institutions.

Telecommunications – Revenue from the telecom segment jumped 124.1% year‑on‑year, driven by continued deepening of cooperation with telecom operators and partners. The “Telecom Services Agent” serves as an intelligent middle platform that empowers operators by autonomously understanding and predicting users’ multi‑scenario communication and management needs, delivering high‑intelligence services at lower deployment and maintenance costs, while jointly exploring new commercial scenarios with operators.

Energy – The Company delivered a user‑side electricity sales decision support system in Qinghai. Leveraging an intelligent algorithm library, it enables multi‑period spot price and load forecasting, supports diversified trading strategy generation, and forms a closed loop covering data collection, market analysis, volume/price forecasting, trading decisions, and settlement management – demonstrating the ability to build end‑to‑end AI decision systems in complex vertical industries.

Technological Innovation and Ecosystem Partnership Strengthen Industry Position
On the technology front, the Company’s joint lab with Shanghai Jiao Tong University saw its ReSON method accepted at ICASSP 2026, a top international conference on speech signal processing; its proprietary product “Zhitu” obtained Huawei Ascend certification; and it received the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from the Shanghai Computer Society, was named among Wuhan’s first batch of leading AI enterprises, and was listed in Forbes China AI Top 50 for the third consecutive year – the only conversational AI company selected.

In terms of ecosystem, the Company signed a strategic partnership with IT Park Dushanbe in Tajikistan in May 2026 to establish a “Digital Talent Innovation Centre”, expanding into Central Asian markets. It also signed a cooperation agreement with Huawei Cloud to jointly advance the development of a trustworthy AI and industry agent ecosystem.

Strategic Outlook: Platform‑Driven, Focusing on Three Core Leaps
Going forward, the Company remains committed to its positioning as a “full‑stack trustworthy AI operator with city‑scale delivery capabilities”. Driven by the”VocSageX”platform as its core engine, it will pursue three major strategic leaps: embed security and compliance into a standardised “trust foundation” on the technology side; accelerate the transformation from project‑based delivery to platform‑based operations on the product side; and rapidly replicate the end‑to‑end capabilities from benchmark projects to similar cities and industries on the market side, while leveraging Central Asia as a springboard to expand into Belt and Road markets. Through the virtuous cycle of technology and commercialisation, the Company will continue to solidify its competitive advantages and create long‑term value for customers, shareholders, and society.

Hashtag: #VoicecommInternationalLtd.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Voicecomm International Ltd.

Voicecomm International is a leading provider of full stack trustworthy AI core technologies and an ecosystem operator in China. Committed to trustworthy interaction as its cornerstone and full stack intelligence as its engine, the company strives to build a city level operational service agent ecosystem, making AI accessible to all. Voicecomm International has continuously deepened its presence in areas such as converged communications, big data, artificial intelligence, vertical models, knowledge graphs, and trustworthy AI. It has independently developed the “multimodal + multi model + multi agent” trustworthy AI core technologies and the enterprise grade agent platform VocSageX, forming a full stack technological capability that spans from underlying communications to upper layer intelligent applications. Its business already deeply covers diverse scenarios including smart transportation, smart eldercare, smart cultural tourism, smart government affairs, smart energy, and smart finance.

Since its founding in 2005, Voicecomm International has been dedicated to the R&D and industrialization of interactive AI, accumulating rich technical expertise and unique R&D advantages. In 2024, the company was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 2495.HK) and is hailed as the “First Interactive AI Stock”. It has been named to the Forbes China AI TOP50 for three consecutive years, as well as included in the Gartner China Market Guide.

]]> https://asiainsiders.net/alikeaudience-expands-audience-data-availability-on-amazon-dsp-audience-hub/ Tue, 01 Sep 2026 01:00:00 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/alikeaudience-expands-audience-data-availability-on-amazon-dsp-audience-hub

Omnichannel data audience company says its data is now available across Amazon DSP Audience Hub in the U.S. and India

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 September 2026 – AlikeAudience, a global omnichannel data company providing privacy-compliant audience intelligence to brands and agencies, today announced the availability of its audience segments within the Amazon DSP Audience Hub.

With this integration, advertisers and agency buyers activating campaigns through Amazon DSP Audience Hub can access AlikeAudience’s third-party audience segments across Amazon-owned and operated properties, helping brands extend reach beyond Amazon’s first-party data signals.

AlikeAudience’s integration on the Amazon DSP Audience Hub is powered by Zeotap Data, giving customers a seamless way to activate AlikeAudience segments directly within the platform.

“We’re excited to enable AlikeAudience’s audience intelligence within the Amazon Ads ecosystem through our Amazon Audience store integration,” said Alex Moufle, VP Sales of Zeotap Data. “This collaboration expands access to high-quality audience data for advertisers in the U.S. and India while creating opportunities to extend addressable audience solutions across additional APAC markets.”

Through the partnership, advertisers targeting audiences in the United States and India can leverage AlikeAudience’s audience intelligence to enhance campaign targeting and reach.

“This partnership marks an important milestone for AlikeAudience as leading advertisers increasingly adopt self-serve campaign planning and activation through Amazon DSP,” said Jeremy Lo, Managing Director at AlikeAudience.

The company provides large-scale addressability with MAID-level coverage of more than 2 billion mobile advertising IDs in the United States and hundreds of millions of mobile advertising IDs in India, enabling advertisers to scale audience activation across programmatic advertising environments.

Hashtag: #AlikeAudience #AmazonDSP #AudienceIntelligence

https://www.alikeaudience.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/alikeaudience/

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About AlikeAudience

AlikeAudience is a data science company focused on omnichannel data activation. We enable advertisers to seamlessly connect with their target audiences through AI-powered, future-proof data solutions. See more at www.alikeaudience.com

]]> https://asiainsiders.net/boy-breaks-down-in-tears-on-train-to-hanoi-over-leaving-behind-his-favorite-hai-phong-pork-rib-porridge/ Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:40:41 +0000 https://asiainsiders.net/boy-breaks-down-in-tears-on-train-to-hanoi-over-leaving-behind-his-favorite-hai-phong-pork-rib-porridge A heartwarming video capturing a young boy sobbing while eating a takeaway cup of porridge on a train from Hai Phong to Hanoi has gone viral across social media. Furthermore, the reason behind his emotional outburst touched countless viewers: he was devastated that he would not be able to eat his favorite pork rib porridge once back home.

According to his mother, the family took a two-day weekend food tour in the coastal city of Hai Phong. Remarkably, throughout the entire 48-hour trip, the boy refused to eat anything else except pork rib porridge from Co Dung’s shop at 73 Hai Ba Trung Street. Before boarding the train back to Hanoi, he insisted on buying a takeaway cup to save for the journey. However, the temptation proved irresistible the moment he found his seat. He opened the cup immediately, weeping with every spoonful as he realized his culinary adventure was coming to an end.

The boy’s mother humorously shared online: “We went on a two-day food tour in Hai Phong, and for two straight days, he only ate porridge at Co Dung’s shop on Hai Ba Trung Street. He insisted on bringing a cup home, but once on the train, he craved it so badly that he ate it right away. He was eating and crying at the same time because tomorrow there would be no more porridge. If any aunts, uncles, or friends travel from Hai Phong to Hanoi, please hand-carry some porridge back for my son!”

In the viral clip, the boy clutches a nearly empty takeaway cup with tears streaming down his cheeks. Sniffling between bites, he cries, “From tomorrow, I won’t get to eat this porridge anymore…”

Seeing her son in distress, the mother gently consoles him, promising to ask acquaintances traveling from Hai Phong to deliver his favorite dish to Hanoi. Only then did the boy calm down, though he continued to swallow his tears with every dwindling spoonful.

The Internet’s Most Authentic ‘Little Food Reviewer’

In subsequent comments, the mother explained that she initially worried something had hurt her son. When she realized his sorrow stemmed purely from culinary longing, she began recording the adorable scene, quickly reminding him to keep his voice down out of respect for fellow passengers.

The candid moment quickly turned the boy into an internet sensation. Netizens hailed his emotional reaction as the most genuine culinary endorsement possible, noting that no scripted review could ever match tears shed over an empty bowl.

Interestingly, the mother admitted that she had not even tasted the dish herself. “Everyone online says it’s delicious, and it must be true,” she wrote. “I didn’t try it because Hai Phong has so many amazing dishes that I had to save room in my stomach. I never imagined it was so good that my son would burst into tears and scrape the cup clean.”

The clip gained so much traction that the porridge shop owner herself responded in the comments: “Thank you, sweetheart! You are the first customer to leave such a memorable impression on my shop. Next time you visit Hai Phong, please drop by again. So adorable!”

Social media users flooded the comment section with affection, jokingly warning Hanoi street-food stalls to step up their game. Other food lovers chimed in to validate the boy’s passion, with one resident recounting how they once paid ten times the cost of a 10,000 VND cup of porridge just to have it shipped 100 kilometers via private limousine from Hai Phong to Hanoi.

The boy’s face lit up with pure joy the next day when his mother managed to get him a fresh cup. (Photo: Evan Le)

A Legendary Street-Side Gem Loved by Locals

The dish at the center of the internet’s attention is served at Co Dung Porridge, situated at 73 Hai Ba Trung Street, Le Chan District, Hai Phong. This humble neighborhood eatery serves traditional pork rib porridge (chao suon), river clam porridge (chao trai), shredded pork floss (ruoc), and fried dough sticks (quay).

The viral street stall at 73 Hai Ba Trung Street, Le Chan District, Hai Phong. (Photo: Em Gai Hai Phong)

Unlike coarser grain porridges, the porridge here features finely ground rice cooked down to a velvety, silk-smooth texture. It is traditionally garnished with crisp fried dough, savory pork floss, golden fried shallots, cracked black pepper, fresh coriander, and a pinch of chili powder.

The dish features a velvety smooth consistency served with fried dough sticks, shredded pork floss, and fried shallots. (Photo: Em Gai Hai Phong / Mon Ngon Hai Phong)

On Google Reviews, the eatery boasts high ratings and enthusiastic praise from food lovers. Regular customers highlight its old-school, silky consistency and natural sweetness from stewed ribs and fresh river clams.

Bowls range between 20,000 and 30,000 VND ($0.80 to $1.20 USD), offering generous portions alongside the owner’s warm hospitality. Some dedicated locals even commute up to 27 kilometers twice a week just to enjoy a bowl—explaining why a small cup of street-side porridge could break a young boy’s heart on his train ride home.

Related

By replacing traditional belts with a vibration-damping linear motor system, the L4 delivers highly stable, low-failure printing.

Key Features

4 Independent Print Heads System
The L4’s four print heads operate independently, allowing four copies of a model to be produced in the time a single-head printer takes to produce one. For multi-material work, the heads can combine up to four filaments in a single print.

Because each head carries its own material, the L4 provides zero filament waste during color changes, unlike a single-nozzle printer that must extrude materials to clear the previous color, reducing filament waste by over 79%. Toolhead changes take just one second, saving valuable time in the studios, as the latest market solutions need at least five seconds.

Industry-first Adoption of Linear Motors
In most 3D printers, stepper motors and rubber belts move the print head. The L4 uses electromagnetic force to drive each head directly along a track.

This allows the L4 to operate significantly faster at a travel speed of up to 1000mm/s, with a maximum print speed of 500mm/s.

The linear motors also deliver ±1μm motion precision to largely eliminate unwanted ghosting and ringing. With a stable 50,000-hours printing service life, it is also far more durable than traditional desktop printers.

Extra-Large Build Volume
With a 354 × 370 × 386 mm build chamber for single-colour jobs and 354 × 350 × 386 mm for full-colour output, the L4 is engineered for scale. To maximize throughput, users can also print four models in parallel, with each part measuring up to 177 × 195 × 386 mm.

Stability & Vibration-Damping
The L4’s Vibration Cancellation Algorithm counteracts the forces generated at high speed by coordinating toolhead movement across the X and Y axes so that opposing motions cancel one another, thereby improving stability and print smoothness.

An integrated die-cast frame ensures high-speed precision, while four toolheads independently lift 5 mm to improve first-layer levelling success and reduces the risk of a failed print.

AI-Driven Smart Control
For print farm users, Smart Cluster Management and Smart AutoQueue tools can dispatch jobs to up to 1,000 machines, automatically allocating printers to meet a given deadline.

L4’s integration with OpenClaw enables creators to build a one-person studio through WhatsApp. Users can manage print jobs across an entire print farm and fully leverage AI capabilities.

Pricing and Availability
Pre-orders for LightMake L4 are now available immediately on Kickstarter, starting at $1,299 for super early-bird discount. L1 is available at $1,099. Initial shipment date is expected to be in Q4 2026. Back the project during the early-bird stage and save up to $1,100 versus MSRP: claim your spot now while early pricing lasts, plus save on shipping in the first 48 hours of the launch.

About LightMake
LightMake Co., Ltd. is a technology company pioneering high-quality, streamlined desktop 3D printing solutions. The LightMake team brings together experienced professionals from 3D printing, consumer tech, and precision engineering backgrounds, along with founder Vic Wang who was formerly senior executive at Anker and Huawei. They operate with a global focus, empowering makers, studios, educational institutions and SMBs worldwide with professional-grade 3D printing technology. Guided by a design philosophy of efficiency, simplicity, and sustainability, LightMake develops streamlined applications that break down the barriers between inspiration and creation.

Visit: https://lightmake.tech/

Proposed an interim dividend of HK11.0 cents per share

Highlights:

• Revenue increased to approximately HK$1,450.9 million.
• Gross profit increased to approximately HK$518.8 million.
• Profit attributable to owners of the Company amounted to approximately HK$116.2 million.
• As at 30 June 2026, the Group operated a total of 190 chain retail stores
• Basic earnings per share was approximately HK11.6 cents. The Board recommended the payment of interim dividend of HK11.0 cents per share.

Financial Highlights:

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited (“Best Mart 360” or the “Company”, together with its subsidiaries, the “Group”; stock code: 2360.HK), a leading leisure food retailer in Hong Kong, announced its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026 (“the Period under Review”). During the Period under Review, the revenue recorded by the Group amounted to approximately HK$1,450,897,000, representing an increase of approximately 1.0% as compared to approximately HK$1,436,576,000 for the six months ended 30 June 2025 (the “Corresponding Period Last Year”).

During the Period under Review, profit attributable to owners of the Company amounted to approximately HK$116,221,000.

For the six months ended 30 June 2026, gross profit of the Group was approximately HK$518,758,000, representing an increase of approximately 0.1%, as compared to gross profit of approximately HK$518,177,000. Gross profit margin during the period was approximately 35.8%. During the Period under Review, basic earnings per share of the Group was approximately HK11.6 cents. The Board recommended the payment of interim dividend of HK11.0 cents per share.

BUSINESS REVIEW

CHAIN RETAIL STORES

As at 30 June 2026, the Group operated a total of 190 chain retail stores, including 184 chain retail stores in Hong Kong and 6 chain retail stores in Macau, respectively. During the Period under Review, the Group continued to implement its store network optimization strategy to fully showcase its diverse product portfolio, further enhance its overall brand image and provide customers with a more comfortable shopping environment.

Since 2021, the Group has launched its brand of global wine and food stores “FoodVille”, which provides mid-to-high-end, premium food products from around the globe. These include fine wines, premium chocolates, health foods, cheese, Western sauces and ingredients from around the world, aming to cater to the market’s pursuit of a quality of life and expanding the Group’s customer base. As at 30 June 2026, the Group operated a total of 8 retail stores under the brand.

During the Period under Review, the rental expenses (on a cash basis) of the Group’s retail stores accounted for approximately 9.7% of its sales revenue.

THE PRODUCTS

During the Period under Review, the Group adhered to its global procurement strategy, sourcing high-quality products from around the world to provide customers with a diversified range of choices. During the Period under Review, the Group sold over 1,045 brands and more than 3,054 stock keeping units (“SKUs“) of products in total. The Group continuously optimised its product portfolio and actively introduced a variety of new products and flavours to meet customers’ ever-changing needs.

To enrich its product mix and maintain effective control over product quality, supply stability and profit margins, the Group continued to actively develop its private label products. During the Period under Review, sales derived from private label products amounted to approximately HK$277,194,000 (six months ended 30 June 2025: approximately HK$251,203,000), which accounted for approximately 19.1% of the Group’s total revenue for the Period under Review. The Group had a total of 12 private labels covering approximately 272 SKUs of products, including masks, canned Chinese delicacies, cereals, milk, honey, nuts and dried fruits as well as a wide range of leisure food products.

MEMBERSHIP SCHEME AND MARKETING & PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES

As at 30 June 2026, the Group had a cumulative total of approximately 2,469,754 registered fans and members (30 June 2025: approximately 2,243,198). As at 30 June 2026, the number of mobile app members reached approximately 1,374,462 (30 June 2025: approximately 1,238,775).

During the Period under Review, the Group continued to carry out a variety of marketing activities, including “Best Price”, “Instant Redemption upon Purchase” and other promotional campaigns, which provided customers with a series of special offers on selected quality products as a way to show its appreciation for their support and effectively enhance customer loyalty. The Group also launched a new brand promotion campaign, namely “Best Mart, Always a Friendly Buy”, in 2026. By integrating online and offline promotional channels, the Group further strengthened its brand image and enhanced its interaction and connection with customers.

The Group also utilised a variety of outdoor media, such as large-scale advertisements at MTR stations and truck wraps, together with marketing strategies on digital media and social platforms, to further increase its brand exposure and market penetration, thereby attracting more new customers to shop at its stores.

In addition, the Group actively fulfilled its corporate social responsibility by partnering with the charitable foundation under China Merchants Group to launch the “Care 360˚” Neighborhood Support Programme, which aids families in need, continuously promotes community care and inclusion and actively puts into practice the core principles of corporate sustainability.

EMPLOYEES

As at 30 June 2026, the Group employed a total of 1,257 full-time and part-time employees (31 December 2025: 1,227). The increase in the total number of employees was primarily due to the Group’s recruitment of additional staff for its newly opened stores. To retain talent and provide its employees with appropriate incentives to enhance their sense of belonging and loyalty, the Group regularly reviews and updates its employee remuneration packages and benefit plans, taking into account labour market supply and remuneration trends as well as individual employee performance. During the Period under Review, the staff costs of the Group (excluding emoluments of the Directors) accounted for approximately 9.6% of its total revenue (six months ended 30 June 2025: approximately 9.7%).

OUTLOOK

Global geopolitical tensions remain high, and uncertainty persists regarding the pace of the external economic recovery. Meanwhile, the active expansion of mainland Chinese e-commerce platforms into Hong Kong has driven the popularity of cross-border online shopping, further intensifying competition in the local retail market. Amid complex and increasingly competitive market conditions, the overall business environment for the retail sector is expected to remain under pressure in the second half of 2026. However, as Hong Kong hosts a series of major international events and exhibitions as well as cultural and sports activities, the number of visitors to Hong Kong and their willingness to spend are steadily recovering. At the same time, consumption of daily necessities has demonstrated strong resilience. Market demand for value-for-money globally sourced food products and healthy snacks continues to grow, presenting the Group with solid development opportunities. Looking ahead, the Group remains cautiously optimistic about its business prospects. To address intense market competition, we are committed to refining operational management, optimizing business processes, and maintaining strict cost controls.

To further strengthen its connection with consumers, the Group officially launched a rebranding campaign in June 2026, adopting “Best Mart, Always a Friendly Buy” as its new core brand value and striving to build a more welcoming, youthful, vibrant and creative brand image. Regarding its store network management, the Group will balance strategic expansion with operational optimization. On one hand, the Group will capitalise on appropriate market opportunities and continue to expand its footprint through a “dual-brand” strategy featuring “Best Mart 360˚” and “FoodVille”, aiming to precisely meet the demand for high-quality food across different customer segments. On the other hand, the Group will adhere to strict capital-return discipline by actively negotiating with landlords for more flexible and reasonable lease terms, while regularly reviewing the operational efficiency of existing stores. Through these efforts, the Group aims to comprehensively enhance the overall profitability of its network and deepen its presence in the mass retail market.

Faced with a complex, ever-changing and highly competitive market environment, the Group is comprehensively exploring and researching the application of artificial intelligence in its business processes, aiming to enhance operational efficiency through innovative technology. The Group will further deepen its online-offline integration strategy, fully leverage the advantages provided by the extensive member database of its mobile app and implement targeted marketing through big data analysis to effectively increase member engagement and overall repeat purchase rates.

In terms of online channels, the Group will strengthen its collaboration with the foodpanda mall platform to ensure a seamless shopping experience. The Group will also remain agile in our operational strategies to optimize overall sales performance.

Guided by its core brand philosophy of “Best Quality” and “Best Price”, the Group will make every effort to expand its upstream supplier network while ramping up the development of its private label products. These initiatives will solidify our competitive pricing advantage while effectively meeting the market demand for daily necessities. The Board is confident that, through prudent yet flexible strategic planning, strong brand appeal and an optimised product portfolio, the Group will successfully enhance customer loyalty. This will steadily drive the business toward sustainable growth, thus creating long-term and robust returns for shareholders.

Hashtag: #BestMart360

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited

Best Mart 360 Holdings Limited, mainly operates chain retail stores under the brand “Best Mart 360˚”. It offers a wide collection of imported prepackaged leisure foods and other grocery products, principally from overseas. The Group’s business objective is to offer “Best Quality” and “Best Price” products to customers through continuous efforts on global procurement with a mission to provide comfortable shopping environment and pleasurable shopping experience to customers. As at 30 June 2026, the Group operates 190 retail stores that are strategically located across 18 districts in Hong Kong and Macau. In addition, the Group’s new global gourmet store, “FoodVille”, was officially opened in September 2021, which mainly provides globally sourced medium-to-high-end quality food products.

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