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NextFerm Technologies Announces First Commercial Production of ProteVin™, Its Vegan Protein

NextFerm Technologies Ltd.

This marks the achievement of first out of five strategic milestones set by the company for 2022 The Company expects to supply first orders of ProteVin™ in the coming weeks; Company is currently in dialogues with food and dietary supplement global companies for the integration of ProteVin™ in their alternative product lines NextFerm Technologies Ltd. (TASE:NXFR), a food-tech company developing ProteVin™, a vegan, yeast-based, non-GMO protein alternative and other innovative yeast-based nutrients, today announced the end of commissioning period of the commercial facility in Canada and first commercial production of ProteVin™, Its Vegan Protein. The operation of first commercial facility following commissioning and successful production of first batches mark the achievement of the first milestone out of five milestones set by the company for 2022. The Company continues to progress towards achieving the rest of its objectives for 2022, including delivery of initial orders received, increasing market demand for ProteVin™, receipt of additional purchase orders and expanding penetration into the global food market. In parallel, increasing commercial production capacity to an industrial scale of hundreds of tons per year in 2023. Boaz Noy, Chief Executive Officer of NextFerm, said: "Initiating commercial production of Protevin™, marks a significant milestone for the company moving forward from R&D phase to commercial phase. Achieving this milestone allows us to progress towards achieving the additional milestones we set for 2022. In the coming weeks, we expect to supply first orders of ProteVin™ for customers in the field of sports nutrition formulas." "The alternative protein market is the main growth engine of the global food industry, and we expect high demands for Protevin™, as a proprietary vegan protein source for a variety of alternative food products, with a rich amino acid composition similar to animal-based protein, highest digestibility factor (PDCAST=1) and neutral flavor." About NextFerm Technologies NextFerm Technologies, traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: NXFR) is a food-tech company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing and marketing of innovative, functional and vegan yeast-derived, non-GMO protein alternatives for various applications in the food and food supplement markets and the growing market for animal-derived protein alternatives. NextFerm's flagship product is ProteVin™, a vegan, yeast-derived protein alternative with nutritional value that is similar to animal-derived protein (Amino acid profile BCAA=21%, Leucine=9%, EAA=53% and high digestibility PDCAAS=1) and a neutral flavor, with no aftertastes that are typical of plant-based protein. ProteVin™ is designed for a variety of categories in the alternative protein market, which is estimated at USD 20 billion in terms of final products and at USD 5 billion in terms of raw materials with an annual growth rate of above 20%, including milk and dairy substitutes, meat substitutes and additional categories such as infant nutrition, adult nutrition, and sports nutrition. NextFerm has just commercialized the product as reported. Another product currently being sold is Astaferm®, an innovative astaxanthin-based antioxidant derived from yeast that has been sold in the US since the end of 2020 through well-established and leading brands in the food supplement market in the US. In July 2021, the Company received Regulatory marketing approval in Canada. The company has additional products which have been licensed to Lallemand, a global giant focused on yeast. For more information, visit the NextFerm website at: www.nextferm.com Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This announcement also includes forecasts, projections, assessments, estimates and other information which refer to future events and matters, the realization of which is uncertain and not exclusively under the Company’s control (forward-looking information). The main facts and data used to support this information are facts and data regarding the current position of the Company and its businesses (including the scope of sales and levels of profitability, manpower, commercial engagements and more), facts and data regarding the current global position of the Company’s operating segments (including industry-specific financial developments, environmental regulatory developments, the competitive environment, technological developments, the reinsurance market and more), and macro-economic facts and data (including the economic situation both in Israel and around the world, yields in the capital markets, social and state developments and more), all as known by the Company when publishing this announcement. The forward-looking information included above in this announcement is significantly based upon, in addition to the existing information held by the Company, on the Company’s current assessments and expectations of future developments vis-a-vis each one of the aforementioned parameters, and the interconnectedness of each one of these developments. The Company has no certainty that its forecasts and assessments will indeed eventuate, and the Company’s operating results may be materially different than the results assessed or implicit based on that set forth above, inter alia, as a result of a change in any of the aforementioned factors. Contact Details Investor and Media Contact Meirav Gomeh-Bauer +972 54-476-4979 meirav@bauerg.com Company Website https://www.nextferm.com/

June 20, 2022 10:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Spokane Natives Christy and Scott Johnson Buy 32-Year Business Plese Printing and Marketing, Rebrand as Minuteman Press – Spokane

Minuteman Press International Inc

Plese Printing & Marketing, which has been in business for 32 years and is independently owned by Kim Plese, has been sold to Spokane natives Christy and Scott Johnson. Christy and Scott have rebranded the business as Minuteman Press – Spokane and are operating out of the same location at 4201 E. Trent Ave. On the sale of her business, Kim Plese says, “I had no intention of selling my business as we were growing rapidly after the pandemic. Suddenly, my longtime production manager of 12 years had passed away and I was devastated. He was only 36 years-old at the time of his passing. When Minuteman Press Regional Vice President Chris Jutt contacted me, it happened to be two months later and I decided it was time to think about selling. I took his call seriously and we moved forward from there.” She continues, “My business was my ‘baby’ and it’s an emotional process to sell. Minuteman Press and Chris Jutt’s patience and understanding were enormous in guiding me during this time.” “Minuteman Press had qualified buyers (and Spokane natives) Christy and Scott Johnson ready to purchase a company like mine. I was able to transition out of the business with ease and there was little I had to do in regard to training. I am so grateful to Chris Jutt and Minuteman Press for making this happen for me. I am now able to transition to the next chapter of my career.” -Kim Plese, former owner, Plese Printing & Marketing (now Minuteman Press – Spokane) Spokane Natives Return Home to Realize Their Dream For Christy and Scott Johnson, buying a business in Spokane enables them to return to their hometown and be near family and friends. Christy says, “ We enjoy getting to know our customers many of whom are also small business owners. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to support our customers and the many causes and entities that they represent. Scott is originally from Spokane and I grew up in Cusick. Buying this business has allowed us to move back to Spokane, which has been fantastic.” They chose to buy Plese Printing & Marketing and join the Minuteman Press franchise network so that they could hit the ground running with established business while also being fully supported and trained in the industry. Scott says, “We loved meeting with Kim Plese and learning how she built her business over the past 32 years. Minuteman Press has a program that connected us with Kim and helped us transition into ownership of the business. It’s a dream come true to buy this business and also receive training and support along the way.” Before buying the business, Scott worked as a Mechanical Engineer and Christy worked as an Accountant. Scott says, “I spent 24 years as a mechanical engineer working in semiconductor quality and reliability and building technical teams around the globe. Christy is an accountant and started in corporate America. Over the last decade, she has been working for small businesses filling many roles in Finance, HR, and Operations Management. She has broad experience working in and with small businesses.” He continues, "Several of my family members have owned successful businesses in Spokane so it seemed natural to take this step." “We are so excited to serve our customers in Spokane and the surrounding areas with the products and services they need to market, grow and operate their businesses. Our services include: Every Door Direct Mail, Variable Mail Service, Banners, Yard Signs, Business Cards, Product Labels, Rack Cards, Tri-Fold Brochures, Personalized Letterhead, Envelopes, 2 part & 3 part customized carbonless forms, Custom made to order spiral bound books, Self-Covering Booklets, and Promotional Products. We also offer solutions for branding your physical office space, such as customized wall wraps, window graphics, and Indoor and Outdoor Signage. We intend to add vehicle wraps in the future. The business we purchased already has the equipment, employees, and capability to do this work. Bring us your wish list and together we will make it happen!” -Scott Johnson, co-owner, Minuteman Press – Spokane When asked what he loves most about owning a business vs. having a job, Scott answers, “We love that we set our own schedule and that the time and the hard work we put in is for our own benefit. We have our own vision how we want to run our business as well as the internal workplace culture we like, and owning our own business allows us to make it what we want.” Reflections on the Purchase and Sale of the Business With the sale of Plese Printing & Marketing complete, Scott Johnson and Kim Plese reflect on their experiences as buyers and sellers, respectively. Scott Johnson says, “We had tried to purchase other small businesses in the past, but it’s daunting to evaluate and try to find a good fit. With Minuteman Press, there was someone available to help with the process, give advice, and answer questions. I would suggest doing a lot of research to find a good fit with your goals and expectations. The education process took many years for Christy and I and to find a good fit, and we found it with Minuteman Press – Spokane.” Kim Plese concludes: “ As the Owner/President of Plese Printing and Marketing in Spokane, Washington for over 32 years, I can say without hesitation that my experience with Minuteman Press and Chris Jutt, Regional Vice President PNW, has been amazing to say the least. I would highly recommend Minuteman Press to anyone who might be considering selling their independent printing business. The family-owned Minuteman Press business enterprise has 45 years of success in the printing industry. I was able to sell my business for a fair market price knowing that all my years of hard work was going into good hands. My entire staff stayed on after the sale and my customers are satisfied knowing that they have the great service and quality products they've known for years. I was able to transition out of the business with ease and now I am able to pursue a career in politics and run for an important seat as a County Commissioner for Spokane! I am so grateful to Chris Jutt for making this happen for me. It's been a complete pleasure from beginning to end.” Minuteman Press – Spokane (formerly Plese Printing & Marketing) is located at 4201 E. Trent Ave., Spokane, WA 99202. For more information, call Christy and Scott Johnson at 509-534-2355 or visit their website: https://minuteman.com/us/locations/wa/spokane/ Learn more about #1 rated Minuteman Press franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. To find out how to sell your printing business through Minuteman Press International, visit https://bit.ly/minutemanpressconversions Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

June 20, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Rider takes off with $3.1M seed round to courier Pakistan businesses in to 21st century

Rider

Rider, Pakistan’s first ever logistics start-up to be backed by YC, is building modern logistics for online sellers across the country. In doing so, the start-up has attracted the attention of investors and is today announcing a $3.1M funding with participation from YCombinator and new investors i2i Ventures, Flexport, Soma Capital and Rebel Fund. Existing investors Global Founders Capital, Fatima Gobi Ventures (FGV) and TPL E-ventures also joined the round which included notable angel Arash Ferdowsi (Dropbox Co-Founder). With this seed round, Rider has now raised a total of $5.4m since September 2021. Founded in 2019, Rider has been building a network of sorting hubs, urban delivery centers and a digitized fleet, offering online sellers in Pakistan a next-day ‘Amazon-like’ delivery service. The Rider platform offers route optimisation for delivery agents, live tracking and scheduling for buyers, and a highly digitized warehousing function for sellers. Rider is led by Salman Allana, a former UPS Pakistan exec and the core team consists of former Alibaba, Delivery Hero and Jumo executives. Since their pre-seed investment round in September 2021, monthly revenues have grown 110% and they have doubled the customer base to 650 online sellers. Rider has now successfully completed the delivery of over 3M parcels across 60 cities in Pakistan. Salman Allana, founder and CEO of Rider commented: “We set up Rider because we knew the traditional courier companies in Pakistan were not set up to service the e-commerce market and were failing to capture the online buying trend. The problem is huge, circa $1bn GMV is lost annually due to failed and slow deliveries, but the opportunity is even bigger than that - Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world with 70% smart phone enablement yet only 3% of retail sales are currently made online. We’re really excited about the market potential and the impact Rider is already having in supporting business growth across the country.” Rider has plans to enhance the ecommerce marketplace in Pakistan with solutions and infrastructure beyond logistics. Salman Allana added: “Retail is north of a $150B industry. Yet it is stuck in bricks and mortar. Through our platform, one mile at a time, we are enabling the industry to transform and get online and we will offer more in time to come. Moreover, we are opening the industry to more participants and changing the face of it. We are fully behind the mission to enable more than 1 million - primarily female-owned - Instagram/Facebook sellers to trade.” “Pakistan’s payment infrastructure is chasing the growth of ecommerce and logistics capabilities. Well over 95% of all ecommerce orders are cash-on-delivery (COD) which creates operational challenges for last mile and retailers. Rider is addressing this piece of the puzzle with our payment wallet through which we can reconcile work quickly and ensure sellers are reimbursed within hours”. On joining the investment round Kalsoom Lakhani, GP i2i Ventures said: "We are honored to be on this journey with Rider. As the e-commerce industry in Pakistan grows, so will the need for a next generation 3PL player that understands the Pakistani market realities and knows how to build both aggressively but also efficiently. We believe that this player is Rider and have so much conviction in Salman and his vision." Meanwhile, new investor Jared Heyman, Managing Partner, Rebel Fund commented: “Rider is Rebel Fund’s first investment in Pakistan and we’re excited to support their further growth. The company’s founding team and traction to date are impressive, and we believe the Pakistan market desperately needs a sophisticated technology-driven delivery service like Rider.” FGV’s General Partner Ali Mukhtar commented: “There is strong momentum in the ecommerce space in Pakistan, largely driven by the shift in consumer behavior with the increase in 3G/4G penetration across the country. With that, there is immense growth potential for last-mile champions such as Rider who are building the required infrastructure to enable growth in the ecommerce space. We believe in the Company’s tech-first approach and we’re excited to once again support Salman and his team at Rider.” Willem van den Bosch, Investor at SOMA Capital remarked: “We think Rider is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the expansion of eCommerce in Pakistan. Rider's core tech-forward product offering fixes legacy pitfalls that exist in the last-mile fulfillment market today - Rider's B2B2C offering fixes issues with delivery failures, lateness, and broken communication which have hampered expansion of eCommerce previously. We're extremely supportive of the Rider team's ability to execute and expand deeper into the full logistics product stack and continuing to enable eCommerce fulfillment in Pakistan and beyond” About Rider Founded in Karachi in 2019, Rider is a B2B2C service that delivers e-commerce products from online stores and marketplaces to the customers’ doorstep. Operational innovation is core to the team’s mission. Rider exists to continuously reimagine, redesign and rebuild operations that work for emerging markets. For more information please visit https://withrider.com/ or follow the company on: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://withrider.com/

June 20, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tips for the Perfect Summer Grilling with Lodge’s Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Gril

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/238pxthgyoc Calling all grill masters! Summer is here and as the weather heats up and days get longer, many of us are heading outside, uncovering the grill, and starting to prep for our next backyard grill-out. Few things say summertime like a grilling party, but before we send out the invites, there are a couple things aspiring grill masters should be doing to set themselves up for success. One tip? Making sure your grill is up to the task. Lodge’s Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill is a rugged, hibachi-style grill that can take your cooking to the next level, whether grilling in the backyard, on the road, or at a tailgate party. From smoking your favorite meat to charring up seasonal veggies on the grill, the Sportsman’s Pro Grill can be used to create a variety of flavors with a pre-seasoned grate for an easy-release finish that improves with use. For more than 125 years,Lodge has manufactured heirloom-quality cast iron cookware at its foundries in South Pittsburg, TN. Whether grilling up vegetables or making juicy smash burgers, Lodge’s long-lasting products are an indispensable part of daily life. Key Features & Benefits of the Lodge’s Sportsman’s Pro Cast Iron Grill · Easy Assembly & Clean-Up: The Sportsman’s Pro has a removable grill grate that makes adding coals quick and easy. It’s inclusive of a slide-out ash drawer that allows you to easily control heat and airflow and remove ashes after cooking, cutting down on clean-up time. · Durability: There are few things in life that compare to cooking over an open fire or grilling that perfect sear. Lodge's Sportsman Pro Grill is made with expert quality and superior strength that lasts season over season, allowing you to create flavorful and memorable moments for years to come · Versatility: From smoking your favorite meat to charring up seasonal veggies on the grill, the Sportsman’s Pro Grill can be used to create a variety of flavors with a pre-seasoned grate for an easy-release finish that improves with use. · Seamless Maneuvering: Equipped with a set of steel Hook & Carry Handles, maneuvering the Sportsman Pro Cast Iron Grill remains secure and safe. · Expert Craftsmanship: All Lodge cast iron products have been proudly made in South Pittsburg, Tennessee since 1896, giving you 125 years of cast iron expertise at your fingertips. For more information, visit LODGECASTIRON.COM Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

June 17, 2022 04:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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No. 1? What Is Making This Grocery Delivery App A Preferred Choice In Southeast Asia?

Society Pass Incorporated

Society Pass (NASDAQ: SOPA) E-commerce, made possible by the internet, is still booming. Businesses like Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), and Shopify Inc. (NYSE: SHOP) are soaring, with more people ordering products online than buying them in stores. While most businesses nose-dived during the COVID-19 pandemic, movement restrictions induced by the pandemic fueled online retail sales. Online sales grew from 16% to 19% in 2020, with Southeast Asian countries significantly contributing to the growth, according to numbers in a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report. Southeast Asia, which includes countries like Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Malaysia, is home to more than 681 million people — 47% of whom prefer online shopping, with about 144 million people regularly purchasing online. E-Grocery Boom Consumers can shop online from anywhere and choose from a wide array of products such as groceries to be delivered directly to them. Online grocery, or e-grocery, shopping has also been gaining momentum for some time. The e-grocery market is quickly expanding throughout the world, with players like Uber Technologies Inc. (NYSE: UBER), Instacart, Amazon Fresh and Fresh Direct serving customers in North America and Europe. Southeast Asia is also seeing significant growth in the e-grocery market. A breakdown of the market by IGD Asia indicated: Asia, the largest regional grocery market in the world, is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6% between 2018 and 2023. The grocery market will be worth $4.2 trillion by 2023, up from $3.1 trillion in 2018. Its share of global grocery spending will be 37% in 2023, adding around $1.1 trillion to the worldwide grocery market. China, India and Indonesia will be the biggest contributors to the region’s top-line growth, accounting for 74% of new sales added by 2023. A Convenient Grocery Delivery App? That level of growth could be a boon for a company like Pushkart.ph, an online grocery service started in 2017 that delivers fresh goods to consumers who use its feature-packed app. Pushkart’s platform was developed by a group of young Filipino millennials whose goal was to ensure fast, convenient and safe grocery delivery to customers’ doors. From Day One, Pushkart.ph — available on the web, Google Play Store and the Apple Store — said that in addition to serving consumers, it wants to be the platform of choice for retailers and help them sell their products quickly without learning the technicalities of running a digital platform or managing a logistics fleet. From a single flagship fulfillment center at Fisher Supermarket, which has been operating since 2017, the platform is now supported by three additional hubs: Market! Market!, Ayala Malls Feliz, and AllDay Supermarket — Global South. What Makes Pushkart.ph Say It’s Confident It Stands Out From The Rest? Consumers — The company wants to bring value to consumers by allowing them to shop for their basic needs anytime from anywhere they want while sparing them from heavy city traffic or the hassle of carrying heavy bags of groceries. Companies — The company wants to make it easy for corporate clients to purchase every office pantry supply they need from a single source and with the convenience of having flexible payment schemes. Merchants — The company plans to empower retailers to reach the online market by giving them the means to easily transform their shops to include digital sales. Society — The company wants to bring more jobs through online commerce. Pushkart.ph is a division of the Society Pass Inc. ( NASDAQ: SOPA ), a Southeast Asian acquisitions-focused e-commerce holding company. Currently operating six subsidiaries, SoPa plans to expand to more than 10 more subsidiaries in eight verticals — loyalty, merchant software, lifestyle, food and beverage delivery, travel, digital advertising and telecoms — by the end of 2022. Since its inception in 2018, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants and brands on its platform. Apart from Pushkart.ph, SoPa provides merchants with #HOTTAB Biz, lifestyle e-commerce through Leflair.com and Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Hanoi, Vietnam. In addition, SoPa operates Gorilla Networks, a Singapore-based, blockchain/web3-enabled mobile virtual network operator. About Society Pass (NASDAQ: SOPA ) As a loyalty and data marketing ecosystem, Society Pass operates multiple e-commerce platforms across its key markets in SEA. Its business model focuses on analysing user data through the expected launch of its Society Pass loyalty platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points, which seamlessly connects consumers and merchants across multiple product and service categories to foster organic loyalty. Since its inception, SoPa has amassed over 1.6 million registered consumers and over 5,500 registered merchants/brands on its platform. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture with cutting edge components to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.Society Pass provides merchants with #HOTTAB Biz and #HOTTAB POS – a specialized POS technology solution, a comprehensive system for payment, loyal customer management, user profile analytics, and convenient financial support packages for small and medium-sized enterprises.In addition, SoPa operates Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform, Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines, and Handycart.vn, a leading online restaurant delivery service based in Hanoi, Vietnam. For more information, please check out: http://thesocietypass.com/. This post contains sponsored advertising content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice. Contact Details Benzinga.com Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website https://thesocietypass.com

June 17, 2022 08:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time

New Alvarez & Marsal Beauty Survey Finds Online Pandemic Gains Holding

Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

41% of respondents expect to make their beauty transactions online in 2022 9 out of 10 spent the same or more on skincare in 2022, up from 6 in 10 in 2020 44% tried new products because of a promotion or discount Global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer Retail Retail Group (A&M CRG) today releases its second annual Beauty report, Beauty in the “No Normal,” which takes a longitudinal measure of consumer changes in the beauty space since the beginning of the pandemic. Based on a survey of almost 1,000 beauty consumers that was conducted in March 2022, the report analyzes changes in online and omnichannel beauty shopping, value and newness, and sustainability priorities, and provides guidance for beauty brands navigating the current environment. The study finds that online beauty is poised to retain much of the ground it gained during the pandemic. “As some of the trends that emerged during the pandemic become ingrained behaviors and others are discarded, beauty brands and retailers need to focus on flexibility and respond to consumer needs and wants faster than ever before,” said study co-author Patricia Hong, Managing Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer Retail Group. “Retailers should focus on providing operational excellence and ensuring an immersive and convenient experience that keeps customers coming back.” The study also found that: · 6 out of 10 survey respondents shopped Beauty across channels in 2021, while only 1 in 10 shopped digital-only · The proportion of those who tried a new beauty brand because of promotions/discounts increased in 2021 to 44%, from 25% in 2020 · 61% of respondents listed clean/organic ingredients as their top priority in Sustainable Beauty, and 7 in 10 are willing to pay more for these products “Beauty brands have expanded their channel mix, blurring the lines between mass and prestige distribution,” said Manola Soler, Senior Director at Alvarez & Marsal’s Consumer Retail Group and report co-author. “Store-in-store concepts are gaining traction, a move that has expanded distribution for prestige brands and driven new traffic for retailers, including the growing area of health-first products.” The report also provides insights into key focus areas for beauty retailers and brands in the months and year ahead. As detailed in the analysis, physical retail is regaining its importance, but omnichannel investment is still paramount for beauty retailers. Brands should not lose sight of pandemic hygiene and safety or their sustainability agendas. To download the report, please visit Beauty in the “No Normal” at this link: https://alvarezandmarsal-crg.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Beauty-in-the-No-Normal-Alvarez-and-Marsal-Consumer-Retail-Group.pdf Study Methodology A&M CRG’s 2 nd annual Beauty survey was conducted in the first week of March 2022, polling almost 1,000 U.S. female beauty consumers across regions through an online panel survey. All participants have purchased makeup and/or skincare products in the last 12 months. Income and age demographics were based on U.S. Census distribution. The Alvarez and Marsal Consumer and Retail Group (CRG) is a management consulting firm that tackles the most complex challenges and advances its clients, people, and communities toward their maximum potential. CRG combines the best of A&M’s broader firm's bias toward action and practicality with deep consumer and retail industry experience. CRG partners with businesses across a wide range of categories including Food & Beverage, Beauty & Personal Care, Grocery, Mass Merchandise, and Apparel & Footwear to drive significant performance improvement. Contact Details David Schneidman dschneidman@alvarezandmarsal.com Company Website https://www.alvarezandmarsal.com/industries/retail/retail

June 16, 2022 10:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

OPULUS BEAUTY LABS Announces Launch into Saks Fifth Avenue & Neiman Marcus

OPULUS Beauty Labs

OPULUS Beauty Labs, the pioneer in Freshly Activated Beauty™, announces the launch of its Retinol+ Starter System into Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus digital flagships, known as being premier destinations for luxury beauty, fashion, and wellness in the United States. This expansion represents the next steps in OPULUS Beauty Labs' distribution into the luxury space. “I am thrilled to partner with Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, as both partners offer best-in-class retail programs, expertly curated luxury assortments, and exceptional services and standards,” says OPULUS Beauty Labs Founder Robb Akridge, Ph.D. (aka Dr. Robb), also known for co-inventing the game-changing Clarisonic. “These partnerships enable us to meet our customers where we know they are already shopping and provide them with an elevated experience from the moment they purchase to usage at home.” OPULUS Beauty Labs invented, and manufactures, the patent-pending OPULUS Activator and a never-seen-before cosmetic format called an Opoule™ Treatment. This duo, a novel appliance and a 3-dimensional individually dosed formulation, function together as a mini at-home lab to create high-potency, fresh-made cosmetic products in 100 seconds with the push of one button. The technology is so cutting-edge that TIME Magazine selected the brand’s first market introduction, the Retinol+ Starter System, as a “Best Invention of 2021 ”. The Retinol+ regimen delivers a gentle yet potent result where the skin looks rejuvenated, calm, and restored, imparting an overall younger-looking appearance. With this system, consumers reap the benefits of retinol, while minimizing redness or dryness often associated with retinol use. “Saks & Neiman Marcus offer high-touch experiences that provide customers with access to emerging brands. Just like we are reimagining beauty, they are redefining luxury shopping through new and engaging digital-first services,” says Dr. Robb, “which is why it is the perfect step to take us beyond our direct-to-consumer channels.” OPULUS Beauty Labs Retinol+ Starter System and Ramp-Up Night Cream Regimens 1, 2, and 3, featuring increasing concentrations of retinol, are available at both retailers online starting May 2022. In support of this launch, OPULUS Beauty Labs is working with its new retail partners to roll out a robust marketing plan incorporating in-person events, seasonal trunk shows, digital promotions, and more. ABOUT OPULUS Beauty Labs OPULUS Beauty Labs was founded in 2019 by Dr. Robb, who pioneered the beauty device category with the launch of Clarisonic. The passionate power team behind OPULUS Beauty Labs has 100+ collective years of experience, marrying the freedom and imagination of a tech start-up with the wisdom and credibility of the world’s most successful beauty brands. OPULUS Beauty Labs is a vertically integrated business with in-house R&D, cosmetic manufacturing, and product assembly. The company is implementing the next stage of its business to expand distribution and provide customers with access to incredible innovations. OPULUS Beauty Labs launched in 2020 as the first and only brand on the market that delivers freshly activated skincare at the moment of application. The brand launched with its award-winning Retinol+ Starter System, containing the first handheld cosmetic appliance, the Activator, and new cosmetic format, the Opoule Treatment. The Activator (your forever cosmetic jar) transforms the Opoule into an optimally warmed, ready-to-be-absorbed cosmetic product. By modifying its ingredients, an array of never-seen-before cosmetic products are possible, from skincare to hair care, ranging in texture from serums to balms. In April 2022, OPULUS Beauty Labs demonstrated the flexibility of its technology by launching another novel treatment system, the Glow Rituals Collection. Focusing on getting radiant-looking skin for customers with different skin concerns, these three spa-worthy facial therapies are based on three different scientific processes of exfoliation: chemical peel, enzymatic activity, and mechanical action. OPULUS Beauty Labs continues to reimagine the beauty market, bringing customers exciting, cutting-edge technology with proven results in an elegant format. For more information on OPULUS Beauty Labs, its award-winning technologies, and how it minimizes its impact on the environment (no jars/no plastic), visit OpulusBeautyLabs.com or follow on Instagram or Facebook. ABOUT SAKS Saks is the premier luxury e-commerce platform, driven by a mission to help Saks Fifth Avenue customers express themselves through relevant and inspiring style. Through its website and app, Saks offers a highly personalized experience and an expertly curated assortment of fashion, as well as professional stylists and fresh editorial content. The company is redefining luxury shopping with a digital-first service model and a seamless connection to an extraordinary network of 41 Saks Fifth Avenue stores across North America. Follow @saks on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and @thesaksman on Instagram. ABOUT NEIMAN MARCUS Neiman Marcus is a Dallas-based luxury retailer, providing customers access to exclusive and emerging brands, anticipatory service, and unique experiences since 1907. Each day, Neiman Marcus connects with customers worldwide while delighting them with exceptional experiences across a 37-store presence in the U.S., the largest U.S. e-commerce luxury platform, and industry-leading remote selling and personalization technology. From delectable dining and indulgent beauty services to bespoke experiences and exclusive products, there's something for everyone. To keep up with the latest news and events at Neiman Marcus, visit neimanmarcus.com or follow the brand on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter. Neiman Marcus is part of the Neiman Marcus Group. We lead with love in everything we do for our customers, associates, brand partners, and communities. Our strategy of integrated luxury retail is about creating long-term relationships. It's this connection that creates emotional and high lifetime value potential with everyone we serve. Through the expertise of our 9,000 associates, we deliver across our three channels of in-store, e-commerce, and remote selling. Investments in data and technology allow us to scale a personalized luxury experience. Our brands include Neiman Marcus®, Bergdorf Goodman®, Neiman Marcus Last Call®, and Horchow®. Contact Details Rell Marketing + Communications Kaitlyn Palocsko +1 215-870-8193 kaitlyn@incommn.co Company Website https://opulusbeautylabs.com/

June 16, 2022 08:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Webio secures $4m to scale conversational AI in the collections and payments industry

Webio

Irish start-up Webio, a leader in Conversational AI in the credit, collections and payments industry, has today announced a series A funding round led by Finch Capital. Webio is primed to scale-up following the digital shift during the pandemic and the uncertain economic climate to make difficult conversations about payments easy through their Conversation AI. Webio’s technology has enabled leading UK and European companies to communicate conversationally with customers throughout their credit and collections journey. Customers can ask questions, change payment dates, or organise a new repayment schedule, all tailored to their circumstances, all done through Conversational AI and automation. Customers experience the assurance that they have been engaged with, listened to, and interacted with fairly and appropriately and in turn, are more likely to be able to keep to their repayment schedules. The jewel in the crown is Webio’s ability to ‘move the needle’ in predicting conversation outcomes by analysing what is said and how it is said. Identifying characteristics such as a person’s potential vulnerability early and accurately, and then guiding that customer conversations through a range of best next steps dynamically is an example of a critical capability in this market. Webio clients can manage their collections conversations on a level like never before. They can know faster, act sooner, and do so with confidence. “Conversations about money are stressful and difficult, not only for the customer but also for agents tasked with having these conversations. Going digital means companies can create a whole new set of digital experiences that help customers feel more confident in having those difficult conversations and ultimately, stop them from falling into unnecessary and significant financial difficulty. And we are excited that Webio’s conversational AI is enabling companies to engage with customers in a more empathetic manner, at scale”, says Cormac O’Neill, Co-Founder and CEO at Webio. “We are growing at more than 100% year on year, and we are targeted to double our headcount with this investment in the next 6 months. I am confident that Webio will maintain its rate of growth and may look to raise additional capital to enter new markets. There are very exciting times ahead for us. We are certainly in the right market and at the right time. All I can say is watch this space” added Cormac O’Neill. Historically, the credit and collections functions have not received much technology attention, but now digital transformation is a necessity. During the pandemic, companies had to sell services online and provide customer service entirely digitally. Taking a call at the kitchen table was not practical where sensitive financial conversations were involved, so companies moved to digital messaging over WhatsApp, SMS, and Webchat. A recent Deloitte study states that 60% of organisations reported progress on connecting service channels during this time, with 11% reporting that they can transition customers across channels and experiences seamlessly. The number of financial services organisations implementing conversational AI and digital assistants doubled over the pandemic and the privacy-first custom assistant model provided by Webio is finding resonance in the collection’s world. As customers move their spending online there has been a corresponding growth in the consumer appetite for alternative payment options such as open banking facilitated payments, digital wallets such as Apple Pay, and buy now pay later (BNPL) offers. The BNPL market is worth $23bn today and is projected to grow to $91bn by 2028. Even the mighty Apple has announced the availability of Apple Pay Later, so most analysts expect even further growth in this sector. However, BNPL Companies such as Klarna and Afterpay, with other alternative consumer finance companies, are now coming under pressure from customer past due payment behaviours, and this is leading to increased levels of bad debt. The economic environment continues to undergo a seismic shift. Inflation is running between 8 to 10% and significant interest rate rises are predicted by the end of the year. ONS Data finds that almost half of adults find difficulty in paying for electricity and gas, and by October 2022 over 1.5 million UK households will struggle to pay food and energy bills. Paying every creditor on time, and in full, will stretch many to breaking point. All companies will experience more late payments, bad debt, and resultant pressure on cash flows. Companies are now seeing that they need a plan to service these customers with care and empathy, not only because this is mandated, but if treated well, these customers will continue to buy from the brand in the longer term. Webio will use the new funds to deepen their capabilities in conversational AI and additional digital offerings. They plan to triple the company’s R&D team, expand the sales and marketing teams, and expand its customer success teams to address the market demand in the UK and European markets. “Webio is reimagining the way customer credit conversations take place in the collections industry. This sector is ripe for disruption, its approach to its customers is outdated and it’s an extremely large market which is set for significant growth. Webio has established itself as an award-winning provider with triple digit growth in this market and is well positioned to help the sector overcome key challenges around digital transformation and the adoption of AI. Finch Capital is delighted to continue to support this experienced team with its ambitious plans for rapid growth and expansion”, says Mike Brennan of Finch Capital. About Webio Webio makes having difficult customer conversations easier for Credit, Collections and Payment businesses with trusted Conversational AI. Leading UK and Irish brands like The Very Group, Studio Retail, Hoist Finance, DCBL, NCO Europe, Anglian Water use our conversational platform to orchestrate millions of customer conversations at scale and have convenient and highly personalized conversations. The no-code platform allows Webio customers and partners to get up and running with conversational AI over SMS, WhatsApp, Webchat and other channels in hours, not months. Webio’s AI is predicting the seemingly unpredictable in digital collections conversations.Founded in 2016, Webio’s platform enables the credit industry to positively and empathetically engage with their in-debt and vulnerable customers. Webio is on a mission to rebalance the Credit, Collections and Payment ecosystem by reimagining the way lenders engage and converse with customers. Webio was ranked #2 and #8 in the 2020/2021 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards and is the founder of one of Europe’s leading conversational interface conferences – ConverCon. For more information, please visit https://www.webio.com. About Finch Capital Founded in 2013, Finch Capital is a Thematic Growth Investor in European technology companies in Finance, Real Estate and Health run by exceptional entrepreneurs. Our mission is to fund and support the best entrepreneurs creating products that will shape the future of these themes. We have a track record of backing future industry champions including AccountsIQ, Fourthline, Goodlord, Hiber, Symmetrical, Lantum and NomuPay. Finch Capital consists of a team of 12 investment professionals with wide entrepreneurial experience (e.g., Adyen), prior investment experience (e.g., Accel) and industry backgrounds (e.g., Facebook, McKinsey), located across offices in Amsterdam and London. Finch Capital is an active producer of original research on the State of European Fintech and its other themes. For more information see www.finchcapital.com. Contact Details Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.webio.com/

June 16, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Long-Time Indianapolis Fruit Leader Stepping Back

FreshEdge

Indianapolis Fruit, a member of the FreshEdge family of produce and specialty food companies shares that, effective July 4, 2022, John Cunningham will transition from COO of Indianapolis Fruit to Distribution and Retail Advisor. He will focus on deepening customer relationships, mentoring and developing the evolving executive team, and advising on strategic initiatives. “We’re excited for John to continue positively impacting our team and our customers’ business. He has a tremendous track record of elevating performance,” said Daniel Corsaro, President of Indianapolis Fruit Company. “John has been a great member of our family and has been critical to our growth and development! We are very grateful for everything he has done and look forward to the insight and great things that he will accomplish with our evolving leaders,” said Greg Corsaro, President and COO of FreshEdge, LLC, the parent company of Indianapolis Fruit. “I’m excited to announce that after 40 plus years in the produce industry and 19 with Indianapolis Fruit and the FreshEdge Team, I’ve decided to step back. I’m looking forward to enjoying my personal and professional life at a different pace. I’m eager to continue to work with Daniel Corsaro and our team to enhance our retail merchandising and education programs,” said John Cunningham, Indianapolis Fruit Company. Indianapolis Fruit will continue to be led by Daniel Corsaro, President, and the existing executive team. As part of this transition, Ross Nelson will transition from Vice President of Retail Execution to Vice President of Procurement. About Indianapolis Fruit Indianapolis Fruit, a FreshEdge company, distributes fresh produce, value-added, specialty foods, and floral to retail grocers in 20 states across the Midwest, central, and southeastern areas of the United States. Offering more than 3,500 available skus, 500 plus organic items, and a full-service fresh cut division, Indianapolis Fruit continues to deliver on what consumers want. For more information, visit www.indyfruit.com Contact Details Indianapolis Fruit Company Daniel Corsaro, President +1 317-981-3442 dccorsaro@indyfruit.com Company Website https://indyfruit.com/

June 14, 2022 10:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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