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amika Taps Assembly to Lead Integrated Media Program Aimed at Growing Its Passionate Communities of Haircare Enthusiasts

Assembly

Global omnichannel agency, Assembly, has been chosen by prestige haircare brand, amika, to lead its integrated media program, with an emphasis on driving sustained awareness and building brand equity. amika has emerged as a go-to haircare brand through its ‘ all hair is welcome ’ positioning, which represents 10 unique collections of haircare for every hair type, texture, and style. amika has called on global data-driven agency, Assembly, as its partner in expanding its community of brand enthusiasts through its distinct, disruptive, and impactful messaging connected to purpose and inclusivity. “amika is a brand that has authentically lived its core values of kindness and inclusivity while doing good for the planet far before it was ‘cool’ or even an expectation from consumers,” said Kim Davis, Vice President at Assembly. “This is one of those best of both world partnerships where we get to bring the latest in media innovation to a brand that’s as committed as we are to nurturing people and the planet. We’re looking forward to developing an out-of-the-box channel strategy that maximizes brand awareness for amika.” amika was built with purpose at its heart by creatives, stylists, and product enthusiasts alike, and encourages a diverse and creative culture that’s fueled by radical thinking. In placing people and the planet at its core, the brand has maintained its mission of bringing progress to the beauty industry. “The name ‘amika’ means friend—to hair, hairstylists, the planet, our communities, and each other—and it’s truly embedded into everything we do. We want our customers to know us for not only our high-quality products, but our commitment to making a positive impact on people and the planet," said Chelsea Riggs, amika’s Brand President. “We were impressed by Assembly’s integrated approach across the funnel to help accomplish our goals and we were immediately aligned in our vision.” This year marks a strategic shift in digital media investment for amika, with an increased focus on driving awareness and new customer acquisition. Assembly will partner with amika to develop a full-funnel multi-channel strategy to achieve these goals. The team’s focus for the year includes strengthening paid social investment, a renewed focus on paid media influencer integrations, and continued momentum in search and display. Assembly and amika will also work together to introduce new high-impact channels to amika’s mix, including CTV, TikTok and localized OOH. “We’re flexible and agile, which gives us an opportunity to test and learn in new channels and platforms where we know our customers are spending their time. We have some big brand and product moments coming up this year, and we’re also excited to see how measurement helps support all of the work we’re doing in increasing the focus on brand awareness and consideration,” said Kelley Martin, amika’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. About Assembly: Assembly is made of the ingredients of the modern agency, bringing together data, talent, and technology to deliver a connected set of solutions for media + more to the best brands on the planet. We’re home to more than 1,500 of the industry’s top talent, who bring unmatched global omnichannel media expertise + data, technology, and business consulting capabilities that help brands find the change that fuels growth. Assembly is a proud member of Stagwell, the challenger network built to transform marketing. Visit www.assemblyglobal.com for more information. About amika: A friend to hair, hairstylists, to her, him, them and you. The name amika means friend in the language Esperanto & represents our belief in the power of community and the beauty of diversity. Straight out of Brooklyn, where creativity and hustle are a way of life, we’re a collective of creatives, hairstylists, chemists, and product enthusiasts. We only make products that make us proud. 10 collections for every hair type, texture and style. Visit www.loveamika.com for more information, and follow @amika on Instagram. Contact Details Assembly Sara Pollack, VP of Marketing +1 917-438-4922 sara.pollack@assemblyglobal.com Company Website https://www.assemblyglobal.com/

February 23, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Covid Testing the Right Way and How to Avoid Scams

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/ZyvwNXn2NSo Testing for Covid-19 is now a daily part of many of our lives. Testing to go to work, school, travel, concerts, and most importantly, to stay healthy. But not all tests or testing centers are created equally. There are still many unanswered questions we have on the best ways to stay safe and healthy. With so much uncertainty its time to turn to an expert for insights and information on how to do covid testing the right way and avoid scams. On February 16 th Dr Emily Volk, President of the College of American Pathologists conducted a nationwide media tour. Topics that Dr Volk discussed included: What people need to know to administer an at home test properly Why it’s important that any collection center or laboratory doing COVID testing is accredited, adhering to the very highest standards Are rapid antigen tests more accurate than PCR tests and when to get one or the other Questions we should be asking medical professionals For more information, visit newsroom.cap.org About the College of American Pathologists: As the world's largest organization of board-certified pathologists and leading provider of laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing programs, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 22, 2022 01:26 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Fastest, Cheapest DeFi Trades with No Front Running Now Possible via Telos

Telos Foundation

The Telos Blockchain’s (ticker: Tlos) recently launched non-Ethereum Fork Virtual Machine ( tEVM ) has already become home to multiple decentralized exchanges, Zappy being the latest. Running on the full layer 1 power of the Telos Blockchain, every single one of these DeFi platforms are more robust than ever. Telos provides DeFi platforms with a utopian trading environment in which traders gain access to the cheapest and fastest trades by many multiples. Here is video proof of Telos having the cheapest and fastest trades. Telos vs Fantom Telos vs Avalanche vs Binance Smart Chain vs Ethereum * Sub-Dollar trades can be profitable via DeFi on the tEVM. “Uniquely, the tEVM has instant transactions with fixed nano-sized gas fees that do not move linearly with the Tlos coin price. This uniqueness makes the tEVM consistently sustainable for DeFi traders of all sizes.” Justin Giudici, Acting CEO at Telos Foundation. By default, the tEVM also fully protects traders from any Front Running or Miner Extracted Value (Mev). Potentially saving DeFi traders billions of dollars. Unfortunately, even to this day, not enough traders understand that without their knowledge or consent, these two unethical practices are commonly separating them from their potential profits. These are highly unethical practices, and they are plaguing all of DeFi. With that noted, it should echo that DeFi trades are 100% insulated from any Front Running or Mev on Telos. Telos tEVM was built from the ground up. Not just forking off the Ethereum source code and the tEVM compiles with the same outcomes using its own source code and layer 1 mainnet. One of the huge benefits of Telos is that unlike Ethereum, the mempool cannot be reorganized in any way. The Telos protocol is strictly a first in first out design. This concept along with strict governance and half second blocktimes makes Front Running impossible on the Telos Network. In fact, Defi without Front Running / MEV only exists on Telos. Defi and NFT traders would benefit by understanding that the entire Ethereum network, its layer 2s, and all the Ethereum forks are literally plagued by Front Running / Mev. Whales, Institutions and large trades in general are all highly targeted on these other networks. Arbitrage and Speed Advantage Telos has half a second blocktimes and is the fastest 3rd generation layer 1 blockchain with an EVM, by many multiples. These ludicrous speeds along with Telos’ massive capacity (hundreds of millions per day) makes transactions on Telos simply instant. Having access to instant transactions in a landscape in which other platforms coexist that are making transactions 50+ times slower creates a lot of opportunity for savvy traders. With Telos, a savvy trader could easily make multiple trades before a single trade is ever made via another EVM network. This speed advantage allows traders to simply enter or exit out of a position before other traders using other networks. A trader can also take advantage of cross platform and cross Dex price differences via arbitrage. In DeFi, faster is simply a massive advantage and not getting targeted in a mempool for miners' tax / front running should be the industry standard. Why would any trader want to be the victim of Front Running? They wouldn’t! Insulate from Front Running and obtain the fastest, cheapest DeFi trades simply by selecting the Telos EVM as your Network. About Telos Telos is a 3rd generation smart contract platform that offers compatibility with Solidity, Vyper and Native C++ smart contracts, providing full EVM/Solidity support as well as a fee-less native smart contract layer upon which the EVM is built. Telos performance is unrivaled in the industry and was purpose-built to offer speed, scalability, cost-effectiveness, decentralization and end-user fairness. The network can sustainably support hundreds of millions of transactions per day, produces blocks in 0.5 second intervals on a first-in-first-out basis (eliminating frontrunning on the network), offers a fee-less native and low per transaction cost EVM (<$0.10), and a fully decentralized block producer network. About The Foundation The Telos Foundation is a Decentralized Autonomous Organization established as a promotional and funding body to advance the Telos Blockchain Network and provide support to network applications. Contact Details The Team hello@telosfoundation.io Company Website https://www.telos.net/

February 22, 2022 10:20 AM Eastern Standard Time

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NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball and Memorigin partners to launch new watch brand Melofaith LaMelo Ball's first-ever RARE Tourbillon watch

Memorigin

HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 22 February 2022 - The 20-year-old NBA All-Star LaMelo Ball made his appearance in the NBA All-Star Game held on last Saunday February 20. Basketball fans are eagerly awaiting his impressive performance. LaMelo Ball is currently playing for the Charlotte Hornets, after embarking on his NBA career since 2020. In just two years, he has clinched numerous awards: ESPY’s Breakthrough Athlete of the Year, NBA Rookie of the Year, and NBA All-Rookie Team. He is the also the 4th-youngest player to appear in the All-Star Game, earning him widespread attention as an elite young star. NBA stars have always been looked to as more than just athletes, but instead as fashion faces which drive global trends forward. LaMelo Ball, who has always been passionate about fashion, launched his own designer lifestyle clothing brand LaFrance last year, and this year, he is adding another accolade to his resume by launching an international collaboration with Memorigin, a Hong Kong-based tourbillon watch brand, with the creation of a new high-end watch brand "Melofaith". Melofaith introduces its first high-end fashion item - the "RARE Tourbillon", designed in complete LaMelo Ball style. Using a strong fiery red as the primary color, the watch features a unique tonneau-shaped case and a stylish red camouflage rubber strap, breaking the tourbillon’s traditional notion of polished, genteel elegance. The skeleton dial is presented in street graffiti style and features numerous symbols of LaMelo Ball, including his first tattoo - the word "FEAR" and "GOD" on his wrist at the age of 16 - as well as a doodle of his name "Melo". There is also a silhouette of LaMelo Ball in profile and the “number 1 with wings” symbolizing him as the "Golden Child". The watch is available in two versions, the regular version with a more subdued PVD tonneau-shaped steel case in black and the diamond version with a tonneau-shaped steel case inlaid with 226 diamonds, making it a dazzling timepiece that suits different people. The watch is equipped with a hand-wound tourbillon movement with a 40-hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The word "MELOFAITH" is engraved on the tourbillon, which makes the watch stand out without compromising its stability. The brand, named "Melofaith", is coined from LaMelo Ball's religious beliefs - his faith is his source of strength, inspiring him to face the challenges of every game with determination and perseverance. LaMelo Ball hopes to share his philosophy with fans through the creation of his brand. With religion being his spiritual pillar, faith and confidence are two indispensable elements that have allowed him to develop into an outstanding athlete. About RARE Tourbillon Watch Retail price: USD 6,800 Model No. MO 0822 Case Black PVD coated barrel-shaped stainless steel case Watch size: approx. 58 x 46mm Watch thickness: approx. 18.25mm Both sides sapphire crystal Water resistance: 5ATM Movement Flying tourbillon 155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels Frequency: 28800 oscillations/hour Features 40 hours power reserve The tourbillon located at 6 o'clock rotates at a speed of 60s for one circle Manual winding mechanism Dial LaMelo Ball-themed dial LaMelo Ball's tattoo design Graffiti style painting Strap Camouflage rubber strap About RARE Tourbillon Watch (Diamond version) Retail price: USD 20,000 Model No. MO 0822 Case Diamond-embedded barrel-shaped stainless steel case Watch size: approx. 58 x 46mm Watch thickness: approx. 18.25mm Both sides sapphire crystal Water resistance: 5ATM Diamond/Gem Setting White diamond quantity: approx. 226pcs approx. 1.9carats Movement Flying tourbillon 155 pieces of subassembly module and 18 jewels Frequency: 28800 oscillations/hour Features 40 hours power reserve The tourbillon located at 6 o'clock rotates at a speed of 60s for one circle Manual winding mechanism Dial LaMelo Ball-themed dial LaMelo Ball's tattoo design Graffiti style painting Strap Camouflage rubber strap About Memorigin Memorigin is the first Hong Kong brand which only produces Tourbillon. The marvelous oriental sculpture merging with western top art of watchmaking creates a Tourbillon watch which has strong Hong Kong cultural character and is a blend of oriental and western cultures. Memorigin uses its in-house movement with its production process strictly controlled so that craftsmanship and quality are sanctioned by international professionals. All Memorigin watches are used with high quality materials from different countries; it has been arranged meticulously from a small part to the complete watch. Memorigin Tourbillon watches are designed by Hong Kong top designers and collectors with innovative concepts. Besides the traditional elegant style, it also adds cultural elements into the design, leading the oriental art to be international. In additions, Memorigin has a unique word carving technology: words can be engraved on the movement and can be preserved forever that the watch becomes unique and memorable. Official web site: www.memorigin.com Tel: (852) 29760108 Address: Room 803-804, 8/F, Chai Wan Industrial City Phase 1, No. 60 Wing Tai Road #Memorigin Contact Details Ms. Ivy Kung +852 2976 0108 ivy_kung@memorigin.com Ms. Christie Chan +852 2976 0108 christie_chan@memorigin.com

February 22, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Unifriends Announces NFT Drop for New Play-to-Earn Blockchain Gaming Ecosystem

JMRConnect: Shaping Influence° PR

Initial Whitelist Minting of 3D NFTs for 10,000 one-of-a-kind, unique generative unicorns with varying traits and rarity; 100 percent of secondary sales will go back to the community treasury and liquidity pool Unifriends ( www.unifriends.io ), the new 3D NFT, player-first gaming ecosystem featuring 10,000 unique generative unicorns with 170 varying traits, today announced both its whitelist and public mint Airdrops. 100 percent of secondary sales will go back to the community treasury and liquidity pool. WHITELIST MINT DETAILS: WHEN: February 18, 2022, at 12:00 PM ET MINTS: 0.069420 ETH OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://unifriends.io/ PUBLIC MINT DETAILS: WHEN: February 19, 2022 MINTS: 0.1337 ETH DISCORD Join our DISCORD community now! Learn more and reserve your spot: Twitter - https://twitter.com/UnifriendsNFT Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/unifriends.nft/ OpenSea - https://opensea.io/collection/unifriends-nft-official The Unifriends Utility token, UNIVRS, will be deployed on Polygon chain for gaming contracts, ensuring hyper-fast experience while eliminating gas fees. Hodlers will be able to earn the UNIVRS utility tokens in mini games embedded within the NFTs. Only owners of the specific token will be able to earn UNIVRS token. Unifriends will launch three unique mini games in which coin hodlers can acquire play-and-earn tokens. Each token is embedded directly with Unifriends’ NFTs as a dApp; only owners can connect their wallets and earn UNIFRN tokens. The more rare, legendary Unifriends coins will have a higher percentage chance relative to the total supply allocated to the gaming contract. 10 legendary Unifriends’ NFTs will have special in-game capabilities. UNIFRN governance tokens will be airdropped to hodlers and developers to democratize decisions in a DAO structure. Unifriend hodlers will be distributed a baseline set of UNIFRN governance tokens, but individuals will be able to buy UNIFRN on an established DEX post drop. On-chain metadata determines whether your unicorn is speedy, strong, or intelligent. Properties are dynamically derived using pseudo-randomization methods upon minting. In addition to having a flag set-up at the contract level to allow it to Unifriends activity on OpenSea, we will also process image reveals progressively based and update the image base URI at the contract level ~3-7 days per batch of mints New immersive, browser-based games will be deployed throughout 2022. Players will be able to participate in future drops and buy new items and upgrading NFT using UNIFRN/UNIVRS tokens. ABOUT UNIFRIENDS Unifriends is a 3D NFT project featuring 10,000 completely unique generative unicorns with varying traits and rarity. Unifriends will have a governance token UNIFRN to democratize decisions in a DAO structure. The UNIFRN governance token will be airdropped to holders and developers of the project for governance. A utility token UNIVRS will be deployed on Polygon chain for the Unifriend gaming contracts. The UNIVRS token will be earnable within our browser based mini-games platform. Visit www.unifriends.io to join the NFT revolution! Contact Details Mostafa Razzak +1 917-912-0623 m.razzak@jmrconnect.net

February 18, 2022 02:33 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Brush Up on Oral Health: Technology For Your Mouth Leading To Healthy, Confident Smiles

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/UIgoM06hR04 How do you get that ‘fresh from the dentist’ clean feeling on the 360+ days you’re not at the dentist? You turn to a revolutionary kit that integrates advanced technology to deliver brighter, whiter smiles and cleaner, healthier teeth. The result is that consumers look and feel their best and enjoy greater confidence as they go about their day. Built by dental professionals, izzoTM was developed by fourth-generation family-owned Premier Dental, a global developer and manufacturer of dental and medical products that has been in business for 100+ years, with a presence in 76 countries. Julie Charlestein, the President and CEO of Premier Dental, conducted a nationwide media tour to discuss the launch of izzo TM, an innovative new direct to consumer initiative designed to elevate at-home oral care. While brushing your teeth regularly is certainly important, izzo TM is the first and only 4-in-1 oral care system that goes significantly beyond just the typical toothbrush to give your teeth a whole new level of clean. izzo is technology for your mouth leading to healthy, confident smiles. izzo not only helps you brush effectively, it helps you polish to remove surface stains for a brighter, whiter smile; scale to remove plaque and debris between teeth; and sanitize your brush to ensure it’s germ-free for your next use. Best of all, it gives you that ‘fresh from the dentist’ clean feeling and a healthy confidence to look and feel your best. The revolutionary izzo system is currently available online for purchase at www.izzosmile.com for $129.95. For more information or to read first-hand product reviews, please visit www.izzosmile.com. About izzo TM izzo TM is the revolutionary 4-in-1 home oral care system that helps consumers look and feel their best through healthier, whiter smiles. izzo includes a toothbrush, polishing system (polisher & enamel polishing paste), scaler and sanitizer. Made in partnership with Premier ® Dental Products Company, a 4th generation, family-run business established in 1913, izzo reflects the knowledge of over 100 years in developing professional-grade oral care products. This differentiated product introduces innovative in-home dental care directly to consumers through an easy-to-use kit and a convenient Subscribe & Save program. For more information, please visit www.izzosmile.com. About Premier Dental ® Products Company Premier Dental ® is a global privately-held business dedicated to delivering inspired solutions for daily dentistry. Dental professionals have turned to Premier for over 100 years as a leader in bringing innovative products to market that improve their daily procedures, practices and patient outcomes. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 18, 2022 01:54 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s Provide Critical Repairs to Historic Los Angeles Homes

YourUpdateTV

Nonprofit Rebuilding Together partnered with Lowe’s, the Official Home Improvement Sponsor of the NFL, to provide essential home repairs for community residents in Los Angeles neighborhoods including View Park, just outside SoFi Stadium, during the annual Kickoff to Rebuild event. A video accompanying this release is available at: https://youtu.be/GYbiDDQwtmY Kickoff to Rebuild, a Super Bowl-sanctioned event presented by Lowe’s, directly benefits 16 families in Los Angeles through home repairs, including roof replacements, bathroom upgrades, kitchen installations, landscaping, window repairs and fresh paint. The families include a senior struggling with mobility, a veteran on dialysis and a retired healthcare provider. Volunteers and local contractors completed the home repairs following COVID-19 safety guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, Robert Woods, a Lowe’s Home Team member and wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams, participated in the event. “At Rebuilding Together, our mission is to assist people with disabilities and low-income seniors in rehabilitating or modifying their homes,” said Zeeda Daniele, executive director of Rebuilding Together of the City of Angels. “Through Kickoff to Rebuild, volunteers, contractors and sponsors help make homes in our community safer and more accessible.” Rebuilding Together will also repair the headquarters of the Consolidated Board of Realtists, a local organization founded in 1949 that strives for democracy in housing by opening doors for Black professionals and consumers in real estate. The Board is part of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), which in 1963 secured the passage of the nation’s first state-level fair housing legislation in California. “Through our Kickoff to Rebuild events held during the past 27 Super Bowls, we’ve repaired more than 158 homes, engaged 5,000 volunteers and invested more than $5 million in communities nationwide,” said Caroline Blakely, president and CEO of Rebuilding Together. “This year, we are honored to continue preserving affordable homeownership and revitalizing communities in the Los Angeles area by providing critical home repairs at no cost to homeowners in need.” The work occurred in neighborhoods within a five-mile radius of the University of Southern California, including Baldwin Hills, Chesterfield Square, Crenshaw, View Park, Jefferson Park, West Adams, Wilshire Center, Koreatown, South Los Angeles and the western section of downtown Los Angeles. Despite years of investments into the university and public venues, these neighborhoods still face challenges including persistent generational poverty, substandard and obsolescent housing and low-paying jobs. “The houses we repaired during Kickoff to Rebuild are more than structures that can help build generational wealth, they are part of the community’s history and identity,” said Cesar Martinez, Lowe’s regional vice president. “We have proudly partnered with Rebuilding Together since 2007 and are humbled to provide our expertise in home repairs to help homeowners stay in their homes and safely age in place.” Kickoff to Rebuild is made possible by Lowe’s and Omaze. For additional information about Kickoff to Rebuild, visit rebuildingtogether.org/ktr. For more about Rebuilding Together City of Angels, visit https://rebuildingla.org/. About Rebuilding Together: Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit organization with a mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize our communities. Each year Rebuilding Together affiliates complete about 10,000 rebuild projects. Learn more and get involved at rebuildingtogether.org. About Rebuilding Together City of Angeles: Rebuilding Together Of the City of Angels (RTCOA), located in Los Angeles, California, is a 501C3 nonprofit organization established on August 31, 2020, as an affiliate of Rebuilding Together Inc., headquartered in Washington DC. About Kickoff to Rebuild: Kickoff to Rebuild is an annual Super Bowl-sanctioned event hosted by Rebuilding Together. For the past 26 years, Rebuilding Together has partnered with the NFL in Super Bowl cities across the country, rebuilding houses and bringing together neighborhoods. Together, we have repaired more than 150 homes and engaged 5,000 volunteers during these Super Bowl events. About Lowe’s in the Community: As a FORTUNE ® 50 home improvement company, Lowe’s is committed to creating safe, affordable housing and helping to develop the next generation of skilled trade experts through nonprofit partnerships. Across every community we serve, Lowe’s associates donate their time and expertise through the Lowe’s Heroes volunteer program. For the latest news, visit Newsroom.Lowes.com or follow @LowesMedia on Twitter. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

February 17, 2022 04:55 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Restaurant Industry Year in Review: QSR Average Check Soars, Traffic Lags

Revenue Management Solutions

Revenue Management Solutions today released its analysis of US quick-service restaurant (QSR) performance for 2021. Overall, traffic continued its post-pandemic decline, but the global data solutions provider believes double-digit increases in average check will remain — and demonstrate a fundamental change in consumer behavior. To accurately assess the underlying trends of restaurant performance, RMS compared 2021 sales and traffic to pre-pandemic 2019 data. On average, sales were up 8.1% over 2019, and average check increased by a remarkable 22.9%. Traffic, on the other hand, remains low, down 12% as compared to 2019, and continued a negative trend in the second half of the year. Surprisingly, 2021 traffic also was even with or slightly lower when compared to the highly volatile 2020. “Consumer habits are fundamentally different,” notes RMS Director of Research and Consumer Analytics Francois Acerra. “Traffic is down, but the relative increases in average check indicate that QSRs haven’t lost customer segments. Instead, we believe that quick-service restaurant customers have permanently changed their behaviors — visiting less frequently than pre-pandemic yet spending more per visit.” RMS is among the only restaurant data providers to deconstruct average check and the story it tells about how consumers dine now. In its estimation, sales and traffic data still matter, but average spend has emerged as a leading indicator for overall performance. “Given the intense pressure on margins caused by rising commodity prices and labor shortages, analysts may give credit to price increases for the overall rise in average check,” said Acerra. “But when we dug deeper into the numbers, it’s clear that a behavior change is also driving up average check. In short, consumers are ordering more food, and for larger parties. We’ve noticed that the increase in basket size is partly due to more guests being on the same check and that, in fact, the share of single-party orders has declined.” In 2021, the quantity per transaction — or how many items were purchased in a single order — was up 14.3% compared to 2019. Compare that to average net price, which was up 7.5%, and it’s clear that net sales performance was sustained by average check growth. “As QSRs make it increasingly easier to order off-premise with the rollouts of mobile applications and loyalty programs, they provide a convenience to customers that may take the sting out of higher prices,” said Acerra. This is true for efficient drive-thrus as well, notes RMS. In the company’s November 2021 survey of more than 800 US restaurant consumers, 76% reported making a restaurant drive-thru visit at least once a week, compared to 63% that reported dining in. Delivery, which has become a flashpoint for customers and operators, has steadily decreased since its peak in 2020. Just 49% of survey respondents reported using delivery at least once per week in November 2021, a steady decline from 60% in November 2020. “Wait times, poor customer service and order inaccuracy — not price — are being cited in our surveys as the top reasons for dissatisfaction,” said Acerra. “QSRs that can overcome challenges and deliver meals quickly, accurately and with a smile will deliver value to customers and potentially outweigh necessary price increases.” RMS has meticulously monitored consumer sentiment and behavior since March 2020, supplementing its 25-year experience and rich data insights with quarterly consumer surveys, university-sponsored research and anecdotal information. For more data insights and 2022 predictions, visit revenuemanage.com. About Revenue Management Solutions Now more than ever, Revenue Management Solutions (RMS) is committed to supporting restaurants through these ever-changing times. Today, more than 50 major brands in 40-plus countries trust RMS. Its data-driven analytics and tech-enabled solutions are designed to optimize sales, menus and a brand’s financial health. RMS provides actionable insights to more than 100,000 restaurant locations worldwide to help them make informed business decisions that drive profitability and combat inflation and increasing wages. The company holds five US patents on menu pricing and customer segmentation and supports ongoing academic research efforts. For more information on how RMS helps its clients, visit www.revenuemanage.com. Contact Details Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com Rebecca Wilkins +1 214-437-9096 Company Website https://www.revenuemanage.com

February 17, 2022 08:05 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Spiceology and Hell's Kitchen Team Up To Bring Competition-Worthy Flavor To Homes Everywhere

Spiceology

Spiceology, leading spice and flavor company, today announced a collaboration and new product line with Hell’s Kitchen, the popular cooking competition show. Each blend created by Spiceology and Hell’s Kitchen captures the essence of some of the show’s most viral moments and some of its most well-known dishes: Sir Wellington ($9.99) - Based on Hell’s Kitchen’s most famous dish, Beef Wellington, this blend boasts flavors of mustard, mushroom and shallot, with an earthy horseradish linger balanced by worcestershire, rosemary and thyme. Try it on beef, chicken, eggs, tofu, brussels sprouts, asparagus, mushrooms, potatoes, and in sauces and gravies. Where’s the Lamb Sauce?! ($9.99) - “Source” or Sauce, named after one of the most meme-able moments and quotes from Hell’s Kitchen, this herbaceous blend is filled with mint, tarragon, chives, rosemary, oregano, marjoram and parsley, and finished with a sweet balsamic powder and molasses. Try it on lamb, chicken, white fish, pork, wild game, tofu, roasted root veggies, green beans, asparagus, eggs, salad dressing, rice, and couscous. Vampire Killer ($9.99) - Made for, but not limited to risotto (one of the chef-slaying dishes on the show), this blend is a delicious mixture of garlic and parmesan, with a hint of umami from mushroom powder. Try it on risotto, pasta, eggs, popcorn, roasted vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, root veggies, and potatoes, kale chips, salad dressings, infused olive oil, and garlic bread. Smashing Salmon ($9.99) - What happens in Hell’s Kitchen when the salmon is undercooked? It gets smashed! This blend turns a notorious negative on the show into a palate-pleasing positive with its acidic miso flavor and strong umami from soy and shitake mushroom, as well as hints of lemon and ginger for a kick. Try it on seafood, chicken, pork, tofu, roasted vegetables, peas, string beans, eggs, fried rice, popcorn, noodles, soups and ramen. Under the Sea ($9.99) - Perfectly cooked scallops can be hit or miss on the show. But, this sweet and spicy blend pairs perfectly with scallops with flavors like maple and Korean chile flakes. Try it on white fish, scallops, tofu, chicken, pork, squash, glazed carrots, asparagus, corn, rice bowls, as a pizza topper, and in noodles. “The core of Hell’s Kitchen is creating amazing food, and whether you’re a die-hard fan of the show or want to experiment with incredible flavor shortcuts, these diverse blends bring deliciousness to dishes,” said Chef Tony Reed, Senior Director of Innovation and Partnerships. “These blends bring chef-driven flavors into the kitchen and celebrate the dedication and talent of chefs everywhere” For more information on the partnership and the blends, visit www.Spiceology.com/collaborations/hells-kitchen. ABOUT SPICEOLOGY Founded in 2013, Spiceology is the fastest-growing spice company in America and is on a mission to bring the magic back to spices, the world’s first currency. The chef-owned and operated, one-stop spice shop develops innovative blends and offers over 400 ingredients that are ground fresh in small-batches and shipped fresh to consumers and chefs. Spiceology’s “experiment with flavor” ethos is not only embraced through excellent ingredients and unique combinations, but also through responsible business practices designed to create a better world with diversity, equity and inclusion at the heart of the workforce. Spiceology products can be found on spiceology.com, in specialty retailers and grocers, in restaurants around the US, and as far away as Australia and Dubai. Visit spiceology.com for more information or to place an order, or follow Spiceology on Facebook and Instagram. For recipe inspiration, visit here. ABOUT HELL’S KITCHEN Each season of HELL’S KITCHEN welcomes a new batch of ambitious chefs who will brave an intense culinary academy. Competitors face a series of grueling challenges to prove they possess the right combination of ingredients to win a life-changing grand prize. As the competition progresses, the number of contestants is whittled down until only two chefs are left to compete for the ultimate prize, a Head Chef position at a premier restaurant, and fulfill their dreams of working in the culinary industry as the winner of HELL’S KITCHEN. Contact Details Spiceology Cassidy Levine +1 908-770-7880 cassidy@spiceology.com Company Website https://spiceology.com/

February 16, 2022 08:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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