bbq+chicken+superstore

Conscientious Consumers Misled by Humanewashing Food Certifications According to New Farm Forward Report

Farm Forward

American shoppers encounter a wide range of welfare claims on animal products, from loosely regulated terms like “humanely raised” and “free range,” to third-party certifications like Global Animal Partnership (GAP). Farm Forward’s new survey is the first of its kind to look at consumer expectations of animal welfare certifications, and its results demonstrate the demand for higher welfare animal products, including chickens who are not genetically modified for fast growth—which GAP has pledged to address. The survey results showed that there is a huge gulf between what consumers expect certifications to mean and what they actually mean. The vast majority of American consumers are impacted by humanewashing: deceptive marketing tactics used by meat producers and retailers to mislead shoppers about animal welfare. Conscientious shoppers who regularly seek humanely raised meat are the most susceptible to the effects of humanewashing. “All certifications, from the industry-aligned American Humane Certified, to the independent Global Animal Partnership, in our survey fell short of consumers’ beliefs about them,” said Andrew deCoriolis, Farm Forward’s Executive Director. “Many shoppers believed that all of these certifications guaranteed that animals were raised outdoors or weren’t genetically modified, when they don’t. The unfortunate reality is that, today, most certifications are marketing tools for factory farms.” Key Findings Americans largely cannot distinguish between independent certifications and those devised by industry. Survey findings paint a disturbing picture of rampant humanewashing by even the most trusted retailers, like Whole Foods, whose products are GAP-certified. Those who reported buying humane-labeled meat more often were also more confused about the meaning of certain labels. For virtually all certifications examined, consumers who purchased humane-labeled products at least once per month agreed with incorrect statements more, often by at least 20 percent, than those who never purchased them. There is a stark difference between what consumers believe to be true, what they believe should be true, and what is actually true with GAP, American Humane Certified (AHC), and One Health Certified (OHC) welfare labels. On measures like whether animals are raised on pasture, whether animals are genetically modified for rapid growth, physical mutilations, and more, Americans want higher welfare standards on farms and overestimate how much these certifications ensure. Cage-Free Confusion Over the past 10 years, hundreds of restaurants, retailers and food companies have committed to shifting toward cage free eggs. Farm Forward found that more than 50 percent of Americans believe that cage-free should mean that hens spend their whole lives on pasture, while 62 percent believed cage-free labels should at least guarantee consistent outdoor access (notably, only 9 percent disagreed with this statement). Regarding what the cage-free label actually guarantees, 38 percent believed it ensures that birds spend their whole lives on pasture, and 47 percent believed they have consistent outdoor access. In reality, cage-free merely refers to the absence of battery cages within an indoor, industrial-scale operation. Consumers expect that the "cage free" eggs and corporate pledges are much more meaningful for welfare than they are. These findings are particularly concerning when considered alongside the premium prices consumers pay for cage-free eggs that fail to meet their expectations. According to the USDA egg market report (Dec. 3, 2021), the average price for one dozen cage-free eggs (white/brown) was $2.63, versus the average price of one dozen conventional eggs at $0.97. Consumers are paying, on average, two and a half times as much for cage-free eggs expecting them to mean the animal welfare is meaningfully higher than conventional when in many cases, it’s not. In reality, producing “cage free” eggs costs approximately 25% more than conventional eggs, but retailers are banking on consumer misunderstanding of the “cage free” label and charging 200% more. It’s clear that consumers want hens to be given, at least, access to pasture and expect the “cage free” label to guarantee those standards. Retailers must do more to meet consumer expectations for welfare and animal advocates need to do more to educate the public that the modest improvements in systems like cage free still fall far short of their expectations. Methodology Farm Forward’s online survey was conducted by YouGov from September 3 through 7, 2021. The total sample size was 1,219 adults. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all U.S. adults (aged 18+). Participants were asked a series of questions about three certifications, GAP, AHC, and OHC, as well as the label claims to ascertain their expectations for products bearing these labels as well as their beliefs about what these labels actually mean. About Farm Forward Farm Forward works to improve the lives of more than 400 million farmed animals annually. Since 2007, its mission has been to end factory farming by changing farming, changing policy, and changing the stories told about animal agriculture. Contact Details Susan Peters susan@farmforward.com Company Website https://www.farmforward.com

December 16, 2021 02:20 PM Eastern Standard Time

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News Release

Yum! Brands Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for Fifth Consecutive Year

Yum! Brands

LOUISVILLE, KY, December 9, 2021 /3BL Media/ – Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for its commitment to citizenship and sustainability across its restaurant business, marking the fifth consecutive year the Company has made DJSI, the leading sustainability benchmark. Yum!’s Global Citizenship & Sustainability Strategy, called its Recipe for Good, is the Company’s roadmap for social responsibility, risk management and sustainable stewardship of its people, food and planet. “At Yum!, our citizenship and sustainability strategy reflects the evolving environmental, social and governance landscape and the issues that are most material to our brands including climate change, equity and inclusion, and sustainable packaging,” said Jerilan Greene, Yum! chief communications and public affairs officer, and chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands Foundation. “Being named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for the fifth year in a row reinforces our belief that business can act as a change agent to make a positive impact and is a great sense of pride for our teams around the world.” In recent years, Yum! has accelerated its citizenship and sustainability efforts. In April 2021, the Company announced science-based targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nearly 50% by 2030 and pledged to reach net-zero by 2050. Yum! also continued to expand its plant-forward innovation to meet the growing demand for sustainable options and flexible diets. In addition, the Company made initial grants through its $100 million global Unlocking Opportunity Initiative to launch, expand or advance programs that support front-line restaurant teams and communities around the world. “Yum! and our brands have made significant progress to advance our citizenship and sustainability agenda and to further embed our social purpose and sustainability strategies into the business,” said Jon Hixson, Yum! chief sustainability officer and vice president of global government affairs. “Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen our programs and work closely with the global teams leading this work every day, alongside our franchisees and supply chain partners.” Since launching in 1999, DJSI has become a leading global index that tracks the sustainability strategies and work of publicly listed companies. Each year, the index assesses and ranks selected companies for their performance with environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria. The Dow Jones Sustainability™ North America Index comprises North American sustainability leaders as identified by S&P Global through the Corporate Sustainability Assessment. It represents the top 20% of the largest 600 North American companies in the S&P Global BMI based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria. View more details about the 2021 DJSI  here. Manjit Jus, Global Head of ESG Research, S&P Global said, “We congratulate Yum! Brands for being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America. A DJSI distinction is a reflection of being a sustainability leader in your industry. The record number of companies participating in the 2021 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment is a testament to the growing movement for ESG disclosure and transparency.” Yum!’s  2020 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report  showcases the progress made across the Company’s people, food and planet commitments. In addition to its annual citizenship and sustainability report and DJSI, the Company participates in other key disclosures including the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and CDP. Learn more about Yum!’s long-standing reporting history and overall citizenship and sustainability journey  here. About Yum! Brands Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 52,000 restaurants in more than 150 countries and territories, operating the Company’s brands – KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell – global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. The Company’s family of brands also includes The Habit Burger Grill, a fast-casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. Yum! Brands was included on the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. In 2021, Yum! Brands was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and in 2020, was ranked among the top 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Yum! Brands on 3blmedia.com

December 09, 2021 01:16 PM Eastern Standard Time

Politicians and Reformers Agree, Constitutional Reform is Coming Soon

Let Us Vote for a BBA

With the recent oral arguments surrounding Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, calls for constitutional reform have echoed around the country. A little-known passage in the U.S. Constitution allows the states to draft and the people to ratify amendments without Congress. Recently, both reformers and politicians have agreed a convention to propose amendments is no longer hypothetical, it’s happening. “…There are currently applications from 27 states requesting a convention on a Balanced Budget Amendment and six generic applications for a general convention,” said outgoing NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney. “Despite the differing reasons, that makes 33 states with pending applications, and only one more would be required to call for a constitutional convention.” "I wish to personally thank Sweeney for confirming in public what we have been saying in private all along,” said David Biddulph, founder of the Let us Vote for a Balanced Budget Amendment Citizen Campaign, “A national convention to propose amendments to the U.S. Constitution is going to happen, not only in our lifetimes, but I predict it will happen in the next year or two.” "I am eagerly introducing a resolution this legislative session, which I hope will be number 34 and the final measure needed to compel a national convention," said State Senator Rex Rice (SC-2), "I am also introducing legislation to hold convention delegates to their oath of office as they serve the public in what will surely be one of the most interesting periods in American history. I encourage other legislators around the country to do the same." Recent Supreme Court decisions, such as Chiafalo v. Washington, have reaffirmed the safety of a convention process and allayed concerns about oath-taking delegates who would attempt to deviate from their original purpose. "The Supreme Court has said delegates must do the will of the people who send them to an assembly. That much is crystal clear from the recent Electoral College decision," said Mike Kapic, author of Conventions That Made America. "As a further safety check, the Assembly of State Legislatures recently negotiated bipartisan rules for an orderly and organized convention process. I am convinced that commissioners from the states assembled at a convention will behave much better than the members of Congress that we see on our television screens every day." At least 33 states currently have active certified resolutions calling for a convention, but historically, Congress has received many more calls on a variety of issues. Most amendments to the U.S. Constitution began with convention calls from the states and ended with Congress proposing the desired amendment, including the Bill of Rights. But on issues where Congress is the source of the problem, such as fiscal responsibility and election integrity, reformers are skeptical a solution will ever come out of Washington D.C. "Americans agree, Congress is stuck consistently in overspending and increasing taxes on American business and families. There is a genuine lack of political will for reform in the nation’s capital," said Bob Carlstrom of the Association of Mature American Citizens, "The people and the states must come together soon to propose a permanent fix for the nation's financial disorder, or the ship of state may sink due to the lack of stewardship and loose spending from our federal representatives. There exists a process in the Constitution to do just that. Let's use it." Not all politicians and reformers greeted this recent news of the imminent convention with fanfare. Some even reacted with alarm and began to immediately work to halt the number at 33 and possibly even rescind some of the currently active resolutions, a constitutionally questionable practice. For example, in New Jersey, SCR161 recently passed the New Jersey State Senate and its companion bill in the Assembly, ACR222, is scheduled for a vote this week. “Rather than focusing on issues important to voters, like getting kids back in school or reducing property taxes, New Jersey's lame duck session is being used to throttle the high hopes of reformers on both sides of the political aisle," said Tom Llewellyn of the Let Us Vote for a Balanced Budget Amendment Citizens Campaign, Inc. "Prior to voting this week, Sweeney’s counterparts in the Assembly may want to ask if it's wise to walk down that garden path with a proven loser when voters of both parties disagree with what you're doing. Political logic like that will get you beat by a trucker who spent less on his whole campaign than you did on the bar tab at Di Paulo’s." For more information, please visit: https://letusvoteforbba.org Contact Details Let Us Vote for a Balanced Budget Amendment Mae James +1 386-432-4744 info@LetUsVoteforBBA.org Company Website http://letusvoteforbba.org/

December 08, 2021 12:10 PM Eastern Standard Time

Wanda Castro-Borrero: Carrying on Legacy of Care

Biogen

Growing up in Puerto Rico, Wanda Castro-Borrero came from a family of modest means and saw what unmet medical need looks like. Her childhood experiences sparked a passion to help others.  “I am a very proud Puerto Rican – not only of my heritage, language and culture but also my humble roots,” she says. “We were technically poor, but my twin and I never knew that, as we always had food on the table, even if, sometimes, it was white rice and ketchup. I didn’t have a pediatrician, but we did have Dr. Rivera Aulet, our community doctor.” Wanda credits Dr. Rivera Aulet for inspiring her to become a doctor and help others. “I remember my mother telling me the story that when his son fell sick, Dr. Rivera Aulet prayed for him to get better, promising that if God saved his life, he would charge all his future patients only $2 a visit.” His son survived, and Dr. Rivera Aulet made good on that promise. He sometimes treated patients in exchange for eggs, plantains, yuca or chickens if they didn’t have any cash to spare. Paying it forward She went to medical school to become a neurologist and practiced for seven years in Texas and Connecticut. It was during her time as a practicing physician that she saw firsthand the challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities when receiving care, especially those with limited English proficiency. “I understood very quickly that it was not the same for everybody, and we have to do better,” she says. Wanda joined Biogen in 2014 to do just that. In 2017, part of her job was to improve multiple sclerosis (MS) patient outcomes for those who’ve historically faced barriers to accessing quality care. Biogen’s Corporate Health Equity Initiative was an outgrowth of this work. Now, as Global Medical Head for the MS Franchise, Interferons and Fampyra, Wanda has an opportunity to drive health equity gains on an even larger scale in order to help tackle the disparate impact of MS on different populations. “Women are three times more likely than men to be diagnosed with MS,” Wanda said. What’s more, data shows the prevalence, progression and treatment response of MS in minority groups are cause for concern. “African Americans appear to suffer a quicker progression of the disease with a blunted response to disease-modifying therapies, while Hispanic Americans of Caribbean descent are often diagnosed at a younger age and have greater mobility impairment… African Americans who served in the Gulf War outpace all other ethnic and racial counterparts, and nonwhite minorities living in the United States have an increased incidence compared to residents of their ancestral countries, indicating that environment plays a nondiscriminatory role in MS onset.” 1,2 Disparities in treatment for the LGBTQ+ community Wanda also has been advocating for treatment gains within the LGBTQ+ community. “More than two-thirds of older adults identifying as LGBTQ+ have experienced discrimination in health, aging and disability services, resulting in higher rates of depression and anxiety. Additionally, a phone survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with state health departments showed differences in health insurance coverage and access to care for individuals in same-sex relationships.” 4,5 Wanda notes that harsh treatment “due to sexual orientation or gender identity, if not flat-out refusal of care, is compounded by cultural insensitivities; inadequate training for special healthcare needs, such as reproductive services, hormone therapies, puberty blockers, gender-affirming surgeries, and HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis; and a substantial paucity of research data concerning sexual and gender minorities.” 4,5 Clinical trials and tribulations But health equity is more than patients gaining access to treatments that are available. For Wanda, it’s also about more inclusive clinical trial enrollment in order to make sure therapies are effective on people of all backgrounds. She considers this work to be part of the biopharma industry’s responsibility to reduce healthcare disparities but stresses that to convince more diverse populations to participate in – and benefit from – clinical trials, we must address legacies of mistrust, language barriers and unconscious bias in the medical community. She says conducting clinical studies that more accurately reflect the prevalence of diseases on different groups could potentially impact people of every background. Wanda recognizes that there is no “easy fix,” and that meaningful change will come by addressing these issues holistically. It includes educating medical professionals, helping shift perceptions, tackling healthcare systems and ensuring that clinical trials are representative of all affected populations. But she’s staying true to her purpose, carrying on Dr. Rivera Aulet’s legacy of helping others. “I’m passionate about health equity because I know what it’s like to not be heard. I want to give a voice to those who are in that same place.” 1 Multiple Sclerosis Association of America: Cover Story: Disease Effects and Needs of Minority Populations with MS: https://mymsaa.org/publications/motivator/winter-spring17/cover-story/ 2 Multiple Sclerosis Association of America: Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis: https://mymsaa.org/ms-information/overview/who-gets-ms/ 3 Neurology Clinical Practice: Multiple sclerosis in US minority populations: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4404283/ 4 Human Rights Watch. "You Don’t Want Second Best" Anti-LGBT Discrimination in US Health Care. New York, NY: Human Rights Watch, 2018: https://www.hrw.org/report/2018/07/23/you-dont-want-second-best/anti-lgbt-discrimination-us-health-care 5 Goldsen KF. Shifting social context in the lives of LGBTQ older adults. Public Policy Aging Rep. 2018;28:24-28: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5972452/?report=reader View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Biogen on 3blmedia.com

November 23, 2021 01:36 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Ace Hardware Gifts that Keep on “Grilling”

YourUpdateTV

Everyone dreams of that one special gift under the tree tied with a giant red bow, the one saved to be opened last. So, if you have a grilling enthusiast in your life and you’re still overwhelmed by the array of grills and grilling tools out there, Ace’s BBQ expert Chef Jason Morse can help. Recently, Chef Jason teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to share the best grills, accessories, and trends in grilling. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/iGOW_E6EjBw Chef Jason picked the perfect grills and grilling accessories from Ace Hardware to make it easy for your audience to give the gift that keeps on "grilling" this holiday season. With all the best grill brands under one roof—including Weber, Big Green Egg and Traeger—Ace has the perfect gift for any griller—including charcoal, pellet, gas, and smoker models Grills at the Top of Ace's "Nice List": Weber Genesis E-325 Gas Grill in Indigo, exclusive to Ace Hardware, features three burners, a sear station and a 10-year warranty, $879 Weber Spirit II E-310 gas grill, an affordable classic with the grill space to feed the whole family, on sale for $489, Reg. $519 (Save $30 on select Weber Spirit Grills, November 15-December 6) Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill, available in Bronze, features easy to use pellets and precision temperature control, $699.99 Big Green Egg 24" XL Charcoal Kamado Grill and Smoker allows grillers to roast, smoke, sear and bake, $1,299.99 BBQ Gifts: Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub, a step-by-step grilling assistant that turns any grill into a smart grill, and any griller into a master. Its remote wifi access, flip & serve notifications, and readiness countdowns are the secret ingredients to grilling greatness, every time the flame is lit, $129.99 Weber Snapcheck Digital Meat Thermometer, $64.99 Traeger Stainless Steel Grill Spatula, $49.99 Grill Rescue Brush with Scraper, $39.99 Hoff & Pepper Hot Sauce, $25.99 New in 2021, Ace now offers personalized grilling gifts starting at $15.99 featuring your grill master's name or initials emblazoned on the tools of the trade, including: The Traeger BBQ Multi-Tool i ncludes four tools—a Portable Sized Spatula, Pig Tail, Basting Brush and Corkscrew—in one handy device; includes a magnet designed to stick to your grill's hopper and a laser engraved monogram. The Weber Pint Glass is a must for any grilling occasion and includes the iconic Weber kettle logo with your sand-etched monogram underneath. $17.99 The Walnut Butcher Block is made from handcrafted walnut and includes personalized laser engraving on the front edge. This beautiful cutting board is perfect for day to day or as the centerpiece for any gathering, $99.99. Black Friday Sizzlin' Grill Deals: (November 17-30, 2021): Purchase a Traeger Pro 780 Wood Pellet Grill ( $999) or a Traeger Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill ($1,499), receive a FREE Traeger accessories package valued at more than $164. This offer also applies to the Pro 575 ($899.99) and the Ironwood 650 ($1,299.99) Purchase a Traeger Stainless Steel Spatula or Traeger Digital Meat Thermometer and receive a free silicone grill basting brush. Create your own gift box with mix-and-match sauces, seasonings, and rubs; 20 percent off. Ace makes shopping easy with free store or curbside pickup, and free delivery on qualifying purchases for Ace Rewards members. For more details and for a complete list of Ace's featured holiday gifts, visit https://www.acehardware.com/holiday-gifts About Chef Jason Morse: Chef Jason has spent a lifetime behind the grills and smokers and is now able to interact with consumers daily to help them cook better with some of the best grilling and smoking tools on the market. As the Ace Hardware National Spokesperson and BBQ Expert, Chef Jason is proud to call Ace his culinary home. Jason is a Certified Executive Chef and member of the American Culinary Federation. Jason has been featured on the Food Network, Local Media for both English and Hispanic segments, was a morning show chef for a Denver Radio station and currently produces the Colorado Department of Agriculture monthly recipes for local Colorado media. Jason has been published in the Colorado Classique Junior League of Denver Cookbook, and various local publications. Jason works with and supports groups like the Ace Foundation, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and The Colorado FFA Foundation. About Ace Hardware: Ace Hardware is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world with more than 5,400 locally owned and operated hardware stores in approximately 70 countries. Headquartered in Oak Brook, IL, Ace and its subsidiaries operate an expansive network of distribution centers in the U.S. and have distribution capabilities in Ningbo, China; Colon, Panama; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Since 1924, Ace has become a part of local communities around the world and known as the place with the helpful hardware folks. For more information, visit acehardware.com or newsroom.acehardware.com. * The Ace survey was conducted by 545 responders from Ace Rewards active members between the ages of 25 – 54 from a sample of 50K members. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 22, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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AMPEX BRANDS NATIONAL DAY OF GIVING FEEDS NEIGHBORS IN NEED

AMPEX BRANDS

Ampex Brands, a local Yum! Brands Inc. and 7-Eleven franchisee and owner/operator of Au Bon Pain, is celebrating its 11 th annual National Day of Giving today by donating more than 23,000 meals in communities surrounding over 350 Ampex KFC and Pizza Hut locations across twelve states. Economically disadvantaged students and families were given free meals by way of school events and homeless shelter outreach. National Day of Giving was created by Ampex Brands CEO Tabbassum Mumtaz, an immigrant raised in poverty who started his career with an entry-level job at a local fast-food restaurant. Today, he owns more than 400 Pizza Huts, KFCs, Taco Bells and Long John Silver’s restaurants. In 2021, he purchased bakery-café chain Au Bon Pain. Mumtaz believes in giving back, stating, “as you grow in your success, don’t raise your standard of living, raise your standard of giving.” The company hosted school-based events near its Richardson-based headquarters, where local restaurants donated over 4,000 meals to students in the Dallas, Richardson and Plano Independent School Districts. In Dallas and Richardson, Mumtaz and other corporate staff handed out free KFC meal boxes and Pizza Hut pizzas at E.B. Comstock Middle School and Forest Lane Academy, where an overwhelming majority of the student population are economically disadvantaged. In Plano, the company delivered meal vouchers to the district’s 500 students who are classified as homeless. Beyond the Dallas area, another 19,000 meals were donated by Ampex’s Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut locations. Staff members identified their community’s most disadvantaged populations, and each location donated 50+ meals to local homeless and Veteran shelters. “We are honored to serve our neighbors through the National Day of Giving,” said Ampex Brands CEO Tabbassum Mumtaz. “Many of our guests have weathered another difficult year. This is one way we lend a hand because even small gestures can add up to make a difference.” ABOUT AMPEX BRANDS Founded in 2005 by Tabbassum Mumtaz, Ampex Brands LLC is a Yum! Brands and 7-Eleven franchisee with almost 600 QSR and fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. The Richardson, Texas-based company employs more than 6,500 team members in 12 states. In 2021, Ampex Brands acquired Au Bon Pain, catapulting the company into the franchisor role and expanding its footprint internationally. Contact Details Center Reach Communications Tracy Henderson +1 720-989-3530 tracy@centerreachcommunication.com

November 18, 2021 08:06 AM Central Standard Time

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Agora Data to Present at Used Car Week 2021

Agora

Agora Data’s SVP of Strategic Relationships Jim Bass and SVP of Sales Chris Barry will speak at Used Car Week 2021 in Las Vegas at Red Rock Casino & Spa, November 15-18. During his breakout session at 1:30 p.m. on November 15, Bass will present “Franchise Dealers Can Add the BHPH Marketplace to Their Sales Mix, Increasing Sales & Profits.” New car dealers can substantially expand their vehicle and parts/service sales by adding a Buy Here Pay Here (BHPH) dealership as an affiliated business of their company. When BHPH is an option, dealers enjoy fewer lost sales, fewer trade-ins going to auction, and – most importantly – greater profits. Bass will give real-life examples and walk through the steps a dealer can take today to set up a complementary BHPH sales organization. “The opportunity to create higher sales and profits is always worth investigating. Based on my one-on-one discussions with dealers, I believe it’s not yet common knowledge how much of a boost they can get by entering the Buy Here Pay Here business,” Bass said. “At Agora, we enjoy daily visibility into the inner workings of Buy Here Pay Here dealerships, with access to hundreds of data points surrounding portfolio performance and profitability. If new-car dealers were aware of the true potential of Buy Here Pay Here, I think they would jump at the chance to become their own bank. I’m excited to discuss this in-depth and lay out simple, actionable steps to integrate the Buy Here Pay Here model with an existing business.” Barry will present a breakout session titled "Groundbreaking Changes in Auto Financing to Fuel Growth" at 3:30 pm on the same day. Barry will share highlights about the industry’s first-ever crowdsourced subprime securitizations, which were completed by Agora in December 2020 and again in May 2021. Transformative solutions are now available for accessing funding that can help dealers lower their cost of debt, grow their sales volumes, and even slash prices for the consumer while achieving high profitability. Barry commented, “It’s an exciting time to be a Buy Here Pay Here dealer. In the past, only large franchise dealers and used-car superstores were privy to competitive financing with attractive rates and terms. But today’s environment is different. With revolutionary capital solutions like reducing interest rate lines of credit and crowdsourced securitizations, Buy Here Pay Here dealers can easily level up and compete.” Bass and Barry look forward to discussing Agora’s innovative capital solutions and free-of-charge, in-depth portfolio analytics with Used Car Week attendees. Company representatives will also be on hand at future industry conferences, to be announced soon, where they will continue to share Agora’s mission of empowering BHPH dealers and small to mid-size finance companies. About Agora Data, Inc: Founded in 2017, Agora Data’s platform delivers a suite of tools to empower Buy Here Pay Here dealers and finance companies to maximize their success. Agora is disrupting and influencing the industry by connecting its dealers and finance company members to Wall Street and other capital resources previously only available to large dealer groups. Agora Data’s family of auto finance products provides a wide range of critical funding paths so originators can obtain the cash they need to fuel growth. Powered by Agora’s proprietary, radical, AI-infused technology platform, originators now have access to robust data analytics and planning resources to help optimize the performance of their portfolio. Agora Data made history by closing the first-ever Crowdsourced Subprime Auto Securitization in 2020 and followed that up with its second transaction in early 2021. For more information, visit agoradata.com or contact us at 877-592-4672. Contact Details Shelly Vandeven +1 682-282-4130 media@agoradata.com Company Website https://agoradata.com/

November 12, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

KFC Extends A Wing at the COP26 Summit

Yum! Brands

The world’s heads of state have gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for the 26th Conference of the Parties (aka COP26) alongside some unlikely leaders, like Colonel Harland Sanders, to discuss climate change. Well, not the actual Colonel, but representatives of his beloved brand met with environmentalists to strategize how to reduce energy usage and reach net-zero carbon emissions. If chicken executives and science-based targets seem like odd bedfellows, consider this: One in five of the world’s 2,000 largest publicly listed companies now have committed to a “net-zero” emissions target to help tackle climate change. For its part, KFC’s parent company, Yum! Brands, has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, with markets like KFC United Kingdom & Ireland (KFC UKI) aiming to get there by 2040 or sooner. “To be honest, if you’re a human on planet Earth, you need to be concerned about the climate emergency, and at KFC, we’re no different,” said KFC UKI Director of Responsibility & Reputation Jenny Packwood. At COP26, KFC UKI held a roundtable to share updates and actions on its approach to achieving a zero-carbon future, inviting its suppliers, partners and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Stephen Finnegan, director and founder of the University of Liverpool’s Zero Carbon Research Institute, hosted the session alongside Packwood and discussed his organization’s two-year partnership with KFC, in which its researchers will examine KFC’s entire estate of nearly 1,000 restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland to identify ways to decrease its emissions, like using different construction materials and identifying renewable power sources like solar and wind. In addition to becoming a net-zero business by 2040, the institute will help KFC become a circular zero waste business in food, packaging and materials by 2035. “So what's involved is an entire review of the supply chain and the restaurants themselves. How are they run? How are they operated? How are they built?” said Finnegan. And it’s not just the Colonel’s flock that the institute will be helping. Once the research is complete, learnings may be shared with Yum!’s other brands, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill. The combined efforts speak to Yum!’s overarching climate action strategy, including approved science-based targets to decrease its greenhouse gas emissions in its more than 52,000 corporate and franchise restaurants and throughout its supply chain approximately 50% by 2030, as well as the aforementioned net-zero pledge by 2050. “As the world’s largest restaurant company, carbon consciousness is a must,” said Jon Hixson, Yum! global chief sustainability officer and vice president of Government Affairs. What does “net-zero carbon emissions” mean? Net-zero doesn’t mean greenhouse gas emissions stop. Instead, think of it like a scale. Producing greenhouse gas emissions tips the scale to one side, and if we want balance, we’re going to have to offset what we’re currently emitting by doing things like planting new forests. The more emissions that are produced, the more carbon dioxide we need to remove from the atmosphere to reach net-zero. The executive points to a long journey of energy reduction efforts, going back to 2006 when Yum! set its first energy conservation goal. Three years later, the company built its first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified green restaurant, with 44 LEED-certified restaurants globally to date. For its part, KFC UKI is piloting restaurant building management systems that automatically shut off equipment that is not needed, reducing energy consumption by 30% and having the potential to save approximately $26,000 per restaurant annually. But, Hixson points out, Yum! and its brands, can’t do it alone. “We can’t underestimate the importance of collaboration,” he said, adding that KFC UKI will continue to find ways to share its learnings, so that the entire QSR industry benefits. “It’s not a competition; net-zero carbon emissions is a global goal for everyone.” That’s the main takeaway from COP26, he says. No one brand, business or government can tackle climate change alone, and KFC UKI, as well as its supply chain partners, are leaving the talks with shared learnings to integrate into their plans and operationalize steps toward their desired net-zero status. “It's going to take a huge amount of collective effort and energy to tackle it, but our goal is to be a net-zero carbon business,” Packwood said. “We have a solid plan in place and are fully committed, alongside Yum!. These are the key ingredients we need for success.” To learn more about Yum!’s Global Citizenship and Sustainability strategy, View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Yum! Brands on 3blmedia.com

November 11, 2021 10:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

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SURVEY FROM FARM FORWARD SHOWS WHOLE FOODS MARKET SHOPPERS ARE BEING MISLED BY GLOBAL ANIMAL PARTNERSHIP “WELFARE” LABEL

Farm Forward

Think you can buy a humanely raised turkey at Whole Foods? Think again. With Thanksgiving menus in mind, consumers looking for the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) label in Whole Foods Market may be misled about the animal welfare standards within the grocers’ marquee certification program. A new survey by Farm Forward shows the vast majority (88%) of respondents were incorrect about or didn’t know whether GAP means that animals are raised on pasture (of the 88%, 58% were wrong, and 30% responded that they didn’t know). Most chickens and turkeys raised under GAP are not required to have outdoor access. “Whole Foods’ GAP label creates more confusion than clarity,” said Ben Goldsmith, chief strategist for Farm Forward. “GAP is the largest third-party animal welfare certification in the US, yet it deceives shoppers into paying more for meat, poultry, and eggs that appear more humane and sustainable, when, in reality, many are still factory farmed.” A Desire for Consistent Outdoor Access Previous survey work has demonstrated at least 79% of Americans expect humane labels to guarantee broad welfare improvements, including outdoor access. Virtually all respondents (91%) in Farm Forward’s new survey were incorrect about or didn’t know whether GAP labels mean that animals are given consistent access to the outdoors (of those 91%, 62% were wrong, and 29% didn’t know). Thirty-nine percent of respondents believed that the GAP certification mark meant that animals were given consistent access to the outdoors. In comparison, 60% of respondents said that this should be the case. Nearly half (45%) of US shoppers expect welfare labels to guarantee that animals are raised continuously on pasture. Unfortunately, only the most stringent labels achieve this standard, and those labels are often difficult to find, let alone distinguish. GAP Allows Genetic Modification American shoppers do not understand that GAP certification allows genetic modification for extremely fast-growing birds, who often suffer heart and lung ailments and struggle to walk by the time they reach slaughter age. Nearly 40% of survey respondents replied incorrectly that the generic GAP certification means that animals were not genetically modified to grow unnaturally quickly, with 55% believing that it should be a requirement. Halo Effect Humanewashing benefits the lowest welfare meat producers at the expense of the highest welfare meat producers. Moreover, this “halo effect” helps not only Whole Foods’ own worst meat producers, but also brands at other retailers that use certifications with even lower standards. This would be like a coal company with LEED-certified headquarters; the halo of the company’s eco-friendly headquarters creates a false sense that all of the company's activities are eco-friendly, which in turn casts the entire coal industry in a more positive light. Humanewashing makes it impossible for consumers to make good, fully-informed choices when it comes to purchasing high welfare animal products, even at trusted retailers like Whole Foods, and impossible for highest-welfare farmers to distinguish their products on store shelves. Be Prepared to Pay Consuming higher welfare turkey will cost you, which may be especially difficult for American shoppers to stomach this year because of higher food prices across the board due to supply chain issues. The average price of a Step 1 turkey from a modified factory farm at Whole Foods Market is $1.49 per pound, and a Step 5 turkey (which actually meets most consumers’ expectations about welfare) could cost five times as much per pound. The National Turkey Federation reports that 88% of Americans – nearly 293 million – say they will be eating Thanksgiving turkey this year. That equates to more than 46 million turkeys being eaten at Thanksgiving and an additional 22 million consumed at Christmas. Test Your Humane IQ To help consumers test their knowledge about animal welfare certifications, Farm Forward has created a short Humane IQ quiz. Survey Methodology All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1219 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3rd - 7th September 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+). ### About Farm Forward Farm Forward works to improve the lives of more than 400 million farmed animals annually. Since 2007, its mission has been to end factory farming by changing farming, changing policy, and changing the stories told about animal agriculture. Contact Details Farm Forward Susan Peters +1 708-759-7175 susan@farmforward.com Company Website https://www.farmforward.com

November 10, 2021 10:51 AM Eastern Standard Time

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