Market Newsdesk

HEINZ Partners With The LEE Initiative to Help Preserve Black-Owned Restaurants’ Cultural Legacy

Partnership will include a grant program and other resources to sustain long-term business health

PITTSBURGH & CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
As a brand that’s been around for over 150 years, HEINZ recognizes the profound influence food can have on culture. America’s Black-owned restaurants are cultural treasures that have been instrumental in shaping the food and flavor we enjoy today. HEINZ is partnering with nonprofit restaurant equality organization The LEE Initiative and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice (SRRJ) in a collective effort to preserve the legacy of Black-owned restaurants through a grant program and other resources to help sustain long-term business health and success. The partnership is about more than just saving restaurants; it’s about preserving Black culture today and into the future.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210412005604/en/

HEINZ launches a new grant program with The LEE Initiative to preserve Black-owned restaurants’ cultural legacy. (Graphic: Business Wire)

“It’s no secret HEINZ has celebrated the role food plays in our communities, especially in diners and restaurants, for as long as we’ve been around. But entrepreneurship is also in our brand DNA and has been one of H.J. Heinz’s core values since day one,” said Molly White, general manager and VP, Taste Elevation, Kraft Heinz. “Black-owned restaurants are critically important to communities across the country and we saw this as an opportunity to help ensure these businesses thrive for years to come. We’re proud to kick off a partnership with The LEE Initiative to help foster a more diverse and equitable restaurant industry as well as preserve the legacy of these restaurants, and we anticipate working closely together as we celebrate, honor and uplift culinary leaders in the Black community.”

The partnership will kick off with the distribution of 60 grants through SRRJ, a coalition of industry leaders doing the work to benefit Black-owned restaurants and communities. The grants are designed to help them prosper through financial support and a range of in-kind resources including:

• Providing financial support of up to $20K per grant

• Broadening restaurants’ reach through owner story spotlights via HEINZ-owned social media channels and paid publishing channel partners to generate awareness and drive traffic to their restaurants

• Leveraging HEINZ employee resources and business expertise to further support the longevity of Black-owned restaurants and entrepreneurship, such as assistance, training and resources in human resources, finance, marketing and more

“Restaurants are in a perilous time and their struggles do not disappear because COVID restrictions are lifted,” said Chef Edward Lee, co-founder and creative director, The LEE Initiative. “Black-owned restaurants, especially traditional, family-owned ones, are especially at risk right now. We are excited to partner with HEINZ—an American classic—to identify and help preserve many of these incredible Black-owned restaurants that are also at the heart of the classic American dinner table.”

Starting today through May 8, restaurant owners can apply here for a grant. Applications will be reviewed by SRRJ founders and a selection committee and will be evaluated on factors including a restaurant’s community involvement and plans for the grant money.

The grants offered through SRRJ are part of a purposeful, multiyear partnership between HEINZ and The LEE Initiative that will grow and evolve over time. This initiative also reflects the commitment Kraft Heinz and its brands, including HEINZ, have to demanding diversity and fully living the Company’s values.

ABOUT THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY

We are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC), inspired by our Purpose, Let’s Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2020 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of six consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we’re dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting www.kraftheinzcompany.com or following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

ABOUT THE LEE INITIATIVE

The LEE (Let’s Empower Employment) Initiative, founded in 2017 by Lindsey Ofcacek and Edward Lee, aims to address issues of equality and diversity in the restaurant industry by implementing programs to directly support people in hospitality. The first initiative was the Women Chefs in Kentucky program which provides mentorship opportunities to female chefs in Kentucky. In response to massive layoffs in the hospitality industry due to the COVID-19 outbreak nationwide The LEE Initiative, in partnership with Maker’s Mark, launched The Restaurant Workers Relief Program. This program started on Tuesday, March 17 out of the catering kitchen of Lee’s restaurant, 610 Magnolia, and has since expanded to include services offered out of 19 kitchens nationwide, and 600,000 meals served thus far. As restaurants start to reopen, The LEE Initiative launched the Restaurant Reboot Relief Program to help fix the supply chain, committing to invest $1 million into sustainable farms. Farms will then give that product to restaurant partners as the restaurants reopen. Following the death of Chef David McAtee, The LEE Initiative launched McAtee Community Kitchen, which serves fresh meals and groceries to families in Louisville’s Shelby Park, Smoketown and West End neighborhoods. For more information, please visit www.leeinitiative.org.

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE

Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice is a coalition of bakers, chefs, makers, and restaurant owners joined together to do the work to benefit Black communities in the South, specifically Black-owned restaurants that are struggling in this dire time. Our aim is to collectively raise and provide financial resources to protect Black businesses in our industry while also amplifying Black leadership, messaging, and progress. As a coalition, we aim to provide opportunities for our members to support our causes without burdening our already overwhelmed industry, truly engaging in the idea that many hands make light work and that, together, we can create a much more significant impact for change. We are committed to this work and aim to keep the momentum of this moment alive in our efforts for many years to come.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210412005604/en/

Lynne Galia

Kraft Heinz

[email protected]

Jenny Ermer

ICF Next

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: United States North America Illinois Pennsylvania

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Philanthropy Retail Other Consumer Consumer Restaurant/Bar Foundation Food/Beverage

MEDIA:

Logo

Photo

HEINZ launches a new grant program with The LEE Initiative to preserve Black-owned restaurants’ cultural legacy. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Robotic Assistance Devices Welcomes Christopher Almonrode, CPP, as Vice PresidentSecurity & Industry

HENDERSON, Nev.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions, Inc., (OTCPK:AITX), today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) is pleased to announce the hiring of Christopher Almonrode, CPP, as Vice President Security & Industry. Almonrode will be participating in the organization’s long-term business plans and the implementation of RAD’s business development strategy throughout the security industry and related channels.

“Chris’s visionary leadership will be an asset in RAD’s continued growth and development of new clients and new sales initiatives,” said Steve Reinharz, President and CEO of RAD. “The addition of Chris to RAD’s executive team gives us added muscle, smarts and enthusiasm as we secure our place as the market leader in the Autonomous Response Services industry.”

Almonrode is an ASIS board Certified Protection Professional, current Global Security Leader and former law enforcement manager with consistent success in delivering complex initiatives. Prior to joining RAD, Almonrode was a consultant with CBRE Global Workplace Solutions, supporting dozens of Fortune 500 companies and their security solutions. Prior to CBRE, he spent several years with G4S (now Allied Universal), managing a team of over 900 helping clients improve security and control costs. From 2000 to 2010, Almonrode was held the position of Professional Standards Sergeant with the Roanoke Texas Police Department. Almonrode is also a member of the ASIS International Security Services Community which serves as the leading resource for education, outreach, and best practices for all services—security officers, alarm monitoring, investigations, security design and implementation, and other contracted services in support of a security program.

“We are honored to have Chris join us,” said Mark Folmer, COO of RAD. “We are expecting great contributions from Chris to our executive team’s efforts, and for supporting RAD’s massive growth agenda.”

“I want to thank Steve and the entire team at RAD for giving me the opportunity to be part of their explosive growth, said Almonrode. “When I look at my career in law enforcement and the security industry, coupled with the amazing things RAD is doing, this is my chance help shape how all security services will evolve over the next few years.”

Mr. Almonrode is expected to start with RAD Monday, April 12, 2021 and will be based out of North Richland Hills, Texas.

Robotic Assistance Devices (RAD) is a high-tech start-up that delivers robotics and artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex security challenges, and fuel new business ideas at reduced costs. RAD developed its advanced security robot technology from the ground up including circuit board design, and base code development. This allows RAD to have complete control over all of design elements, performance, quality and the user’s experience of all security robots whether SCOT™, ROSA™, Wally™, Wally HSO™, AVA™, or ROAMEO™. Read about how RAD is reinventing the security services industry by downloading the Autonomous Remote Services Industry Manifesto.

CAUTIONARY DISCLOSURE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements in this news release other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” that are based on current expectations and assumptions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements, including, but not limited to, the following: the ability of Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions to provide for its obligations, to provide working capital needs from operating revenues, to obtain additional financing needed for any future acquisitions, to meet competitive challenges and technological changes, to meet business and financial goals including projections and forecasts, and other risks. Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statement(s) and/or to confirm the statement(s) to actual results or changes in Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions expectations.

About Artificial Intelligence Technology Solutions (AITX)

AITX is an innovator in the delivery of artificial intelligence-based solutions that empower organizations to gain new insight, solve complex challenges and fuel new business ideas. Through its next-generation robotic product offerings, AITX’s RAD and RAD-M companies help organizations streamline operations, increase ROI and strengthen business. AITX technology improves the simplicity and economics of patrolling and guard services, and allows experienced personnel to focus on more strategic tasks. Customers augment the capabilities of existing staffs and gain higher levels of situational awareness, all at drastically reduced cost. AITX solutions are well suited for use in multiple industries such as enterprises, government, transportation, critical infrastructure, education and healthcare. To learn more, visit www.aitx.ai and www.roboticassistancedevices.com, or follow Steve Reinharz on Twitter @SteveReinharz.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210412005602/en/

Investor Relations Contact

The Waypoint Refinery, LLC

845-397-2956

www.thewaypointrefinery.com

Steve Reinharz

949-636-7060

KEYWORDS: United States North America Nevada

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Security Technology Other Technology Software Networks Hardware

MEDIA:

Logo

E Ink and IntelliCentrics Work Together to Create an Eco-Friendly Smart Badge with ePaper Display as a Medical Credentialing Solution

BILLERICA, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
E Ink Holdings, “E Ink” (8069.TW), the leading innovator of electronic ink technology, today announced its partnership with IntelliCentrics, the innovator of the SEC³URE Ethos, SEC³URE Passport, Link & GO!, BioBytes™ and BioBytes™ Visitor, serving healthcare facilities across North America, the United Kingdom, and China, in developing a smart badge with an ePaper display as a medical credentialing solution. By integrating IntelliCentrics’ technology platform and E Ink’s ePaper display technology, healthcare facilities will have the full-service credentialing system they need to ensure the safety of visitors, patients, and the entire community.

Through its technology platform, IntelliCentrics has also created a credential management system that can be customized by healthcare facilities. Users can register information through an app on their smartphones, and the relevant information can be transferred to the smart badge. The information shown on the smart badge, including health information and the expected length of visit to the hospital, allows the healthcare staff to clearly identify visitors and their health status, and to keep staff, patients and visitors as safe as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world have implemented TOCC (travel history, occupation, contact history, cluster), a method to track the movement of people in order to ensure the health and safety of the larger community. The smart badge can clearly display COVID-19 vaccine status, or highlight the TOCC risk assessments, which can assist healthcare facilities to improve efficiency in visitor control and reduce potential exposure. This solution has already been introduced and adopted by many hospitals in North America and Europe.

The smart badge can be reused after disinfection and will replace the traditional paper badge to reduce the consumption of single-use paper, and to provide real-time badge updates as needed. Due to E Ink’s unique, bi-stable technology, the smart badge will only require a small amount of power to update visitor information, and can then display information indefinitely until reuse, providing a smart and eco-friendly display interface. The integration of the smart badge and the technology platform can help effectively implement visitor management, ensure the environmental safety of corporations and institutions, and follow COVID-19 prevention guidelines.

At present, IntelliCentrics are serving more than 11,000 healthcare facilities in Europe and the United States with its credentialing solution combined with a 3.7-inch black and white ePaper smart badge. IntelliCentrics will also launch the first BioBytes visitor management system in E Ink headquarters in Taiwan and will conduct the first trials using E Ink’s new 4.01” color E Ink Gallery Palette™ display.

“E Ink is excited to work with IntelliCentrics on this smart badge,” said Johnson Lee, CEO of E Ink. “The health and safety of people during COVID-19 is of utmost priority, and we are proud to be part of a solution that provides real-time information needed to keep people safe in healthcare and hospital environments.”

About E Ink Holdings

E Ink Holdings Inc. (8069.TWO), based on technology from MIT’s Media Lab, has transformed and defined the eReader market, enabling a new multi-billion dollar market in less than 10 years. E Ink’s low power products are ideal for IoT applications ranging from retail, home, hospital, transportation and more, enabling customers to put displays in locations previously impossible. The Company’s corporate philosophy aims to deliver revolutionary products, user experiences and environmental benefits through advanced technology development. This vision has led to its continuous investments in the field of ePaper displays as well as expanding the use of its technologies into a number of other markets and applications including smart packaging and fashion. Its Electrophoretic Display products make it the worldwide leader for ePaper. Its Fringe Field Switching (FFS) technologies are a standard for high-end LCD displays and have been licensed to all major liquid crystal display makers in the world. Listed in Taiwan’s Taipei Exchange (TPEx) and the Luxembourg market, E Ink Holdings is now the world’s largest supplier of ePaper displays. For more information please visit www.eink.com.

About IntelliCentrics

With a mission to use trust to make high-quality healthcare as accessible as a good cup of coffee, IntelliCentrics created the SEC³URE Ethos. Built on three core principles – transparency, neutrality, and independence, over 11,000 locations of care worldwide rely on the SEC³URE Ethos to ensure mutual trust between patients, doctors, vendor representatives, and healthcare companies. To learn more about the world’s largest trusted healthcare technology platform, visit www.intellicentrics.com. To learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine credential, visit our COVID-19 Solution Center. IntelliCentrics is publicly traded on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code 6819.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210412005599/en/

Media

E Ink:

Anna Halstead

Racepoint Global

617-624-3492

[email protected]

KEYWORDS: Massachusetts United States North America

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Software Networks Environment Hardware General Health Health Technology Security

MEDIA:

Logo

Nuance Merger Investigation: Halper Sadeh LLP Announces Investigation Into Whether the Sale of Nuance Communications, Inc. Is Fair to Shareholders; Investors Are Encouraged to Contact the Firm – NUAN

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
Halper Sadeh LLP, a global investor rights law firm, is investigating whether the sale of Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) to Microsoft Corporation for $56.00 per share is fair to Nuance shareholders.

Halper Sadeh encourages Nuance shareholders to click here to learn more about their legal rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or [email protected] or [email protected].

The investigation concerns whether Nuance and its board of directors violated the federal securities laws and/or breached their fiduciary duties to shareholders by failing to, among other things: (1) obtain the best possible consideration for Nuance shareholders; (2) determine whether Microsoft is underpaying for Nuance; and (3) disclose all material information necessary for Nuance shareholders to adequately assess and value the merger consideration. On behalf of Nuance shareholders, Halper Sadeh LLP may seek increased consideration for shareholders, additional disclosures and information concerning the proposed transaction, or other relief and benefits.

Halper Sadeh encourages Nuance shareholders to click here to learn more about their legal rights and options or contact Daniel Sadeh or Zachary Halper at (212) 763-0060 or [email protected] or [email protected].

Halper Sadeh LLP represents investors all over the world who have fallen victim to securities fraud and corporate misconduct. Our attorneys have been instrumental in implementing corporate reforms and recovering millions of dollars on behalf of defrauded investors.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210412005598/en/

Halper Sadeh LLP

Daniel Sadeh, Esq.

Zachary Halper, Esq.

(212) 763-0060

[email protected]

[email protected]

https://www.halpersadeh.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America New York

INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: Legal Professional Services

MEDIA:

Logo