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Graton Resort & Casino Names Industry Veteran William Becker Vice President of Food and Beverage

Graton Resort & Casino

Graton Resort & Casino has named William Becker as vice president of food and beverage. Becker will oversee all food, beverage and restaurant facilities at the 65-acre resort. “William will spearhead culinary innovations at Graton and we’re excited to implement his strategy and expansion ideas in our restaurants and lounges,” said Lana Rivera, vice president and general manager at Graton Resort & Casino. “Graton Resort & Casino is a premier Sonoma County destination, and our guests enjoy the wine country experience they expect when they walk through our doors. William’s 20-plus years of experience helps us to continually exceed guest and team members’ expectations in food and beverage.” “Graton Resort & Casino is truly a place where creativity in food and beverage can bloom and the team here is amazing,” said Becker. “I look forward to leading a new era of excellence for a destination that is already highly acclaimed for its dining, resort, gaming and amenities.” Guests at Graton Resort & Casino have a complete range of dining options to satisfy every appetite, in addition to multiple lounges: 630 Park Steakhouse - fine-dining steak and seafood, with an extensive wine list Tony’s of North Beach and Tony’s Slice House - Italian fare with pastas, pizzas, antipasti, and salads all prepared from Tony’s famous recipes. Tony’s was recently awarded “Best Pizzeria in America” by Forbes. Daily Grill - classic, fresh American fare Boathouse Asian Eatery - fresh Asian cuisine Marketplace - fast-casual dining Lounges and bars: Sky Lounge, G Bar, Lobby Bar, Pool Bar, 8 Bar and 630 Park Bar (located in the 630 Park Steakhouse) “We are so pleased to have William Becker join our wonderful team,” said Greg Sarris, tribal chairman for Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. “We have done an excellent job thus far earning us a Four Diamond rating and William Becker is the man who can take us even higher to the next level of excellent service.” For more information on Graton Resort & Casino or to book a stay, visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. ### MEDIA, PLEASE NOTE: To request further information and interviews or for additional images, please contact Robin Carr at graton@landispr.com or (415) 971-3991. About Graton Resort & Casino Located in Sonoma County, Graton Resort & Casino has a commanding presence among the rolling hills of Northern California's wine country. Owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Graton Resort & Casino features table games, the latest slot machines, upscale and casual dining, plus entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. For more information, please visit www.gratonresortcasino.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 graton@landispr.com Company Website https://www.gratonresortcasino.com/

October 12, 2021 04:36 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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It’s Flu and Cold Season: How Over-the-Counter Remedies Can Help Relieve Cough and Chest Congestion

YourUpdateTV

As influenza activity begins to increase in October, now is the time to know how to navigate this cold and flu season. Recently, New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Ian Smith teamed with Mucinex and YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss how to relieve cold, cough, and chest congestion symptoms. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/vfd-KUPmT3U While seasonal influenza viruses are detected year-round, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter – kicking off in October. So, as we enter another unprecedented cold & flu season, we can still expect to see an increase in cold and flu cases between now and February. That said, according to Dr. Ian Smith, we should still continue to take key preventative measures to avoid catching any of these viruses. This includes wearing a mask in crowded public places, washing your hands often and covering your nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow when you cough and sneeze to prevent the spread of germs. While there is no cure for the common cold or flu, there are over-the-counter medications that can help when you start to feel those classic cold and flu symptoms coming on. For instance, Mucinex has a line of 12-hour products that provide relief. Mucinex DM not only thins and loosens mucus, but also controls cough, providing relief for both wet and dry coughs, lasting up to 12 hours. And Mucinex 12 HR Extended Release Tablets help thin and loosen mucus to relieve chest congestion, and also provide relief for 12 hours. People must use over-the-counter products as directed. If your cold and flu symptoms persist, you should contact your healthcare professional and get checked out if deemed necessary. Dr. Smith also shared self-care recommendations such as exercising regularly and eating healthy. Activities like walking, strength training and yoga are good for the mind and the body. A diet full of nutritious meals packed with fruits and veggies and lean proteins like chicken or fish is also very important for a strong immune system. For more information on how to take care of yourself this cold and flu season, visit Mucinex.com for more information. About Dr. Dr Ian Smith: Dr. Ian Smith is the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling books, SHRED: THE REVOLUTIONARY DIET, and SUPER SHRED: The Big Results Diet, and BLAST THE SUGAR OUT. Dr. Smith’s highly anticipated newest book, The Clean 20, became an instant New York Times best seller, helping hundreds of thousands of people reduce bad sugars from their diet, lose weight, lower blood sugar levels, and cut the cravings. Dr. Smith was appointed by President Obama to a second term on the prestigious President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. He is currently the medical contributor and co-host of the nationally syndicated television show The Rachael Ray Show. He is a former co-host of the Emmy award winning syndicated daytime talk show, The Doctors. He also served as the medical/diet expert for six seasons on VH1’s highly-rated Celebrity Fit Club, and is the creator and founder of the national health initiatives The 50 Million Pound Challenge and The Makeover Mile. Dr. Smith is the former medical correspondent for NBC News network and for NewsChannel 4 in New York, where he filed reports for NBC Nightly News and The Today Show as well as WNBC’s various news broadcasts. He has appeared extensively on various broadcasts including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey Show, The Talk, Larry King Live, Anderson Cooper 360, CNN, MSNBC and many more. He has written for various publications including Time, Newsweek, Men’s Fitness, and the New York Daily News, and has been featured in several other publications including, People, Redbook, Details Magazine, Essence, Ebony, University of Chicago Medicine on the Midway, Cosmopolitan, and Black Enterprise. 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

October 12, 2021 11:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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WATCHDOG GROUP URGES STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DIVEST FROM UNILEVER

National Legal & Policy Center

The National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), an ethics watchdog group, released a letter today that it sent to North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell. The letter requests that the Tar Heel State join others in “the immediate divestiture of Unilever holdings in all public pension funds managed and controlled by the State of North Carolina….” An earlier letter was sent by NLPC to New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, and the Falls Church, Va.-based nonprofit also filed a complaint was filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Arizona and New Jersey have already announced intentions to withdraw investments from their states’ holdings, due to Unilever subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s plans to discontinue selling its products in Israel’s so-called “occupied territories.” More than 30 states, including North Carolina, have laws that prohibit state investments in companies that engage in boycotts against the nation of Israel. “So far Unilever has refused to do anything about the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic actions of its wholly-owned subsidiary Ben and Jerry’s,” said Peter Flaherty, NLPC Chairman. “Until Unilever changes its policy, it must pay a price.” The letter, signed by NLPC’s Corporate Integrity Project Director Paul Chesser, explains how Anuradha Mittal – the Chair of Ben & Jerry’s Board of Directors – was the architect of the ice cream company’s policy to end sales in Israel’s “occupied territories.” “Mittal proposed a boycott of all of Israel. Her Twitter account has many anti-Israel tweets and as Chair of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation may have steered funds in a self-dealing scheme,” stated Chesser. “We urge North Carolina to join other states in divesting from Unilever.” A complete copy of the letter is below: Dear Treasurer Folwell: We write to respectfully request that you affect the immediate divestiture of Unilever holdings in all public pension funds managed and controlled by the State of North Carolina, under your authority. In July New York’s Office of the State Comptroller warned Unilever that its Ben & Jerry’s subsidiary, by its decision to stop selling ice cream in Israel’s “occupied territories,” jeopardized its Common Fund’s ability and willingness to invest in Unilever. Since that time, the states of Arizona and New Jersey have announced their intention to divest themselves of Unilever stocks and bonds. Under its current law, Florida is reportedly discontinuing further investments in Unilever. Illinois is considering the same, and other states are reportedly reviewing their investment holdings in Unilever under their existing anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) laws. More urgently, Unilever’s position that it is opposed to anti-Semitism is belied by the actions and associations of Anuradha Mittal, the Chair of Ben & Jerry’s Board of Directors. The Ben & Jerry’s Board is not an actual governing board, but holds special control under its agreement with Unilever that is “empowered to protect and defend Ben & Jerry's brand equity and integrity.” Mittal is the architect of the ice cream company’s policy to end sales in Israel’s “occupied territories.” Reportedly, Mittal also proposed a boycott of all of Israel. Her Twitter account has many anti-Israel tweets, and contains specific endorsements of the BDS movement. Mittal is also a trustee of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation – listed as vice president of the four-member board as recently as 2019 – which reportedly has made $170,000 in grants to a nonprofit called the Oakland Institute, of which Mittal is the paid executive director. In August, the National Legal and Policy Center filed a Complaint with the Internal Revenue Service, alleging that this arrangement may violate the Internal Revenue Code’s prohibition on self-dealing. In 2017, the Oakland Institute reportedly made a sub-grant to the so-called Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights. Last year, the European Union ended its funding of this Center after it refused to agree to an “anti-terror” clause in its funding contract. If Unilever were truly opposed to anti-Semitism – as well as the appearance of unethical self-dealing between Ben & Jerry’s corporate, its foundation, and organizations it supports – then it would have already severed its relationship with Mittal. Moreover, Unilever’s anti-Israel bias is underscored by the fact that it has announced no intention to end ice cream sales in China, where it is a leading foreign brand. National Legal and Policy Center promotes ethics in public life, and sponsors the Corporate Integrity Project. We are heartened to see state officials of both political parties in different states defending Israel and taking a strong stand against anti-Semitism. Unilever was given the opportunity to do the right thing, but instead the company doubled down on defending the indefensible. It is time for investors to do the right thing and divest from Unilever. If I can be of further assistance or answer any questions, please feel free to contact me at pchesser@nlpc.org. Sincerely, Paul Chesser Director, Corporate Integrity Project ### Please visit http://www.nlpc.org Contact Details National Legal and Policy Center Paul Chesser +1 703-237-1970 pchesser@nlpc.org Company Website http://www.nlpc.org

October 12, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Bask in Moonlight in Belmont, N.C.

Belmont Tourism Development Authority

On average, the moon sits a whopping 226,000 miles away from Earth. But this autumn, the moon comes closer than ever before as Moonlight on Main shines in Belmont, N.C. For three consecutive weekends this October and November, Moonlight on Main will bring a warm glow to chilly nights in historic downtown Belmont. Museum of the Moon is an international touring exhibition from U.K. artist Luke Jerram featuring a seven-meter detailed NASA image of the lunar surface. Traveling across global public spaces, this astounding artwork will take center stage at the Stowe Park amphitheater Thursdays to Sundays from Oct. 22 to Nov. 7. “We hope the exhibit will be an educational experience of a lifetime and inspire the next generation of scientists, artists, poets, writers, and musicians from Gaston County,” said Phil Boggan, downtown director for the City of Belmont. “The evenings and weekends will evoke passion and exploration as the ethereal blue light cast by the full moon serves as the perfect environment for art exhibitions, theater performances, and a variety of musical concerts.” In addition to the glowing and gleaming moon itself, lunar-inspired events unfold throughout the three-weekend presentation. A free Opening Night Art Exhibit and Downtown Art Tour will take place on Oct. 21, 7-9 p.m., ushering in Moonlight on Main with original art pieces and a guided outdoor walking tour. Other festivities include kid-friendly Boo Fest on Oct. 23, a Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 30, Howl at the Moon for furry friends on Oct. 31 and a Moon Educational Program on Nov. 7, presented by The Schiele Museum of Natural History. Live music also will infuse life into the lunar occasion; from the Charlotte Jazz Band to Noel Freidline and Maria Howell, Villains Cabaret and the Pink Floyd Experience, tunes of various genres will accompany and fill the moonlit Belmont sky. For the full three weeks of the exhibition, downtown Belmont will radiate as an outdoor art gallery with projected art and lights around Main Street. Additionally, nine outdoor mural installations representing the moon’s role in the Underground Railroad will be displayed daily in Stowe Park with guided tours available on Oct. 22. Added Ted Hall, chairman of the Belmont Tourism Development Authority, “Moonlight on Main is a family friendly opportunity for visitors across the Charlotte region and well beyond to be awed by the moon and by Belmont, N.C. It’s a perfect time to discover Belmont’s mouthwatering restaurants, local businesses, renowned destinations and, above all else, its small town charm.” Moonlight on Main is presented by the Downtown Belmont Development Association and free to attend. Ticket prices for select events vary. Additional details about Moonlight on Main, artist Luke Jerram and the numerous events throughout the downtown exhibit are available at MoonlightOnMain.com. About Belmont, N.C. Belmont, N.C., is located in Gaston County, 15 minutes west of Uptown Charlotte. Whether you’re visiting us for the first time for a vacation getaway or returning for a daytime adventure, you’re sure to enjoy a truly unique experience in Belmont. Once a place where textile industries served as the lifeblood of the community, the city now stands as a successful example of commerce and redevelopment, while maintaining charm and hospitality. With picturesque nuances brushed throughout the town, Belmont offers a scenic view of historical homes, vintage streetlamps, red brick sidewalks and memories of a simpler time. It’s a community that embraces entertainment, the arts, unique local retail, destination restaurants and a variety of special events. For more information, visit us online at www.visitbelmontnc.org. About Museum of the Moon Museum of the Moon is an international touring artwork by U.K. artist Luke Jerram. The exhibit is co-commissioned by a number of creative organizations brought together by Jerram and the Norfolk & Norwich Festival. These organizations include Greenwich+Docklands International Festival, Brighton Festival, Without Walls, Cork Midsummer Festival, We The Curious, Lakes Alive, Provincial Domain Dommelhof, Les Tombées de la Nuit, Rennes and Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The artwork has been created in partnership with the U.K. Space Agency, University of Bristol and The Association for Science and Discovery Centres. Contact Details Lyerly Agency Melinda Skutnick +1 704-525-3937 mskutnick@lyerly.com

October 12, 2021 08:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Vine Line Joins FreshEdge

Rotunda Capital Partners LLC

FreshEdge, a family of produce and specialty food companies backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, acquired Vine Line, a fresh produce distributor located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Vine Line operates out of a 67,147 square-foot state-of-the-art facility built in 2013. The addition expands FreshEdge’s footprint further into Michigan and provides space and logistical support to better serve its growing customer base. Vine Line joins a growing family that includes Piazza Produce & Specialty Foods, Indianapolis Fruit, Get Fresh, McCartney Produce, Leonardo’s Produce, Valley Produce, Garden Cut, CIBUS Fresh and Papania’s. FreshEdge now operates with 1,485 employees, approximately 670,000 square feet of warehouse space, and a fleet of more than 650 trucks. “We are excited for Vine Line to join our family of ‘Best in Class’ fresh food distribution companies that are supported by our group of vertically integrated value-added operations,” said Steve Grinstead, CEO of FreshEdge. Terms of the deal, which closed on October 7, 2021, were not disclosed. The transaction strengthens the combined business’s presence in western Michigan and enables continued expansion into Michigan. “We welcome the Vine Line team and are excited to have them join FreshEdge,” said Greg Corsaro, president and COO of FreshEdge. Liza Alvarez will lead Vine Line as president, and the company’s operations will carry on from its current facility in Comstock Park, Michigan. FreshEdge is backed by Rotunda Capital Partners, a lower middle market private equity firm focused on investments in founder and family held companies. Rotunda seeks to provide opportunities for management teams to reach strategic, financial, and operational objectives. Rotunda entered the food business in 2017 with the acquisition of Indianapolis Fruit and Piazza Produce. FreshEdge was created in 2019 when Get Fresh joined the platform. Vine Line represents FreshEdge’s sixth acquisition since Rotunda’s initial investment. Together, Rotunda and FreshEdge intend to continue expanding FreshEdge by welcoming more companies into the group—all focused on high quality produce and specialty food products, along with exceptional service—to create a unique team of complementary entities. About FreshEdge FreshEdge was formed in 2019 through the combination of Get Fresh Produce (founded 1982) and the IF&P Foods family of companies, primarily composed of Indianapolis Fruit (founded 1947) and Piazza Produce (founded 1970). Collectively, the three leading fresh food distribution companies have nearly 150 years of combined experience serving the grocery and food service industries. In addition, FreshEdge includes two Garden Cut branded fresh-cut processing facilities, a tomato re-packer, a USDA fresh kitchen (CIBUS Fresh), and two transportation companies. FreshEdge’s fleet resource includes more than 650 trucks servicing the Midwest and beyond from eleven facilities totaling approximately 667,000 square feet of warehouse space. Today, FreshEdge is one of the largest independent fresh food distributors in the United States and a category leader in providing both the foodservice and retail industries with fruit, vegetables, proteins, fresh grab-n-go offerings, dairy, floral, and specialty products. About Rotunda Capital Partners Rotunda Capital Partners is a private equity firm that invests equity capital in established, lower middle market companies. Rotunda partners with management to build data-driven growth platforms within its targeted sectors, including value-added distribution, asset light logistics and industrial/business services. Founded in 2009, the firm has a long history of helping management teams achieve their goals for growth. The Rotunda team actively provides guidance and draws on deep industry and financial relationships to contribute to the successful execution of Rotunda’s companies’ strategic plans. The firm has offices in Bethesda, MD and Evanston, IL. For more information, visit www.rotundacapital.com. Contact Details FreshEdge Greg Corsaro +1 317-981-3440 gcorsaro@freshedgefoods.com Rotunda Capital Partners Jill Lafferty +1 847-280-1295 jill@rotundacapital.com Company Website https://www.rotundacapital.com

October 12, 2021 07:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Ali “SypherPK” Hassan Announced as 2021 Gaming Influencer of the Year for the USA and Canada

SypherPK

Earning the coveted title of Gaming Influencer of the Year in the 2021 Influence Awards, Ali “SypherPK” Hassan is raising the bar for excellence in the world of new media. As one of the most revered Fortnite creators, SypherPK has grown from a creator to a leading entrepreneur, with a thriving, multi-faceted brand. This year, he launched two distinct companies, Oni Studios and Metal Umbrella. Oni Studios was designed to support new media creators by giving them access to the business and content building tools they need in order to elevate their offering. Essentially, Oni Studios offers the type of creative, strategic, and technical support that SypherPK has had and realized more creators need access to. Metal Umbrella is an anime inspired apparel line which was designed as a lifestyle brand, featuring gender bending wardrobe staples in sizes ranging from XS – 3XL including tees, hoodies, joggers, hats, and bandanas. The first collection called, “To Young to Worry”, will see its second merchandise drop happen this November. "It's a grind. We set the bar high and always try to outdo ourselves. Knowing that people recognize the caliber of our work means a lot." – SypherPK, Creator and Entrepreneur "The importance of having a support team when it comes to creating content at a large scale really can't be emphasized enough. Our goal at Oni Studios is to ensure creators have the resources to make their visions become a reality. We're so proud of SypherPK for receiving this recognition. “– Daniela Ali, Co-Founder and CEO, Oni Studios About SypherPK: SypherPK, aka Ali Hassan, is a professional gamer, streamer, YouTuber and online personality based in Austin, Texas. Recognized for his cross-market and wide-reaching audience appeal, he is one of the most popular faces in the gaming industry. SypherPK is most notably known for his educational gameplay on Fortnite, focused on teaching tips and tricks. He is revered for his insightful take on game-winning strategies. The SypherPK YouTube Channel was launched in 2011, and features pro-level Fortnite gameplay videos. He is also the founder of Metal Umbrella, an anime and gaming inspired apparel line. Additionally, SypherPK launched Oni Studios this year, as a visionary resource designed to empower creators in the gaming space, transforming their brands into empires. Contact Details Sterling Public Relations Paula Steurer +1 949-200-6566 concierge@sterlingpublicrelationsoc.com Company Website https://onistudios.gg/

October 11, 2021 11:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time

iTradeNetwork Launches OrderNStock Inventory, Adding Complete Portability and One-Cart Shopping to Perishables Online Inventorying and Ordering

iTradeNetwork

Institutional food operators often use traditional processes to procure products and take inventories. These processes include using tools such as pencils, paper, clipboards and scurrying to a desktop computer to enter data. These operators may have to do these tasks multiple times when they have food stored in different locations and make purchases across different supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry. iTradeNetwork today launched a reimagined mobile platform, OrderNStock Inventory, for ordering and inventory management that can be used offline and in low light conditions. It also allows orders to be placed across many different suppliers using one shopping cart. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play. “Doing more with less, faster and more efficiently matters more than ever in the supply chain. What iTradeNetwork has done with our new mobile procurement platform OrderNStock Inventory is make it easier for our customers to get immediate value with a customized, branded ordering experience,” stated Nathan Romney, chief product officer. “Winning in today’s market requires a fundamental transformation of how we work, and we’ve added features like voice and text search, inventory management with simple barcode scanning and offline synchronization to automate and simplify as much of the ordering and inventory process as possible.” How It Works iTradeNetwork’s OrderNStock Inventory mobile app includes the following new features: Ordering: use order guides to browse all supplier catalogs Product Search: use text, voice and barcode scanning to quickly find specific items Order History: easily access previous orders Shopping Lists: quickly reorder menu plans or individual items from saved templates Real-Time Inventory: connect directly to distributors inventory to validate orders Stock Taking: take inventory while offline Smart Barcode Scanning: quickly search items from your inventory for reordering ABOUT ITRADENETWORK iTradeNetwork, Inc. (ITN) is the leading global provider of supply chain management solutions for the food and beverage industry. Built upon deep industry expertise, a rich data foundation and the industries’ most extensive trading partner network, iTradeNetwork’s collaborative solutions allow distributors, manufacturers, operators, retailers, suppliers and wholesalers of all sizes to reduce cost, grow revenue and strengthen trading partner relationships. Today, iTradeNetwork’s growing customer list includes more than 8,000 companies globally. For more information, visit: www.itradenetwork.com. Media please note: Visual assets, including photos, are available. To interview ITN’s CEO Rhonda Bassett-Spiers or for other interview requests, please contact Robin Carr at (415) 971-3991 or itn@landispr.com. ### Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Robin Carr +1 415-971-3991 ITN@landispr.com Company Website https://www.itradenetwork.com/

October 11, 2021 10:43 AM Pacific Daylight Time

Harrods enters the limited-edition sneaker market welcoming The Edit LDN

Stockwood Strategy

The UK’s leading online store for limited edition sneakers and high-end streetwear The Edit LDN, today announced the opening of its first ever UK boutique store in Harrods, one of London’s most famous department stores. Harrods visitors will be able to see, experience and buy the latest limited-edition sneakers from The Edit LDN. Already popular with royalty, celebrities and footballers, The Edit LDN is a leading online destination that sells the hottest and hardest to get sneakers and streetwear from brands including Yeezy, Jordan, Off-White and collaborations through to Supreme, among others to a wide community of fashionistas, collectors and investors. Just as premium sites like Farfetch address the fashion world, The Edit LDN showcases the latest sneakers and high-end streetwear. They connect premium resellers with a highly engaged, price agnostic and eager audience. Moses Rashid, Founder and CEO of The Edit LDN commented: “We want to expand and increase accessibility for people who want to own limited edition sneakers around the world. Being the first sneaker reseller in Harrods is a proud and milestone moment for the company and its great to see such a global mega brand engaging with the sneaker market, moreover, that we're the catalyst to make that happen. Harrods offers an amazing customer journey to their global customer base and this aligns completely with our approach, to offer the best in class service. In 18 months, we have expanded our community of buyers from avid sneaker fans to TV and film celebrities as well as professional footballers and royal families around the world. Opening in Harrods is a logical next step as we bring our unique proposition to their customer base”. The Edit LDN has established itself as a trusted source of authenticated and high quality new and pre-loved streetwear and sneakers. Their unabating focus on speed (to deliver purchased goods), customer service engagement and ensuring all goods are authenticated has been testament to the growth of the platform and community. Simon Longland, Head of Menswear at Harrods commented: “Over the past three years, menswear at Harrods has undertaken a huge transformation, that has been visible through our brand curation as well as the physical shop floor. Our goal has been to transform the menswear experience at Harrods and embrace the most important and desirable trends on the market, and the launch of The Edit LDN continues that strategy. Bringing The Edit LDN’s industry expertise to Harrods ensures that our customers have access to the latest and most exclusive styles on the market through a service level which is unmistakably Harrods.” Helen David, Chief Merchant at Kurt Geiger added: “We’ve been at the forefront of embracing the latest trends serving a wide and diverse range of customers. What used to be considered sportswear is now considered luxury, and the shoes that are the most wanted and the hottest tickets are now sneakers. Without this as part of our matrix at Harrods, we wouldn’t have a proper 360 luxury offer. Hosting The Edit LDN at Harrods is testament to our commitment of meeting our customer needs with the market-leader in the premium sneaker business. Our shared objective with The Edit LDN is to ensure that Harrods’ customers have access to the latest and best on the market to meet their lifestyle needs.” Looking ahead, Moses said: “This is a marketplace worth $6b a year globally and will grow 5x by 2030. The demand for sneakers is growing every day and we are at the heart of servicing this trend. It’s been a remarkable 18 months since we launched to now opening in Harrods, the world’s most iconic department store. We are in hyper growth and headed in the right trajectory as we scale the business globally. Our on-going funding round will enable us to move faster and achieve our goals“. About The Edit LDN Founded in 2020, The Edit LDN has quickly become the UK’s leading online consignment store for limited edition sneakers and high end streetwear, both new and pre-loved items. Their innovative platform connects premium resellers to a global audience offering a deluxe experience from discovery, packaging and delivery. Brands include Jordan, Yeezy, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Off-White, Supreme, Fear of God among others. The platform is fast becoming synonymous with speed of service, authenticity, diverse selection of secure payment methods, and first class customer service. The Edit LDN is the leading destination for resellers and their premium sneakers and streetwear. Through partnerships with styling services such as Thread.com and various concierge companies, The Edit LDN has a community of buyers celebrities to professional footballers and royal families around the world. Further information visit: www.theeditldn.com. You are welcome to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram About Harrods Harrods began as a wholesale grocer and tea merchant in east London, first opening its doors in 1834. Since then, it has grown to become the world’s most famous department store, known for its unrivalled range of luxury merchandise. As well as exclusive brands and myriad departments, one of Harrods’ most renowned attributes is its unparalleled service. Harrods continues to be guided by its philosophy of “anything is possible” and, to this day, our customers remain at the heart of everything we do. Harrods.com About Kurt Geiger Kurt Geiger is a premium footwear brand operating across the UK. It first opened its doors on Bond Street in 1963. Kurt Geiger's own brands for women, men and children include Kurt Geiger London, KG, Carvela and Miss KG. Kurt Geiger has operated the Harrods and Selfridges footwear departments for the past 25 years. This unique positioning sets Kurt Geiger apart as a distinctive and unparalleled multi-channel business selling third-party and owned brands through department store concessions. The brand has over 80 stores worldwide, kurtgeiger.com, as well as e-commerce concession sites and wholesale partners. Selling over four million pairs of shoes a year this makes Kurt Geiger the largest luxury footwear retailer in Europe. Contact Details The Edit LDN Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://www.theeditldn.com/

October 11, 2021 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Gaming platform PlayDough Technologies secures $2m funding round as play-to-earn games take-off

PlayDough Technologies

PlayDough Technologies, the blockchain gaming platform, has today announced a $2m funding round led by proprietary trading and venture capital firm Westridge Markets. The investment comes off the back of an exceptional period of growth that has seen the startup build a community with members spread out in over 30 countries. PlayDough’s mission is to build the conduit that democratizes access and enables anyone to participate in the play-to-earn gaming economy. Traditional gaming business models have evolved from pay-to-play with revenue coming from players purchasing games to free-to-play with in-game purchases generating revenue. Blockchain technology has taken this to the next level creating a play-to-earn revenue model. Gaming companies now essentially create a metaverse but all the in-game items like characters and accessories are represented by NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) on a blockchain. The users mint, purchase and sell these items with the game creator generating revenue through a small commission. These NFTs are then used to play the game and earn rewards. The rewards are in-game crypto tokens which can be moved to exchanges and sold for BTC, ETH or USD. The tokens derive their value from their usage in the gameplay. The NFTs required to play these games can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a couple of thousand dollars. This leaves the vast majority of players, particularly from developing countries, unable to access these play-to-earn economies. This is where a gaming community like PlayDough steps in. It is simultaneously an investment firm creating a portfolio of gaming NFTs and a remote gig economy network allowing users to use its collection to generate yield for themselves and PlayDough. Mehul Khati, Co-Founder of PlayDough Technologies commented: “PlayDough has been a journey of blitz scaling since inception. It has only been a few months and we already have active community members in over 30 countries. Gaming seems to be achieving the borderless ideals of crypto at full speed. We have started with the most advanced play-to-earn game, Axie Infinity. While building a community around PlayDough has been satisfying, the ability to look at play-to-earn as a yield generation strategy has also been a motivator for the trader in me. We have built valuation models, breeding strategies and training programs for our community to be able to generate the highest yield possible. While Axie being the most advanced game in the play-to-earn space remains the focus for PlayDough, it has already started building inventory in emerging games from Sorare to Gods Unchained. Star Atlas on Solana and Moonray on Stacks are showing early signs of a cross chain universe that PlayDough is planning to build on.” PlayDough was co-founded by Mehul Khati earlier this year along with the team at Westridge Markets. Mehul, an engineering graduate from Imperial College London, spent a decade trading commodity derivatives while experimenting with crypto as a hobbyist. He finally got involved with crypto full time five years ago including the last year when he established the de-fi trading desk at Celsius Network. Being an early adopter of protocols through staking and de-fi made him explore the frontiers of innovation in crypto. As the NFT space gained momentum this year he began collecting everything from art and land in metaverses to gaming assets. His financial training naturally pushed him in the direction of yield generating assets and when play-to-earn arrived he knew it was his calling. On leading the investment round, Shamyl Malik, Managing Director at Westridge Markets commented: “Connecting gaming, collectibles, metaverses and de-fi, we think that PlayDough is building at the intersection of four of the strongest trends in blockchain space. With such a tailwind for the start-up and a founder we have known to be curious, persistent and innovative over many years of association with him, we are super excited about our investment and the future of PlayDough. We will continue to support the start-up through our network and ideas.” About PlayDough Technologies PlayDough Technologies is an NFT gaming startup focused on building a global platform for play-to-earn games. PlayDough builds out an inventory of gaming assets and lets the community members use them to generate yield for themselves and the platform. The company has been growing exponentially over the last few months and has just raised USD 2M to accelerate this growth.To explore PlayDough Technologies, please visit: www.playdough.xyz or follow on Twitter and join us on Discord. About Westridge Markets Westridge Markets is a London based proprietary trading firm with an in-house ventureinvestment arm. Westridge is led by Shamyl Malik who founded the firm in 2019 along with Omer Suleman and Adam Carlile. It runs proprietary trading and liquidity provision, staking, validating and mining operations. Westridge is backing a number of ventures in the crypto space with special interest in blockchain infrastructure, investment management tools and NFT gaming. Contact Details PlayDough Technologies Bilal Mahmood +44 7714 007257 b.mahmood@stockwoodstrategy.com Company Website https://playdough.xyz/

October 11, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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