Naturally Electrolyte-Rich Bottled Water Sourced From More Than 3,000 Feet Below the Surface Delivers Great Taste, Purity & Performance 

Chicago (June 5, 2017) – Kona Deep^TM, the naturally electrolyte-rich bottled water, sourced off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, will introduce its namesake brand throughout Chicagoland later this month, including all 41 Mariano’s locations.

The introduction signals the creation of a new category: deep ocean drinking water. Until now, consumers had to choose between spring water and highly processed, functional purified waters with artificially added electrolytes. With Kona Deep, bottled water drinkers no longer have to choose between purity and performance. The new brand offers both – the purity of a trusted, natural source with nothing artificial, nothing added and the hydration benefits of electrolytes.

Kona Deep comes from melted glacial water, which sunk to the ocean floor more than 1,000 years ago, creating a deep ocean current that still flows today. This infinitely renewable source absorbs naturally occurring electrolytes and minerals along its journey across the ocean floor and along volcanic fissures, which are crucial for hydration and body balance.

While deep ocean water is difficult to access, the coast of Kona, Hawaii, provides an ideal location to source and bottle the water because the ocean floor falls sharply to more than 3,000 feet below the surface. At this depth, near-freezing cold and prolonged darkness create a pure water that is protected from light and surface ocean water. Once brought to the surface, the water is desalinated and bottled at the source with a total dissolved solids (TDS) content of 250, the perfect balance of performance and taste. During the process, nothing is added.

Kona Deep Chief Executive Officer Patrick Turpin, co-founder of Popchips^TM – the innovative and wildly popular better for you snack – looks forward to sharing the unique benefits of deep ocean water.

“Kona Deep is a great option for those who want their water to work harder, naturally,” said Turpin. “We’re giving people who want more from their bottled water a reason to rethink their choice.”

Since launching in Hawaii, Turpin has grown the brand across the continental U.S., where premium bottle water sales have skyrocketed more than 300% over the past five years.[1] Kona Deep has since gained national distribution via Sprouts Markets and, until now, has focused efforts in several West Coast markets, including Southern California and Seattle.

“Deep ocean water is a billion dollar category in Asia, but this is still very much a new category of bottled water in the U.S.,” Turpin added.

In addition to Mariano’s, Kona Deep is available in Chicagoland at Fresh Thyme, Standard Market, Sunset Foods, Woodman’s Markets and select Freshii locations in 500mL and 1L bottles. Consumers can also purchase Kona Deep in store or online at www.amazon.com.

For more information, and a full list of retail locations, please visit www.konadeep.com, and follow the brand on Twitter (@KonaDeep), Instagram (@KonaDeepWater) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/konadeepseawater)

About Kona Deep^TM

Kona Deep is a deeply refreshing and restoring water with a unique balance of naturally occurring deep ocean electrolytes essential to life and health. Kona Deep comes from the ocean waters of Hawaii, over 3,000 feet below the surface where cold, pressure and darkness combine to create an exceptionally high quality water. We utilize a unique method to bring the water to the surface to offer you an extraordinary taste and hydration experience. In the process, we add nothing.

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[1] Beverage Digest 2015 Fact Book

Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s Spirit of Adventure, the Makers of Papa’s Pilar® Offer Rum Enthusiasts a New Adventure Destination

Key West, Florida (May 17, 2017) – Hemingway Rum Company, the makers of Papa’s Pilar® premium sipping rums, which were inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s spirit of adventure, will officially open its Rum Distillery & Experience Center to the public on Saturday, May 20, 2017. The new facility pays homage to the legendary adventurer who once proudly called Key West home.

Nestled in the heart of Key West at 201 Simonton St. (the corner of Greene St. & Simonton St.), the new Rum Distillery & Experience Center once served as an all brick tobacco warehouse built in 1878 by Irish bricklayers. Having completed a three-year renovation, the over 8,000 sq. ft. facility will support Papa’s Pilar rum production, an Experience Center, a Tasting Room, Trading Post, and eventually a rentable event center. Visitors can view a 350-gallon Hamilton Pot Still, with a custom-made reflux column, that can produce up to 80 gallons of rum per day. Guests will also be treated to an interactive “scent display,” which allows them to smell the active ingredients in each expression. Unique attractions throughout the tour pay tribute to “Papa” as Hemingway was known, including a swivel picture wall and replica of his Pilar boat affixed in the ceiling’s center rafters. Following the tour, patrons will be provided a sampling experience of Papa’s Pilar dark and blonde rums in the facility’s Tasting Room, which includes a Hemingway inspired bar top, filled with newspaper clippings, photographs and other memorabilia.

Carlton “Carl” Grooms, Key West Director of Operations, will manage the production of the award-winning rums, with the help of four full-time managers and 40 part-time employees, whom are all local Key West residents. An adventure-seeker and rum enthusiast himself, Grooms co-founded the International Rum Council and served as co-author of the book, “Rum & Contemporary Cuisine.” Carl serves on the Board of the Navy League, Key West Council, and the Key West Art and Historical Society.

“We’re excited to have created both a destination that will serve as the physical heart and soul of our brand, as well as an asset for the city of Key West,” said Grooms. “Our guests will be truly engaged and amazed with this unique experience. A trip to Key West will no longer be complete without a visit.”

Tours are available daily from 9am-6pm. Tours are self-guided and do not require reservations as guests are encouraged to explore like Hemingway himself.

In addition to the tour attractions, guests can visit the Trading Post to purchase adventure gear, bar accessories and one-of-a-kind Hemingway Rum Company apparel only available in Key West. A designated “locals corner” will allow various Key West merchants to showcase and sell their work.

“Of all his worldly travels, Ernest Hemingway chose Key West to call home,” said Lindsey Kops Mundy, Papa’s Pilar National Brand Director. “And it’s here that we chose to celebrate him and Papa’s Pilar, the rum inspired by his spirit of adventure.”

Papa’s Pilar Dark & Blonde rum varieties are hand-selected from ports-of-call in the Caribbean, Central America and Florida for their age, character and maturity, and then blended and solera aged in our proprietary process which includes Bourbon barrels and Spanish Sherry casks for the Blonde expression, and Bourbon, Port Wine and Spanish Sherry casks for the Dark Rum.

In addition to the new Rum Distillery & Experience Center, Papa’s Pilar rums are available in 750ml bottles in both on- and off-premise establishments in: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Washington, DC. The brand is also registered in Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah and Virginia. The suggested retail price of the Dark and Blonde are $39.99 and $29.99, respectively. Prices may vary by market.

For more information, please visit www.papaspilar.com,“like” us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/PapasPilarRum, and follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/papaspilar/and Twitter https://twitter.com/papaspilar #PapasKeyWest #PapasPilar #PapasKeyWest

About Hemingway Rum Company, LLC

Hemingway Rum Company, LLC is a distilled spirits company based in Florida that’s dedicated to producing super-premium multi-sourced solera blended Caribbean, Central American and Floridian rums. The Company’s inaugural offerings are Papa’s Pilar® Dark and Blonde Rum, incepted and crafted by a seasoned team of best-in-class partners. The Company encourages consumers of legal drinking age to “Live Courageously and Drink Responsibly” and proudly supports local organizations that serve Ernest Hemingway’s adventurous, literary and conservational legacy.

Papa’s Pilar® is a proud member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS).

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Chicago, Ill. – (April 24, 2017) – Chicago-based Argo Tea®, the largest tea café concept in the U.S., will go cashless in four of the company’s locations beginning today. In an attempt to make it easier than ever to order, pay and earn rewards, and to increase its speed of service. the premium tea brand will eliminate cash transactions from select cafes – three in Chicago and one in New York.

Argo Tea’s cashless cafés will allow baristas to take orders faster, so customers can avoid lines and receive their favorite custom-made drinks and food in less time. Cashless cafés will accept credit/debit cards and the Argo Tea app, which allows customers to pay with their phone to earn rewards. Customers will receive $5 off their first order when they download the app. For customers who value cash, Argo Tea is working to develop an in-store gift card kiosk that accepts cash.

Chicago Cashless Café locations:

• Loop (Franklin & Madison): 1 S. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60606
• University of Illinois at Chicago: 750 S. Halsted Suite 151, Chicago, IL 60607
• Merchandise Mart: 222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654

New York Cashless Café location:

• Union Square: 75 University Pl, New York, NY 10003

Looking ahead, the brand is also exploring the possibilities of using the cashless concept for the three locations at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport cafés.

About Argo Tea

Since brewing its first cup of tea in 2003, Argo Tea has quickly become a household name and leading multi-channel, branded beverage company. Its ready-to-drink teas in Argo Tea’s iconic bottles are now available in over 45,000 outlets nationwide through partnerships with premier retailers that value its brand-defining commitment to quality, sustainability and healthy living. With nearly 50 Argo Tea cafés globally, it has established a brand building marketing platform that serves over 10 million cups of tea annually, fueling its innovation. Argo Tea’s menu includes all natural, tea based signature drinks, over 50 varieties of loose-leaf teas, premium coffee, fresh-baked pastries, specialty foods, and a selection of teaware and accessories.

For more information, please visit www.argotea.com and follow the brand on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/argotea as well as Twitter and Instagram @argotea

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Award-Winning Line of Premium Expressions Made From 100% Blue Weber Agave at Hacienda Corralejo in Guanajuato, Mexico, Gaining Ground in the U.S.

Aliso Viejo, California (March 27, 2017) – Tequila Corralejo®, marketed by Infinium Spirits, may be the best-kept secret in the tequila industry. A beloved brand in its home country of Mexico, the award-winning line of premium tequila has been gaining traction in recent years, especially among both acculturated and unacculturated Hispanics in the US.

According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), Americans are consuming more tequila than ever before (+9.4 percent sales growth in 2015), and after, whiskey, it’s one of the fastest-growing categories.

“We’re encouraged by the buzz in the tequila category and the growth of Tequila Corralejo,” said Megan Lester, brand manager for Infinium Spirits. “Already a top 10 tequila brand in the US, according to Nielsen, we see significant opportunity for increased distribution and consumption, while staying true to the brand’s core values and time-honored traditions.”

Tequila Corralejo exemplifies Central Mexico’s rich culture, heritage and vibrant lifestyle. As one of the few tequilas produced in Guanajuato, Mexico, Corralejo’s deep roots and production methods are unique in the tequila industry, dating back to 1755 when Hacienda Corralejo became the first estate in Mexico to produce tequila as a commercial venture.

Tequila Corralejo is made with 100% Blue Weber agave, which is handpicked from only the finest agave fields in Guanajuato. The agave is slow cooked in stone clay ovens for 27 hours then rested for 12 hours before going to the mill. All of the tequilas go through a double distillation. The first distillation takes place in a continuous still, or column still. The second distillation takes place in an Alembic copper pot still imported from Tomelloso, Spain, and is what sets Corralejo apart from other tequilas. Corralejo employs the 400-year-old Charentais method of distillation, the same method perfected by the French in distilling cognac, which allows for exceptional retention of aroma and flavor. The result is a flavor in each of the brand’s three expressions that’s rich, natural, and unsurpassed in quality and personality.

• Corralejo Silver – Made from 100% Blue Weber agave and bottled unaged. 80proof. Gold Medal 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Corralejo Reposado – Made from 100% Blue Weber agave and aged four months in barrels consisting of three types of oak – French, American and Encino oak. 80-proof. Double Gold Medal 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Corralejo Añejo – Made from 100% Blue Weber agave and aged for 12 months in charred, American oak barrels. 80-proof. Gold Medal 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Managing Director Don Leonardo Rodríguez Moreno, a 25-year industry veteran, is key to maintaining the artistry and craftsmanship for which Tequila Corralejo has become known.

“We make Tequila Corralejo using a process that provides an authentic and unique flavor profile,” said Moreno. “We are the only tequila using the Charentais distillation method commonly associated with cognac production and have used the same time-honored recipe for 23 years.”

The tall, colorful bottles inspired Corralejo’s brand messaging: Those With Pride Stand Tall. All of Corralejo’s bottles are produced at a glass factory also owned by Moreno, a few miles away from the distillery. In fact, the brand is one of a handful of tequila companies granted the right to produce tequila outside of Jalisco.

Hacienda Corralejo

The distillery is located on the grounds of Hacienda Corralejo, the birthplace of Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, about 70 miles outside of Guanajuato, Mexico.

Availability & Price

Tequila Corralejo is available in 750ml bottles in both on- and off-premise establishments across the United States. The suggested retail prices, which vary by market are: Silver ($21.99), Reposado ($25.99) and Añejo ($32.99). Both the Silver and Reposado expressions are also available in 1.75L bottles for $42.99 and $46.99, respectively.

For more information, please visit http://tequilacorralejo.mx/

About Infinium Spirits

Infinium Spirits is a family-owned spirits company known for igniting brands and accelerating performance. Founded in 2005 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, Infinium Spirits specializes in the import, sales, and marketing of its distinctive portfolio of brands.

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Chicago, Ill. – (Feb. 13, 2017) – Argo Tea®, the premium tea brand known for its all-natural tea-based signature drinks and loose-leaf teas, today announced its newest loose-leaf lineup, the Wellness Collection. Made with tea and ingredients with a purpose, the five premium blends are designed to help restore health so consumers feel their best. The collection includes the following teas, each of which has unique tasting notes and blends:

• DETOX – cleansing blend of green tea, herbs and spices
• EMPOWER – strengthening blend of hibiscus flowers, apple and elderberries
• ENERGIZED – invigorating blend of assam black tea, cocoa and cinnamon
• RELAX – calming blend of rooibos, chamomile blossoms and orange petals
• RENEW – refreshing blend of fruits, herbs and aloe vera

Argo Tea proudly sources the best ingredients from around the world, including handpicked, loose-leaf teas. The caffeine levels range from high to caffeine-free depending on the intended health benefit of the tea, and each blend is made with real pieces of fruit, flowers, and other all-natural ingredients.

“We created this new collection to support wellness of body and mind,” said Kari Ginal, Vice President of Marketing, Argo Tea. “We have a tea to support you in so many of life’s moments – whether you feel the onset of a cold, need to wind down after a tough day or get pumped up for a big occasion.”

Studies show that these all-natural ingredients play a large role in the health benefits offered in each tea. Green tea has been shown to improve blood flow and lower cholesterol, which makes up the core base of Detox.[1] Yerba mate provides an energy boost with no “crash” and chamomile has been used for centuries to treat chest colds and upset stomachs – both found in the Energize and Relax teas.[2]

The Wellness Collection is now available online at www.argotea.com and in Argo Tea cafés. The retail price for each loose-leaf bottle is $15.95, ranging in net weight based on each blend: Energize (5.6 oz., brews 85 cups), Detox (3.2 oz., brews 50 cups), Empower (4.4 oz., brews 70 cups), Renew (2.1 oz., brews 30 cups) and Relax (3.2 oz., brews 50 cups).

The Wellness Collection is also featured in a line of new signature drinks available at Argo Tea cafes nationwide. These limited time specials pair wellness teas with innovative functional ingredients like Säpp Birch Water, tapped from birch trees in the mountains of eastern Europe. These limited time specials are available through March 20, 2017, at participating Argo Tea cafés.

About Argo Tea

Since brewing its first cup of tea in 2003, Argo Tea has quickly become a household name and leading multi-channel, branded beverage company. Its ready-to-drink teas in Argo Tea’s iconic bottles are now available in over 40,000 outlets nationwide through partnerships with premier retailers that value its brand-defining commitment to quality, sustainability and healthy living. With nearly 50 Argo Tea cafés globally, it has established a brand building marketing platform that serves over 10 million cups of tea annually fueling its innovation. Argo Tea’s menu includes all natural-tea based signature drinks, over thirty varieties of loose-leaf teas, premium coffee, fresh-baked pastries, specialty foods, and a selection of tea ware and accessories.

For more information, please visit www.argotea.com and follow the brand on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/argotea as well as Twitter and Instagram @argotea

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[1] Bsc, Kris Gunners. “10 Proven Benefits of Green Tea.” Authority Nutrition. Authority Nutrition, 18 Aug. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.

[2] MS, RD, Alina Peter. “8 Health Benefits of Yerba Mate (Backed by Science).” Authority Nutrition. Authority Nutrition, 07 Nov. 2016. Web. 21 Nov. 2016.