What are the key products offered by Skratch Labs. How do Skratch Labs hydration mixes compare to other brands. Why should athletes consider using Skratch Labs products for their nutrition needs. What makes Skratch Labs energy bars unique in the market. How can Skratch Labs recovery drinks aid in post-workout recovery.
The Skratch Labs Product Line: Hydration, Energy, and Recovery Solutions
Skratch Labs has established itself as a leading brand in sports nutrition, offering a diverse range of products designed to support athletes at every stage of their performance. Their lineup includes hydration drink mixes, energy bars, and recovery formulas, each crafted with natural ingredients and backed by scientific research.
Hydration Drink Mixes: Quenching Thirst and Replenishing Electrolytes
At the core of Skratch Labs’ offerings are their hydration drink mixes. These come in various flavors and formulations to suit different needs:
- Sport Hydration Drink Mix: Available in flavors like Fruit Punch, Oranges, Strawberry Lemonade, and Lemon & Lime
- Hyper Hydration Drink Mix: For intense hydration needs, offered in Passion Fruit flavor
- Wellness Hydration Drink Mix: Designed for everyday hydration, featuring a Lemons & Limes flavor
These mixes are carefully formulated to replace electrolytes lost through sweat, helping athletes maintain proper hydration levels during exercise. The Sport Hydration Drink Mix, in particular, comes in both 20-serving and 60-serving options, catering to individual needs and preferences.
Energy Boosters: Fueling Performance with Natural Ingredients
Skratch Labs understands that sustained energy is crucial for athletic performance. Their energy products include:
Sport Energy Chews
These convenient chews provide a quick energy boost during activities. They come in flavors like Orange and Matcha Green Tea & Lemon, offering a tasty alternative to traditional energy gels.
Anytime Energy Bars
For longer-lasting energy, Skratch Labs offers a range of energy bars with natural ingredients:
- Peanut Butter & Strawberries
- Cherries & Pistachios
- Chocolate Chips & Almonds
- Raspberries & Lemons
These bars are designed to provide sustained energy without causing digestive discomfort, making them suitable for consumption before or during physical activities.
Recovery Solutions: Optimizing Post-Workout Nutrition
Proper recovery is essential for athletes to perform at their best. Skratch Labs offers specialized recovery drink mixes to support this crucial phase:
- Sport Recovery Drink Mix in Chocolate, Horchata, and Coffee flavors
- Available in single-serving packets and 12-serving or 24-serving resealable pouches
These recovery formulas are crafted to replenish glycogen stores and support muscle repair after intense exercise. The variety of flavors and serving sizes allows athletes to choose the option that best fits their preferences and recovery needs.
The Science Behind Skratch Labs: Natural Ingredients and Effective Formulas
Skratch Labs prides itself on using natural, high-quality ingredients in its products. This approach sets them apart from many conventional sports nutrition brands that rely heavily on artificial additives and sweeteners.
Focus on Real Food Ingredients
Many Skratch Labs products incorporate real fruit and natural flavors, providing a more palatable and easily digestible option for athletes. This focus on real food ingredients aligns with the growing trend towards cleaner, more natural nutrition in the sports world.
Electrolyte Balance
The hydration mixes are carefully formulated to match the electrolyte profile of human sweat, ensuring effective replenishment during exercise. This scientifically-backed approach helps prevent issues like cramping and fatigue that can occur with electrolyte imbalances.
Versatility for Different Sports and Activities
While Skratch Labs products are popular among endurance athletes, they are designed to cater to a wide range of sports and activity levels. Whether you’re a professional cyclist, a weekend warrior, or simply someone looking to stay hydrated during a busy day, there’s a Skratch Labs product that can meet your needs.
Endurance Sports
The Sport Hydration Drink Mix and Energy Chews are particularly well-suited for long-distance activities like cycling, running, and triathlons. The easily digestible formulas help maintain energy levels and hydration status over extended periods of exertion.
Team Sports
For sports with intermittent high-intensity efforts, such as soccer or basketball, the Anytime Energy Bars can provide sustained energy, while the Hyper Hydration Drink Mix can help athletes quickly replenish fluids and electrolytes during breaks in play.
Everyday Active Lifestyle
The Wellness Hydration Drink Mix is perfect for those who lead an active lifestyle but may not engage in intense athletic pursuits. It’s an excellent option for staying hydrated during work, travel, or light exercise.
Comparative Advantage: How Skratch Labs Stands Out in the Market
In a crowded sports nutrition market, Skratch Labs has managed to carve out a unique position. Here’s how they differentiate themselves:
Transparency in Ingredients
Skratch Labs is committed to transparency, clearly listing all ingredients and their purposes. This allows consumers to make informed decisions about their nutrition and aligns with the growing demand for clean label products.
Taste and Palatability
Many athletes praise Skratch Labs products for their superior taste compared to other sports nutrition offerings. The use of real fruit and natural flavors contributes to a more enjoyable experience, especially during long training sessions or races where palatability can significantly impact performance.
Science-Backed Formulations
While emphasizing natural ingredients, Skratch Labs doesn’t compromise on effectiveness. Their products are developed based on scientific research and real-world testing, ensuring that they deliver the intended benefits to athletes.
Sustainability and Environmental Considerations
As consumers become increasingly conscious of environmental issues, Skratch Labs has taken steps to address sustainability in their product line:
Packaging Choices
Many Skratch Labs products come in resealable pouches, reducing the need for single-use packaging. This approach not only minimizes waste but also provides convenience for users who can easily store and transport their nutrition products.
Natural Ingredients
By focusing on real food ingredients, Skratch Labs inherently promotes a more sustainable approach to sports nutrition. This aligns with broader trends towards environmentally friendly and ethically sourced products in the food and beverage industry.
The Future of Sports Nutrition: Skratch Labs’ Role in Shaping Industry Trends
As the sports nutrition industry continues to evolve, Skratch Labs is well-positioned to influence future trends:
Personalization
With a diverse product range, Skratch Labs caters to individual preferences and needs. As personalized nutrition gains traction, brands like Skratch Labs that offer variety and customization options are likely to thrive.
Integration of Technology
While not explicitly mentioned in the product lineup, there’s potential for Skratch Labs to integrate technology into their offerings. This could include smart packaging that helps athletes track their nutrition intake or apps that provide personalized recommendations based on activity levels and goals.
Expansion into New Categories
As Skratch Labs continues to grow, we may see expansion into new product categories that complement their existing line. This could include pre-workout formulas, sleep aids, or specialized products for specific sports or activities.
In conclusion, Skratch Labs has established itself as a innovative player in the sports nutrition industry, offering a range of products that cater to various athletic needs while prioritizing natural ingredients and scientific efficacy. As the brand continues to evolve, it is likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of sports nutrition, driving trends towards cleaner, more personalized, and environmentally conscious products.
R.E.I at The District at Green Valley Ranch (Henderson) – Hours & Phone
View info on R.E.I store located at The District at Green Valley Ranch in Henderson, NV – including address, map, store hours, phone number, and more.
| Mall Hours (store hours may vary) | |
| Monday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Thursday | 10:00 am – 8:00 pm |
| Friday | 10:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Saturday | 10:00 am – 9:00 pm |
| Sunday | 11:00 am – 7:00 pm |
Skratch Labs – Products
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SKRATCH LABS
Hyper Hydration Drink Mix, Passion Fruit, 25g, Single Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Fruit Punch, 60-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Oranges, 20-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Recovery Drink Mix, Horchata, 12-Serving Resealable Pouch
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Oranges, 60-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Anytime Energy Bar, Peanut Butter & Strawberries
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Recovery Drink Mix, Chocolate, 12-Serving Resealable Pouch
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Strawberry Lemonade, 20-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Strawberry Lemonade, 60-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Lemon & Lime, 60-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Energy Chews, Orange, Single Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Anytime Energy Bar, Cherries & Pistachios
SKRATCH LABS
Anytime Energy Bar, Chocolate Chips & Almonds
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Recovery Drink Mix, Chocolate, 24-Serving Resealable Pouch
SKRATCH LABS
Wellness Hydration Drink Mix Lemons & Limes, Single Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Fruit Punch, 20-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Recovery Drink Mix, Coffee, 12-Serving Resealable Pouch
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Recovery Drink Mix, Chocolate, Single Serving Packet
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Matcha Green Tea and Lemons, 20-Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Anytime Energy Bar, Raspberries & Lemons
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Recovery Drink Mix, Horchata, Single Serving Packet
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Energy Chews, Matcha Green Tea & Lemon, Single Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Fruit Punch, Single Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Hydration Drink Mix, Matcha Green Tea and Lemons, Single Serving
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Superfuel Drink Mix, Lemons and Limes, 840g, 8-Serving Resealable Pouch
SKRATCH LABS
Sport Superfuel Drink Mix, Raspberry, 840g, 8-Serving Resealable Pouch
REI Co-op, PaulB Hardware, Five Below, TJ Maxx and other businesses expected to open in central Pa. in 2021
Now that 2020 is finally over, let’s take a look at what businesses are expected to open new locations in the midstate here in 2021.
A number of stores and other businesses are set to open this year.
REI Co-op will open its first store in the midstate in the Silver Creek Plaza in Hampden Township in the fall.
PaulB Hardware Mechanicsburg will make its debut in the Harrisburg area when it opens in the fall at 121 Gettysburg Pike in Upper Allen Township.
Planet Fitness, Five Below, Big Lots, and TJ Maxx are expected to open this year at the Hershey Square shopping center in Derry Township.
Those six companies are part of our list of more than 20 new business locations that are expected to open in 2021.
In addition, we’ve include some other businesses that are expected to open in the future as well.
Opening in 2021
REI Co-op
The former Toys R’ Us space on the Carlisle Pike will have a new occupant next year. REI Co-op will open its first store in the midstate in the Silver Creek Plaza on the Pike shopping center at 6391 Carlisle Pike in Hampden Township. REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) carries a wide assortment of gear for outdoor activities as well as outdoor apparel for men, women and children. The 22,400 square-foot store will also offer a specialty bike, ski and snowboard shop for customers to tune or repair equipment. The store is expected to open in the fall and this will be REI’s fifth location in the state.
PaulB Hardware plans to open a new store in Upper Allen Township next fall. (Photo provided)
PaulB Mechanicsburg
A new 25,000-square-foot hardware store is coming to Upper Allen Township. PaulB Hardware Mechanicsburg is expected to open in the fall at 121 Gettysburg Pike near Planet Fitness, Messiah University and CVS Pharmacy. PaulB Hardware is a heavy-duty hardware store that serves contractors, industrial and agricultural sectors, and homeowners. The new store will feature a number of departments including paint, power tools, hand tools, lawn and garden, farm and ranch, agricultural and industrial parts, automotive, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, home and outdoor, outdoor power equipment and home hardware. PaulB Mechanicsburg will have repair shops for tools, pumps, generators, and outdoor power equipment, and the store will also provide a number of other services including key cutting.
Lowe’s
Lowe’s leased the 1,100,846-square-foot warehouse distribution space in the Shippensburg 81 Logistics Center at 201 Cramer Road in Shippensburg Township, Cumberland County from Philadelphia-based Equus Capital Partners Ltd., a private real estate investment manager. The new warehouse for Lowe’s is part of a $1.7 billion investment to expand its distribution network through 2023. The warehouse will be used as a direct fulfillment center that Lowe’s said will help speed up its deliveries to customers in the Northeast. Operations at the new center are expected to begin in the spring, and Lowe’s said it will allow the company to reach more customers within two days.
North Cornwall Commons Apartments
Construction has begun on an apartment complex located at a large-scale mixed-use project in Lebanon County known as North Cornwall Commons. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in November for the North Cornwall Commons Apartments, which is being built along Springwood Drive. North Cornwall Commons is located in North Cornwall Township, Lebanon County across from the Lebanon Valley Exposition Center and Fairgrounds facility. The new five-story apartment complex will have 220 apartments and residents at the complex will have access to a pool, gathering space and exercise facilities at a community building that will be utilized by townhouse residents as well as apartment residents at North Cornwall Commons. Residents will also have access to community walking trails. The first 110-unit apartment building is scheduled to open this fall. A second 110-unit apartment building is planned for another phase of the project. The 120-acre site will eventually have between 500,000 and 600,000 square feet of office and retail space. Springwood Development Partners, a partnership between Blackford Development and Byler Holdings, is the developer of the site. Construction began on the complex in 2017. In addition to a second apartment building the remaining phases of the project are planned for a mix of residential, commercial and office space including a potential for a pharmacy, a bank, and restaurants.
Community First Fund Credit Union
A Lancaster-based nonprofit plans to open a new credit union. Community First Fund plans to open the facility on the first floor of its building at 51 S. Duke St. in the fall. The credit union has been in the planning stages for a couple of years. Community First Fund Credit Union will offer a full-scale of banking services as well as credit builder loans to help people build credit, mortgage services and car loans. Community First Fund currently has a mortgage department. The credit union will also offer financial education. The 860-square-foot credit union is expected to be located on the first floor while other offices will be located upstairs in the building. The credit union will employ about five people when it opens.
Penn State Health
Penn State Health will open a 47,000-square-foot outpatient center in the former Toys R’ Us building at 1430 Harrisburg Pike, at the intersection of Route 30 at The Crossings at Conestoga Creek in Manheim Township, Lancaster County. The center is expected to open in the spring.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty
A real estate company has begun construction on a new office in the 59-acre Susquehanna Union Green development in Susquehanna Township. The town center development is being built at the corner of Progress Avenue and Linglestown Road. The office is expected to open this month. The company will relocate from its office on Crums Mill Road.
Belco Community Credit Union
Belco has announced it will open a new branch in the former home of a Mid Penn Bank location at 5500 Allentown Blvd. in Lower Paxton Township. Mid Penn Bank moved that branch to a former Fulton Bank location on Jonestown Road last year. The new branch will open in the spring and will relocate from 5785 Allentown Blvd. in Lower Paxton Township.
Kinsley Properties
A new industrial warehouse is being built in York County. Commercial real estate developer Kinsley Properties is building the 175,000-square-foot building at 500 Canal Road in East Manchester Township. The new industrial flex facility is being built in Orchard Business Park off of Interstate 83 between exits 25 and 28. Construction is expected to be completed in February and the new facility is available for lease for light manufacturing uses and warehouse distribution. There is no tenant at this time. The building will have 38 dock doors, 117 auto parking spaces and 41 trailing parking spaces.
Planet Fitness on Gettysburg Pike prepares to reopen with multiple new safety measures including closing every other machine for social distancing after the more than two month closure due to COVID-19. June 10, 2020. Joe Hermitt | [email protected]
Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness has signed a 10-year lease and is expected to open in the former Kmart at the Hershey Square shopping center in Derry Township by the spring, according to the shopping center owner, Heidenberg Properties.
Five Below, Big Lots and TJ Maxx
The three retailers have signed 10-year leases and are expected to open by the spring in the former Kmart at the Hershey Square shopping center in Derry Township, according to the shopping center owner, Heidenberg Properties.
Hershey Co.
The Hershey Co. plans to build an 810,000-square-foot distribution center located off Killinger Road, between Annville and Palmyra, in South Annville Township. It is expected to be operational by late 2021 and create 270 new, full-time jobs.
High Associates
High Associates is building a warehouse on Ben Franklin Boulevard on the Greenfield business campus in East Lampeter Township. The 229,000-square-foot warehouse will have 32-foot clear height space, 28 loading docks and three drive-in doors, with staging for 30 trailers. The building is situated on 15 acres. Once completed, the facility will be customizable for up to three tenants and is expected to employ up to 200 people. The warehouse will be available for occupancy in the fall.
Armstrong Flooring
Armstrong Flooring is relocating its corporate headquarters to a new location in Lancaster County. The 160-year-old company that designs and manufactures flooring signed a long-term lease with the High Real Estate Group for three existing buildings located at Greenfield Corporate Center, a 600-acre business campus to house its headquarters and technical center. Greenfield is owned by High Real Estate and is in East Lampeter Township. Armstrong Flooring will take over two adjacent buildings, located at 1740 and 1760 Hempstead Road, which total 58,000 square feet, and will house office space for approximately 200 corporate office employees and will also feature a 5,000-square-foot design showroom.
The company will also lease an existing 33,000-square-foot building, located at 1827 Freedom Road, Suite 101, for its technical center, housing approximately 60 employees from the company’s new product development, innovation and engineering teams. The buildings will be renovated and will use a selection of Armstrong Flooring’s flooring products. Construction is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2021.
Spring Hill Suites by Marriott
Spring Hill Suites by Marriott will be built on the former site of the Bon-Ton in Lower Allen Township. The five-story, 124-room hotel will be built at the site as early as 2021. A small grocery store is expected to be built on the former Bon-Ton site as well.
Schoolhouse Flats
Construction began in September on the Schoolhouse Flats at 701 Market St. in Lemoyne at the site of the former Lemoyne Middle School. Construction company Mowery plans to transform the middle school into an apartment building. Schoolhouse Flats will include 46 apartments. Each unit will feature stainless steel appliances and hard surface counters, and some units will have a private patio. Eight of the units will be built in the former gymnasium and will feature rooftop decks. Other proposed amenities available to residents include an on-site gym, on-site parking, bike storage, a pet washing station and a courtyard with designated cornhole, bocce ball and outdoor theater space. Schoolhouse Flats is expected to be completed this fall.
Round1 is coming soon. Lancaster County today moves into the green phase of Gov. Tom Wolf’s coronavirus reopening plan, with the reopening of Park City Center mall, June 26, 2020. Dan Gleiter | [email protected]
Round1
The long-awaited entertainment center Round1 is expected to open in 2021, according to Monica Gallagher, senior general manager at the Park City Center. A sign at the mall says that the entertainment center is coming soon and that it will include more than 100 sports and games for all ages and levels. It will have an arcade and a bar and offer bowling, karaoke, billiards and food. Round1 at the Park City Center will take over the former Sears store.
Dunkin’
Dunkin’ will open a new location at 271 Market St. in Lemoyne early this year.
Chipotle/Derry Twp.
Chipotle is coming to the Hershey Square shopping center in Derry Township, and will be located on a pad site in front of the Weis Markets store.
Panera Bread
A new Panera Bread will be located on Linglestown Road at Susquehanna Union Green in Susquehanna Township. The location will have a drive-thru.
Zeroday Brewing
Zeroday Brewing has announced it plans to open at Susquehanna Union Green in Susquehanna Township and that they are partnering with Shakedown BBQ. The project is expected to be completed by the summer. Zeroday Brewing will also be located off of Linglestown Road.
Tequila Willies Southwest American Grille
The casual restaurant will open as early as March at the former Rock Bass Grill at 461 S. Front St. in Wormleysburg.
Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center
The future 300,000-square-foot, three-story acute care hospital is on track for completion in the summer of 2021. Hampden Medical Center is located in the Wentworth Corporate Center at the intersection of Good Hope and Wertzville roads. The new $200 million facility will feature 108 inpatient beds, an emergency department, physician offices, various specialty inpatient services, image and lab services and complete medical and surgical capabilities.
Other future openings:
Members 1st Federal Credit Union
The credit union officially broke ground in August on its future 172,000-square-foot headquarters at Hampden Marketplace on Marketplace Way near Wertzville Road in Hampden Township. The credit union said that it expects that it will take 12 to 18 months for construction. The credit union’s headquarters is currently located at the Rossmoyne Business Center, where it has been since 1997. Members 1st has sold two of its four buildings in the Rossmoyne Business Center and plans to sell the remaining two before moving to its new campus.
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
Penn State Health will open a new acute care hospital, Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center, a five-story, 341,000-square-foot facility set to open in 2022. Lancaster Medical Center will be located near the intersection of State Road and Harrisburg Pike in East Hempfield Township. The facility will feature 129 private inpatient beds, with the capacity to expand by 24 additional beds, an emergency department, various specialty inpatient services, an imaging lab, complete medical and surgical capabilities and an attached medical office building for outpatient services. Once the Lancaster Medical Center is operational it will employ about 900 people.
The Lofts
A Wormleysburg-based developer is planning to purchase and redevelop the former Salvation Army property at 1122 Green St. Integrated Development Partners plans to convert the property into “for-sale” condominium units. “The Lofts” will consist of approximately 16 units — a mix of one bedroom, two bedroom and efficiency condominiums ranging from 650 to 1,100 square feet in space. Integrated Development Partners plans to keep the parking lot across the street, which would include designated, private parking spaces. And a 1,500-square-foot brick building on the lot across the street would probably be converted to a fitness center or be used for storage for the residents. The company hopes to complete the project by early 2022.
Steel Works Apartments (Rendering)
Steel Works Apartments
Steel Works Apartments will be located in a 20,000-square-foot building at the future Steel Works development in Steelton and will have 41 apartments and about 3,000 square feet of first-floor retail space. The development is being built at 102 to 230 N. Front St.
Mighty Group
Adam Maust, the owner of the Harrisburg marketing agency Mighty Group, purchased the building at 2101 N. Sixth St. in Harrisburg in May and plans to redevelop it. Ideally, Maust hopes to center the 40,000-square-foot building around a grocery store. He also hopes to bring in a brewery, restaurant and a coffee shop to the facility as well but, he is looking at several different options. He also plans to have office space and will relocate his marketing agency to the building.
Poplar Square
The Chapel Hill United Church of Christ in East Pennsboro Township will be demolished to clear the way for a new commercial center. The new commercial center, which will be known as Poplar Square, will be located on the three-and-a-half acre site at the corner of Erford and Poplar Church roads and is expected to include a new space for the church, a medical office, a restaurant and space for up to four stores. The owner hopes to begin construction early next year.
Cortland Park
A Lemoyne company is developing more than 100 homes in Upper Allen Township. RSR Realtors is developing a 55+ senior community called Cortland Park, which is the last stage of development to be built in the Winding Hills development. The builder is Lancaster County-based Landmark Homes. The community will include 117 lots – townhomes and single-family homes as well as a private community clubhouse that will include an exercise room, multi-purpose room, gathering area with wet bar, a kitchen and a game area. Residents will also have access to the Winding Hills clubhouse. All of the homes will include two car garages. Optional features include items like fireplaces, sliding doors, a cathedral ceiling, a deck, a double wall oven, and a study among other options.
Where the Wild Things Play
Where the Wild Things Play is expected to open in the former Kmart at the Hershey Square shopping center.
Chipotle/Susquehanna Twp.
Chipotle is opening at the former Sonic Drive-In at the Blue Mountain Commons shopping center in Susquehanna Township.
—Business Buzz
You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
REI rolls out first-of-its-kind sustainability requirement that will affect every brand in its stores
The clothing industry is increasingly embracing a green agenda that has some household-name companies putting policies and processes in place that will benefit the environment as well as their business.
One is going a step further. Brands that want to have their merchandise on the sales floor at REI Co-op have to abide by a new set of sustainability standards that one executive at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) says could have a wide-reaching, positive impact on the environment.
REI, an outdoor retailer celebrating its 80th anniversary with more than 16 million members, announced the new guidelines on Monday, and said they apply to every brand and product the company sells. The standards were created using the input of dozens of brands, and will be available to any other retailer who would like to use them.
Among the standards: REI would prefer a fair trade certification, “which promotes safe, healthy working conditions and helps empower communities”; restrictions on certain chemicals, including flame-retardant chemicals that are commonly used on camping shelters; and a responsible wool standard that promotes better animal welfare and land management practices.
Read now:Companies are talking more about their climate-change risks, but it’s not much help to investors — so far
“
“This is the first time I’ve seen a retailer create standards like this for all of their suppliers. That’s one of the main ways that it’s different from what other retailers are doing.”
”
— Adam Siegel, senior vice president, research, innovation and sustainability, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
Some, like the code of conduct for the supply chain, take effect immediately, while others, like dropping sunscreens with oxybenzone, which bleaches coral reefs, will begin in 2020.
How a digital wardrobe can fuel the $18 billion re-commerce industry
“This is the first time I’ve seen a retailer create standards like this for all of their suppliers,” Adam Siegel, senior vice president of research, innovation and sustainability at RILA, told MarketWatch. “That’s one of the main ways that it’s different from what other retailers are doing.”
See also:How to invest in water: A long-term bet on an essential commodity with limited supply
More:In Trump era it’s up to companies to push climate agenda, advocates say
Sustainability policies are somewhat new, Siegel said, and many companies are experimenting to see what works. Often, these standards help a company’s balance sheet, reducing the cost of energy, waste and materials.
Moreover, there’s a reputation boost.
“Every corporate actor wants to have an inspirational, engaging brand,” Siegel said. “This is the next evolution of that.”
Earlier this month, Gant, a clothing brand dating back to 1949, announced the launch of Gant Beacons Project, a sustainability initiative that begins with a line of shirts for men and women that are made with Tech Prep, which contains “upcycled” plastic collected from the ocean.
Read:Almost 6 billion people will suffer from water shortages by 2050, U.N. report finds
Plastic in the world’s waters has gained attention in recent years and more organizations are working to clean up debris littering the oceans. Much has been written about phenomena, such as The Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a collection of trash that’s three times the size of France and is floating between Hawaii and California weighing 80,000 metric tons. Birds and marine life are at risk of being trapped and dying and the trash and marine plastic can find ways into the human food supply.
For the new collection, Gant partnered with Seaqual, a group that takes plastic collected from the sea and turns it into a polyester filament that can be made into fabric. The shirts, available in-store and online for $165, have the look and feel of fabric, while incorporating features like stretch and moisture wicking.
According to Brian Grevy, Gant’s chief marketing officer, the shirts are the most sustainable in the company’s history. Buttons and packaging will also be made from recycled material.
“Our mission is to take oil-based components and transform them to upcycled materials,” Grevy told MarketWatch. “We don’t think anyone has a choice to do their part,” Grevy said. “We think the full industry should take responsibility.”
Levi Strauss & Co., has launched a process called Project F.L.X. that uses lasers to not only cut down on the time it takes to add the finishes to the company’s jeans from months to days in some cases, but also eliminates the use of many chemicals.
“F.L.X allows us to manufacture a cleaner jean, eliminates chemicals from the supply chain, and in some cases it actually creates the opportunity for water savings,” said Bart Sights, vice president of technical innovation at Levi Strauss & Co.
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The company has made a commitment to reach zero hazardous chemical discharge by 2020, and this new process is a step in that direction. It’s also a boon for the company’s manufacturing process.
“We were looking for an alternative to an oxidizer and while weighing alternatives, it occurred to us that this could greatly increase agility and create a radically different operating model,” Sights said.
This new process is helping Levi tackle two industry hurdles, said Levi Strauss & Co.’s Chief Executive Chip Bergh in a statement: the need to quickly respond to consumer trends and make manufacturing more sustainable.
H&M Hennes & Mauritz
HM.B,
-0.46%,
Gap Inc.
GPS,
-8.01%
and Allbirds, the Silicon Valley favorite, are just some of the other fashion brands that are also becoming more eco-friendly by making clothing out of recycled material, sourcing materials in ways that are more environmentally sound, and taking other measures.
When you consider the millions of consumers, hundreds of stores, and thousands of factories around the world, RILA’s Siegel says these efforts are important.
“There’s potential for significant global impact,” he said.
The SPDR S&P Retail ETF
XRT,
-2.76%
is up 6% for the last year while the S&P 500
SPX,
-0.46%
is up 12.3% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average
DJIA,
-0.92%
has rallied 18.2% for the period.
Check out fall colors near Mt. Baldy and REI garage sales
By Mary Forgione
Design and illustrations by Micah Fluellen
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Welcome to The Wild. I recently went hiking in Icehouse Canyon near Mt. Baldy, where the trail follows an offshoot of San Antonio Creek. I hadn’t thought much about the name, so I did some digging. I found an 1857 newspaper ad touting “Ice! Ice! Ice!” for 15 cents a pound.
Ice moguls Damien Marchessault and Victor Beaudry transported blocks from the canyon to downtown L.A. by pack mule to sell to restaurants and residents. (Sadly, Marchessault, who later became mayor of L.A., shot himself in the head in City Council chambers, citing drinking, gambling and a $3,000 debt as reasons in a suicide note to his wife.)
I found something better than ice on my hike: a remarkable number of big-leaf maple trees changing from green to gold to brown. These trees have large, hand-shaped leaves that glow in the light of late afternoon.
The higher I went up the canyon, the better the colors became. I pressed on to the saddle at 7,500 feet, where all-day hikers choose routes to Cucamonga (permits are now required), Ontario, Timber and other peaks, but you don’t need to go that far.
Even a mile walk reveals nice fall colors you can enjoy while sitting on a boulder facing the creek. Add Icehouse Canyon to your leaf-peeping list, particularly during midweek when fewer people are on trail. Bring lunch and snacks, and enjoy autumn — until the ice sets in.
3 things to plan this week
Celebrating 10 years of CicLAvia.
(Brian Rea)
1. Become an urban explorer on these CicLAvia neighborhood routes. CicLAvia this year notched a decade of hosting events throughout the L.A. area that close streets to cars and open them to bikers, skaters, runners, walkers and skateboarders. In that time, more than 2 million people have hit the car-free streets and explored parts of the city they may never have seen. The big street events are on hold because of the pandemic, but you can follow CicLAvia itineraries to create your own self-guided tours of Boyle Heights, the Civic Center and Little Tokyo, Chinatown and El Pueblo, and L.A.’s Historic Core. Find out more at CicLAvia Explores.
Death Valley campgrounds have opened for winter.
(Ben Greenburg / National Park Service; Pierre Longnus / Getty Images)
2. Go camping in Death Valley during its chill season. Many mountain campgrounds close for the season in fall. It’s just the opposite in Death Valley National Park when triple-digit heat subsides and cooler temperatures prevail. The park’s 762 campsites are open, most on a first-come, first-served basis. Here’s a list of campgrounds; some are free, others cost $14 to $16 per night. Reservations at the Furnace Creek Campground start at $22 a night and can be made at recreation.gov now through April 15. Each campsite is limited to eight people and two vehicles. Social distancing guidelines in the outdoors are in place, and remember to wear a mask when you pass others.
Learn how to take care of your store-bought orchids.
(Micah Fluellen / Los Angeles Times)
3. Learn the secret to keeping store-bought orchids alive. I love orchids, but I hate killing the ones I buy at Trader Joe’s or Home Depot. No. 1 no-no? Overwatering. Then there’s the shock the plants feel when you move them around your garden or home. Who knew? “Plants in the wild don’t move,” says Brandon Tam, an orchid specialist at the Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens. “If they do, they are going down the canopies of the rainforest. Any drastic change causes shock. Even if it’s just from the office to the bedroom.” Read all of Tam’s tips in this story.
Wild things
More bison will be joining Catalina Island’s herd.
(Catalina Island Conservancy )
I traveled to Catalina Island’s quiet side in the spring and came in contact (not intentionally) with some of its famed 100-or-so bison. It’s amazing to watch these free-range creatures navigate the hills and hidden coves in the back country. Bison have been on the island for almost a century, but in an effort to breed healthier offspring and strengthen the herd through genetic diversity, two pregnant females from the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd in Fort Collins, Colo., will arrive in December. They carry genes from the Yellowstone National Park herd, “the only place in the lower 48 states to have a continuously free-ranging bison population since prehistoric times,” the park’s website says. Pretty cool to have a herd of the largest North American land mammals so close at hand. Babies are due in spring.
Cool stuff
National Parks scratch-off chart.
(Pop Chart)
This National Parks Scratch-Off Chart resembles a cross between an Advent calendar and a Scratcher card. It’s pretty simple: Visit a national park and scratch it off your bucket list, revealing a color vista on a grid of 62 squares, one for each park. Pop Chart describes its mission as “turning nerdily encyclopedic pop-cultural knowledge into gorgeous, richly detailed infographics.” You can frame your chart and hang it on the wall. It could be good holiday gift for kids too. $25 at PopChart.
The must-read
Wildlife on Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands.
(Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)
Nothing like a trip to the Galápagos Islands to savor some pandemic-free (or maybe election-anxiety free?) moments. Times staffer Susanne Rust reports that the famed islands, 600 miles west of Ecuador’s coast, are temporarily free of visitors because of the COVID-19 lull in tour boats. That means wildlife has been out and about: Times photographer Carolyn Cole has captured images of creatures from the ocean (rainbow runners) to the streets (tortoises) to the rocks (blue-footed boobies and baby sea lions) to the air (frigatebirds). These images calmed me even from thousands of miles away. Read the full story here. By the way, Americans now are allowed to travel to the islands, provided they have negative PCR test results taken within 96 hours of arrival.
Insider tip
More ways to buy lightly used gear from REI.
(Moniaphoto / Getty Images; Ganesh Bastola / Getty Images; Thomas Northcut / Getty Images)
REI has been in the used-gear business for years. Its Garage Sales are always a great place to pick up high-quality returned or lightly used gear at a discount. You might find boots that someone wore once, snowshoes that didn’t work out, or a tent that was too short for the person who bought it. The big in-store sales aren’t happening this year because of COVID-19, so the outdoor retailer came up with a few smart workarounds.
REI is opening two pop-up stores for members in a pilot program that sells only used gear. One opened Saturday in Manhattan Beach, a few doors down from the REI store at 1800 Rosecrans Ave.; the other will open at a Pennsylvania site. “It gives us the opportunity to introduce more of our members to more activities, and helps us reduce our overall impact on the environment,” said Ken Voeller, manager of re-commerce.
Other ways the store feeds the “circular economy” (putting used gear in people’s hands instead of landfills): You’ll find some Garage Sale items on racks at its retail outlets and online 24/7 at the Good & Used web page, which REI launched two years ago. “It has exceeded all of our expectations,” Voeller said. “To date it’s up 100% over last year.” Also, members (one-time $20 fee) can trade in their clean old gear to receive a gift card in the amount of its assessed value. Check it all out at rei.com.
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Click here to view the web version of this newsletter and share with others. I’m Mary Forgione and I write The Wild. I’ve been exploring trails and open spaces in Southern California for four decades.
Taco Bell’s Fry Force Anime Deserves to be Real
Taco Bell’s brilliant new “Fry Force” commercial has captured the attention of hungry anime enthusiasts – but we want more.
In an era of all-too available late-night snacking fueling nights of anime binge-watching, companies are jumping on trends to up our junk food supply. Among the most perceptive are the ad masters at Taco Bell. The newly released “Fry Force,” advertising a limited-run menu item, is… nacho average ad. First airing during the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, this clever commercial is practically begging to be made into an actual thing — and “Fry Force” deserves it.
From the cryptic “Belluminati” video to the horror-themed “The Craving,” Taco Bell has put out some pretty creative commercials in its time. But now the Mexcian-inspired food chain has gone above and beyond to make us buy cheap tacos – or, more specifically, Nacho Fries. To up the hype for the return of their popular (but temporary) Nacho Fries menu item, Taco Bell introduced an anime-inspired ad in which the mecha pilot group Fry Force must face evil in order to “save Nacho Fries and the world.”
RELATED: Taco Bell Anime Is An Evangelion-style Mecha vs Kaiju Battle for… Nacho Fries
The impressively animated commercial checks all the boxes on the mecha anime trope list. The quirky-haired protagonist Rei leads an elite squad of mecha pilots who fend off giant invading monsters that will stop at nothing to devour all of the Nacho Fries in the world. Rei’s character is complete with a tragic backstory, with her brother Kosuke taken by the Nacho Fry monsters before suddenly reappearing under their thrall. Dual-wielding glowing green blades, the fighter is last shown running at her fry-munching brother for an epic battle.
Reminiscent of many classic mecha anime like Evangelion and Gundam, Fry Force presents an array of well-designed, vibrant robot soldiers and pilots with plenty of potential for development. Pulling out all the stops, the Taco Bell commercial even features voicework from Steve Blum, famous for voicing Spike Spiegel in Cowboy Bebop’s English dub. Virtual YouTuber Gawr Gura also makes a blink-and-you-miss-it cameo, proving how far Taco Bell’s Live Más Productions will go to make a crowd-pleaser.
related: Gundam Evolution Combines Mobile Suits With A Team-Based FPS
Unlike the majority of mecha anime, however, “Fry Force” doesn’t take itself so seriously. It’s packed with hilarious fast food-themed one-liners like “Order up!” and “I’m getting fried here!” The protagonist even proclaims that she’s “hungry for hope.” The perfectly punny and cheesy tone of the commercial hits just right – it’s a well-crafted parody that could easily transition into something more.
Shortly before the release of the animated video, Taco Bell presented a short Fry Force manga introducing their ad campaign’s idea. In the announcement, Taco Bell calls out otakus who will ingest endless anime, insisting that Nacho Fries are an “o-tacos’” dream.
With such a hilarious and elaborate introduction and premise, anime enthusiasts are calling for Taco Bell to turn their anime ad into a fully-fledged series. This commercial alone is just as tragically short as the limited availability of the Nacho Fries themselves. Much like the otherworldly kaiju that Fry Force battles, we can’t get enough – make it real!
KEEP READING: Gundam Studio Previews 11 Minutes of New Mecha Series Kyokai Senki
Which Shonen Jump Creators Had the Most Successful Comebacks?
About The Author
Ashley Maaike
(50 Articles Published)
Ashley Maaike is a freelance writer, starry-eyed poet, and zealous dungeon master. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran University as Creative Writing major and has worked as a writer & editor for literary journals and entertainment websites. When her fingers stop typing away, you may find her binging Studio Ghibli movies, farming in Stardew Valley, or backpacking along the coast.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-corr
More From Ashley Maaike
90,000 Mikhail Nikolaev: “I don’t see wine as a collectible”
Mikhail Nikolaev
In one decade, you and Lefkadia have covered the path that European wine dynasties have spent tens and hundreds of years. How did it happen?
Wine is a fascinating activity, I think you will agree with me. Aristocratic, noble. It started as a hobby and led to the purchase of vineyards.As for the results, here, according to the well-known expression, “cadres decide everything.” We immediately attracted world experts in agronomy and winemaking to the project. Both French experts have worked on the famous Rothschild projects for over 17 years. Gilles Rey is the chief agronomist of the Mouton-Rothschild winery in France. Patrick Leon is a legendary French oenologist who has worked with us since 2007. He was the technical director of the Mouton-Rothschild winery. Patrick was at the forefront of such famous wine projects as Opus One , Almaviva , Château d’Esclans .Both of them have created legendary wine projects in more than ten countries around the world. They carefully studied the composition of the soil, carried out a detailed analysis, looked closely and finally agreed to work on the creation of premium wines “Valley of Lefkadia”. They gave their consent precisely because of the exceptional properties of the terroir, the potential of which they considered promising.
In Russia, you were the first to take up terroir winemaking. What does this mean and why were there difficulties with this before?
The “pedigree” for wine is terroir.Relying on our own laboratory and a professionally selected park of vinificators (containers), for ten years we have been conducting experimental vinification of individual varieties on different rootstocks and different areas. This process is necessary in order to understand which varieties in which vineyards give the best results. Thus, a map of the Lefkadia Valley micro-terroirs was formed. Now we know for sure on which types of plots are perfect for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Cabernet Franc – in the sense that the varieties open up and give the best results in wine.Today, 22 varieties of grapes grow in the “Valley of Lefkadia”, although 28 varieties were originally planted.
You were the first to apply a very dense vineyard planting according to the French principle of 1.5 meters by 1 meter. Why did you decide to take such a step?
This planting affects the quality of the wine, it was used in Bordeaux, but in Russia it was not done before. We relied on the opinion of experts, and further developments confirmed the correctness of this decision. Today Lefkadia can be compared to an innovation center that applies all the advanced achievements of science in wine production: it was here that the first gravitational winery in Russia was created, equipped with all types of containers for aging wine: concrete, wooden, metal, clay.We have amphorae, pithos, barrels, butts, vats … We have collected both unique egg-shaped concrete containers and 12-sided metal dodecahedrons. This is not the case in any winery in the world.
The pride of “Lefkadia” is a modern, the best laboratory in Eastern Europe, where technical, analytical and microbiological research is carried out. Several dozen international and Russian grape varieties are studied and cultivated in the nursery under the supervision of French specialists. A full-cycle laboratory allows us to carry out the entire range of research, from soil and plant analysis to tasting finished products – wine and cheeses.We choose a high-quality vine for planting (and this is the basis of the wine, grapes can be spoiled by poor vinification, but it cannot be improved), we feed the vineyard correctly, heal, we harvest on time based on the analysis of berries. Today many winemakers of the region use the services of our laboratory. In general, every detail influences the quality of wine – the terroir, the vine, the barrel, and the cork …
The middle son of Mikhail Nikolaev, Mikhail Nikolaev-
junior – managing partner of the family enterprise “Nikolaev and Sons”
And the choice of wine is influenced by the label.
When creating it, it is important to understand the character of the wine and the portrait of the consumer. Wine is an author’s product, so the label must first of all reflect the author’s idea. For example, Lefkadia Reserve. The circles on the label represent the caps of the bottles in the collector’s rack. This collection wine has great aging potential. It can be stored in your cellar for many years, getting better and better over time. The style of the label in this case is laconic and conservative, since it is addressed to a conservative consumer.
In 2019, the authoritative wine critic Robert Parker, whose nose is insured for $ 1 million, awarded the red wine Lefkadia Reserve 91 points out of 100. Could you tell us more about how the wine assessment process works? What do you need to do to slip your wine under the critic’s nose?
In London, at the premiere of a film about Andrei Chelishchev, an American winemaker from a Russian noble family, we met Robert Parker, a representative of the agency Wine Advocate , who became interested in a fragment dedicated to Lefkadia.He tasted our wine at the premiere and requested samples for tasting. So we sent our wines to the USA to Robert Parker. Six types of wine went overseas, each of which received high marks from the critic, namely from 88 to 91 points out of 100. Two wines – “Lefkadia Reserve 2014” and “Lefkadia Reserve 2012” – were awarded 91 points for the first time in the history of the entire post-Soviet space.
The hero of Haruki Murakami’s novel “Hunting for Sheep”, having tasted the wine, “felt the concentrated taste of money on his tongue.”Do you have similar associations?
I don’t see wine as a collectible for money. I have no association of wine with money. For me, wine is a world of emotions. And the associations that I have about wine are rather artistic and emotional: wine can resemble a strict man buttoned up to his chin, or it can resemble a flower meadow.
What is the main public misconception regarding Russian wine?
We have an opinion that the Russian product is worse than the imported one.But in any price category, Russian wine, as a rule, is better in terms of price-quality ratio. At the same time, the Western public is just more objective and open to the perception of new things. There are many foreigners among the fans of our wines. Not so long ago I was pleased to learn that among them is the Swiss Ambassador to Russia Yves Rossier. It is always a great joy for me.
“Valley of Lefkadia” is surrounded by a protected forest. In the immediate vicinity of the winery you can
buy homestead
How can a Robb Report reader try himself as a winemaker in the vineyards of Lefkadia? Agritourism is becoming more and more popular, many have wished to engage in their gardens, subsistence farming.Should I start?
Definitely worth it to experience the indescribable feeling of freedom, creativity and unity with nature. How to do it? It’s very simple. It is enough, based on your budget, to purchase a plot of land and sign a contract with us for agricultural work and vinification. Success is guaranteed.
There is such a beautiful word caudal (from the Latin cauda – “tail”), a unit for measuring the duration of the aftertaste. How long does your wine taste in your mouth?
I understand your question, but the point is that somehow we do not specifically evaluate our wine from this point of view.I can assure you that all Lefkadia wines have a long and complex aftertaste. This property as a whole suggests that the wine is of high quality, matured and has great storage potential. If the product does not possess this property, then the wine is either of poor quality or “dying”.
The article “Let’s drink to love” was published in the magazine “Robb Report”
(No. 9, December 2020).
