Latest news with #BlueRaspberry
Chicago Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Down to Business: Naperville shaved ice biz a lot of fun, but forget taking a summer vacation, owners say
Business: Kona Ice of Central Naperville Address: Naperville Phone/website: 630-448-8851; Owners: Taylor Mazurek, 27, and Logan Mazurek, 27, both of Naperville Years in business: 3 What does your business do? 'We hand them the cups of shaved ice. Customers choose which flavors they want. … We also offer smoothies,' Logan said. So you are like an ice cream truck? 'We do a little bit of that. … We have the (steel drum) music playing. The lights are on,' Taylor said. 'But most of our bookings are private events or public events like a big block party. We come out and sell kona. We do birthday parties, graduation parties, corporate, schools, youth sports, everything.' How does this business work? 'We're completely mobile. Three trucks. And we have a kiosk. In June, it was parked at Sam's Club in Montgomery,' she said. What is each truck worth? '$160,000,' Logan said. Is this your full-time job? 'It's mostly Taylor's thing. I have a full-time job. I'm a software engineer at Lockheed Martin,' Logan said. 'In college, I worked for the Kona Ice franchise in Lafayette, Indiana, near Purdue University. That's where I grew up, my summer job,' Taylor said. 'I worked for that franchise a long time and realized this is super cool. … After college, we moved to Florida. I was working remotely for Kona.' 'One day in Florida we were randomly looking at ZIP codes — I grew up in Naperville — and saw this territory was open,' Logan said. What's your territory? 'Naperville, Bolingbrook, a little bit of Aurora, two streets in Plainfield,' Taylor said. When do you work? 'From March till the end of October. It helps that Logan has a full-time job. … We run this truck all winter because it has smoothies for corporate events,' Taylor said. You don't take summer vacations? 'We don't. If we travel, it's in the winter when it's our off-season,' Taylor said. What's new? 'We have dye-free concentrate we mix with any flavor. That's a big draw. The other (draws) are vegan and gluten free and free of the top nine allergens. It's a treat everyone can eat,' Taylor said. What do you like about this business? 'It's always different and everyone is always happy to see you,' Logan said. 'It's super fun,' Taylor said. 'Touching on Logan's point, it's something new every single day. You're meeting new people. We've had really cool opportunities we wouldn't have gotten without Kona.' What's the key? 'Speed of service. We can do 350 servings in one hour,' Logan said. What about prices? 'It starts at $4 for a small, medium is $5, large is $6 and we have a cowabunga cup that's $7,' Taylor said. 'The perk about the $6 and $7 cups, they're plastic and so they're reusable. If a customer brings back their cup, we will re-fill it for $3.' What challenges do you face? 'I don't feel we have any challenges or competition,' Logan said. Of the 10 flavors, which is most popular? 'Blue Raspberry doubles everything else,' Taylor said. Where do you get the ice? 'We have an ice maker at the shop. We fill these (bins) with ice before the truck goes out,' Logan said. How many employees do you have? 'We have 11 right now,' Taylor said. 'We have our family working for us too. Logan's parents. They like it.' Any favorite stories? 'Before we were picking up the chest freezer at the Best Buy warehouse, I measured,' Logan said. 'But because of the box, it was a half-inch too big to fit on our truck. I went to rent a truck. The guy at the warehouse stayed late for us. We gave him and all the guys who stayed later some free Kona. They loved it.' 'He booked us for his daughter's birthday and he's had us out every single year since then,' Taylor said. 'He's a great client. Very loyal.' What should people know? 'We do a Chill Out Day every Tax Day. On April 15 we do free Kona, even if it's snowing outside. This year we did it at the Bolingbrook Village Hall and the Naperville Public Library on 95th Street,' Taylor said. What does a customer say? 'I've never had it before,' said Belvidere resident Tracy Taylor, transportation coordinator for Naperville School District 203. 'I'll try Blue Raspberry and Strawberry'd Treasure. … It's nice. It's cold. It's great.' What's your advice for someone starting a business? 'Being in business is freeing,' Taylor said. 'Working for yourself is fun. … Take the leap of faith even though it can be scary.'
Business Wire
08-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Cizzle Brands Announces Chain-Wide Launch of CWENCH Hydration™ at Longo's; Non-Brokered Private Placement
TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cizzle Brands Corporation (Cboe Canada: CZZL) (OTCQB: CZZLF) (Frankfurt: 8YF) (the 'Company' or 'Cizzle Brands'), is pleased to announce that CWENCH Hydration™ is now being sold by Longo's, an Ontario supermarket chain that is part of the Empire Company Limited family of grocery banners. This launch is part of Cizzle Brands' initiatives to commercialize CWENCH Hydration™ in strategically chosen markets across Canada, the United States, and Europe through channels including local grocery chains. CWENCH Hydration™ is also sold by other prominent regional grocers in Ontario including Metro, Fortinos, and Farm Boy (which is also part of Empire Company). All 39 locations of Longo's are now carrying CWENCH Hydration™, adding to availability of the product in key urban centres including the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton (Ancaster), Kitchener, and Guelph. All core flavours of CWENCH Hydration™ are being carried including Blue Raspberry, Rainbow Swirl, Cherry Lime, Berry Crush, and Coach Chippy's Tropical Flow. Longo's is promoting CWENCH Hydration™ as part of its weekly flyer, which can be viewed at the following link: On Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 1pm – 3pm ET, Cizzle Brands will be hosting a meet-and-greet with Coach Chippy at the Leaside location of Longo's in Toronto (93 Laird Drive, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3T7) to commemorate the official launch of CWENCH Hydration™ in Longo's supermarkets. Cizzle Brands' Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer John Celenza commented, 'Demand for CWENCH across Canada continues to outpace our expectations, and so we're focussed on making sure that it's available where people want it as part of their day-to-day lives. Both athletes and families looking to live a healthier lifestyle rely on Longo's, and other Empire Company banners, for their everyday needs. This is why we're so excited to be in Longo's where we expect to make a big splash at launch with displays that will stop you in your tracks.' Non-Brokered Private Placement Building upon the Company's strong Fiscal Q3 2025 sales performance, the Company is pleased to announce its intention to offer (the " Offering") up to 9,722,222 units (each, a " Unit") of the Company at a price of $0.36 per Unit, by way of non-brokered private placement, for gross proceeds of up to $3,500,000. Each Unit will consist of one common share of the Company (each, a " Share") and one share purchase warrant of the Company (each, a " Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one additional Share of the Company at a price of $0.44 for a period of thirty-six months from the date of issuance. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used primarily for working capital and general corporate purposes. The closing of the Offering is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of Cboe Canada Inc. (' Cboe Canada '). All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory four month and one day hold period from their date of issue pursuant to National Instrument 45-102 – Resale of Securities. The Company retains the right to close the Offering in one or more tranches. The Company may pay finder's fees in respect of those purchasers under the Offering introduced to the Company by certain persons in accordance with the policies of, and subject to the approval of, Cboe Canada. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described in this news release. Such securities have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ' U.S. Securities Act '), or any state securities laws, and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold within the United States, or to or for the account or benefit of persons in the United States or 'U.S. Persons', as such term is defined in Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements. Change of Principal Regulator Cizzle Brands also announced a change in its principal securities regulator, effective as of today, from the British Columbia Securities Commission (the ' BCSC ') to the Ontario Securities Commission (' OSC '). This change is being implemented in accordance with guidance provided by the BCSC. Cizzle's principal regulator was determined to be British Columbia for the Company's predecessor company, 1348512 B.C. Ltd., on the basis of jurisdiction of incorporation and location of management at the time that it became a reporting issuer. Following a reverse takeover, the BCSC requested that the Company change its principal regulator to the OSC on the basis of location of head office and the fact that the Company is listed on Cboe Canada. Cizzle continues to be incorporated in British Columbia, with a registered and records office in British Columbia. About Cizzle Brands Corporation Cizzle Brands Corporation is a sports nutrition company that is elevating the game in health and wellness. Through extensive collaboration and testing with leading athletes and trainers across several elite sports, Cizzle Brands has launched two leading product lines in the sports nutrition category: (i) CWENCH Hydration™, a better-for-you sports drink that is now carried in over 3,000 locations in Canada, the United States, and Europe; and (ii) Spoken Nutrition, a premium brand of athlete-grade nutraceuticals that carry the prestigious NSF Certified for Sport® qualification. All Cizzle Brands products are designed to help people achieve their best in both competitive sports and in living a healthy, vibrant, active lifestyle. For more information about Cizzle Brands, please visit: For more information about CWENCH Hydration™, please visit: On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, CIZZLE BRANDS CORPORATION 'John Celenza' John Celenza, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, but is not limited to, the successful closing of the Offering in one or more tranches, the anticipated gross proceeds of the Offering, the receipt of all applicable required approvals in respect of the Offering, including but not limited to the approval of Cboe Canada, the intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering, the Company's ability to complete the Offering on the proposed terms or at all, the hosting of a meet-and-greet with Coach Chippy and the Company's business plans and objectives. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risk factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation, except as otherwise required by law, to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors change.
Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Shoppers rush to buy Slush Puppie machine to beat the heat at home
The simple-to-use slushy maker is available at Amazon and comes with a host of syrups to whip up the ultimate retro refreshment Longer and hotter days are finally here, and while the majority have been looking forward to warmer weather, staying cool and comfortable during the days is becoming more of a challenge. When the heatwave hits, there's nothing quite like an ice-cold slushie to help take the edge off, and shoppers can find one voted an Amazon Choice product by shoppers. For those who want to recreate those nostalgic, frozen treats from the comfort of their homes, the Fizz Creations Slush Puppie Snow Cone Machine bundle is available on Amazon for £56.99 and it's a great option for entertaining on sunny days. The clever machine makes it simple to whip up refreshing snow cones and slushies from the kitchen counter. The bundle includes a pack of four iconic flavours: Blue Raspberry, Strawberry, Cola, and Lemon & Lime, so there's something for every taste. Featuring a handy ice-shaving mechanism, the Fizz Creations Slush Puppie machine transforms ordinary ice cubes into finely crushed snow, ready to soak up those classic-tasting syrups. Home-made slush machines have been given a premium facelift in recent times, with foodie kitchen brand Ninja launching their Ninja SLUSHi earlier this year when it immediately sold out. It's now back in stock and comes with a free Ninja cooling bottle so you can carry your cold drinks on the move. Known for its powerful blending and ice-crushing abilities, it's a popular pick for those wanting café-style frozen drinks at home. Also on sale at Ninja, customers can find the Ninja CREAMi deluxe with a £30 discount, it's ideal for making a plethora of your family's favourite frozen treats. The Slush Puppie brand holds a special place for many, and this home version captures the same flavours and texture found at seaside arcades and cinemas. It's a fun way to cool down and adds a playful, retro touch to any gathering. Replacement syrups are also available to buy separately, with plenty of flavours to choose from. As temperatures climb, a home slushie machine is a fun and refreshing addition to any kitchen space. Shoppers have taken to the reviews to share their thoughts. One person wrote: "A lovely little addition to my bar; the kids loved it." A second comment read: "A good product, which keeps the children amused for ages." A third person shared: "Perfect gift for a 6-year-old." However, one customer noted: "Great item, but the syrups are incredibly sour. Trying to find out the right ratio." The gadget is available at Amazon now, among a host of other kitchenware deals launched of Amazon's forthcoming Prime Day event which is set to run across the retailer from July 8.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kool-Aid and Nike Mix Flavor and Footwear with First-Ever Sneaker Collection Featuring Ja Morant
To celebrate the launch, Kool-Aid is introducing a limited-edition flavor pack, the first new offering from the brand in over five years CHICAGO, April 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, two of America's most iconic brands – Kool-Aid and Nike – announce an epic, wall-breaking collab that is sure to mix things up on and off the court. Introducing the Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 2, a one-of-a-kind sneaker collaboration bursting with vibrant colorways inspired by Kool-Aid's iconic flavors. The partnership blends sneaker culture, self-expression, nostalgia and ultimate comfort—bringing together NBA star Ja Morant's signature Nike line with Kool-Aid's spirit of flavor and creativity. Inspired by Ja's life growing up in South Carolina, he wanted the sneaker colorways to nod to the special memories at his grandma's house. "I remember my grandma always having some Kool-Aid in the fridge and that's part of my special childhood memories," says Morant. Kool-Aid and Nike drew inspiration from Ja's favorite Kool-Aid flavors to help with the design of the shoe. The result is a collaboration that is fun, colorful and energetic, mirroring Ja's personality on and off the court. In addition to Ja's favorite flavors, the new Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 2 celebrates fans mixing different Kool-Aid flavors to create their own custom blend–currently trending on TikTok with 26MM videos. That same spirit of creativity and expression is what inspired the sneakers' bold colorway and playful details. The collection will have two drops for fans – the first in May, followed by a second drop in July. The first drop features a mix of performance and personality, with details including: A bold, two-tone color gradient inspired by Ja's favorite Kool-Aid flavors - Blue Raspberry and Cherry, blending into Orange and Lemon Lime on the sole The Kool-Aid man breaking through a wall, the iconic "Ohhh Yeah!" catchphrase, Ja's "12 AM" text and a glow-in-the-dark outsole The July drop will build on the collab with a boldness and freshness that we see Ja bring to the culture of basketball every day. Details include: Colorways inspired by the iconic Kool-Aid red that is synonymous with the Kool-Aid Man The same signature details as the May drop, including the Kool-Aid man breaking through a wall, the iconic "Ohhh Yeah!" catchphrase, Ja's "12 AM" text and a glow-in-the-dark outsole "For nearly 100 years, Kool-Aid has been a symbol of bold flavor, creativity and fun – bringing people together across generations," says Kristina Hannant, Marketing Director for Ready To Drink Beverages at Kraft Heinz. "Nike and Ja Morant share our passion for self-expression and driving culture, making this collaboration a natural fit. We're always looking for new and exciting ways for fans to celebrate their love for Kool-Aid, and this sneaker collab lets fans mix their kicks and beverages all in one." To further celebrate the launch, Kool-Aid is introducing a limited-edition flavor pack, the first new offering from the brand in over five years. The Mix n' Kicks combo pack lets fans mix and match four of the brand's most iconic flavors, and taps into the behavior of fans combining flavors to create their own unique drinks blends. In addition to the new offering, select fans can enter to win a set of custom Kool-Aid dubraes and laces to customize their sneakers. The first Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 2 drops in limited quantities beginning May 16 via the SNKRS app and at select retailers nationwide. Fans can visit the SNKRS app beginning May 2 to sign up for details on the drop and visit to enter to win the flavor pack and accessories. For more information on the Kool-Aid x Nike Ja 2 and to keep up on the drop details, follow @KoolAid @Nike and @JaMorant. ABOUT THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANYWe are driving transformation at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC), inspired by our Purpose, Let's Make Life Delicious. Consumers are at the center of everything we do. With 2024 net sales of approximately $26 billion, we are committed to growing our iconic and emerging food and beverage brands on a global scale. We leverage our scale and agility to unleash the full power of Kraft Heinz across a portfolio of eight consumer-driven product platforms. As global citizens, we're dedicated to making a sustainable, ethical impact while helping feed the world in healthy, responsible ways. Learn more about our journey by visiting or following us on LinkedIn. View source version on Contacts MEDIA CONTACTS ALISON BROD MARKETING + COMMUNICATIONSkraftheinz@ KRAFT HEINZmedia@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Globe and Mail
10-04-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Cizzle Brands Strengthens U.S. Footprint of CWENCH Hydration™ With Availability at United Supermarkets in Texas
Cizzle Brands Corporation (Cboe Canada: CZZL) (OTCQB: CZZLF) (Frankfurt: 8YF) (the 'Company' or 'Cizzle Brands'), is pleased to announce that the hydration mix format of its flagship product CWENCH Hydration™ is being carried by United Supermarkets, a grocery chain with a substantial presence in central and northern Texas, which includes urban areas such as Lubbock, Amarillo, Odessa, and Abilene. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: The 10-count hydration mix format of CWENCH Hydration™ is sold by United Supermarkets in Texas. As of April 2025, the original four flavours of CWENCH Hydration™ (Blue Raspberry, Cherry Lime, Rainbow Swirl, and Berry Crush) are being sold in the 10-count hydration mix packet format in-store at United Supermarkets. All four SKUs are also available through United Supermarkets' online ordering portal. United Supermarkets is part of The United Family, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of S&P MidCap 400 ® component Albertsons Companies, Inc., one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States. The United Family operates 99 stores under five different banners, serving 1.5 million guests per week in 54 Texas and New Mexico communities. So far in its Fiscal 2025 year, 20% of the Company's $5.64 million in net sales took place in the United States. As Cizzle Brands seeks to further scale the market share of CWENCH Hydration™ across North America, the Company has undertaken initiatives (such as becoming the Official Hydration Partner of USA Hockey) to fortify its U.S. footprint, alongside the strategic selection of retail partners such as United Supermarkets in key geographic areas. CWENCH Hydration™ is already carried across the Life Time chain of athletic country clubs in the United States, including at over 30 locations across the state of Texas. This placement with United Supermarkets is therefore expected to complement the brand's existing presence in several Texas regions. Cizzle Brands' Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer John Celenza commented, 'Each market is different in terms of the optimal tactics for launching a sports nutrition brand. This is why we're taking a patient, strategic, and selective approach to establishing CWENCH Hydration™ in specific U.S. markets, partnering with established and well-known local chains who have the reach and the capabilities to introduce the product to our target audience. We are proud to have CWENCH Hydration™ carried by United Supermarkets in Texas, and we look forward to building out our distribution pipeline in this dynamic and high-growth region of the United States.' About Cizzle Brands Corporation Cizzle Brands Corporation is a sports nutrition company that is elevating the game in health and wellness. Through extensive collaboration and testing with leading athletes and trainers across several elite sports, Cizzle Brands has launched two leading product lines in the sports nutrition category: (i) CWENCH Hydration™, a better-for-you sports drink that is now carried in over 1,800 locations in Canada, the United States, and Europe; and (ii) Spoken Nutrition, a premium brand of athlete-grade nutraceuticals that carry the prestigious NSF Certified for Sport ® qualification. All Cizzle Brands products are designed to help people achieve their best in both competitive sports and in living a healthy, vibrant, active lifestyle. For more information about Cizzle Brands, please visit: For more information about CWENCH Hydration™, please visit: On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, CIZZLE BRANDS CORPORATION 'John Celenza' John Celenza, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, information with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, such as, but not limited to: new products of the Company and potential sales and distribution opportunities. Such forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words and phrases such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Various assumptions or factors are typically applied in drawing conclusions or making the forecasts or projections set out in forward-looking information. Those assumptions and factors are based on information currently available to the Company. Forward looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other risk factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such risks include risks related to increased competition and current global financial conditions, access and supply risks, reliance on key personnel, operational risks, regulatory risks, financing, capitalization and liquidity risks. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation, except as otherwise required by law, to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors change.
