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Business Wire
30-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Divert Breaks Ground on Lexington, North Carolina Facility to Accelerate the Circular Economy
WEST CONCORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Stop Food Waste Day — Divert, Inc., a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted, announced today the groundbreaking of its Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Lexington, North Carolina, addressing a critical need for infrastructure to combat the wasted food crisis in the southeast U.S. 'It is fitting that today's groundbreaking falls on Stop Food Waste Day, as we continue to scale our infrastructure to advance a circular food system nationwide—and now in North Carolina,' said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder, Divert. Share 'It is fitting that today's groundbreaking falls on Stop Food Waste Day, as we continue to scale our infrastructure to advance a circular food system nationwide—and now in North Carolina,' said Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder, Divert. 'We know that this community shares our vision for advancing sustainability and circularity, and we welcome the opportunity to bring significant social, environmental, and economic benefits to the region.' North Carolina generates more than 2.6 million tons of wasted food in a year. Yet nearly 1.5 million North Carolinians are food insecure. Divert is tackling this problem nationwide and now striving to bridge this gap in the southeast U.S.—converting unsold food products into carbon-negative renewable energy, and soil amendment. 'Food waste is a daunting challenge, and Divert's innovative new facility will drive down food waste, convert it to renewable energy and soil enhancements, and create jobs. That's a win-win-win for North Carolina,' said NCDEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. With the development of its Integrated Diversion & Energy Facilities, Divert now provides an end-to-end solution that prevents wasted food, facilitates edible food recovery to feed people in need, and transforms unsold food products into beneficial products. In doing so, Divert is recouping the value in unsold food by producing renewable energy, preventing it from going to landfill and creating harmful methane emissions, while also returning the nutrients in food back to the earth to support further food growth—advancing a circular food system. 'This groundbreaking marks the beginning of something truly meaningful,' said Jason Brown, former National Football League lineman and founder of First Fruits Farm in Louisburg, North Carolina. 'Divert is creating a pathway for sustainable change that supports farmers and strengthens our fight against hunger in North Carolina. I'm honored to stand with them in this mission.' Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit, a part of the $1.3 trillion asset manager of TIAA, has invested more than $90 million to fund the development of the Lexington facility. 'Divert's remarkable trajectory and strong operational track record exemplify the kind of impact-driven innovation that Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit is proud to support—tackling critical global issues like wasted food while advancing sustainable solutions,' said Julie Findlay, Managing Director, Nuveen Energy Infrastructure Credit. 'The groundbreaking today marks another important milestone for Divert, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth as the company drives meaningful, scalable change for the industry.' The facility will employ around 60 individuals and have the capacity to process 100,000 tons of unsold food products a year from food retailers, warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing locations. 'Harris Teeter is proud to support Divert and its transformative approach to preventing wasted food,' said Danna Robinson, Director of Corporate Affairs & Customer Relations for Harris Teeter. 'Through Divert's innovative technology, Harris Teeter has removed more than 40 million pounds of food and packaging from the waste stream in the last year. This effort creates more sustainable practices in the food supply chain and allows Harris Teeter to live its purpose: Enriching Lives – one meal, one family, one associate and one community at a time.' 'We are thrilled that Divert is bringing its innovative approach to clean energy to Lexington,' said Jason Hayes, Mayor of Lexington. 'Divert's investment in our community solidifies Lexington's place as a prime location for sustainable, successful businesses, and we welcome the widespread positive economic impact through the creation of new job opportunities for our community.' The Lexington facility builds on Divert's growing momentum nationwide, with the company having opened its first Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Turlock, California in 2024. Divert plans to scale to 30 facilities across the country, including in Washington and Ohio. For more information on Divert, please visit About Divert Divert is a circular economy company on a mission to prevent food from being wasted through nationwide infrastructure and innovative technologies. Founded in 2007, the company provides an end-to-end solution that leverages data to prevent waste, facilitates edible food recovery to provide to people in need, and transforms unsold food products into renewable energy to power communities. Through this integrated approach to reducing wasted food–Prevent, Provide, Power™–Divert works with customers across the U.S. to reduce wasted food and positively impact people and the environment. Divert is a portfolio company of Ara Partners, a global private equity firm that is decarbonizing the industrial economy. For more information on Divert, Inc., please visit and follow the company on LinkedIn, X, Threads, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. About Ara Partners Ara Partners is a global private equity and infrastructure investment firm focused on industrial decarbonization. Founded in 2017, Ara Partners seeks to build and scale companies with significant decarbonization impact across the industrial and manufacturing, chemicals and materials, energy efficiency and green fuels, and food and agriculture sectors. The company operates from offices in Houston, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Dublin. Ara Partners closed its third private equity fund in December 2023 with over $2.8 billion in capital commitments. As of December 31, 2024, Ara Partners had approximately $6.2 billion of assets under management. For more information about Ara Partners, please visit
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Polaris Built The Most Dominant UTV In Racing And You Can Buy One For Only $140,000
It seems that nobody can beat Polaris in off-road competition these days, and the engineers behind this monster machine are quite proud of it. Now the company is offering you a chance to drive the same equipment that the pros do, with the $139,999 2025 Polaris RZR Pro R Factory. A direct replica of the machines the Polaris factory race team uses in international off-road racing, the Pro R is the dirt rider you need if you want to take your competitive skills to the next level. There's a lot of engineering that goes into a race winning vehicle like that, likely with a price into the millions for Polaris, and here's your chance to buy that engineering and racing experience at a deep discount. The concept of a "race replica" is not a foreign one to two-wheeled riders, with a variety of factory racers offered to collectors and track enthusiasts for decades. Polaris, perhaps learning from its Indian Motorcycles division, has spent decades developing the ultimate off-road racing UTV for competition in events like the Mint 400, Baja 1000, and Dakar rally. The RZR, in fact, successfully defended its class victory in the Dakar just last month, and spent 2024 dominating the SCORE Pro UTV Open class taking its second championship in a row. If you've always wanted to see if you have what it takes to go against the best in the world on an even playing field, this is probably your best opportunity to do just that. Maybe you'll be faster, maybe you'll be slower, but you'll know it wasn't the equipment that let you down. Polaris says the point of building and selling this thing is to "continue to elevate the sport of side-by-side racing, intensify competition among top-tier teams, and set new benchmarks for desert-racing dominance." Only 30 examples will be built in collaboration with Scanlon Clarke Industries, the engineering brains behind the RZR Factory Racing Team. Read more: 2024 Toyota Tacoma Hybrid Blows Away Every Truck In Its Segment "The RZR Pro R Factory represents the pinnacle of Polaris' off-road innovation, offering off-road racers and teams a unique opportunity to own a purpose-built machine designed to win," said Reid Wilson, President of Polaris Off Road. "Since its debut, we've received incredible interest and demand for the vehicle from other teams, fueled by its unmatched track record. By making this vehicle available, we're empowering more teams to elevate competition and set a new standard for off-road racing, further reinforcing Polaris' leadership in the industry." This machine takes the standard RZR Pro R two-seater you can buy at any local Polaris dealer and amps up the off-roady-ness. The standard 2-liter ProStar engine remains, but has had its power output increased ten percent to 255 ponies. While the finished product looks pretty much like the standard Pro R, so much has changed under the skin that it's basically a whole new thing. The magic is in the suspension, with a race-spec MaxLink setup with Fox live valve X2 shocks, and semi-active Dynamix DV suspension control. The race-spec Alcon brakes have driver-adjustable bias to keep you on top of your race. And of course the wheel and tire package is beefed up to handle the rigors of the desert with Method bead locks and 35-inch BF Goodrich KR2s. The RZR Pro Factory gets a specially reinforced high-strength steel chassis with a full complement of carbon fiber body panels, a lightweight lithium 12v battery, mil-spec minimalist wiring harness, and carbon kevlar Sparco race seats to keep weight at a minimum. The fuel tank has been replaced with a long-range 130 liter racing fuel cell with dry-break filler to keep the risk of fire to a minimum in the desert. Because Polaris knows flat tires happen in competition, there's a streamlined and easy spare tire mounting system with all of the tools close by and easy to access for that emergency swap. There's also a full integrated fire suppression system, just in case the sh*t hits the fan. A MoTeC system runs the whole shooting match with real-time data logging and on-the-fly controls with big mushy buttons so you can still smash them with your race gloves on. This monster machine carries more than a $100,000 premium over the standard RZR Pro R, but building and preparing one of those to this standard of competition would surely smash through that money pretty quickly. If you want to go racing against the winners, you're better off just buying from the winners. Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
POLARIS RZR PRO R FACTORY: THE INDUSTRY'S ONLY OEM-PRODUCED RACE-READY SIDE-BY-SIDE NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
Unmatched. Unwavering, Unforgettable. Polaris Delivers Winning Performance to Racers With 30 Purpose-Built RZR Pro R Factory Machines Scanlon Clarke Industries (SCi) and RZR Factory Racing Team Set to Provide Sale Support MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Polaris Off Road, the leader in off-road vehicle innovation, today announces the availability of the RZR Pro R Factory - a groundbreaking race-ready platform developed by the RZR Racing division and proven in the world's toughest races. As the only OEM-produced race UTV, the RZR Pro R Factory has redefined off-road competition, most recently winning the SSV class at the prestigious 2025 Dakar Rally for the second consecutive year and dominating the SCORE Pro UTV Open class with back-to-back championships. This elite machine is now available for purchase in limited quantities, with only 30 units being offered in 2025. Originally launched in 2023 and exclusively campaigned by the RZR Factory Racing team until this point, the RZR Pro R Factory has proven itself as the ultimate racing UTV. The RZR Pro R Factory touts race-winning performance, desert-racing design, and race-optimized technology, making it the ultimate machine for hardcore off-road racers. Meticulously engineered with race-enhanced components while maintaining the proven strength and reliability of the stock RZR Pro R platform, this vehicle is built to excel in the world's most challenging competitions, including SCORE, Best in the Desert, and the Unlimited Series. By delivering an elite, race-ready platform, Polaris continues to elevate the sport of side-by-side racing, intensify competition among top-tier teams and set new benchmarks for desert-racing dominance. Offered annually in limited quantities, the initial 2025 run will include just 30 vehicles, making these high-performance machines highly exclusive. Polaris will produce the RZR Pro R Factory units in partnership with Scanlon Clarke Industries (SCi), leveraging years of collaboration with the RZR Factory Racing team. SCi will manage all sales and post-sale support, including technical assistance and parts supply, ensuring racers have the resources they need to maintain peak performance and reliability in the most demanding conditions. "The RZR Pro R Factory represents the pinnacle of Polaris' off-road innovation, offering off-road racers and teams a unique opportunity to own a purpose-built machine designed to win," said Reid Wilson, President of Polaris Off Road. "Since its debut, we've received incredible interest and demand for the vehicle from other teams, fueled by its unmatched track record. By making this vehicle available, we're empowering more teams to elevate competition and set a new standard for off-road racing, further reinforcing Polaris' leadership in the industry." Engineered by the RZR Racing division, the RZR Pro R Factory showcases the performance, design, and technology of the stock RZR Pro R platform, elevated to elite racing standards. At its core, an optional 255-horsepower, race-tuned ProStar Fury HO 2.0 engine is paired with a rear-mounted radiator, integrated transmission oil cooler, and dual 500W fans to maintain peak performance under extreme conditions. Race-spec MaxLink suspension, FOX® Live Valve X2 shocks, and a DYNAMIX DV semi-active system ensure precise control, while Alcon brakes with adjustable in-cab bias deliver unmatched stopping power. Meanwhile, rugged 35" BFGoodrich® KR2 tires and Method® 407 bead-grip wheels provide exceptional durability and traction across demanding terrain. The RZR Pro R Factory features a one-piece high-strength steel chassis for lightweight durability to withstand the most grueling races worldwide, complemented by carbon fiber body panels and components that optimize the power-to-weight ratio. Additionally, a 130L fuel cell with a dry break allows extended range and quick refueling, while carbon Kevlar Sparco® seats and an integrated steering wheel provide ergonomic comfort. With streamlined spare tire and tool storage, the RZR Pro R Factory helps minimize downtime during competition. Advanced race-ready technology further sets the RZR Pro R Factory apart. A MoTeC system offers real-time control and performance data logging, while the race-tuned DYNAMIX DV suspension with Baja Mode delivers exceptional shock absorption and handling. Finally, military-spec wiring and a lightweight lithium battery enhance integration of accessories, ensuring racers have the tools to dominate even the harshest environments. The RZR Pro R Factory will have a starting MSRP of $139,999. To learn more, please visit or join the conversation and follow on Facebook sm, Instagram sm, YouTube sm and Xsm. About Polaris As the global leader in powersports, Polaris Inc. (NYSE: PII) pioneers product breakthroughs and enriching experiences and services that have invited people to discover the joy of being outdoors since our founding in 1954. Polaris' high-quality product line-up includes the RANGER, RZR and Polaris XPEDITION and GENERAL side-by-side off-road vehicles; Sportsman all-terrain off-road vehicles; military and commercial off-road vehicles; snowmobiles; Indian Motorcycle mid-size and heavyweight motorcycles; Slingshot moto-roadsters; Aixam quadricycles; Goupil electric vehicles; and pontoon and deck boats, including industry-leading Bennington pontoons. Polaris enhances the riding experience with a robust portfolio of parts, garments, and accessories. Headquartered in Minnesota, Polaris serves nearly 100 countries across the globe. FOX® is a registered trademark of Fox Factory Inc. METHOD RACE WHEELS® is a registered trademark of Custom Wheel House BF Goodrich® is a registered trademark of B.F. Goodrich Company Sparco® is a registered trademark of Sparco S.p.A Unless noted, trademarks are the property of Polaris Industries Inc. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Polaris Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio
