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Pairwise Food Tech Company Adds Overly to Board

Pairwise, a food tech company that uses gene editing to develop new varieties of fruits and vegetables, has added its second independent board member, Harry Overly.

Overly serves as chief executive officer of Flagstone Foods, headquartered in Minneapolis, one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of private label snacks in North America. A portfolio company of Atlas Holdings, LLC., Flagstone is a leading supplier of innovative, premier snack mixes, mixed nuts and dried fruit products. Overly also serves as a board member of Flagstone Foods.

Overly serves as the executive chairman of the board at Sun-Maid Growers of California, where he served as president & chief executive officer for five years. He is best known throughout his 20-year career as a visionary, leading new product innovation for the category-leading food brands for which he has worked, with significant executive-level experience in marketing, sales, and strategy.

The addition of Overly to the Pairwise board of directors is timely, as his diverse leadership and expertise in introducing and managing healthy food brands and products will inform the launch of Conscious Greens, a portfolio of new varieties of colorful, nutrient-dense salad greens coming to the U.S. market in 2023.

“Harry’s experience leading organizations focused on delivering innovative healthy snacking and fruit products is key to our goal of bringing healthier snacking options to consumers,” said Tom Adams, chief executive officer and co-founder of Pairwise. “Harry’s strategic and operational leadership in the snacking industry will be key to our company’s success,” Adams said.

Prior to joining Sun-Maid, Overly was the CEO of North America for Deoleo, the seller of the world’s largest olive oil brands, best known in the US for Bertolli Olive Oil. Before leading Deoleo’s business, Harry was the chief customer officer of TreeHouse Foods, the largest private label-focused food manufacturer in the United States with sales of approximately $7 billion. Before TreeHouse, Harry held several positions within marketing, sales, and product innovation within Kraft Foods, The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. and BestSweet, Inc.

In February 2021, Pairwise raised $90 million in a successful series B funding round, bringing total fundraising to $115 million when combined with the series A funding round. Additionally, Pairwise has a $100 million, five-year collaboration with Bayer Crop Science to advance gene editing tools in row crops. Pairwise is currently developing new types of leafy greens, berries, and cherries. In four years, the company has grown to over 150 employees with additional anticipated growth in 2023 as the company enters retail and food service.

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Buddy the Elf Headlines HelloFresh Spaghetti Kit

Meal kit company HelloFresh and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products are spreading holiday cheer like never before with the launch of limited-edition Buddy the Elf Spaghetti meal kits. Inspired by the dish featured in the beloved holiday film, Elf, these festive meal kits will provide fans – and anyone who shares Buddy’s affinity for elf culture – everything needed to make the sweet, syrupy, candy-filled spaghetti dish right in the comfort of their own workshops – we mean kitchens!

The HelloFresh version of the iconic dish famously devoured by Buddy the Elf stays true to an elf’s flavor palate, featuring notable ingredients – like candy and syrup – that are an essential part of an elf’s diet. Starting with Colavita spaghetti as the base, the HelloFresh recipe also includes maple syrup, chocolate syrup, marshmallows, chocolate nonpareil candies, crumbled chocolate frosted pastries, and more. With the option to eat with your hands or pair with a bottle of cola, Buddy the Elf Spaghetti is sure to make even South Pole elves smile.

“While drawing inspiration from the sweet spaghetti dish seen in the movie Elf, we created a chocolate-forward version that stays true to Buddy the Elf’s dish, incorporating crushed chocolate cereal, various chocolate candies, marshmallows, and of course, syrup,” said Michelle Doll Olson, HelloFresh culinary development manager. “Our goal is always to create recipes that are both tasty and fun to prepare, and we’re sure this over-the-top recipe will satisfy any elf’s sweet tooth while bringing the holiday spirit to your household!”

Starting on Dec. 5 at 12:25 p.m. EST, Buddy the Elf Spaghetti meal kits by HelloFresh will be available exclusively through www.HelloFreshElfSpaghetti.com with no subscription required. The kits are priced at $14.99 for two servings and include all of the pre-portioned ingredients and a step-by-step recipe card to make the dish in the comfort of your kitchen. A limited number of kits will be available for purchase each day from Monday, Dec. 5 through Friday, Dec. 9. Orders will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, regardless of whether you’re on the naughty or nice list. Orders open each day at 12:25 p.m. EST.

HelloFresh is also offering holiday-inspired recipes and winter-themed treats for every meal occasion this season featured on the HelloFresh menu and through the Market add-on store. Customers can check out www.HelloFresh.com and choose among a three-course feast, a selection of brunch options, special sides, decadent desserts, snacks, and more.

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Giant Food Launches 15 Days of Savings Holiday Campaign

To celebrate the season, Giant Food, the leading greater Washington, D.C., regional grocery chain, is holding its 15 Days of Savings holiday campaign to deliver surprise and delight value to customers. Using Giant’s Flexible Rewards loyalty program and a variety of digital offers, customers can save on featured popular holiday items through daily deals on items including baking ingredients, desserts, snacks, prepared foods and more, getting many items for free, and earning bonus Flexible Rewards points from Dec. 1-15.

“We have always prioritized our customers by offering discounts on fan-favorite items throughout the year,” said Melanie Butler, manager of customer relationship management and loyalty at Giant Food. “This year especially, we knew our community could benefit from additional savings and we are excited to launch this campaign to deliver even more value to our customers on items that will help to make their holidays memorable.”

Offers will be available for one day only and will be announced the day they are live. New offers will be posted every day in-store and online. Customers can check the signs in-store or at giantfood.com/pages/holiday-savings each day to take advantage of that day’s offer. The offers will be available for redemption in-store at any Giant location as well as through same-day Giant Delivers or Giant Pickup orders.

Giant’s 15 Days of Savings holiday campaign joins another valuable new Flexible Rewards program benefit, which allows customers to redeem their rewards points for highly sought-after store brand products, including bread, milk, vegetables, bottled water, and more at reduced point requirements. Product redemptions for the participating items are now available for only 50, 75 or 100 Flexible Rewards points, on average a 50 to 75 percent discount compared to typical redemption value for grocery savings, allowing customers to experience increased value in everyday shopping.

The Giant Flexible Rewards program is the faster way to save and earn rewards. Through regular shopping at any Giant Food store or online at giantfood.com, members earn points through qualifying purchases to use toward rewards offerings on grocery spending, gas savings, free product offers and charitable donations.

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