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Pearl Street Acquires Famous Brands International Franchising

Pearl Street Equity LLC and its affiliates has acquired Famous Brands International franchising business, the parent company of two internationally renowned brands, Mrs. Fields and TCBY. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The acquisition aligns with the recent appointment of Joe Lewis as president and chief operating officer of Famous Brands Franchising. Lewis has over 25 years of leadership experience at high-growth retail and food and beverage franchisor organizations, including notable names such as Smoothie King, Twist Brands, and Smalls Sliders.

Lewis will continue to lead the Famous Brands Franchising growth strategy and pursue opportunities to expand the global reach of two iconic brands, Mrs. Fields and TCBY, in both domestic and international markets.

“We are thrilled about this new chapter for Famous Brands Franchising as a stand-alone company and are confident Pearl Street is the ideal strategic partner for the future,” Lewis said. “This transaction will take our franchisee support to the next level while enabling investment to grow both brands globally and bring our delicious products to more customers and families.”

Pearl Street continues to invest in and partner with companies demonstrating immense growth potential and vision for industry leadership. By adding Famous Brands Franchising to its portfolio, Pearl Street is reinforcing its commitment to supporting companies with the potential to have significant impact in their respective markets.

Famous Brands International is the parent company that owns and manages two category defining, iconic brands: Mrs. Fields and TCBY. The company markets and distributes its products such as cookies, frozen yogurt, brownies, berries and cakes, through its franchise stores. Serving millions of loyal customers around the world, Famous Brands maintains a presence in the United States, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Morocco, Panama, Taiwan and the Bahamas with over 350 franchised locations.

The company is leveraging the category leading brand awareness of its iconic brands to pursue growth in both domestic and international markets. Famous Brands is headquartered in Salt Lake City.

Pearl Street is a New York-based, single-family office. Pearl Street and affiliates have investments in venture capital, public and private equity, real estate and credit strategies.

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Braga to Receive Grower of the Year Award at OGS

The Organic Grower Summit presented by Western Growers and OPN will honor longtime organic grower Rod Braga as the recipient of the sixth annual Grower of the Year award. Braga, president and CEO of Braga Fresh, was selected based on his ongoing commitment and dedication to excellence in organic production, organic industry leadership, and innovation.

The Grower of the Year award, sponsored by AGCO, will be presented to Braga as part of the keynote presentation at the Organic Grower Summit on Nov. 29-30 in Monterey, Calif. The Grower of the Year presentation is part of an extensive educational program designed to inform and engage organic producers and their service providers and supply chain partners.

“We are honored to present the annual Grower of the Year award to Rod Braga — truly a grower’s grower,” said Matt Seeley, CEO of Organic Produce Network. “His decades-long work exemplifies what hardworking, passionate organic farming means to the success of  Sledge, regional sales director for AGCO. Previous winners of the award have been Jeff Huckaby, CEO of Grimmway Farms (2022); Vic Smith, CEO of JV Smith Company (2021); the Lundberg Family (2019); Thaddeus Barsotti of Capay Organic (2018); and Vernon Peterson of Peterson Family Farms (2017).

The sixth annual OGS is designed to provide information vital to organic growers and producers, including an overview of the opportunities and challenges in the production of organic fresh food.

In addition to the annual Grower of the Year award, the other keynote presentation at OGS 2023 will be Grower Roundtable: The State of Organic Growing. Panelists for the keynote roundtable include leadership from three prominent organic companies, who will be announced later this month.

Other educational sessions slated for OGS 2023 include:

  • SOE Deadline Looms — Are You Ready?
  • Understanding Evolving Production Challenges for Organic Growers
  • Regenerative — What Does it Mean for Organic?
  • Unlocking the Value of AI on the Digital Farming Journey
  • Meet the Ag Sharks
  • Roadmap to a Sustainable Pest Management Future for Organics
  • How Organic Growers Are Using Ag Tech: Obstacles & Opportunities

OGS 2023 will be held Nov. 29-30 at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa in Monterey, Calif., and general registration is open. The sold-out OGS trade show floor will feature soil amendment, ag tech, food safety, packaging, and equipment exhibitors who will have the opportunity to connect with organic field production staff, supply chain managers, pest management advisors, and food safety experts.

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Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival Returns After 5 Years

Hong Kong Tourism Board invites food and wine lovers from around the world to celebrate the return of the city’s large-scale outdoor culinary event, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. The four-day festival kicks off a month-long series of exciting nightlife events taking place citywide throughout November.

Taking place from Oct. 26-29 at Victoria Harbour’s Central Harbourfront Event Space, Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 will be a four-day gourmet extravaganza backdropped by the iconic city skyline. After a five-year hiatus, the physical event is back, and ready to welcome visitors to visit nearly 300 booths showcasing global food and wine,

Wine will naturally be a focus of the festival, with the popular Major Country Pavilions showcasing makers from 36 countries around the world. This year, the spotlight will be on the classic vintages from France and Italy and emerging wine regions from Thailand, Moldova and Finland. In a Festival first, a dedicated display for Chinese Wine Discovery is being introduced, featuring wine merchants including Xige Estate and Chateau Mihope from Ningxia (Northwest China), Yunnan Red Wine & Spirits, and Shandong-based Mystic Island Winery.

Visitors can indulge in a diverse array of global flavors, with dishes ranging from punchy, street food and nostalgic local favorites to refined hotel delicacies.

New to the Festival is Tasting Theatre, a series of hands-on workshops for visitors feeling inspired to roll up their sleeves and don an apron. Cooking demonstrations and workshops will be led by celebrity chef He Jiansheng from Shunde, Guangdong and award-winning Taiwanese baker Wu Pao-chun, who will join Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival for the first time.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 will serve as a launching pad for a month of culinary celebrations taking place around Hong Kong. Throughout November, Taste Around Town will highlight over 300 of Hong Kong’s best places to eat and drink, with exclusive discounts, limited-time menus and more that will strengthen Hong Kong’s position as one of the world’s top dining destinations.

For more details about Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2023 – and for more ways to experience Hong Kong’s world-class food scene and nightlife, please visit the HKTB website: DiscoverHongKong.com/WineDineFestival

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