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Life Time President and CFO, Tom Bergmann, to Retire from Company

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Life Time President and CFO, Tom Bergmann, to Retire from Company on December 31, 2022; Company Also Named Robert Houghton Executive Vice President and CFO Effective August 28, 2022; Bergmann to Remain President and Assist with Transition through End of Year.

Life Time® Group Holdings, Inc. (“Life Time,” “we,” “our,” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LTH) today announced that President and Chief Financial Officer, Thomas (Tom) Bergmann, has decided to retire from the Company on December 31, 2022. In conjunction with Bergmann’s retirement, the Company also announced that Robert (Bob) Houghton has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective August 28, 2022. Bergmann relinquished his Chief Financial Officer role concurrent with Houghton’s election and will remain President to support the transition through the end of 2022.

Bergmann joined Life Time in February 2016 as President and Chief Financial Officer. His operational and financial leadership has played a central role in the Company’s continued expansion and growth, positioning Life Time well for the future. In addition to building a strong finance team, he also led significant equity and debt transactions for the Company, including minority equity investments, multiple debt capital market transactions and the October 2021 initial public offering.

Houghton brings to Life Time broad experience in finance, extensive financial planning and analysis (FP&A) skills and senior leadership experience, having served as Senior Vice President – Finance at United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), a North American distributor of natural and conventional grocery and non-food products, since May 2020. While at UNFI, Houghton led the strategy, development and execution of enterprise-wide FP&A, investor relations, financial systems, finance integration and business continuity programs. Prior to that, he served as Vice President – Corporate Finance and Treasurer and Vice President – Investor Relations for C.H. Robinson, a global third-party logistics company, from 2018 to April 2020. Houghton also held finance leadership roles with Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, General Mills and International Paper Company between 1993 and 2018.

Commenting on Bergmann’s retirement from Life Time and Houghton joining the Company, Life Time Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bahram Akradi, said, “I want to thank Tom for his tremendous leadership and contributions as a member of our executive leadership team. I’m very grateful for his partnership, particularly as we returned to the public market last year and navigated our way through the significant impact of the pandemic. I’m also pleased to welcome Bob to our executive leadership team. With his proven track record in financial leadership and FP&A expertise, I look forward to the impact he will have in guiding our finance functions as we continue to build our highly coveted healthy way of life company and brand with an unwavering commitment to serving members and shareholders.”

Intolerant Uses Digestive Enzymes to Manage Starch and Sucrose Intolerance

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Intoleran has a reputation as a company that enables people to enjoy food again. This comes from the Dutch health brand’s range of digestive enzyme products, which help its customers manage food intolerances.

Unlike a food allergy — which is a reaction of the body’s immune system — food intolerances are a purely digestional affair. They occur when the body cannot create enough of a particular digestive enzyme to break down the food that an individual consumes. In the case of starch and sucrose intolerance, the body doesn’t create enough of the enzyme sucrase-isomaltase. This typically comes from a condition known as congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID).

There are multiple ways to address a lack of enzymes to break down starch and sucrose. The first recommendation by dieticians — including those at Intoleran — is to adjust an individual’s diet. However, both sucrose and starch are prevalent in modern foods, which can make an effective diet challenging.

“If you suffer from an intolerance, you need to adjust your diet first,” says Intoleran owner Harmen Treep, “However, there are many occasions where you don’t know what you’re eating. That’s when starchway can be a lifesaver.”

Intoleran’s starchway supplement was uniquely designed to address starch and sucrose digestional deficiencies. The product contains the enzymes Glucoamylase and Invertase and has been specially formulated to help the body break down stubborn starches and sucrose.

As with all of Intoleran’s supplements, starchway is clean, uses minimal ingredients, avoids unnecessary additives, and is vegan. It’s a high-quality supplement designed to help individuals manage pesky intolerances and restore an ability to truly enjoy their food again — even when they don’t have control over every detail of what they’re eating.

Good Good brand, the fastest growing jam brand in the U.S.A., launches an innovative all-natural peanut butter spread

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Our Peanut Butter products – PBCrunchy and PBCreamy are now available in the US. Coming soon to Canada, UK, Europe and through distribution.

Real peanut butter contains 90% or more peanuts. That’s why most companies that call out keto-friendly and low-carb can’t call themselves real peanut butter. Our goal with this innovation was to deliver a modern-day peanut butter classic. It is made for the true peanut butter lovers out there.

Containing healthy fats – 83% (17g/serving) of the fat comes from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. We added dietary fibres made from halal chicory root, which also adds a hint of natural sweetness. Our peanut butter is 99% sugar-free and free from added sugar. Sourcing our peanuts from North America (U.S.A specifically) enables a lower carb count. By roasting the peanuts during processing, we boost the antioxidant effect of Coumaric Acid up to 22% (Craft et al., 2010).

A mouth-watering, rich and decadent nut butter that preserves all the things we love about peanut butter.

New Report Reveals Behavioral Factors to Treatment Adherence

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Fullscript released a report about behavioural change in integrative medicine as part of its mission to change how health is prescribed and help people get better. The findings indicated that while behaviour or lifestyle change is challenging, there are clear benefits to adopting new health behaviours and evidence-based strategies that practitioners can use to support their patients.
The comprehensive report, which was produced internally by a team of Fullscript medical researchers, writers, and health professionals, and peer-reviewed by the Institute for Natural Medicine, included a literature review and a large patient survey.
The purpose was to support integrative practitioners in making treatment recommendations by identifying barriers and strategies that influence change and helping patients adhere to health-promoting behaviours.

“Integrative medicine is well poised to address these challenges through regular engagement, by increasing motivation, and by incorporating lifestyle-based support,” said Dr. Christopher Knee, ND, MSc, medical education and research manager, the integrative medical advisory team at Fullscript. “Those lifestyle-based behaviours include nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and sleep.”

The study revealed that 93 percent of the 605 patients surveyed felt that at least some change was needed to improve their health, and as they continued to work with their practitioners, they became more ready to change. In addition, patients felt most successful with changing their supplement intake and dietary or nutrition behaviours but reported that lifestyle treatments such as stress management, physical activity, or improving sleep habits were harder to follow.

The most common barriers to adherence and behavioural change for patients working with integrative practitioners were cost, time, and motivation.

“Practitioners can use techniques such as motivational interviewing, and other measurement tools such as patient questionnaires, to determine which barriers are most impactful to a patient or the areas where they may need extra support,” Knee added. “The goal is to identify whether patients are ready to change, and what type of support they need to feel empowered.”

Strategies such as providing education and simplifying treatment plans; receiving monitoring and feedback from practitioners; and setting up goals, plans, and commitments, were all impactful. Additionally, the use of evidence-based technologies was found to be a cost-effective means for practitioners to deliver successful behavioural change support.

The ultimate goal of the study was to better equip practitioners to support long-term change and improve health outcomes for their patients.

You can view and download the entire behavioural change report here. To learn more about Fullscript, go to Fullscript.com.

Study: Pycnogenol® Helps Relieve and May Prevent Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome

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“Restless Legs Syndrome is often missed or dismissed in diagnosis, but it’s a real health condition often rooted in microcirculation. Many patients feel helpless and unheard because the symptoms seem to be exaggerated or imagined. It’s not in your head – it’s in your legs, and this research shows there are steps you can take with a powerful natural ingredient that may help you feel better,” says author and renowned natural physician, Dr. Fred Pescatore.
New scientific findings offer hope and a natural solution to those who suffer from sensations of crawling, pulling, throbbing, aching and itching in the legs, often resulting in sleep disruption and the uncontrollable urge to move. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) impacts nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population and can lead to other health concerns. A new study found Pycnogenol® French maritime pine bark extract, a leading natural anti-inflammatory and circulation booster, to significantly relieve and prevent symptoms associated with Restless Legs Syndrome.
Frustrating symptoms can begin at any age and worsen. Most who suffer from this condition feel sensations of crawling, pulling and throbbing after long periods of sitting or lying down, such as sleeping or sitting at a desk. Moving the legs typically temporarily relieves the discomfort, but the sensations can reoccur after movement stops. Those who have Restless Legs Syndrome can also suffer from poor sleep quality, fatigue and higher stress levels, which can impact other aspects of daily life.

The study, published in Panminerva Medica, tested 45 subjects with Restless Legs Syndrome. Twenty-one (21) subjects were supplemented with 150 mg of Pycnogenol® per day, while another 24 subjects followed a standard management routine in the control group. After four weeks, subjects in the Pycnogenol® group showed significant improvement in all prominent symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome, including:

33 percent decrease in crawling (vs. 3 percent decrease in control group)
30 percent decrease in creeping (vs. 7 percent decrease in control group)
41 percent decrease in pulling (vs. 7 percent decrease in control group)
63 percent decrease in throbbing (vs. 6 percent decrease in control group)
72 percent decrease in aching (vs. 3 percent decrease in control group)
48 percent decrease in itching (vs. 10 percent decrease in control group)
52 percent decrease in electric shocks (vs. 17 percent decrease in control group)
61 percent decrease in sleep problems (vs. 16 percent decrease in control group)
Research indicates that as many as 22 percent of those with Restless Legs Syndrome also have venous insufficiency. While additional research is needed to determine the relationship between Restless Legs Syndrome and edema, this study found that 81 percent of subjects in the Pycnogenol® group improved their status of minimal edema.

Additionally, after four weeks, the need for pain management was significantly reduced for those in the Pycnogenol® group.

“Even when Restless Legs Syndrome is properly diagnosed, medication to treat the condition includes pharmaceuticals that increase dopamine in the brain, resulting in side effects like nausea and sleepiness. Opioids or narcotic medications may be used to relieve more severe symptoms and can be extremely addictive,” says Dr. Pescatore.

“Pycnogenol® is an all-natural solution. Decades of research and global market availability show this circulation booster is safe and effective and is especially recognized as an ingredient at the forefront of naturally improving blood circulation. This study now shows its effects specifically on symptoms related to Restless Legs Syndrome,” said Dr. Pescatore.

Doctolib suspends 17 profiles linked to naturopath Irène Grosjean, accused of touching minors

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The Doctolib site announced on Monday, August 22 the suspension of 17 profiles of practitioners linked to Irène Grosjean, the figure of naturopathy in France. The controversy comes following the broadcast of a video in which the influential 92-year-old practitioner, at the head of millions of views on YouTube, promotes sexual touching to treat young children.

In the extract relayed on Twitter by the collective “L’Extracteur”, Irène Grosjean recommends “Louis Kuhne’s friction sitz bath” to treat a girl or a baby suffering from fever.

“At first he [l’enfant] won’t agree”, can be heard in the video. ” You have to sit the child on a basin, and you’re going to put ice cubes in it, ice water, very cold, and with a washcloth, rub your lips, and obviously you’re going to touch the clitoris, which will stimulate the sympathetic system and strengthen it” until the child falls asleep, continues Irène Grosjean.

“I check everything, then I screen and I share”: this is how anti-vax get information

In the same video, the autodidact recommends a similar method in the treatment of baby boys, while ensuring that after “Ten minutes, the fever no longer exists. »

The sharing of the excerpt aroused the anger of many Internet users, who immediately called on Doctolib to confront the platform with its responsibilities as a regulator. For several days, Doctolib has already been in turmoil to hosting the profile of many naturopaths: on Friday, the company defended itself in several tweets, explaining that “for clear information, the practitioners’ pages [naturopathes] bear several times, and from the top of the page, the words “This practitioner exercises an unregulated profession”.

“On this subject, society is changing and, for example, certain patient associations are promoting access to complementary therapies. We consider that it is not the role of Doctolib to settle these debates. »

Groups Call for Organic Action to Implement Climate Solutions under Historic U.S Federal Law

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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is, as President Biden claims, “The single most aggressive action the U.S. is taking to tackle the climate crisis and create clean energy solutions in American history.” However, that is a low bar to clear. There is much more required to meet the President’s climate goals and much is needed to ensure that the IRA is implemented in a way that helps farmers, fenceline communities, and biodiversity. As stated by Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, “President Biden and his administration should take this moment not only to celebrate but also to recommit and refocus on addressing the environmental injustice and wildlife crises.” For more in-depth coverage, Beyond Pesticides’ Daily News.

Tell President Biden that funds in the Inflation Reduction Act must meet the need for a transformative moment to address the existential health (including environmental justice), biodiversity, and climate crises and shift society to organic practices by eliminating fossil fuel-based pesticides and fertilizers; and that further steps are needed to reach critical and urgent goals.

We cannot meet climate goals while maintaining dependence on fossil fuels. Eliminating that dependence requires more than a shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, shifting from oil- and gas-generated electricity to wind and solar generation, or adopting quick fixes like carbon capture. It requires us to think of systems differently. Conserving energy by reducing consumption, eliminating planned obsolescence in products, better urban planning, and improving agricultural systems are as important as producing power differently.

Organic agriculture, with its elimination of chemical fertilizers and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, is an example of an improved system. Organic producers are required to create and act upon an organic system plan that maximizes biological diversity and minimizes adverse environmental impacts. Organic farming increases the sequestration of carbon in the soil. Provisions in the IRA that enhance the success of organic farmers and encourage the transition to organic farming to promote a climate-friendly system.

The organic system should be applied to all land management. Organic farming and land management not only help meet climate goals but also reduce the impacts of hazardous chemicals and resource extraction on fenceline communities and ecosystems, making it responsive to environmental justice threats.

As monies are expended under this legislation, the government must prioritize programs that attack the existential crises associated with pesticide threats, including health, biodiversity, and climate. This mandate must come from the White House and ensure that all funds first and foremost affect a transformative change necessary to meet the current looming crises. To this end, 100% of funds dedicated to conservation (Conservation Stewardship Program and all other affected agricultural programs), environmental quality incentives program (EQIP), environmental justice, and other related programs, must go to organic transition that eliminates toxic pesticides and fossil fuel-based chemicals and fertilizers.

Experts have now identified the current climate emergency, a health emergency, and an ecological emergency. Advocates are calling on President Biden to heed calls to declare a climate emergency and initiate creative, systemic solutions to existential threats to human life and life on Earth.

Tell President Biden that funds in the Inflation Reduction Act must meet the need for a transformative moment to address the existential health (including environmental justice), biodiversity, and climate crises and shift society to organic practices by eliminating fossil fuel-based pesticides and fertilizers; and that further steps are needed to reach critical and urgent goals.

Members of U.S. Congress

Congratulations! The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed, “the single most aggressive action the U.S. is taking to tackle the climate crisis and create clean energy solutions in American history.” However, that is a low bar to clear. There is much more required to meet our climate goals, and much is needed to ensure that the IRA is implemented in a way that helps farmers, fenceline communities, and biodiversity. As stated by Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, “President Biden and his administration should take this moment not only to celebrate but also to recommit and refocus on addressing the environmental injustice and wildlife crises.”

We cannot meet climate goals while maintaining dependence on fossil fuels. Eliminating that dependence requires more than a shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, shifting from oil- and gas-generated electricity to wind and solar generation, or adopting quick fixes like carbon capture. It requires us to think of systems differently. Conserving energy by reducing consumption, eliminating planned obsolescence in products, better urban planning, and improving agricultural systems are as important as producing power differently to meet the existential crises of the day.

Read more:

SNDL Announces Agreement to Acquire The Valens Company to Create Leading Vertically Integrated Cannabis Platform

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SNDL Inc. and The Valens Company Inc. are pleased to announce that they have entered into an arrangement agreement to combine their businesses and create a leading vertically integrated cannabis platform. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, SNDL will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Valens other than those owned by SNDL and its subsidiaries, by way of a statutory plan of arrangement. All financial information in this press release is reported in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.
Under the terms of the Agreement, Valens’ shareholders will receive, for each Valens Share, 0.3334 of a common share of SNDL (the “Offer Exchange Ratio”). Based on the August 19, 2022 close of the SNDL shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market exchange (the “Nasdaq”), the consideration represents an implied value of $1.26 per Valens Share (the “Implied Offer Price”), for total consideration of approximately $138 million. The Implied Offer Price represents a premium of 10% based on a trailing 30-day volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Valens Shares, on the Toronto Stock Exchange (the “TSX”) up to August 19, 2022. For more information on the announcement, an investor presentation can be found at www.sndl.com and www.thevalenscompany.com.

With 555,500 square feet of cultivation and manufacturing space and 185 cannabis stores under the Spiritleaf and Value Buds banners, the combined company will offer a complete portfolio of branded products to consumers in Canada through its own supply and distribution channels. With approximately $314 million1 in net cash and no debt, SNDL will continue to have one of the strongest balance sheets in the North American regulated cannabis industry. SNDL will also have the highest pro forma Canadian cannabis revenue on a last fiscal quarter annualized basis. The combined company will operate as SNDL Inc., and Valens shareholders will own approximately 9.5% of the pro forma entity.

Key Transaction Highlights
Creates a dominant vertically integrated entity in Canada: Through the combination of a diverse portfolio of brands, an extensive retail footprint, low-cost biomass sourcing, premium indoor cultivation and low-cost manufacturing facilities, SNDL will become one of the largest adult-use cannabis manufacturers and retailers. With its retail insight and financial strength, SNDL will be able to adapt quickly to emerging consumer trends.
Enhances branded product offering with low-cost in-house manufacturing capabilities: By integrating Valens’ product suite into its portfolio, SNDL will increase its overall cannabis market share to 4.5% and its 2.0 product formats market share to 5.2%, becoming a top 10 player in both categories. As a result of Valens’ low-cost platform, SNDL will enhance its own product line while offering pricing flexibility to retail partners.

Increases optionality on biomass by pairing premium cultivation with low-cost procurement: Combining SNDL’s high-quality cannabis cultivation operations with Valens’ low-cost biomass procurement capabilities will enhance SNDL’s ability to offer a wide range of customized innovative products to meet its consumer’s desires.
Synergies through cost rationalization and operational efficiencies: The combination of SNDL and Valens is expected to deliver more than $10 million of annual cost synergies. Together with incremental revenues from greater distribution of Valens products, it is estimated that the Transaction will deliver upwards of $15 million of additional EBITDA on an annual run-rate basis through synergies and other strategic initiatives.
Valens shareholders to participate in and help create the future of SNDL: Valens shareholders are to receive SNDL common shares in an all-stock transaction. Beyond improved liquidity and better access to a large retail footprint, SNDL’s balance sheet strength provides a unique opportunity for Valens shareholders to participate in the creation of a leading vertically integrated Canadian cannabis company.
“This powerful combination will result in the creation of a dominant vertically integrated company, exceptionally well-suited to weather the current cannabis environment and become a leader in the Canadian regulated products sector,” said Zach George, Chief Executive Officer of SNDL. “SNDL’s existing consumer packaged cannabis business will be transformed by Valens’ high-quality extraction, processing, and manufacturing capabilities and aligns well with our strategic vision to delight consumers with a full range of quality cannabis products and experiences. Our companies have been commercial partners since Canadian legalization. I am excited by the strong cultural fit between our teams and humbled by the opportunity to work with Valens’ passionate and innovative leadership.”

“We are thrilled to bring together two best-in-class cannabis companies that have extremely complementary assets to create a true market leader. Valens is one of the fastest growing branded cannabis companies in Canada with a focus on innovation and investing in low-cost automated manufacturing assets,” said Tyler Robson, Chief Executive Officer of The Valens Company. “With SNDL’s exceptional balance sheet and largest cannabis retail network in Canada we look forward to taking Valens’ brands to new heights and unlocking 2.0 products for the SNDL platform. We believe the pro forma company provides investors with attractive exposure not only to the highest revenue generating cannabis company in Canada trading well under its tangible book value but also a dominant platform that can become a global leader in cannabis.”

Valens’ secured non-revolving term loan (the “Term Loan”) has been refinanced and upsized with an additional $14.3 million of incremental capital, thereby increasing the principal amount of the Term Loan to $60 million.

Transaction Details
The Transaction will be carried out by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act, pursuant to which SNDL will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Valens Shares, other than those owned by SNDL and its subsidiaries. The implementation of the Transaction will be subject to the approval of at least two-thirds of the Valens Shares entitled to be voted by Valens shareholders and the approval of a simple majority of the Valens Shares entitled to be voted by Valens shareholders, other than Valens shareholders required to be excluded under applicable laws, at a special meeting expected to be convened by Valens by the end of November 2022 (the “Meeting”), and the receipt of applicable orders from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and applicable regulatory approvals, including under the Competition Act (Canada) and the applicable provincial liquor and cannabis regulators. The Agreement provides for, among other things, customary support and non-solicitation covenants from Valens, including customary “fiduciary out” provisions that allow Valens to accept a superior proposal in certain circumstances and a five-business day “right to match period” in favour of SNDL. The Agreement also provides for the payment of a termination fee of $8 million payable to SNDL by Valens in the event the Transaction is terminated in certain specified circumstances. The transaction is expected to close during January 2023.

All directors and executive officers of Valens have entered into voting support agreements with SNDL pursuant to which, among other things, the parties have agreed to vote their Valens Shares in favour of the Transaction.

A full description of the Transaction will be set forth in the management information circular of Valens, which will be mailed to Valens shareholders in connection with the Meeting, and filed on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) under Valens profile at www.sedar.com and the Company’s Form 6-K, which will be furnished on EDGAR (www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml).

Valens Board Approval
Valens’ board of directors has unanimously approved the Transaction after receiving the unanimous recommendation of a special committee of Valens directors (the “Special Committee”). Valens’ board of directors has unanimously resolved to recommend that the shareholders of Valens vote in favour of the Transaction.

Cormark Securities Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Special Committee of Valens that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out in such fairness opinion, the consideration to be received by Valens shareholders pursuant to the Transaction is fair from a financial point of view to Valens’ shareholders.

Advisors
ATB Capital Markets Inc. is acting as a financial advisor to SNDL. McCarthy Tétrault LLP is acting as legal counsel to SNDL.

Cormark Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor and Stikeman Elliott LLP is acting as legal counsel to Valens.

PLT Will Supply Traceable, Standardized Organic Elderberry Extract to North American Market

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PLT Health Solutions, Inc announced that it will begin offering new elderberry extracts to the North American market. The PLT elderberry portfolio will include extracts standardized to 6% and 10% anthocyanins, offered in both standard and organic grades. Innovation partner Nektium Pharma (Las Palmas, Spain) has secured long-term supply agreements with black elderberry (Sambucus nigra) growers in Central Europe and will extract the finished products at its state-of-the-art facilities in the Canary Islands. Quality for these ingredients is assured by a per-batch testing program including fingerprint analysis for identification and quantification of anthocyanins, DNA sequential barcoding for authenticity, and analysis for adulteration using the MALDI TOF technique, and standardization of biomarkers. As non-GMO-certified, gluten- and additive-free powders, these elderberry extracts are available immediately.

According to Steve Fink, Vice President of Marketing for PLT Health Solutions, the new elderberry portfolio was developed as a solution to industry problems that occurred when demand for this ingredient skyrocketed during the pandemic. “As often happens with plant-based materials when demand spikes rapidly, there was a shortage of elderberry materials and a proliferation of sub-standard and adulterated products entering the market.  All of us have read headlines of inferior elderberry offerings in the media,” he said “It has long been the mission of PLT Health Solutions to address industry pain points and to solve problems. With this line of traceable, standardized and lab-tested elderberry extracts, we believe PLT and Nektium have done that.” Our organic offering adds additional value and can help our customers differentiate their products in the marketplace,” he added.

Traditional Immune Support, Modern Quality
Black elderberry has a long tradition of use for immune support. The berries are high in flavonoids, such as quercetin and rutin, with anthocyanins arguably the most important. Anthocyanins impart the characteristic purple colour to the berries, as well as much of the bio-efficacy in terms of antioxidant activity, balancing inflammation metabolism, and supporting immune function.

Elderberry modulates immune function by multiple mechanisms, including activation of phagocytes, supporting non-specific immune response, and promoting immune defence. The material supplied by PLT is based on the Haschberg cultivar of Sambucus nigra, which contains a high level of naturally-occurring anthocyanins.

According to Dr. Jeremy Appleton, Director of Medical and Scientific Affairs for PLT, the company’s new elderberry extract portfolio offers consumer companies excellent product development and messaging opportunities. “Elderberry and its constituent anthocyanins have been extensively researched. These new products are both more concentrated than many other elderberry ingredients on the market today and of higher quality, offering formulators the ability to create more effective products while building trust with consumers and delivering greater value.”

A Former Supermarket will become a State-of-the-Art Fitness Center

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Crunch Franchise announces the expansion in Texas with the Grand Opening of Crunch Laredo, a $5 million, a 40,000-square-foot fitness facility in the heart of Laredo. Crunch Fitness will be located in a newly renovated space at 4601 San Dario Ave, previously occupied by SteinMart. The facility will be open 24 hours.

Crunch Fitness held their The One Day Only Presale yesterday, Thursday, Aug 11 where prospective members toured the club for the first time, met the trainers and enrolled at discounted rates beginning at $9.99 per month. Founding members received a presale rate of $1 down and 1 month free, in addition to free t-shirts, discounts on small group and personal training, and more. The presale offer was extended through the weekend. The club is slated to open for workouts the last week of August.

Fusing fitness with entertainment to make serious exercise fun, Crunch Laredo will offer top-quality cardio equipment and strength training equipment, circuit training, personal training, a functional training area with multiple indoor turf areas, a dedicated group fitness studio, a dedicated ride studio, Kids Crunch, HydroMassage® beds, and high-end tanning. Members looking for assistance reaching their goals will have access to staff of highly experienced Personal Trainers.

Crunch Fitness Laredo is owned by Fitness Ventures, LLC, the fastest growing franchisee in the Crunch system, and owns locations throughout the U.S. “We are excited to bring the Crunch brand to Laredo,” stated CEO Brian Hibbard. “Crunch is for everyone, from the first-time gym-goer to the seasoned athlete. Add in a high-energy and fun environment, and we have options to meet everyone’s goals and budget!”

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