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CHIPOTLE’S CULTIVATE NEXT FUND INVESTS IN AI SUPPLY CHAIN SOLUTION AND EMERGING FAST-CASUAL CONCEPT

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Lumachain’s SaaS platform uses Computer Vision-based Artificial Intelligence to enhance safety, yield, efficiency, quality, traceability, and trust in food productionBrassica is a Mediterranean inspired sandwich and salad concept committed to wholesome ingredients and sustainable practices

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced it is making a minority investment in Lumachain, an AI supply chain platform, and Brassica, a fast-casual restaurant concept, through its $100 million Cultivate Next venture fund. Introduced in 2022, Cultivate Next makes early-stage investments into strategically aligned companies that further Chipotle’s mission to Cultivate a Better World and help accelerate the company’s longer term growth plans to operate 7,000 restaurants in North America.

Lumachain
Headquartered in Sydney, Australia, Lumachain’s mission is to improve how food is produced, for good. The minority female-founded company has developed a traceability solution that, in real-time, tracks the origin, location, and condition of individual items in a supply chain, from farm to table, enabling reduced waste and increased efficiency. Lumachain’s traceability platform is complemented by its Computer Vision AI platform that monitors operations inside food production plants, to improve quality, efficiency and safety.

“The visibility in real time and quality data analytics that Lumachain’s software provides could optimize the management and quality of perishable goods for the food service industry,” said Curt Garner, Chief Customer and Technology Officer, Chipotle.

Brassica
The Columbus, Ohio based fast-casual restaurant serves wholesome, Eastern Mediterranean-inspired cuisine for guests to personalize their own salads and sandwiches. Founded in 2015, Brassica is committed to using high quality, locally-sourced ingredients at its six restaurant locations. The concept provides healthy dining options without compromising flavor. It includes a front-line ordering experience and a welcoming atmosphere defined by natural materials and standout architectural details. Signature items include house-made falafel, baked-to-order organic pita, antibiotic-free meats, roasted vegetables, Brassica seasoned fries, vegan tahini chocolate chip cookies, and fresh-squeezed minty pink lemonade.

“Investing in emerging culinary concepts that align with Chipotle’s commitment to using real, fresh ingredients and making craveable food daily is consistent with our mission to Cultivate a Better World,” said Nate Lawton, Chief Business Development Officer, Chipotle. “Funding from Cultivate Next’s minority investment will help Brassica scale to open new locations and expand to new markets.”

Chipotle’s Cultivate Next venture fund portfolio includes: Brassica, GreenField Robotics, Hyphen, Local Line, Lumachain, Meati Foods, Nitricity, Vebu, and Zero Acre Farms. Companies interested in collaborating with Chipotle through the Cultivate Next venture fund can apply by emailing CultivateNext@Chipotle.com.

ABOUT CHIPOTLE
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) is cultivating a better world by serving responsibly sourced, classically-cooked, real food with wholesome ingredients without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. There are over 3,500 restaurants as of June 30, 2024, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Kuwait and it is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe. Chipotle is ranked on the Fortune 500 and is recognized on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies 2024 list and Time Magazine’s Most Influential Companies. With over 120,000 employees passionate about providing a great guest experience, Chipotle is a longtime leader and innovator in the food industry. Chipotle is committed to making its food more accessible to everyone while continuing to be a brand with a demonstrated purpose as it leads the way in digital, technology and sustainable business practices. For more information or to place an order online, visit Chipotle.com.

 

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SOURCE Chipotle Mexican Grill

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TIMEX DECLARES TODAY ANALOG LIFE DAY

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A National Invitation to Get Off the Clock and Into Life

An unexpected opening in your calendar? Don’t fill it. Live it.

SHELTON, Conn., Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Timex, the Official Timekeeper of Analog Life, is declaring today, Friday, November 13, Analog Life Day, and giving everyone a reason to do something increasingly refreshing: spend time actually living it. 

In a world that never stops scrolling, refreshing or asking for more of our attention, Timex is inviting people to take some of it back.

Take the long lunch. Call the friend you keep meaning to see. Leave your headphones behind. Wander somewhere without a plan. Say yes to something spontaneous. Make a memory that doesn’t need to be posted to count.  No productivity hacks. No screen time challenge. No perfectly planned itinerary.  Just a reminder that the best moments in life rarely happen between notifications. 

For more than 170 years, Timex has helped people keep time. Today, we’re reminding everyone what it’s for.

No registration. No download. No algorithm.

Just one day. Your time. Your way.

Make Time Yours.

Civic PR for Timex – timex@civic-us.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/timex-declares-today-analog-life-day-302939026.html

SOURCE Timex

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BAE Systems selected as a mission-enabling space technologies partner for NASA PRIMA astrophysics program

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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory mission to survey the history and evolution of the universe and bridge current scientific gaps

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BAE Systems (LON: BA) announced today that its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)-led PRIMA (PRobe far-Infrared Mission for Astrophysics) team has been selected by NASA for the next phase of development in NASA’s new class of “Probe Explorers” astrophysics missions.   

BAE Systems will provide its Evolve+ spacecraft bus for the mission, lead the observatory assembly, integration and test process, and serve as the operations and ground lead for NASA’s JPL, the manager of the mission.   

“We are excited to continue our decades-long partnership with JPL through the PRIMA mission that will enable NASA to make significant discoveries on the history of the universe,” said Bonnie Patterson, vice president and general manager of civil space for BAE Systems. “The PRIMA mission will also help fill observation gaps with other NASA astrophysics missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope and other observatories, also supported by BAE Systems.”  

NASA’s PRIMA mission will use a highly sensitive, far-infrared space telescope that is designed to see parts of the universe that are hidden by dust. Using a 1.8-meter diameter telescope, it will observe the cosmos in far-infrared light, bridging the critical observation gap between the James Webb Space Telescope and ground-based radio observatories.

The mission will help scientists learn how stars, planets, galaxies and even water formed over time. It will reveal how these cosmic structures grow and change, providing a clearer picture of how our universe developed and evolved from its formation to the present.  

The PRIMA mission is currently advancing through Phase B development and is targeted for launch in 2033 for a five-year mission. Following a NASA confirmation review, the project will move toward full implementation.

BAE Systems will join numerous international space industry providers to support the PRIMA mission, including those from France, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Japan and the UK.

Through the PRIMA mission, BAE Systems continues its longstanding support of NASA’s astrophysics programs. This includes work on the Hubble Space Telescope, Chandra X-ray Observatory, James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, among others.

For more information, please contact: 

Brian Rantala, BAE Systems 
Mobile: 720-995-8253 
brian.rantala@baesystems.us 

www.baesystems.com/en-us   
@BAESystemsInc  

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SOURCE BAE Systems, Inc.

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Why a Pocket Projector Could Be the Right Gift for Gamers and Sewists: Aurzen ZIP Pro

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IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The friend who hosts game night and the maker who dreads taping sewing patterns together might appreciate the same unexpected gift: a pocket projector. Aurzen ZIP Pro, a CES Innovation Awards 2027 Honoree, brings shared fun and sewing pattern projection together in one foldable projector.

Unlike a fixed TV, ZIP Pro is a gaming projector that moves with the gathering. Its larger shared image brings everyone into the adventure, whether you’re sharing maps during tabletop RPG sessions or cruising through neon-lit city streets in the upcoming AAA open-world titles. Direct USB-C support for Nintendo Switch makes it a convenient dock-free projector, letting friends play together instead of crowding around a handheld screen. Wired Game Mode offers 20–40ms response times for casual co-op and party games.

Beyond game nights, ZIP Pro brings the same flexibility to your sewing table. As a sewing projector, it lets you skip printing, taping and storing paper patterns, leaving more time for working with fabric. Native 1080p DLP and ToF autofocus help keep fine outlines clear, while adjustable support and four-point correction help align the image with your cutting surface. With less setup between an idea and the first cut, this compact sewing pattern projector helps you turn your ideas into a finished piece with greater confidence.

The ZIP Pro Basquiat Special Edition Bundle pairs the same hardware with artwork from the Basquiat estate. It includes the projector, two custom art shells, a custom GoPlay portable case and a mounting suite with MagPlay Pro and Z-Stand in a special-edition gift box. The interchangeable shells offer two different looks, making it a personal choice for Basquiat fans.

During the promotion from Nov.19-30, ZIP Pro is $579.99 (regularly $629.99); ZIP Pro Basquiat Special Edition Bundle is $649.99 (regularly $679.99). Buyers can choose a complimentary GoPlay Carry Bag or Z-Stand, limited to 50 gifts in total, first-come, first-served. A sitewide prize draw offers shoppers a chance to get their order for free.

About Aurzen

Aurzen is a global innovator in smart projection technology. By combining advanced optical engineering with intuitive software and user-focused design, Aurzen delivers products that bring big-screen experiences to any space. The company pioneered the world’s first Tri-Fold Truly Portable Projector, ZIP, and its designs have been recognized with multiple international awards, including the iF Design Award, Red Dot Award, G-Mark Award, and IDEA Award. For more information, visit www.aurzen.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/why-a-pocket-projector-could-be-the-right-gift-for-gamers-and-sewists-aurzen-zip-pro-302938816.html

SOURCE Aurzen

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