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Smobler Launches Robin AI to Help Hawaiʻi Food Entrepreneurs Move From Recipe to Market Readiness

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Developed for food and beverage entrepreneurs connected to the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center, Robin uses AI to simplify early-stage nutrition labeling and HACCP planning

HONOLULU, June 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Smobler today announced the launch of Robin AI, a free, AI-powered educational tool designed to help early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs in Hawaiʻi navigate one of the most complex steps in bringing a product to market: food safety and compliance documentation.

Smobler launches Robin AI, a free platform helping Hawaiʻi food entrepreneurs create nutrition labels and HACCP plans.

The platform was created to support entrepreneurs connected to University of Hawaii – Leeward Community College’s ʻĀina to Mākeke food business program and the Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center, helping founders take an important first step toward developing retail-ready products.

Many food entrepreneurs begin with a strong recipe, deep community connection, and a compelling product story. Yet, the path from kitchen concept to commercial launch often requires navigating nutrition labels, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, regulatory requirements, production processes, sourcing decisions, and market readiness. In Hawaiʻi, these challenges can be compounded by high operating costs, limited access to specialized expertise, supply chain constraints, and the realities of island-based production.

Robin AI was built to make that first compliance step more accessible. Entrepreneurs can enter ingredients, serving sizes, and production steps, then use the platform to generate draft nutrition labels and HACCP plans in downloadable PDF or Word formats. As recipes evolve, documents can be refreshed, giving entrepreneurs a faster way to learn, iterate, and prepare for expert review.

“Robin was designed as a practical bridge between innovation and market readiness,” said Dr. Loretta Chen, Founder and CEO of Smobler. “Food entrepreneurs in Hawaiʻi are building products rooted in culture, local agriculture, and community. Our goal is to give them an accessible AI tool that reduces friction, supports learning, and helps them move with more confidence toward expert validation, production, and launch.”

Robin was developed with direction from William Castillo, Associate Professor at Leeward Community College who understood the challenges facing Hawaiian entrepreneurs faced and articulated the concept by Robin AI, “The Wahiawā Value-Added Product Development Center provides entrepreneurs with access to product development consultation, lab testing, production kitchens, and food manufacturing resources. Robin AI complements that pathway by helping users organize their early compliance thinking before consulting with WVAPDC experts, who can review and verify documents, provide lab-tested nutrition facts, and help refine products to meet retail and regulatory standards.”

Castillo also helped Smobler organize focus groups with local entrepreneurs, notably Brandon Askew from Hawaiian Vinegar Company, Len Gonzales from Galleon Chocolate, and entrepreneurs connected to Mana Up, a Hawaii-based consumer product accelerator and venture fund.  Their insights helped shape a tool focused not on replacing human expertise, but on giving founders a clearer, faster starting point before they work with product development, food safety, and regulatory professionals.

“The best AI tools do not remove people from the process. They help us arrive better prepared without exorbitant costs and wasted time,” says Askew. “Robin gives us entrepreneurs a way to learn the fundamentals of food safety and compliance while allowing us to focus on product innovation, storytelling, and growth.”

Robin represents the first phase of Smobler’s broader vision for AI-enabled food entrepreneurship. Looking ahead, Smobler is exploring ways to expand the platform beyond compliance documentation into product development, local sourcing, equipment recommendations, production planning, and go-to-market support.

The company is also working with food entrepreneurs Nichol Ng and Nicholas Ng, who run the 92-year-old Singapore legacy business Food Xervices, to build and scale Forage AI, a Smobler venture focused on modernizing B2B food trade through AI, workflow infrastructure, verified networks, and embedded financial tools.

Together, Robin AI and Forage AI reflect Smobler’s belief that the future of food innovation will depend on both local empowerment and global infrastructure: helping entrepreneurs bring culturally grounded products to market while building more intelligent systems for sourcing, distribution, and trade.

Robin is now available in beta at https://beta.robin.smobler.io.

About Smobler

Smobler is a frontier technology venture building at the intersection of AI, blockchain, immersive infrastructure, education, and enterprise innovation. Founded by Dr. Loretta Chen, Smobler develops practical, future-facing tools that help organizations and entrepreneurs turn emerging technologies into real-world impact. Its work spans AI-enabled platforms, blockchain infrastructure, digital experiences, education, and strategic innovation.

About Robin AI

Robin AI is a free, AI-powered educational tool designed to make food compliance more accessible for early-stage food and beverage entrepreneurs in Hawaiʻi. The platform helps users generate draft nutrition labels and HACCP food safety plans, supporting entrepreneurs as they move from product idea to expert review, production readiness, and market launch.

Media Contact

Smobler
Attn: Dr. Loretta Chen
Email: loretta@smobler.io
Website: https://www.smobler.io

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SOURCE Smobler

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Cheers to One Million! Broadway.com’s Instagram Hits a Milestone

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NEW YORK, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A celebration is in order! Broadway.com’s Instagram account has hit a milestone one million followers.

For over a decade, Broadway.com has offered exclusive access to Broadway’s hottest shows and iconic stars via Instagram. Followers have been invited along to starry opening nights, glamorous red carpets and exciting one-night-only events. We’ve shared gorgeous portraits, introduced Broadway newcomers, celebrated screen stars taking to the stage and given tastes of exciting interviews. There have been curtain calls and exclusive performances, backstage visits and sneak peeks into rehearsal. Need to keep up with breaking news? We’ve got that too! If it’s happening, rest assured, Broadway.com is there, and will continue to celebrate the Broadway community for years to come.

If you’re one of the million, thanks for choosing to have us on your feed! If not, what are you waiting for? Join in on the fun!

CONTACT:
Andrew Mitchell
media@cambridgeglobal.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cheers-to-one-million-broadwaycoms-instagram-hits-a-milestone-302924256.html

SOURCE Broadway.com

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Vusion Completes Acquisition of In-Store Media, Opening a New Chapter for Digital Retail Media in Physical Stores

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Vusion and ISM combine connected store technology and retail media expertise to unlock the untapped advertising potential of physical stores

PARIS, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Vusion (VU – FR0010282822), the global leader in AI-powered digitalization solutions for physical commerce, today announces the completion of its acquisition of In-Store Media (ISM), following the agreement announced on July 27, 2026 and the satisfaction of all conditions precedent, including the receipt of the required regulatory approvals. 

The acquisition is financed through a bridge financing facility with total commitments of €200 million, an initial maturity of 12 months and two six-month extension options.

Headquartered in Barcelona, ISM brings deep expertise in designing, deploying and monetizing in-store retail media networks, long-standing relationships with 90 retail banners and more than 1,600 brands, as well as a strong international track record in 9 countries across EMEA, Americas and APAC.

This acquisition strengthens retail media as a core pillar of Vusion’s connected store platform. Despite their significant shopper traffic and proximity to purchasing decisions, physical stores remain an underdeveloped retail media channel, capturing less than 3% of retail media spending. Unlocking this opportunity requires combining retail media expertise with the digital capabilities to understand audiences, activate relevant content and demonstrate campaign performance.

Together, Vusion and ISM aim to help retailers and brands better understand in-store audiences, deliver more relevant content and adapt campaigns in real time. By making in-store media easier to integrate into brands’ omnichannel campaigns and its impact on sales easier to measure, the combination will help brands invest with greater confidence and retailers generate more revenue from their media networks.

“We are delighted to welcome the In-Store Media teams to Vusion,” said Thierry Gadou, Chairman and CEO of Vusion. “We share the same vision that physical stores will be the next great digital media. Together, we now have an exceptional opportunity to bring that vision to life, combining our cutting-edge connected store platform and ISM’s retail media expertise to create lasting value for retailers, brands and shoppers.”

“Joining Vusion is a tremendous opportunity for our teams and customers,” said Fernando de Vicente, CEO of In-Store Media. “We have built our business through close partnerships with retailers and brands, and a deep understanding of how to make in-store media work. We look forward to leveraging those foundations with Vusion, accelerating our digitalization, and expanding what we can achieve together.”

In-Store Media to participate in Vusion’s Capital Markets Day

ISM will participate in Vusion’s Capital Markets Day in Paris on November 18, 2026. The event will provide an opportunity to share more about the role of in-store digital retail media in Vusion’s medium-term strategic plan and the growth opportunities created by this acquisition.

About In-Store Media

The Spanish multinational, founded in 1998, is today a global benchmark in the development of Retail Media advertising solutions. Present in 9 countries across Europe, Latin America and Asia, it works with more than 90 retailers and maintains partnerships with over 1,600 brands. It covers hypermarkets, supermarkets, shopping centres, department stores and specialty stores in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Poland, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and the Philippines.

About Vusion

Vusion is the global leader in AI-powered digitalization solutions for physical commerce, serving over 350 major retail groups in the world. www.vusion.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/vusion-completes-acquisition-of-in-store-media-opening-a-new-chapter-for-digital-retail-media-in-physical-stores-302924259.html

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Abel Communications CEO Greg Abel Named President of Newly Formed Public Relations Society of America Maryland Chesapeake Chapter

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Merger of two regional public relations chapters creates new opportunities for professional development and industry connection across Maryland

BALTIMORE, Oct. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Abel Communications announced today that CEO and founder Greg Abel will serve as President of the newly formed Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Maryland Chesapeake chapter, helping lead an expanded network of public relations and communications professionals across the Baltimore region.

The PRSA Maryland Chesapeake chapter brings together the PRSA’s Maryland and Central Chesapeake chapters following a merger approved by both chapters’ members and boards, as well as PRSA’s national leadership. Effective immediately, the merger will support broader professional engagement across Maryland, with a strategic focus on the Greater Baltimore region.

“This is an exciting day and the culmination of a great deal of behind-the-scenes work by leaders who are committed to promoting and supporting the public relations profession,” said Greg Abel, CEO and founder of Abel Communications. “By combining our energy, talent, and networks, the PRSA Maryland Chesapeake chapter is committed to delivering high-quality and consistent programming for our members.”

As President, Abel will work alongside a board representing public relations agencies, higher education, public media, philanthropy, and advocacy organizations. This board aims to strengthen the chapter’s programming and create more opportunities for members to learn, build relationships, and contribute to the public relations profession.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2026, the PRSA Maryland Chesapeake chapter plans to offer monthly virtual learning sessions with industry thought leaders, monthly in-person coffee meetups at member locations, and visits every other month to local news organizations and other organizations making news.

PRSA and Public Relations Student Society of America members are invited to help shape the chapter through its Communications, Programming & Professional Development, and Membership & Engagement committees. Those interested in joining or volunteering can learn more by visiting https://prsamd.org.

About Abel Communications
Abel Communications is a full-service public relations firm, delivering strategic communications programs for regional and national clients in sectors including health and wellness, professional services, and local, national, and global brands. The firm provides strategic counsel to help clients navigate the intersection of media relations, content development, social media, and digital strategy.

About the PRSA Maryland Chesapeake Chapter
The PRSA Maryland Chesapeake Chapter is the premier professional organization serving strategic communication, public relations and marketing professionals across Maryland. Formed through the union of two established regional chapters, PRSA Maryland Chesapeake fosters lifelong learning, ethical standard-setting and collaborative connection through programming, professional development and industry leadership.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/abel-communications-ceo-greg-abel-named-president-of-newly-formed-public-relations-society-of-america-maryland-chesapeake-chapter-302924187.html

SOURCE ABEL COMMUNICATIONS

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